One thing I'm realizing I dislike about California, is the fact that the leaves don't change colors in the fall. I had always loved the season just for that reason. How the oranges and yellows and reds changed the way the whole world around me felt. It didn't matter what was going on in my life, the colors of fall always somehow made me smile. It seems like such a small thing to miss, but when it's something you're used to, it's a little disappointing when it doesn't happen.

It's well into October now, and while everyone seems to be getting into the Halloween spirit, I'm having a hard time with it, simply because the weather should be changing and it isn't. Halloween is apparently Nova's favorite holiday. The first week of October, she decorated our dorm room with cobwebs and spiders, our lamps now had green lights in them and every time you entered or left the room, a witch would pierce our living space with it's taunting laugh, which I wholeheartedly despised.

With the amount of work that's been put under our belts over the last few weeks, the pressure has been a hell of a lot heavier than I ever thought imaginable. Tests. Photo shoots. Labs. Workshops. More tests. Tired wasn't even the word to explain how I was feeling and I'm happy that things are finally slowing down again for a few weeks.

Among everything we had to do for school, Harry and I had gotten through almost the whole two seasons of The 100 on Netflix, making it an every night before bedtime routine during the week days, to watch an episode or two to wind down after studying or being out all day with photo shoots or stuck in front of a computer screen editing. He, of course, still went to the pub on weekends with Niall and Nova, while I used that time to get in my extra sleep that I so desperately needed. It was, strangely, the only time I wasn't around Harry, unless we had different photo shoot assignments. I was happy to have that break from him though every weekend. Sometimes a girl just needs some time to herself.

"I need to ask you a serious favor!" Astrid and I are having a much needed girls night in. Pajamas, snacks and of course her beloved Hopsie, who undeniably looks more like 'Hopster,' now that Harry has cut out some fabric from one of his many bandanas and made the poor rabbit one of his own. We've already gotten through The Other Woman and Pitch Perfect, and while I'm ready to go to bed, she's scrolling through more movies to find another one for us to watch.

"Anything for you!" I yawn.

She smiles at me from her side of the bed, putting her bag of chips aside. "I was hoping you would say that! Because I need you and Harry to go on a double date with me and Blake."

"What?" My eyebrows raise at her request. Of all the favors I would imagine her needing, this would definitely not be on the list. To edit her pictures for class, yes, but not a double date. I'm surprised she would ask this of me, especially to go with Harry, because she knows that, even though it's apparently "soooo obvious" in her head that Harry has feelings for me, we are nothing more than friends, which I think has been pretty clear to everyone around us, except for of course, her. Even Nova stopped bringing up her wishes for us to be together, which I can honestly say is quite odd, but I'm assuming she was just annoyed with me denying my feelings for him every other day. Astrid is the only person who knows the truth about how I feel about Harry and I'm sure that's why she's so set on her thoughts that Harry feels the same way about me.

Ever since he spoke that one simple meaningful sentence to me on the beach, he hasn't said anything of the sort again, minus expressing his thoughts on my appearance, but that wasn't out of the ordinary. He's been telling me I'm pretty since the day we met. There has been little to no flirting between us, no awkward almost kisses and despite the fact we're together eighty percent of the time, it's very clear to me that something has changed.

After the first night in his dorm room, the relationship between us seemed to have gotten stronger. I trusted him more and was more comfortable around him, but I couldn't help but think it was because we were just best friends, and maybe the way I pushed him away at a time we probably should have kissed, really told him that I wanted to just be friends, even though that's not why I did it.

"Please, will you just ask him?" Astrid pleads. "Please, Paisley, do this for me!"

"You guys have hung out before by yourselves, I don't know why you would need us," I say, getting up from her bed.

"We've hung out twice and watched Netflix both times," she sighs. "That doesn't count as a date. I really want to go out with him, but I think it would be easier to ask him if it's like---a group thing. Please!"

I look at my friend, who's now kneeling on her bed with wide eyes, pleading like she's asking God for forgiveness. I know I'm going to give into her, there's no way I could say no to her. If the roles were reversed, I know this girl would do anything for me if I was to ask. "Yeah, I guess I could ask him." I shrug.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" She jumps off the bed and engulfs me into an excited hug. "Then maybe you could tell him how you feel while you're at it," she suggests.

"That's the most ridiculous thing you've ever said to me!"

"It's not ridiculous that I just want my best friends to be together like they're supposed to be," she says.

I roll my eyes at her. "When is this 'date' supposed to happen?"

"Tomorrow night?" she awkwardly smiles at me, shifting her body from one leg to the other.

"Tomorrow?" I ask, a little louder than intended.

"I kind of already asked him and told him we'd all go," she explains, guilt written all over her face. I can't believe she did this without asking me first.

There's a knock at the door, interrupting our conversation. When Astrid opens it, in walks Harry running his hands through his hair and a scowl on his face. "Your dorm is locked. Why is it locked? It's never locked." He looks at me with his eyebrows furrowed as he crosses his arms tight against his chest.

