A/N: So a day or so ago I saw a prompt on twitter which was basically a picture with different words and phrases to represent different parts of a relationship. It was really cute and obviously I decided to ruin it by writing a poor fic about it, sorry guys. I honestly have no idea what this is or what I was writing half the time but here ya go, and sorry it sucks
Part 1
"Hi"
She's a friend of a friend. Or to be specific a friend of a girlfriend.
They see each other one day at Cassidy's parent's anniversary party on a fairly dreary day in November.
He was dressed in a smart looking dinner jacket and he had shined his shoes until he could see his reflection in them, although his hair is left as its usual effortless mess on the top of the head. No one is complaining as he nervously runs a hand through his blond hair yet again and effectively messes it up, yet still making it look perfect.
He's nervous because meeting his significant others parents is a big step and he has no idea what to say or do in their presence. Should he shake his hand or kiss her cheek, or is that not done anymore? He was worried, scared and apprehensive when he was first invited to the party and that worry has only increased over time. His mother says to just be himself, his dad says to act confident and Dez says that he should get them a unique gift, like a giraffe, to make a good impression. He decides maybe it's best not to take Dez's advice.
He remembers when he first met Cassidy. He was sitting in his favourite booth at his favourite diner and she had skipped over, singing the most beautiful song he had ever heard about potato salad. He tried his best to impress and woo her, and then eventually she had accepted a date from him. He'd been nervous then. In fact he changed his outfit about 10 times before he had left the house (he may or may not have gotten half way down the street and retreated back to change his tie). He was also nervous when he officially asked her to be his girlfriend. He had ended up calling her the slab of butter on his pancake stack (obviously she was the syrup) but she understands anyway and they're now together and he's happy. Dez isn't fully convinced on her until week 2 of their relationship. He is adamant to assure Austin that is it nothing to do with the discount she gets him on Chicken Pot Pie, because bribery doesn't work on him (but it's obvious to everyone that chicken pot pies are the way to his heart). However right now, he was even more nervous than both times before.
The party was being held in an outdoor marquee attached to the side of a hall and many people were gathered outside, soaking the sunshine. Or at least that was the plan. Unfortunately the weather had other plans and dark grey clouds overshadowed the area, threatening to unleash a torrent of rain on the party-goers, effectively ruining the frocks and outfits that had taken so long to put together. None the less, people still milled among the grass, chatting to people they hadn't seen for a while and sharing anecdotes from their past. Sadly for Austin he doesn't have any anecdotes to share, yet he still gets dragged into conversation.
He didn't even want to come to the party in the first place but was effectively convinced to come with the promise of a buffet table and a pancake bar. 30 minutes in and there was not a sight of the breakfast perfection and he was stuck talking to his girlfriend's 2nd cousin 3 times removed. Or was it her 3rd cousin twice removed? Either way he's bored and nodding politely soon loses its appeal after what feels like the hundredth exclamation of 'Well aren't you a handsome young man' and being pinched on the cheeks a few too many times.
He doesn't even know these people, he's lost Cassidy in the crowd, it's starting to drizzle and all in all he just wants to leave and go play video games with his best friend. Unfortunately someone out there seems to dislike the boy and it starts pouring with rain forcing the ladies with their fancy hats and the men in their pressed suits to assemble in the hall.
In the centre of the hall is a large stage and a band is set up already, covering a song that Austin vaguely recognises. He nods his head in appreciation and hums along with the lead singer. His hair is now slightly damp because of the rain but he runs a hand through it, pushing it away from his forehead and he rolls up the cuffs of his sleeves. He doesn't notice the teenage girls in the room staring at him in wonderment, nor does he make any attempt to make conversation with anybody.
Although the hall is big Austin still feels pretty claustrophobic and enclosed. People are still trying to talk to him; mothers and daughters the most and he continues to listen politely because his own mother raised him to be respectful, although honestly he's heard enough stories about the countryside to last him a lifetime. They ask him questions too, and he feels like he's being quizzed and assessed.
He just desperately wants to find Cassidy, meet her parents and then promptly leave and escape the stuffiness. Excusing himself from the current conversation, Austin walks to the side of the hall and cranes his head to look for her, eyes flitting over the heads of unfamiliar people. It's a blur of fancy hats and slicked back hair and he's starting to get desperate.
He is elated when he finally sees Cassidy across the room, standing next to the door talking to a girl. He vaguely remembers her telling him about a friend from their school who would also be coming to the party and assumes that this must be her. He guesses she must feel like him; out of place and uncomfortable. Or at least he hopes so, and that he isn't just socially impaired. She's wearing a bright yellow anorak and unfortunately the mystery girl has her back to him so he can't see her face, only her hair. It's brown, falls down her back in ringlets and he can see caramel highlights at the tip of the hair. He realises then that her hair isn't just brown, it's also toffee and red and coffee and honey coloured. He shakes himself, wondering why he's taking such an interest in a random girl's hair, and decided to start walking toward them, so as not to feel alone anymore. Cassidy sees him over the girls shoulder and gesticulates wildly for him to come over to the, causing the girl to turn and look over her shoulder in his direction to see who the motion was aimed towards.
