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“Oh please Laurie, let me introduce you!” Miranda whined. Her green eyes became even larger as she tried to give me her patented “puppy dog look.” She could ask me to jump off a bridge while giving me that look and I probably would. Damn her.

“No. No way.” I squeezed my eyes shut and swiveled around in my desk chair. Quickly, I began to move papers around, trying to look like I was extremely busy. Well, I was extremely busy, but I was hoping that by making a big deal of it she’d leave me alone. Of course she didn’t. I should have known better. Suddenly my chair was spun around and she was crouched down in front of me, her eyes now deadly serious. I blinked. “Uh…”

“Laurie, you have to let me introduce you.” Her fringe began to fall into her eyes and she impatiently blew it away. “You need to go on a date.”

I sighed and slumped back in my chair. “Miranda, I do not need to go on a date. Besides,” I gestured to my cluttered desk. “I’m really busy.”

Miranda straightened up and tapped her foot impatiently. “Girl, all you ever do is work! That’s all you’ve been doing for the past year.”

I blinked. “Excuse me for wanting to get my degree.”

Miranda ran a hand through her short auburn hair. It curled just the right amount and bounced beautifully around her face. “I don’t know how you do it!” She began to pace my room. As usual, she just couldn’t keep still. “You go to school, study all day and then you go and work in that cruddy little diner until midnight!”

I grinned, shrugging. “I guess I’m just a workaholic.”

“Just?” Miranda threw up her hands in frustration. “More like you’ve gone insane. I mean, what do you do for fun?”

“Hey, I read!” I cried indignantly.

“Yeah, your textbooks.” Miranda grinned.

“I…”

“Name the last book you read that wasn’t a textbook.”

“Um…” I tugged at my ponytail. “Oh! I read “Carrie” by Stephen King.”

Miranda giggled. “And when did you read it?”

“Uh…” I bit my lip. “Um…” Damn her, she was winning.

Miranda laughed, throwing her head back. Her curls bounced around her face. “All I’m saying is you really need a break.” She pressed her hands together in a prayer-like gesture and looked at me with wide eyes once more. “You’ll love him, honest!”

I groaned and closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Does he even know you’re planning this?”

“Well no, but he loves surprises, so I’m sure he won’t mind.”

Against my will I laughed. I opened one eye to find her still staring at me pleadingly. I groaned again. “Is he a murderer?”

“No.”

“Does he partake in personal hygiene?”

“Definitely.”

I sighed. Hardly able to believe I was doing this, I surrendered. “Oh fine. I’ll meet him tomorrow.”

“YES!” Miranda jumped around squealing, flinging her arms around me and squeezing me so tightly I couldn’t breathe. “Oh Laurie you won’t regret this, I promise!”

“I already do,” I wheezed.

Miranda giggled and let me go. “Oh no, trust me you won’t.” She ruffled my hair and made her way to my bedroom door. Turning back in the doorway she said: “Someday you’ll be thanking me for this.”

“I doubt it.”

She grinned impishly. “Wanna bet?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Fine. $20 says I won’t be thanking you.”

Miranda giggled. “You’re on.”

She walked out triumphantly and I slumped onto my desk in defeat. Why had I let her talk me into this? Not only would I have to spend a night in awkward conversation with someone that I didn’t know, I’d also end up wasting a night on a date when I could be working.

My eyes snapped open. Did I really just think that? I leaned up on my elbows. My desk was a mess. The entire surface was covered in pens, highlighters, pencils and eraser dust. A stack of textbooks was piled precariously on one corner, and at some point my pencil holder had tipped over, spilling even more stationery onto the already cluttered surface. Sighing, I began to start straightening things out when a sudden wave of repulsion washed over me. I didn’t even want to look at my desk or think about the work I had to do.

I picked up my mug of hot chocolate and walked over to my bed, placing it on the nightstand and throwing myself onto the mattress. I stared up at the ceiling. As always there was the nagging thought in my brain – you need to study, what if you’ve missed something important? I turned over and buried my head under my pillow. It was no use. Highlighted sentences and diagrams appeared to be burned behind my eyelids. My head seemed about ready to explode. “Oh God, maybe she’s right…” I muttered before falling to dreams of lectures, flying textbooks and final exams where the clocks were ticking way too fast.