"What's got your panties in a bunch?" I ask, furrowing my own eyebrows at him. It's unusual for Harry to be in a bad mood, but I've decided at this moment, even though he's only been here for two seconds, this is my least favorite mood of his. I don't particularly like the way he's looking at me either.

"Fucking girls PMSing! That's what!" he says, angrily. "They're so bitchy. It's fucking stupid."

Astrid and I look at each other confused until she raises her eyebrows at me nodding her head towards the door. I know she's secretly telling me to go with Harry to my dorm room, which is apparently where he was headed before coming here. "Okay then," she says, looking back at Harry. "Paisley was just leaving anyways, so she can go unlock her door for you. She needs to talk to you about something anyways!"

I let out a sigh as my jaw slightly drops, hating her instantly for telling him that, because now I have no choice but to ask him to go on this absurd double date with me tonight, without having the chance to think about what exactly I want to say about it. When I look over at Harry sitting on Astrid's bed, the scowl on his face has disappeared and his eyes tell me that he's curious about the upcoming conversation we're now going to have.

"Well, you guys have a lot to talk about and it's late!" Astrid says, walking back over to the door and opening it, clearly wanting to get rid of us. She doesn't hesitate to push us out the door giving me a reassuring smile before she closes the door as soon as we're in the hallway.

"So, who was so bitchy at the pub tonight?" I ask as we make our way down the hall.

"Huh?" Harry asks, looking at me confused.

"The girl that apparently pissed you off?" I raise my eyebrows at him questionably, as he already seems to have forgotten he was mad about something in the first place.

"Oh. Uh---" He picks up his pace as we get to the stairs, to walk in front of me. "No one. What did you have to talk to me about?"

He waits to look at me until we're outside. Even under the street lights, I can tell he has a stressed look on his face. Two little panic creases between his glossy eyes, and even though I can tell he isn't drunk, it's clear that he's had a few. He's looking at me, but he wont keep eye contact, looking away from me when he sees my eyes on him. It's not the first time this has happened over the last few weeks. I try not to think too much into it, but it's definitely one of the reasons I've felt things have changed.

"Oh, umm---" I start, trying to find my words. I can feel my heart starting to beat a little faster in my chest, unsure of how I want to ask him about this. "I was wondering--if you, ya know--umm, if you want to go on a--double date---with me?" I stumble with my nervous words, and Harry stops walking to look at me, this time keeping his eyes locked with mine. "And Astrid and Blake. Because ya know, it's a double date. Not just me and you."

He doesn't say anything. His mouth is slightly open, eyebrows somewhat raised. I'm having a hard time deciphering what he might be thinking as his eyes flick back and forth between mine as if trying to read my thoughts.

"I think it might be fun, ya know," I continue, since he doesn't answer. "Astrid really likes Blake, so why not go and be supportive of our friend?"

"Was this Astrid's idea, or yours?" he asks, furrowing his eyebrows once more.

"Astrid's," I answer. "She apparently made the plans already. I'm not exactly sure what those plans are, other than they're for tomorrow. She was pretty vague on the whole thing now that I think about it."

He looks down, eyes shifting to different spots on the ground, silence hanging between us, before he looks curiously into my eyes. "Do you--want to go on a double date--with me?" He asks slowly. "Or--do you just want us to go together to be supportive of Astrid?"

My mouth speaks before I even give myself enough time to think of the answer. "Both."

"So, not just to be a supportive friend," he says, taking a step closer to me. "But because you want to go on a date--with me?" He's not showing any emotion other than confusion as he tries to get his brain to catch up to what I just admitted to. That, in fact, I do want to go on a date with him.

"A double date," I remind him, feeling a smile form on my lips. "But yes, I would like for you to go on this double date--with me."

"Really?"

"Is it really that hard to believe?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"I just didn't think---" he cuts himself off, as he starts to walk towards our building. I instinctively follow him, thoughts rushing through my head. It shouldn't surprise me that he finds it hard to believe I'd want to go on a date with him. I've never given him any reasons to think otherwise.

"You didn't think what?" As soon as I ask, he stops walking and turns to look at me, the crease between his eyes is back and his lips in a straight line.

"I didn't think you thought of me like that---" he tells me honestly. "I thought you just wanted us to be friends?"

I swallow hard at the realization that I'm admitting my feelings about the boy I have feelings for, right to his face, and wondering how the hell we got here. This wasn't my plan. I wasn't even supposed to be seeing Harry tonight at all. I wasn't even planning on telling him my feelings, ever. He wasn't supposed to know this. But now, there's no turning back. Not with the small amount of honesty that has already been admitted to.

"I just---needed to get to a certain point of trust with you before I could say anything," I tell him. "Other than Astrid, you're my best friend, one of the only people that I'm comfortable with. So if wanting you to go on this double date with me is going to make things weird, because you just want to be friends, then we can pretend I never asked---because the last thing I want is for things to be awkward with you and I'm happy with just being friends with you. I don't want things to change--or I do--or--I just--please say something, so I can stop rambling!" I cringe in embarrassment.

When it hits me again that I'm still not sure exactly how he feels about me, having listened to Astrid one too many times to know what the possible truth could be, because she's got it stuck in my head that he does have feelings for me, I feel stupid for saying anything at all. I'm afraid I might have just messed everything up, just by admitting to all of this.

