Only You

Chapter 3|Liza

• I thought that I was the only one who needed the other, little did I know that she also needed me •

Peer pressure's a bitch. All my life, I've always wanted to fit in. Growing up had been easy for me initially when I still lived in a little, sparsely populated town called Capeland. I was born there so I didn't have to go through the troubles of trying to make friends because everyone around me my age, I had known since birth so that automatically made us friends.

Life was easy until my parents traumatised me by moving us to the city when I was eleven. There were lots of different people, big cars and other new things. Fear immediately took over me when I was announced as the "new girl" at Waverly middle school. Fitting in couldn't have been harder and I struggled with everything, I struggled with adjusting to this new setting, I struggled with making friends and talking to people in general and I even struggled with my school work.

The relief that came with graduating highschool was unparalleled. I left with enough credits in my result to get into a decent college and my only friend being my older sister. My family was very shocked to say the least when I chose to go to a college about three towns away, where I knew no one and was going to be completely alone.

Where there saw a mistake, I saw an opportunity to do it all again, but this time, better. I had been given an opportunity to move to a new city with new people where nobody knew my name or anything about me. I had been given a clean slate, a blank canvas and this time I wasn't going to panic and slip back into my shell, no. This time, I was going to do it right. I was going to make friends and live life to the fullest without letting my anxiety hold me back.

So when my roommate and best friend invited me to go to a bonfire party with her, I immediately said yes without any hesitation or room to change my mind.

Now here I was, currently being dragged to the bonfire party, silently wishing under my breath that I had worn more layers because it was cold tonight.

"I can't wait to introduce you to everyone." Lea said, leading me in the direction I assume was were the party was held. "You know at first I was skeptical because whenever I ask you out to come hang with my friends, you always back out at the last minute. I'm kind of impressed you finally grew some balls and agreed to meet them. Don't worry they're going to love you."

She squealed in delight, causing me to shake my head in disbelief. I was trying not to think about the fact that I was going to meet Lea's friends for the first time, but now that she has brought it up I couldn't get it out of my head. Pessimistic thoughts, fear and worry began to fill my head. Questions that made me doubt myself and my self-esteem popped up every time I caught a glimpse of the bonfire burning in the distance.

Liza arms tightened around mine. I looked up and found her looking at me with a smile on her face. "Don't worry, I'll be there with you so there's nothing to be afraid of, okay?"

I smiled back at her in return and we continued walking. Lea and I were complete opposites and that was one of the things that drew me to her. I needed someone in my life who wasn't pessimistic like me or shy or scared and wasn't afraid to speak their mind, Lea was all of those things and so much more. It was only by grace that we had been put in the same dorm room together.

Initially, when we became friends, I thought that I was the only one who needed the other, little did I know that she also needed me. Where she was bold, brave and practically a social butterfly, she also had trust issues and needed advice on a lot of things because she wasn't really the best at making decisions. In a way, we both needed each other.

I looked around and noticed that we had finally arrived at the main scene of the party, the bonfire which burned high and bright like a watchtower. I took the time to just look around and all the people just hanging around with their friends, talking or drinking, it was like they didn't have a care in the world. Tonight was a night to just let loose and be... Comfortable?

"So here's what we're going..."

"Lea!" Someone from the crowd had called her name. I watched as a group of people walked towards her. She let go of my arm to hug some of them and when she was done she reached out her hand to mine, I smiled at the fact that she hadn't forgotten about me.

I watched as more and more people surrounded us, all paying attention to Lea, the girl was the most outgoing person I had ever seen and people liked that about her and just naturally gravitated towards her. As more and more people continued to swarm Lea, her hand began to slip from mine before it was completely gone. I immediately stepped back, away from the crowd and stood at the back just watching her interact with her friends.

Everytime, I wished I was more like her, fun and extroverted. People like her are naturally loved and everyone wants to be around people like her, me on the other hand... Well, opposite.

I let out a sigh, I didn't want to be pessimistic, the night was still young, anything could happen. I looked around trying to search for someone I knew, maybe someone in one of my classes that I had made an acquaintance. My search was in vain because I couldn't find a single familiar face in the crowd, I guess physiology majors don't do bonfires.

The breeze blew against my bare forearms and I cursed myself for not at least bringing a jacket along.

Maybe I should just go home.

I sighed, it was stupid of me to think that I would fit in with this crowd. I looked to Lea to call out to her and tell her that I was about to head back, but when I looked at where she stood before she was no longer there. Frustration bubbled inside of me, this night was beginning to go from bad to worse and I didn't want to stick around any longer to find out how it was going to turn out.

I let my eyes run over the crowd one last time, if I don't see her then I was going back to the dorm. As I searched, looking out for Lea's blond hair I saw something, something that made me stop and stare. There was a boy, with eyes I could only describe as the colour of the sea, but that wasn't what made me stop. What shocked me was the fact that he was looking at me, like right at me. It wasn't a creepy stare or anything like that, it held curiosity and something I couldn't describe. Honestly, no one has ever looked at me like that.

I was tempted to turn back and confirm if he wasn't staring at something behind me because there was no way that a boy that... Handsome was looking at little plain old me.

I blinked away those pessimistic thoughts before they started to consume me and asked myself, what would Lea do? Probably smirk or give one of those cute smiles, but I didn't know how to do that. So I settled for a regular smile and hoped it didn't look like a grimace and I didn't have anything in my teeth.

I was sure I had done something right for once in my life when he smiled back. It almost knocked me off my feet. I blinked and in the heat of the moment, looked away in fear. This time I couldn't stop the anxious thoughts that made their way to my head.

What the freaking hell was I doing? I didn't know how to flirt? What if he was just giving me a sign that meant he wanted to sleep with me? Or worse, what if he's a crackhead and thought I was a drug dealer?

I nervously bit my nails and looked down at my outfit, I didn't think I looked like a drug dealer unless mom jeans where in style among drug dealers. I buried my face in my hands, now I was alone, frustrated, angry and confused.

I should probably just head home, I've done enough damage to my mental health already and I would probably be thinking about my actions tonight for the next ten years or so.

I was about to turn around and head back when a hand touched my shoulder. I turned around in fright, fearing that it was who I thought it was and lo and behold, I was right. The ocean coloured eyes boy stood before me with a big grin on his face like he had just won a lottery and up close, he didn't look like a crackhead to me.

"Hey." His voice flowed out, deep yet not so intimidating.

"Hi." I muttered back, looking up at him from the corner of my eyes and if I wasn't standing so close to him, I never would have thought I imagined seeing his grin widen. I couldn't help it, I smiled back.