X~~~~~~~~~~~x♥x~~~~~~~~~~~X

“Oh God, why did I let you talk me into this?” I moaned, standing in my towel and staring hopelessly into my closet.

“Because I’m your best friend and you'd do anything for me?” Miranda simpered, fluttering her eyelashes. I groaned internally.

Miranda was too damn adorable for her own good. Her green eyes were large and shiny, her cheeks seeming to be always in the middle of blushing they were so rosy. She was tiny, only about five foot, and had small hands and feet. Her hair bounced around her round face, her nose was small and pointy. She could charm anyone and have them completely wrapped around her little finger in seconds. This cute appearance had probably saved me from killing her quite a few times. She was so bubbly and energetic and loud it made me want to cover her mouth with duct tape on occasion.

“Damn you,” I muttered, but grinning despite myself.

She pretended not to hear me and peered thoughtfully into my closet. “Now, what are you going to wear?”

I shrugged. “Shirt and jeans?”

Miranda rolled her eyes. “At least put some effort into it!”

“Why should I?” I began to flick through my wardrobe. “I don't even know this guy. If it was someone I was interested in then maybe-”

At that moment the doorbell rang and we both jumped. “Jeeze, is that him already?” I glanced at my watch. “He’s half an hour early.”

Miranda jumped up from my bed. “No, I ordered a pizza for dinner, it must be the delivery guy. I’ll get it.”

After she left I stood in front of my wardrobe for a few minutes. I figured I should at least try to make a good impression considering that Miranda must have persuaded this guy pretty hard to come over. I wasn’t particularly best catch on campus, what with my severe study and work schedule. I really couldn’t be counted on to have a good time – at least, outside of the library. But, I decided, staring myself in the mirror, I wasn’t exactly bad looking either. My skin was quite pale and my hair, though plain brown in colour was quite thick and wavy. My eyes were a definite plus though, an interesting mix of brown and green that reminded me of a dark forest and which were framed with thick lashes. I pulled my towel tightly around me as I deliberated. My clothes were really nothing exciting, so figuring the pizza guy was gone I walked into the living room to ask Miranda if I could borrow something of hers.

“Mira-” My voice broke off and the colour rushed into my cheeks.

Oh. My. God.

I had never been more embarrassed in my entire life. Miranda was not receiving a deliciously warm pizza from a lanky youth in a silly hat, but what seemed to be my date for the evening. The first fleeting impression that I got of him was of someone tall and rather tan, because my eyes instantly dropped to the floor and my arms wound even tighter around my body. I could feel both of them staring at me in surprise and my cheeks grew brighter.

“Laurie-!”

Desperately, so that I didn’t look like a complete idiot, I said the first thing that popped into my head. Which admittedly, is never a good idea if you don’t want to look like an idiot. “Don’t worry, this isn’t what I’m wearing.”

I heard Miranda’s loud, excited giggle and a strong masculine laugh. I stared hard at the floor, wishing that it would open up and swallow me whole. “Okay, so I’m just going to go and cheerfully bury myself in the backyard-” I turned to go but Miranda grabbed me by the arm and pulled me towards her friend. I desperately tried to free myself, but she could really grip tightly when she wanted to.

“Miranda, no! What are you-”

“Laurie, this is Cole Edwards.” She chirped, cutting off my protests. “Cole, this is Laurie Hayes.”

“It’s uh, nice to meet you.” Cole said, amusement colouring his tone. He held out his hand.

“Charmed, I’m sure.” I muttered, keeping my eyes on the ground as I shook his hand. His grip was warm and firm.

“Aren’t you going to look at me?” He laughed.

I firmly kept my eyes lowered, trying to control the amount of blood rushing to my cheeks. “I think you’re looking enough for the both of us.”

“Then are you just going to stand there and hold my hand?”

I gave a start and quickly dropped his hand. I clutched at my towel. “No, I-”

He laughed again and I blushed harder. “Stop laughing at me!” I said indignantly.

“Only if you look at me.” I could hear the smile in his voice.

