You Are...

Finally school started.
I choose morning classes, since I’m a morning person. I rather keep the nights to myself. I had two classes today back to back and they were great. My teachers seemed nice, my classes were small and the students seemed cool. No one seemed overly annoying.
On my way back to my dorm I saw Peirce hanging out with one of his friends from the beach party.
He saw me and I waved to him. He quickly closed the conversation with his friend and hurried over to me.
“Hey you,” he said pulling me into a hug.
“Hey,” I said hugging him back.
“What’s up?” he asked as we started walking again.
“Heading back to the room, I just got down class.”
“Nice, early bird huh?”
“Haha, yeah.”
“Well, I was hoping you were free to hang out with me later. I thought we could go back to the park and you can paint that sun set.”
“Oh… I don’t see why not,” I said smiling.
“Great, it’s a date. Want to grab some lunch now?”
I laughed, “Don’t you have class?”
“Not today or tomorrow. I have three on Wednesday and two on Thursday. So let’s go to lunch.”
“Why do you want to hang out with me so much?” I asked as we reached my building.
“Well, I like you,” he said simply.
I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. I felt my face heat up and Peirce just grinned at me. He pulled me into a quick kiss. “Let’s Chipotle,” he said after pulling way.
“Say less” I said as I opened the door to my building. “I just want to drop off my stuff.”
“Fine with me,” