Spring was slowly seeping into the trees that circled the park, twisting low browns and khaki greens into the branches. Sunlight was dripping through the gaps in the spindly branches and twigs, dappling Carla's face with gold and white as she chattered on to me about the new stationary store that had appeared next to her flat. I wasn't listening. I'd somehow numbed her voice and closed off my eardrums to the high pitched splashes of noise that hadn't stopped for at least an hour as she'd talked on and on without seeming to notice my daydreams and inattention.
The park was almost empty today. It was cold and the sun was forming no protection against the gyrating breezes that ruffled the fresh, dewy air of early February. Neither did my thin black hoodie that hung softly over my shoulders, decorated with badges and pins – memories that I collected and worn, to remind me of people and things that's I'd enjoyed and loved. I began to fiddle with a green internet-safety badge that I'd picked up at the post office after admiring the big, gaudy smiley-face in the middle of it. Carla's hand suddenly interrupted my recollection.
'Bella! Oh my god, Bella look!' She clasped my shoulder and I winced as her fingernails dug into my skin.
I looked up. Carla was wide eyed and gazing over my shoulder across the grimy tarmac to where I could hear the fountains spitting and showering the grass in the wind. 'What, Car?'
'It's Dan Howell – look for god's sake, look, he's right there!' she shrieked. Noticing my blank expression, she sighed impatiently. 'Bella, you can't be telling me you don't know who Dan Howell is…?'
I shrugged and looked over my shoulder to where her quivering finger was outstretched. A guy a year or so older than me in skinny black jeans and a llama-shaped spirit hood was walking through the park, hands in his pockets. His dark chocolate brown hair obscured one eye, the other visibly looking in our direction. I cringed silently. Hot boys and me – they didn't mix… Famous hot boys and me? Well I was about to find out.
'Oh my gosh, he's seen me! Dan can see me!' Carla hissed, clinging to my arm. 'Bella, what do I do? He's coming towards us and I don't know what to say – I'm going to mess up or something. Bella, stop staring at him, it's weird. He's going to think we're paedophiles or something, look away, look-'
I cut her off. 'Car, if you're so nervous, why don't I do the talking?' I was constantly aware of 'Dan' drawing ever closer to us. As he neared us, I could see the boyish grin that curved his mouth and the dark hazel of his eyes. This was hot on a whole new level, no wonder Carla liked him so much she was almost cataleptic in his presence.
'Hey girls,' he said.
Carla's face had melted away into a sea of blotchy red embarrassment. 'Dan! I'm like you're biggest fan, ever!' she stumbled over her words, her voice suddenly sharp and forced, like a needle trying to force its way through canvas. She stood up and almost instantly tripped over.
'Woah, careful there Danosaur.' He laughed and helped her up. Carla's eyes were huge with embarrassed fear and admiration.
'Bells, take a photo.' Carla handed me her metallic red cell phone and looped her arms round Dan. He looked momentarily taken aback, before allowing himself to relax in her overexcited embrace. As Carla squished up to Dan's chest, which I now noticed was perfect, his smile became rather forced.
I smiled at him timidly, almost sympathetically as my hyperactive friend pressed her face inappropriately close to his body. To save any more awkwardness, I took the photo as fast as I could. For a second I felt Dan's gaze rest on me, and my heart fluttered clumsily. I stood, only a few centimetres shorter than him, gangly and tall for my sixteen years feeling tall and awkward, painfully aware of how I was biting my lip.
'Thanks, Dan!' Carla gasped. 'I love you!'
'Haha, no problem… um what's your name, Danosaur?' He smiled, again slightly forced as Carla insistently invaded his personal space.
'I'm Carla Davis, I follow you on Twitter!' she squealed.
'Great!' He said. I struggled with my jealously of my friend's current predicament as I buried her cell phone back in her handbag that lay forgotten on the park bench. I didn't even know who this Dan guy was, and already I was falling hopelessly in love with his dark chocolate eyes. His voice broke my daydream.
'And what's your name?' he asked me. I felt his eyes trace the contours of my face, then run down my neck and over my badge-covered hoodie and skinny jeans.
'Bella. Um you're Dan, right?' I said stupidly. Great, I'd now made myself look even more immature and thick than before.
He laughed and before either of us could say anything, Carla butted in. 'She's not a Danosaur. She doesn't even know who you are, Dan.' The soppy look in her eyes caused me to cringe again.
Dan chucked again. 'You aren't? Oh crap, sorry I've been assuming that you're also my number one fan…' He looked down, his expression ashamed, but painfully cute at the same time. 'I'm so sorry for being so naïve, I haven't even introduced myself properly. You're probably wondering who the hell I am. I'm Dan, a guy who just happens to lead an internet cult and have a radio 1 show, nice to meet you, Bella.'
