To hit it off

I think my nose is broken. I just wanted to say hi to my aunt, but now I’ll have to get new glasses, and she’s trying to wipe my blood off my face. Well, I have to admit that girl has a nice throwing arm. Good for her, I think she got a scholarship for that. I’ve seen her play in the varsity. Anyone that has seen my sketchbook would recognize her too, she’s my current muse. I’ve never really talked to her. I wanted to leave a better first impression.

           “I’m so sorry! Are you okay?” she said.

           God, I love her eyes. “No problem.”

           “Let’s get her to the infirmary, Professor,” she told my aunt, putting her hand on my shoulder. “I should’ve been more careful.”

           “Yes, you should,” my aunt answered with a stern look. I know by this point she’s seen right through me and my blushing, so she must have had something in mind when she said, “I have other business to attend to. Please take care of my niece. Her name is Willow.” And then she left.

           “Oh, I’m fine, don’t worry.” I put my glasses in my bag and tried to look less like I was just hit by a baseball. “Well, goodb— “

           “Your nose’s still dripping! I’m never going to forgive myself if you don’t get that checked out!”

           “I’ll do that later, g— “

           Her hand dropped to grab mine, and she started to walk. “My name’s Summer. I always screw up, but I swear my mistakes don’t usually involve hitting people on the face.”

           “Hey, it’s okay. And I’m sure you don’t screw up that much, either.”

Summer shrugged and continued tugging my arm until I had to give up and follow her. Her long brown hair swung with each of her steps. She had quite long legs that were the perfect companion for her energetic personality. It was difficult for my short self to keep up with her pace, but our brains worked at the same wavelength.

She rambled on and on about different subjects with almost no connection between them. I answered and changed subjects seamlessly. Summer was certainly an anxious girl, playing many sports to let off some steam. When I realized that, I knew I was done for.

           “Your nose is swollen, not broken,” the nurse said.

           Summer, that until then had been looking like she might faint, perked up immediately and smiled. “Thank god!”

           “Good, because I have to get going. My class starts in twenty minutes…” I started to point a thumb at the door. “I guess this where I say good— “

           “I could walk you there.”

           I sighed. “Of course.”

Although I enjoyed her company, I had already made myself enough of a fool just by standing next to my aunt, not moving away from the baseball, even though I could see it coming in slow motion towards me. I didn’t want to open my mouth and confirm that I am, indeed, an idiot. I had to make a tactical retreat and come back to her with a fresh mind… and face. But then again, she was actually talking to me right now.

           “What are you majoring in?” she said.

           “Liberal Arts.” I can’t get enough of her voice.

           “Willow the artist, the mysterious dark-haired girl, huh? I’ve seen you drawing near my favorite spot in the quad. That pixie cut suits you.”

           So that was her first impression of me? “Uh, yeah. Not so mysterious, more like Willow, the awkward girl,” I said, unsure whether to feel more embarrassed now or happy that this baseball thing hadn’t ruined my chance. “What about you?”

           “I’m majoring in Social Work. We must have Sociology together!”

           “I haven’t seen you in class, but maybe I’ll look for you next time”

           “Sure! By the way, I’m in the Star Wars club and we’re looking for new members. You could join if you wanted to.”

           “I haven’t seen any of the movies. I haven’t read the comics either.”

           “We’re hosting a movie night this weekend. If you come and decide that you don’t like it, you could always talk to me,” Summer said without a care, but then she seemed to remember that she did care after all, and she began laughing nervously. “Of course, if you’d prefer escaping through the bathroom window, I wouldn’t blame you.”

           “I have actually done that before.”

           “Really?”

           “Yes. But I don’t think it would be necessary. You’re fun to be around.”

           “You only say that because you haven’t been around me long enough.”

           “I’ve just received a baseball to the face from you and I’m far from annoyed. I’d like to hang out sometime, just the two of us if you don’t mind.”

Seeing the door to my classroom gave me all the courage I needed to tell her that. Also, I had imagined her to be a bold jokester based on my observations (no, I’m not a stalker), but she turned out to be only that confident when she was playing and running and winning. In short, she was a girl with so much energy, she had her mind working full-time too.

           Summer stopped walking. “I, uh… I’m—”

           “Sorry for saying something like that out of the blue. Thank you for taking me to the nurse. Goodb— “

           “No, no. I’m happy you asked me out,” she said, making me realize my mouth was drier than the Sahara. “I’ve thought about doing the same thing when I saw you in the quad. I like your paintings, I went to one of your exhibits.”

           “Oh.”

           “Yeah. Let me give you my number, I must have some paper on me…”

           “Here’s my phone.”

We stood there like we couldn’t believe what was happening. We were two halves of a whole idiot. I could tell we were going to hit it off well. I was doing a great impression of a robot, and she was being cute. There’s no other name for that, sorry. She had a shy smile on her pretty face, and the sun made her soft skin glow. But still, I had one last thing I wanted to tell her.

           “Cool. See y— “

           “I’ll go to the club meeting, and I’m glad we’ll have date. But also… take it easy, okay? You’re too harsh on yourself.”

           “I’m not— “

           “If you feel like you need to vent, about anything, you could join the poetry club tomorrow. Or you could talk to me, I won’t judge.”

           “Okay. Thanks.”

           “Goodbye.”

           “See you.”

Yes, I was late, but it was worth it. I had found a new club, I had talked to my crush, and she hadn’t broken my nose. All that was left for me to do, was make Summer understand at least a little of the many great things about her.