Feeling completely humiliated I slowly dragged my eyes up to his. They were a deep, dark blue, alluring at mysterious. I dropped my gaze a little. He had a fresh, open face alight with laughter and honesty. His curly brown hair was messy and added to the slight amount of facial hair it gave him a kind of ruffled look. He wasn’t particularly the most handsome man I had ever met, but there was definitely something about him that attracted me.

I quickly realised it was his smile. It was infectious and cheerful, making his face light up in a way that was both handsome and adorable. In spite of myself I began to smile.

“There! I knew I wasn’t that hard to look at!” He joked. I laughed with him. He was going to so much trouble to put me at ease that I couldn’t help feeling a little better. “I’m sorry,” I apologised, smiling. “I guess you were expecting something a little different.” Though I was still humiliated, he smile had put me a little more at ease.

“Well, yeah,” he grinned, running a hand through his hair and messing it up even more. “But this is one introduction I don’t think I’ll ever forget.”

I laughed. “Just make yourself comfortable, I’ll be back in a minute with proper clothes.”

He smiled. “Take your time.”

“Miranda, will you help me?” Gleefully, she nodded and followed me. Once in the hallway I elbowed her in the stomach, making her squeak in surprise. “What the hell Mira?” I exclaimed. “You could have warned me!”

“Sorry, sorry!” She looked at me apologetically. “It’s just, we got talking and I didn’t expect you to be out of your room so quickly and-” Her hands began to fly in the air the way they always did when she got excited. Her talking sped up. “-and I was literally about to go and tell you-”

“Okay, okay, whatever.” We walked into her bedroom. She plopped herself onto the bed and propped herself up on her elbows. “Besides, I think you made a lasting impression.” She winked.

“Mira-”

“What do you think of him?” She interrupted a knowing glint in her eye.

“He’s-he’s nice I guess,” I stammered, feeling my face heat up. I turned away from her and rummaged through her closet.

“You are definitely going to thank me one day!” She gloated.

“Yeah, I doubt it.”

“Can I come to your wedding? Or better, can I be your maid of honour? I better be your maid of honour Laurie, or I swear to-”

“Oh, shut up!” I said, grinning.

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

“Oh please Laurie, let me introduce you!” Miranda whined. Her green eyes became even larger as she tried to give me her patented “puppy dog look.” She could ask me to jump off a bridge while giving me that look and I probably would. Damn her.

“No. No way.” I squeezed my eyes shut and swiveled around in my desk chair. Quickly, I began to move papers around, trying to look like I was extremely busy. Well, I was extremely busy, but I was hoping that by making a big deal of it she’d leave me alone. Of course she didn’t. I should have known better. Suddenly my chair was spun around and she was crouched down in front of me, her eyes now deadly serious. I blinked. “Uh…”

“Laurie, you have to let me introduce you.” Her fringe began to fall into her eyes and she impatiently blew it away. “You need to go on a date.”

I sighed and slumped back in my chair. “Miranda, I do not need to go on a date. Besides,” I gestured to my cluttered desk. “I’m really busy.”

Miranda straightened up and tapped her foot impatiently. “Girl, all you ever do is work! That’s all you’ve been doing for the past year.”

I blinked. “Excuse me for wanting to get my degree.”

Miranda ran a hand through her short auburn hair. It curled just the right amount and bounced beautifully around her face. “I don’t know how you do it!” She began to pace my room. As usual, she just couldn’t keep still. “You go to school, study all day and then you go and work in that cruddy little diner until midnight!”

I grinned, shrugging. “I guess I’m just a workaholic.”

“Just?” Miranda threw up her hands in frustration. “More like you’ve gone insane. I mean, what do you do for fun?”

“Hey, I read!” I cried indignantly.

“Yeah, your textbooks.” Miranda grinned.

“I…”

“Name the last book you read that wasn’t a textbook.”

“Um…” I tugged at my ponytail. “Oh! I read “Carrie” by Stephen King.”

Miranda giggled. “And when did you read it?”

“Uh…” I bit my lip. “Um…” Damn her, she was winning.

Miranda laughed, throwing her head back. Her curls bounced around her face. “All I’m saying is you really need a break.” She pressed her hands together in a prayer-like gesture and looked at me with wide eyes once more. “You’ll love him, honest!”

