Being Me
Chapter 3
I wake up to the sound of my alarm. It’s really early and I actually forgot that I set the alarm. I debate sleeping in but I decide against it. I look out the window and see the sun starting to come out. I decide that I want to start the day right so maybe a quick jog will help me out. I quickly take off the clothes that I fell asleep in last night and through on a sports bra a grey t-shirt. I leave on my shorts since they are perfect for running. I find my phone and headphones then throw my running shoes on.
As I’m walking down the stairs I see I have a text. I get excited assuming that Harry might have actually texting me, but of course it’s not him but my mother.
Mom: Jane, the sales are going great and I just wanted to text and make sure you remembered your internship starts today
Shit. I had forgotten all about my internship. I can’t believe I let that slip my thoughts. Then again I have just been moping around the house these past few days so it’s not that surprising. Im starting an internship for an acting agency, its not as fun as it sounds but I enjoy working with actors none the less.
I have plenty of time for my run, so I continue out the front door. I do a few quick stretches and start my music for my journey. It’s been a while since I’ve gone for a jog, so it doesn’t surprise me when I get tired rather quickly. I distract myself with thoughts of Harry and my internship so I can get through the six mile journey. Harry seemed so nice yesterday, he kind of reminds not to judge a book buy its cover. Part of me hopes he texts me but the other is wishing I never gave him my number. And as for my internship I really need some new clothes, I can’t imagine showing up in my everyday attire. It would probably be best to cut this workout short and go to the shops for new clothes… that and im fucking tired.
I slow to a walk and take my headphones out of my ears. It’s still quite early so not many people are out, I grateful because I probably sound like im hyperventilating. I take a few shortcuts and am glad I didn’t get lost. I run inside the house and drag myself up the stairs to my bathroom. I rid myself of my sweaty clothes and jump in the shower. I leave it on cold for a few moments then decide im freezing. I take my time and decide to shave my legs. Something that hasn’t been taken care of since I didn’t really get up during my mournful break up. I mentally laugh at myself for being so pity and letting that jerk Jeff get to me. Since im not the type to say anything like ‘I deserve better’ or ‘he was my everything’. I don’t, because I refuse to get to the point of self pity or an obsessive love life. I finish my shower and go to my closet. I put my simple bra and panties on since that’s all I have. I only have t-shirts and skinny jeans plus my many pairs of converse. So I put the usual on. I definitely need some new clothes. I think to myself as I lace up my converse. I go to my mirror and apply some makeup to my face its light but, makes me look older and more ‘professional’ as my mother said. I blow-dry my hair and leave it down since it is naturally wavy.
I walk over to my phone and am surprised to see a text from an unknown number.
Harry: Is this Jane?
I automatically know its Harry since he’s the only person I’ve given my number to in what seems like forever.
Jane: Yeah. Is this Harry?
I grab my bag and take out the unimportant things and put equally unimportant things in. I grab my small umbrella and shove towards the bottom, since I’ve learned my lesson. I make my way down stairs and take a seat on the couch.
Harry: Its me…unless you know multiple attractive men named harry ;)
I scoff at the text but decide to mess with him.
J -Yeah I met you at the mall. You’re the one with the blue eyes right? I laugh at the text before I go to the kitchen and grab the last orange. I really need to get groceries. There is almost nothing to eat in the entire house besides a bottle of orange juice and some microwave meals. Then again when you have a mom who’s always gone, Groceries will end up becoming your responsibility. I sit back down and see Harry has already replied.
Harry: No im actually the one who helped you in the park. I gave you a ride home?
Although I can’t hear him I can tell through the text that he is doubtful that I actually remember him. Which is ridiculous?
Jane: I know Harry, im just messing with you! ;)
Harry: Oh! Ha-ha, well I was texting you to ask if you had any plans this evening.
My heart skips a beat. Is he asking me out? I have never actually been asked on a date and I am confused on how to even reply to the question. Jeff had never really taken me on dates and if we did he would take me to the movies and usually the date consisted of him asking if I wanted to go back to his house. This is horrible. The only relationship experience I have is with a total asshole and its not doing any good going off of it. I look down at my phone and see I haven’t replied in five minutes. That probably messed up his ego a little, I think to myself.
Jane: Im busy till about five.
Harry: Perfect! How would you like to go on a date with me this evening?
A date. An actual date. I would never say no, but I don’t even know him. I guess that’s what dates are for.
Jane: Sure. When should I be ready?
Harry: Be ready around seven.
Jane: Alright. And how would you prefer I dressed?
Harry: Nothing too fancy.
