Vulnerable

I'm in my new room, unpacking. It's been a week since I moved to England. I should've been done with unpacking by now, but ever since I arrived, my cousin, Marissa, has been showing me around the city, taking me places and introducing me to all her friends. Now it's saturday and I'm just getting started with organizing my clothes into the closet.

This city is great, Mari's friends are great, she's great. I've missed her so much. She moved here four years ago with her family and I felt so sad. We're like sisters and now we're finally reunited and living together! I can't believe I'm living in the city of my dreams, about to start uni and a brand new life with my best friend! This is so exciting. I couldn't believe it when my parents agreed to our plans of me moving in with her and studying abroad. I was kinda speechless I must say. Back home they were so overprotective of me and now they're letting me grow up and become my own person.

So far living with her has been awesome. We both like things neat and organized, so that alone makes her the best roommate ever.As I'm getting all my things into the drawers, Marissa walks in.

"There's a party tonight." She says, almost like it's no big deal. Well, for her it isn't. For me, I went with her to one party last wednesday and that was my first in like three months. So yeah, you can imagine.

"Another one?" I say, trying not to look amused.

"Yes, but this is the party. All my friends from high school will be there, plus Harry. It's like this farewell to the high school years, you know?"

"Then I guess we should go. I must meet this Harry person." I say, smiling. Harry is Marissa's new boyfriend. They met in high school but didn't start dating until this summer. He was out of town, so I haven't met him yet. She's been talking about him nonstop.

"Oh dear, you think I was asking you? We were going regardless of your answer. You need to meet them british boys!" She said, winking at me. We both laughed.

I've always been insecure around boys. When I was in high school I was slightly overweight and that changed me. I stayed away from relationships and all things related to them because I felt gross and undeserving. Now I managed to lose a lot of that weight and my confidence has improved, but still, I have this mental block. It's like the insecurities go beyond my body and onto my mind. I want to change that, though, and that's why I'm more open to opportunities, especially since I'm in a new country with a fresh start.

I haven't told her yet, but I've laid my eyes on one of her friends. Her best friend, Liam. He was at the first party we went to and then we hung out the next day at the mall. He's so dreamy and nice. He has this bad boy vibe and I'm into that. While we were at the mall, he kept asking me questions, trying to get to know me, which was really nice. Like I said, I stayed away from boys so they don't usually talk to me. In fact, I don't have many guy friends. Sure, I know a bunch of boys but they're just acquaintances. Liam was different.

When Marissa went to her own room, I kept folding and thinking. Maybe Liam and I, this could be something. I can't tell Marissa, though. This is her best friend we're talking about. I'm sure she'll be freaking out and making plans and just making things super awkward. I love her, but sometimes she can be too much. She's so different from me. So bubbly and confident and nice. I'm more chill and shy. I make little conversation with people unless I know them really well. "This could be the night to start changing that." I told myself.

Later that night I cooked dinner and watched Scandal with Mari. While we were washing the dishes we talked about uni, which we'll start on monday.

"You know, Harry's going to Saint George's, too." She said with a smile. Saint George's the university I'll be studying law at. One of the best here in England. I'm so lucky I got my scholarship, otherwise I probably wouldn't be here.

"Really? That's cool!" I said while scrubbing a plate. Harry must be very smart.

"Yep, he's studying law, just like you." Oh, he just got smarter. I smiled at my thought.

"Oh, that's really cool actually. I hope we get some classes together so I can get to know him better." I said. I'm really looking forward we get along, it would be awesome if I had someone I know with me. I'm really bad at making new friends.

"You probably will." She said.

Marissa's studying graphic design at Queen Elizabeth's university. That major suits her very well. She's always painting something. She even painted the walls of my room with a really cool black and white design and yesterday she started drawing some sketches of designs so she can print them as stickers and place them on our doors.

After we finished cleaning up the kitchen we got ready for the party. I put on some black high waisted shorts and black crop top with black heels and rose gold accessories. I gave my hair some volume with soft curls. Since it's shoulder length, it looks Marilyn Monroe-ish. I love it. This should caught Liam's attention for sure. I really hope so. Maybe my first kiss will be with a british boy, tonight.

Marissa wore a tight red dress and killer heels. She looks so good. I guess she has someone to impress, too. We got in her car and arrived to the party in no time. This kid, Louis, has a pretty impressive house. It looks so big and sophisticated from the outside. Once we got in I realized this house must be the house of my dreams. So nicely decorated with big spaces and a huge backyard with a glowing pool and white tents. Groups of laughing teens everywhere with white solo cups in their hands. Nice touch. Woah, this was a nice party. Everyone seems so happy.

We were out in the grass and Marissa disappeared, leaving me by the pool. Well, actually I don't know if she even noticed she left me behind because I was too immersed looking at the cool tile design the pool had inside. The light coming from it just made it more beautiful. I looked around and saw some familiar faces, people I had seen at the previous party which cannot be compared to this one. This one is so chic. Marissa's friends must be part of some clique here in London. I kept looking for Liam. He must be here somewhere. But I decided to stay there by the pool, if he comes from inside the house I'll see him.

The 1975 was blasting from the speakers and I hummed along to Menswear, now appreciating the house from the back. It had three floors and a nice terrace on the second floor looking to the pool. Lots of flowers hanging from the windows. I wonder how much a house like this must cost.

I looked across the large pool and saw two people coming out from the bushes and making out. He was buttoning up his shirt never separating his lips from hers. I squinted my eyes to see more clearly. Those tattoo's on his arm look familiar. oh... OH! That was Liam. Oh my God. He has a girlfriend. Why hadn't I thought of that? Of course he has a girlfriend. He's gorgeous and a flirt. Sigh. Thank God I didn't said anything to Mari. That would've been awkward.

But I really liked him... I was so stupid an naïve, I always get my hopes up whenever someone is nice with me. I kept whining in my head as I watched him passionately kiss that blonde girl. I wish someone kissed me like that. I wish he would kiss me like that...

Someone tapped my shoulder and I sighed as I turned around thinking it was Marissa. Instead, I locked my gaze on the most beautiful pair of green eyes I've ever seen.

"He surely looks like a great kisser, doesn't he?" He said with a huge smile, looking at the PDA across the pool.
"Hello. You must be Karla. I'm Harry."

Notes

Well, hello there!! This is my first story. I know this chapter is so short, but I'm just trying things out :D please let me know what you think!! and by the way, you should listen to Menswear, the 1975's song Karla was humming at the party ;) ya know, to get you in the mood!

I should probably point out that english isn't my first language so please excuse me if I make any grammar mistake!

-K