Page 8 of Hailey Goes to College

I laugh as she starts rifling through my closet. Kelsey has a knack for fashion and an eye for what looks good. I trust her judgment completely.

“How about this?” she said, holding up a cute sundress. “It’s casual but still pretty. Perfect for a first date.”

“I love it,” I say, taking the dress from her. “Thanks, Kelsey.”

“Now, let’s talk about your hair,” she says, pulling out a few hair accessories. “Do you want to keep it down, or should we try something different?”

“I usually keep it down, but maybe we could try something new,” I suggest. “We have a few days to decide.”

“Let’s curl it,” she says, patting the seat at her desk that she’s turned into a makeshift vanity. “You gotta look hot. Gotta keep him coming back for more.”

I laugh but I sit down at the vanity Kelsey has set up at her desk as she starts working her magic. As she curls my hair, we talk about everything that happened from the moment I left the dorm, to Ryan asking me out to when I made it back to our dorm. It’s moments like this that make me grateful for our friendship. No matter what, we always have each other’s backs.

“This is going to be so much fun,” Kelsey says as she finishes the last curl. “I can’t wait to hear all about it. You’re going to look amazing.”

“Thanks, Kelsey,” I say, looking at my reflection. She has done a fantastic job, and I feel more confident than ever. “There’s no way I could have worked this magic on my hair.”

“That’s what best friends are for,” she says, giving me a hug. “We’ll recreate it on Saturday.”

As I get ready for bed, the excitement and fantasies about Saturday night with Ryan, send butterflies into my stomach. Between classes, meetings at the campus newspaper, and planning our date, there was a lot to keep me busy. But the thought of going out with Ryan and getting to know him better keeps a smile on my face and a bounce in my step.

By the time Saturday arrives, I am more than ready for a break from the hustle and bustle. And as I get ready for my date with Ryan, I can’t help but wonder what the night will be like.

The entire week had felt like a build-up to this moment, and I was ready to see where things would go with Ryan. Kelsey had spent the day helping me get ready, and now I was standing in front of the mirror, feeling more nervous than I had in a long time.

“You look amazing,” Kelsey said, giving me a reassuring smile. “Ryan is going to be blown away.”

“Thanks, Kelsey,” I say, taking a deep breath. “I just hope I don’t trip over my own feet or something.”

“You’ll be fine,” she laughs. “Just be yourself. That’s all you need to do. And besides you’ve tripped at his feet at least twice already and he still asked you out.”

I smile, feeling a bit more at ease. There’s a knock on the door, and my heart skipped a beat.

“That’s him,” Kelsey says, practically pushing me out of the room. “Go have fun!”

I open the door to find Ryan standing there, looking handsome and relaxed. He smiles when he sees me, and I feel a wave of warmth.

“Wow, Hailey, you look incredible,” he says, his eyes shining.

“Thanks. You look great too,” I reply, feeling my cheeks flush.

“Ready to go?” he asks, extending his hand.

“Absolutely,” I say, taking his hand and feeling a spark as our fingers intertwine.

We make our way out of Hamilton Hall with our fingers still linked together and as I think we’ll be walking to wherever dinner may be he surprises me and gestures towards a car parked at the curb. Quickly, I realize it’s his car as he holds open the passenger door for me to get in. I buckle my seatbelt as he rounds the hood to get in the driver’s side. My nerves tick up because I’m not a fan of car rides, long or short, so I start to mentally go through my coping mechanisms. I start inventorying the scenery. The different colors of the leaves on the trees as we pass them. How many places there are if we need to stop, anything to keep my mind busy.

I’ve been so focused on not getting overly anxious about the car ride I don’t even realize I’ve been quiet until Ryan speaks up. “Cat got your tongue?” Ryan’s easygoing nature makes me feel comfortable, and I can feel my nerves settling as he continues to talk.

“So, I thought we could start with a round of miniature golf,” Ryan says as he glances over at me. “I hope you’re up for some friendly competition.”

“I’m always up for a challenge,” I say, grinning. “But I should warn you, I can’t even remember the last time I played.”

“Is that so hmm?” Ryan teases. “Well, we’ll see about that. You underrated yourself at soccer, so I don’t trust your self-assessments.”

Thankfully, we arrive at the miniature golf course after about twenty minutes of driving and I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia. It reminds me of the times I used to go with friends back in Phoenix. In middle school, I think I lived at a safari miniature golf place near our house. The course is brightly lit, with colorful obstacles and playful decorations, and as I take it all in I laugh when I realize it’s jungle-themed. A large, green crocodile mouth stands open for us to walk through into the lobby. The white pointed teeth surround us for a second as we make our way inside. Ryan steps up to the counter and pays for our game. He hands me a club while taking one for himself and then we each choose a colorful ball.

As we walk to the first hole, the playful banter begins. “Ladies first,” Ryan says, gesturing to the tee. This one has a trio of giraffes placed around the hole’s design with strategically placed trees that they pretend to eat from.

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