Jane: Alright see you then. ;)
He doesn’t reply but it doesn’t matter, because I have no idea what ‘Nothing too fancy’ means. Well good thing I already made time for shopping today. I finish my orange and head out the door. I don’t know any good stores since I haven’t gone shopping in London exactly. I spend about five minutes trying to hail a cab, when I finally get one I ask the driver to take to the nearest shopping center. He takes me to some place called Stratford. I have no complaints because he got me here quite fast. I give him some money and pace to the front entrance. I brace myself for the many stores ahead of me. Since the last time I went shopping I was in America im not exactly up to date on fashion and what’s trendy.
I walk into the first store I see and am pleased to see it’s a Forever 21. I use to shop here with my old friend back in America but I never actually bought anything from here. I see a table full of dark wash denim jeans and mentally battle myself from walking in that direction. Instead I see I rack full of blouse type shirts. I grab the navy one as well as the white one. They are different from my usual plain t-shirts but that’s what I need. Different. The mannequin next to the rack is wearing the top as well and has a black skirt on as well. I grab the skirt simply because it looks good on the on the plastic figure. The rest of my journey in Forever 21 continues. See. Like. Buy.
I leave the store with nine tops and the black skirt plus a few pairs of black jeans, which should look acceptable with my new shirts. I have yet to buy an outfit for my date with Harry, and im starting to think I won’t find anything. I leave Forever 21 and find a store that offers nice looking clothing. It’s called Topshop and I feel like I’ve heard a chick from my study club mention it before. I walk in and am greeted by an array of many different styles. I roam the store and settle on crème colored dress. It’s rather short, but with my height I should look decent. I find a pair of flats since Harry did say ‘nothing too fancy’. I pay for the dress and shoes and check the time it’s almost twelve and I need to be at my internship by one. I rush out of the mall and luckily I hail a cab rather fast. I tell him im in a rush and if he hurries ill give him twenty for a tip. He doesn’t hesitate. I guess I still haven’t gotten the currency down.
I’m home in no time. I decide to tell the cab driver to wait a few moments so I can change and come back out. I rush inside and decide to just change downstairs. I throw on the navy blouse along with a pair of my new black skinny jeans. I grab my simple brown boots from the coat closet and decide I look decent for the internship I grab my bag and make my way back to the outside to the cab. I hastily give him the directions to the internship and luckily it’s not too far. I enjoy the car ride and allow myself to rest and think about Harry. I keep wondering what he is going to wear. I can’t imagine him in anything other than that thin white t-shirt. I also keep wondering if he will like my dress. My thoughts are interrupted as the cab driver tells me we’ve arrived. I give him the promised about of money and make my way to the entrance of the acting agency.
As I’m walking down the stairs I see I have a text. I get excited assuming that Harry might have actually texting me, but of course it’s not him but my mother.
Mom: Jane, the sales are going great and I just wanted to text and make sure you remembered your internship starts today
Shit. I had forgotten all about my internship. I can’t believe I let that slip my thoughts. Then again I have just been moping around the house these past few days so it’s not that surprising. Im starting an internship for an acting agency, its not as fun as it sounds but I enjoy working with actors none the less.
I have plenty of time for my run, so I continue out the front door. I do a few quick stretches and start my music for my journey. It’s been a while since I’ve gone for a jog, so it doesn’t surprise me when I get tired rather quickly. I distract myself with thoughts of Harry and my internship so I can get through the six mile journey. Harry seemed so nice yesterday, he kind of reminds not to judge a book buy its cover. Part of me hopes he texts me but the other is wishing I never gave him my number. And as for my internship I really need some new clothes, I can’t imagine showing up in my everyday attire. It would probably be best to cut this workout short and go to the shops for new clothes… that and im fucking tired.
I slow to a walk and take my headphones out of my ears. It’s still quite early so not many people are out, I grateful because I probably sound like im hyperventilating. I take a few shortcuts and am glad I didn’t get lost. I run inside the house and drag myself up the stairs to my bathroom. I rid myself of my sweaty clothes and jump in the shower. I leave it on cold for a few moments then decide im freezing. I take my time and decide to shave my legs. Something that hasn’t been taken care of since I didn’t really get up during my mournful break up. I mentally laugh at myself for being so pity and letting that jerk Jeff get to me. Since im not the type to say anything like ‘I deserve better’ or ‘he was my everything’. I don’t, because I refuse to get to the point of self pity or an obsessive love life. I finish my shower and go to my closet. I put my simple bra and panties on since that’s all I have. I only have t-shirts and skinny jeans plus my many pairs of converse. So I put the usual on. I definitely need some new clothes. I think to myself as I lace up my converse. I go to my mirror and apply some makeup to my face its light but, makes me look older and more ‘professional’ as my mother said. I blow-dry my hair and leave it down since it is naturally wavy.