"I'd love to go on this--double date--with you, Paisley!" He finally gives me the satisfaction of an answer with a smile on his face, that relieves the stress that was building up by the second. "Clearly, I never thought you'd ask!"

"I never thought I would either," I laugh.

He puts his arm around me, as we walk the little distance to our building. I smile to myself at his sweet gesture to be close to me, despite the panic in the pit of my stomach now that all my senses have begun to understand that I admitted to wanting things to change between us. Am I ready for this? I've known him now for almost two months and we've built up an indescribable bond. If I wasn't ready, I wouldn't have said anything to him in the first place.

"I'm sleeping in your room tonight," he informs me when we get to our doors.

"I figured."

"I'm just going to change and I'll be right over."

When I unlock the door, the witch starts laughing and I hear Harry laugh as he enters his room, as I roll my eyes at the annoying sound. I quickly pick out some pajamas and head to the bathroom to change and get ready for bed. As I'm brushing my teeth, I hear the witch laughing again, making it known to me that Harry is here.

It takes me by surprise when I see that Harry is now only wearing what looks to be his boxers, as he gets into Nova's bed. He has slept in Nova's bed quite frequently over the last few weeks, leaving Niall and Nova his room, but he has always worn more clothes than he is right now.

"Sometimes I don't even know why you and Nova don't just switch rooms," I say as I get into my bed and pull the covers over me.

"That's probably the most brilliant idea you've ever had!" Harry laughs. "It would make perfect sense, wouldn't it?"

I look across the room to see that Harry is smiling at me, before leaning over and turning off the lamp next to me. "Goodnight, Harry."

A few moments later, the lamp beside Harry is shut off and the green lit room is now dark, except for the orange light from the streetlights outside coming in through the blinds. "Goodnight, love."

As tired as I am, my eyes stay open, looking up at the dark ceiling. It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, now that Harry's agreed to go on this double date with me. We both never really said our true feelings out loud, but I feel like tonight was a step in the right direction. I wonder what he's thinking about. If this were a few weeks ago, I know he'd be asking me to sleep in the same bed as him, because things were different then. Now I'm unsure about everything, despite his agreeing to go on a double date with me. A few weeks ago, I would easily say he likes me more than a friend, especially the day on the beach. Why are boys so confusing? Why can't Harry just come out and say how he feels so I don't have to keep guessing or listening to Astrid's assumptions on everything? It would make it easier to know what is supposed to happen next.

"Paisley?" I'm taken out of my thoughts by the sound of Harry's voice, that isn't coming from the other side of the room, but much closer than that.

I turn to see his silhouette standing in front of the window by my bed. "Yes Harry?"

"Is it okay if I sleep with you tonight?" He asks, lifting up the blanket on the opposite side of the bed. He doesn't wait for me to answer before sliding himself under the covers next to me. "I could really use some snuggles tonight."

"Is everything okay?" I ask. Our eyes meet, barely able to see each other in the dim light, but I can tell he is looking in my eyes. He sounded sad when he spoke, and by the way he doesn't answer my question right away and is looking at me the way he is, I can't help but wonder what changed in the last few minutes. "Harry?"

"Everything's alright, Paisley," he finally answers. "I just need snuggles if that's okay."

I keep my eyes on him, hoping that if I stare at him long enough, he'll understand I'm trying to ask him to open up to me without having to ask. But the silence lingers, so I turn to face opposite him, and move my body closer to him, showing him I'm okay with him wanting to snuggle with me. I can feel his body moving closer to mine, before he wraps his arm around my waist. His body is warm against mine and I can feel his breath fan against the back of my neck.

I let out a sigh of relief that I didn't react negatively to him being so close to me. With everything in me, I feel perfectly content with his arm wrapped around me with his hand resting on my stomach.

"This is where I always should've been," I hear him whisper softly, before he lets out a breath.

"Did you say something?" I ask. I'm not sure I was supposed to hear what he said, so I pretend I didn't.

"Sweet dreams, love."

This is definitely where he always should have been. And this is exactly where I want him to always be. As if trying to tell him that I heard what he said the first time, agreeing with his words, I push my body back into his further, even though there's already no room between us, and I place my hand on top of his, intertwining our fingers against my stomach.

This is my new favorite moment. My new favorite place to be. With Harry. In his arms. With a smile on my face and only good things to come. I never want to leave this moment, because it's perfect. He's perfect.

**

A/N: OMG #ItsPerfectDay !!!! Perfect can't get any more perfect!! I can't even express how much I love the song!! This chapter would have been up WAY earlier today if I wasn't listening to it so much!! lol

AND almost 1K reads!! I'm so very thankful for this!! *Cute as a button, every single one of you* who reads this book!! Especially the ones who vote and comment on each chapter!! ily so much!!
In honor of #PerfectDay, hows about a vote and a comment on this chapter? :)

HAISLEY'S GOING ON THEIR FIRST DATE!! Sure, it's a double date, but whatever! ;)

Already started writing the next chapter, soo it shouldn't be too long for that to be up!
xo