I groaned and closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Does he even know you’re planning this?”

“Well no, but he loves surprises, so I’m sure he won’t mind.”

Against my will I laughed. I opened one eye to find her still staring at me pleadingly. I groaned again. “Is he a murderer?”

“No.”

“Does he partake in personal hygiene?”

“Definitely.”

I sighed. Hardly able to believe I was doing this, I surrendered. “Oh fine. I’ll meet him tomorrow.”

“YES!” Miranda jumped around squealing, flinging her arms around me and squeezing me so tightly I couldn’t breathe. “Oh Laurie you won’t regret this, I promise!”

“I already do,” I wheezed.

Miranda giggled and let me go. “Oh no, trust me you won’t.” She ruffled my hair and made her way to my bedroom door. Turning back in the doorway she said: “Someday you’ll be thanking me for this.”

“I doubt it.”

She grinned impishly. “Wanna bet?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Fine. $20 says I won’t be thanking you.”

Miranda giggled. “You’re on.”

She walked out triumphantly and I slumped onto my desk in defeat. Why had I let her talk me into this? Not only would I have to spend a night in awkward conversation with someone that I didn’t know, I’d also end up wasting a night on a date when I could be working.

My eyes snapped open. Did I really just think that? I leaned up on my elbows. My desk was a mess. The entire surface was covered in pens, highlighters, pencils and eraser dust. A stack of textbooks was piled precariously on one corner, and at some point my pencil holder had tipped over, spilling even more stationery onto the already cluttered surface. Sighing, I began to start straightening things out when a sudden wave of repulsion washed over me. I didn’t even want to look at my desk or think about the work I had to do.

I picked up my mug of hot chocolate and walked over to my bed, placing it on the nightstand and throwing myself onto the mattress. I stared up at the ceiling. As always there was the nagging thought in my brain – you need to study, what if you’ve missed something important? I turned over and buried my head under my pillow. It was no use. Highlighted sentences and diagrams appeared to be burned behind my eyelids. My head seemed about ready to explode. “Oh God, maybe she’s right…” I muttered before falling to dreams of lectures, flying textbooks and final exams where the clocks were ticking way too fast.

X~~~~~~~~~~~x♥x~~~~~~~~~~~X

“Oh God, why did I let you talk me into this?” I moaned, standing in my towel and staring hopelessly into my closet.

“Because I’m your best friend and you'd do anything for me?” Miranda simpered, fluttering her eyelashes. I groaned internally.

Miranda was too damn adorable for her own good. Her green eyes were large and shiny, her cheeks seeming to be always in the middle of blushing they were so rosy. She was tiny, only about five foot, and had small hands and feet. Her hair bounced around her round face, her nose was small and pointy. She could charm anyone and have them completely wrapped around her little finger in seconds. This cute appearance had probably saved me from killing her quite a few times. She was so bubbly and energetic and loud it made me want to cover her mouth with duct tape on occasion.

“Damn you,” I muttered, but grinning despite myself.

She pretended not to hear me and peered thoughtfully into my closet. “Now, what are you going to wear?”

I shrugged. “Shirt and jeans?”

Miranda rolled her eyes. “At least put some effort into it!”

“Why should I?” I began to flick through my wardrobe. “I don't even know this guy. If it was someone I was interested in then maybe-”

At that moment the doorbell rang and we both jumped. “Jeeze, is that him already?” I glanced at my watch. “He’s half an hour early.”

Miranda jumped up from my bed. “No, I ordered a pizza for dinner, it must be the delivery guy. I’ll get it.”

After she left I stood in front of my wardrobe for a few minutes. I figured I should at least try to make a good impression considering that Miranda must have persuaded this guy pretty hard to come over. I wasn’t particularly best catch on campus, what with my severe study and work schedule. I really couldn’t be counted on to have a good time – at least, outside of the library. But, I decided, staring myself in the mirror, I wasn’t exactly bad looking either. My skin was quite pale and my hair, though plain brown in colour was quite thick and wavy. My eyes were a definite plus though, an interesting mix of brown and green that reminded me of a dark forest and which were framed with thick lashes. I pulled my towel tightly around me as I deliberated. My clothes were really nothing exciting, so figuring the pizza guy was gone I walked into the living room to ask Miranda if I could borrow something of hers.