The moment he sees her face his eyes widen. She has a pale complexion, rosy cheeks and red lips, and that's all Austin really has a chance think about because then he sees her eyes and he can no longer think. They're brown and deep and thoughtful and he thinks he might be frozen, even though he can feel his legs still moving towards the pair. He decides right then that she's beautiful. And not beautiful as in she applied her makeup expertly, but as in her eyes seem to see right through him and she has the face of innocence and perfection.
He's standing next to her now and blinks once, checking to see is she's real. She's still there and she's looking over to the door. With a start Austin is brought back to reality when Cassidy wraps an arm around his waist in welcome. Cassidy; his girlfriend of 6 months that he likes very much and the girl that he met when she was his waitress at his favourite diner (she had quit a few weeks after their relationship started, and Austin would be lying if he said he wasn't disappointed). Cassidy; The girl he made a mix tape for on Valentine's Day and the girl who messes up his hair and affectionately calls him 'blondie' (Dez had teased him constantly for that for a few months, ruffling his hair teasingly and calling him 'blondie' in front of their other friends. That was embarrassing). Cassidy; the girl he had just completely forgotten for a moment because of a girl he doesn't even know (but he wish he did).
He wants to kick himself because he's at his girlfriend's parent's party and he shouldn't be looking at other girls, but for a moment Cassidy didn't even register in his mind. He was too preoccupied looking at someone else. He doesn't want to turn into 'that guy' so purposely doesn't look at the girl his girlfriend was talking to, feeling guilty even though he hadn't actually done anything.
When he quickly takes a glance at her he realises that she's about to leave because she's zipping up her yellow raincoat quickly and is hopping from one foot to another, as if she's about the rush out the door. He feels a flash of disappointment but shakes himself out of it a moment later. Quickly he glances to Cassidy again. She's talking about the band that's playing and he tries to listen and ignore the presence besides him. He can't ignore her completely though when she starts to speak. She and Cassidy are fangirling together about the band.
Her voice is quiet, soft and light, while Cassidy's is drawling, smooth and loud. He quickly reminds himself that he liked Cassidy's relaxed speech and pushes away his liking of the quiet and tinkling voice as well as the butterflies that appear because of it. The bubble of conversation stops for a moment when Cassidy turns to talk to someone, not moving from her position. There's no way he can ignore her now, and he's nothing if not polite, so he turns and looks at the girl in the yellow coat.
Austin awkwardly smiles at her, but stops when she fully smiles at him. For some reason he finds himself smiling widely too and he's not even sure why. He racks his brain for something to say. Maybe 'what's your name' or 'are you enjoying yourself' or even 'you look beautiful' (although that wouldn't go down well with the girl that still has her arm draped around his waist and is leaning to talk to a distant relative). He doesn't chose to say any of these things and just simply says
"Hi."
He kicks himself yet again, this time because he sounds like an idiot who can't start a conversation properly and his hands are starting to sweat like a school boy. She just laughs lightly (there are the butterflies again) and tilts her head to the side.
"Hi." she responds
He hears the laughter in her voice and he can't help but laugh too because so far their conversation has not gone over 2 syllables, yet he prefers it over the lengthy ones he had endured all night. He's about to speak again when Cassidy returns quickly, pulling the blond away and hugging the girl simultaneously in a sort of group hug, saying goodbye.
The girl is caught by surprise and ends up being squished into Austin's chest without warning. He grabs her waist to stop her from falling and she grabs his shoulder and for a moment Austin forgets his girlfriends name once again. Her head fits under his chin and he wishes she could stay there because she feels warm and smells like vanilla, but then the hug is over and Cassidy is dragging him away by the wrist and deeper into the hall.
Taking a glance behind him as they weave between people he sees a flash of yellow before the door is closed once again. He turns back in the direction he is travelling and thinks of her bright yellow coat, the fact he doesn't even know her name and that she reminds him of sunshine.
But then he has to push his thoughts aside a second later because he remembers he's going to meet Cassidy's parents. His palms are sweating again, this time in anxiety because he's scared, and he may or may not have just forgotten his own name. He reminds himself to maybe, this time, not start the conversation off with
"Hi."
A/N: Um so yeah I did warn you it was bad and nothing really happened. But still, if for some reason you enjoyed this please review/fav/follow and that'd be great.
My twitter is ughadorkable if you want to follow me, but I have a habit of tweeting at midnight my time (UK) so maybe not.