I walk over to my phone and am surprised to see a text from an unknown number.
Harry: Is this Jane?
I automatically know its Harry since he’s the only person I’ve given my number to in what seems like forever.
Jane: Yeah. Is this Harry?
I grab my bag and take out the unimportant things and put equally unimportant things in. I grab my small umbrella and shove towards the bottom, since I’ve learned my lesson. I make my way down stairs and take a seat on the couch.
Harry: Its me…unless you know multiple attractive men named harry ;)
I scoff at the text but decide to mess with him.
J -Yeah I met you at the mall. You’re the one with the blue eyes right? I laugh at the text before I go to the kitchen and grab the last orange. I really need to get groceries. There is almost nothing to eat in the entire house besides a bottle of orange juice and some microwave meals. Then again when you have a mom who’s always gone, Groceries will end up becoming your responsibility. I sit back down and see Harry has already replied.
Harry: No im actually the one who helped you in the park. I gave you a ride home?
Although I can’t hear him I can tell through the text that he is doubtful that I actually remember him. Which is ridiculous?
Jane: I know Harry, im just messing with you! ;)
Harry: Oh! Ha-ha, well I was texting you to ask if you had any plans this evening.
My heart skips a beat. Is he asking me out? I have never actually been asked on a date and I am confused on how to even reply to the question. Jeff had never really taken me on dates and if we did he would take me to the movies and usually the date consisted of him asking if I wanted to go back to his house. This is horrible. The only relationship experience I have is with a total asshole and its not doing any good going off of it. I look down at my phone and see I haven’t replied in five minutes. That probably messed up his ego a little, I think to myself.
Jane: Im busy till about five.
Harry: Perfect! How would you like to go on a date with me this evening?
A date. An actual date. I would never say no, but I don’t even know him. I guess that’s what dates are for.
Jane: Sure. When should I be ready?
Harry: Be ready around seven.
Jane: Alright. And how would you prefer I dressed?
Harry: Nothing too fancy.
Jane: Alright see you then. ;)
He doesn’t reply but it doesn’t matter, because I have no idea what ‘Nothing too fancy’ means. Well good thing I already made time for shopping today. I finish my orange and head out the door. I don’t know any good stores since I haven’t gone shopping in London exactly. I spend about five minutes trying to hail a cab, when I finally get one I ask the driver to take to the nearest shopping center. He takes me to some place called Stratford. I have no complaints because he got me here quite fast. I give him some money and pace to the front entrance. I brace myself for the many stores ahead of me. Since the last time I went shopping I was in America im not exactly up to date on fashion and what’s trendy.
I walk into the first store I see and am pleased to see it’s a Forever 21. I use to shop here with my old friend back in America but I never actually bought anything from here. I see a table full of dark wash denim jeans and mentally battle myself from walking in that direction. Instead I see I rack full of blouse type shirts. I grab the navy one as well as the white one. They are different from my usual plain t-shirts but that’s what I need. Different. The mannequin next to the rack is wearing the top as well and has a black skirt on as well. I grab the skirt simply because it looks good on the on the plastic figure. The rest of my journey in Forever 21 continues. See. Like. Buy.
I leave the store with nine tops and the black skirt plus a few pairs of black jeans, which should look acceptable with my new shirts. I have yet to buy an outfit for my date with Harry, and im starting to think I won’t find anything. I leave Forever 21 and find a store that offers nice looking clothing. It’s called Topshop and I feel like I’ve heard a chick from my study club mention it before. I walk in and am greeted by an array of many different styles. I roam the store and settle on crème colored dress. It’s rather short, but with my height I should look decent. I find a pair of flats since Harry did say ‘nothing too fancy’. I pay for the dress and shoes and check the time it’s almost twelve and I need to be at my internship by one. I rush out of the mall and luckily I hail a cab rather fast. I tell him im in a rush and if he hurries ill give him twenty for a tip. He doesn’t hesitate. I guess I still haven’t gotten the currency down.
I’m home in no time. I decide to tell the cab driver to wait a few moments so I can change and come back out. I rush inside and decide to just change downstairs. I throw on the navy blouse along with a pair of my new black skinny jeans. I grab my simple brown boots from the coat closet and decide I look decent for the internship I grab my bag and make my way back to the outside to the cab. I hastily give him the directions to the internship and luckily it’s not too far. I enjoy the car ride and allow myself to rest and think about Harry. I keep wondering what he is going to wear. I can’t imagine him in anything other than that thin white t-shirt. I also keep wondering if he will like my dress. My thoughts are interrupted as the cab driver tells me we’ve arrived. I give him the promised about of money and make my way to the entrance of the acting agency.
9/4/13