“Mira-” My voice broke off and the colour rushed into my cheeks.

Oh. My. God.

I had never been more embarrassed in my entire life. Miranda was not receiving a deliciously warm pizza from a lanky youth in a silly hat, but what seemed to be my date for the evening. The first fleeting impression that I got of him was of someone tall and rather tan, because my eyes instantly dropped to the floor and my arms wound even tighter around my body. I could feel both of them staring at me in surprise and my cheeks grew brighter.

“Laurie-!”

Desperately, so that I didn’t look like a complete idiot, I said the first thing that popped into my head. Which admittedly, is never a good idea if you don’t want to look like an idiot. “Don’t worry, this isn’t what I’m wearing.”

I heard Miranda’s loud, excited giggle and a strong masculine laugh. I stared hard at the floor, wishing that it would open up and swallow me whole. “Okay, so I’m just going to go and cheerfully bury myself in the backyard-” I turned to go but Miranda grabbed me by the arm and pulled me towards her friend. I desperately tried to free myself, but she could really grip tightly when she wanted to.

“Miranda, no! What are you-”

“Laurie, this is Cole Edwards.” She chirped, cutting off my protests. “Cole, this is Laurie Hayes.”

“It’s uh, nice to meet you.” Cole said, amusement colouring his tone. He held out his hand.

“Charmed, I’m sure.” I muttered, keeping my eyes on the ground as I shook his hand. His grip was warm and firm.

“Aren’t you going to look at me?” He laughed.

I firmly kept my eyes lowered, trying to control the amount of blood rushing to my cheeks. “I think you’re looking enough for the both of us.”

“Then are you just going to stand there and hold my hand?”

I gave a start and quickly dropped his hand. I clutched at my towel. “No, I-”

He laughed again and I blushed harder. “Stop laughing at me!” I said indignantly.

“Only if you look at me.” I could hear the smile in his voice.

Feeling completely humiliated I slowly dragged my eyes up to his. They were a deep, dark blue, alluring at mysterious. I dropped my gaze a little. He had a fresh, open face alight with laughter and honesty. His curly brown hair was messy and added to the slight amount of facial hair it gave him a kind of ruffled look. He wasn’t particularly the most handsome man I had ever met, but there was definitely something about him that attracted me.

I quickly realised it was his smile. It was infectious and cheerful, making his face light up in a way that was both handsome and adorable. In spite of myself I began to smile.

“There! I knew I wasn’t that hard to look at!” He joked. I laughed with him. He was going to so much trouble to put me at ease that I couldn’t help feeling a little better. “I’m sorry,” I apologised, smiling. “I guess you were expecting something a little different.” Though I was still humiliated, he smile had put me a little more at ease.

“Well, yeah,” he grinned, running a hand through his hair and messing it up even more. “But this is one introduction I don’t think I’ll ever forget.”

I laughed. “Just make yourself comfortable, I’ll be back in a minute with proper clothes.”

He smiled. “Take your time.”

“Miranda, will you help me?” Gleefully, she nodded and followed me. Once in the hallway I elbowed her in the stomach, making her squeak in surprise. “What the hell Mira?” I exclaimed. “You could have warned me!”

“Sorry, sorry!” She looked at me apologetically. “It’s just, we got talking and I didn’t expect you to be out of your room so quickly and-” Her hands began to fly in the air the way they always did when she got excited. Her talking sped up. “-and I was literally about to go and tell you-”

“Okay, okay, whatever.” We walked into her bedroom. She plopped herself onto the bed and propped herself up on her elbows. “Besides, I think you made a lasting impression.” She winked.

“Mira-”

“What do you think of him?” She interrupted a knowing glint in her eye.

“He’s-he’s nice I guess,” I stammered, feeling my face heat up. I turned away from her and rummaged through her closet.

“You are definitely going to thank me one day!” She gloated.

“Yeah, I doubt it.”

“Can I come to your wedding? Or better, can I be your maid of honour? I better be your maid of honour Laurie, or I swear to-”

“Oh, shut up!” I said, grinning.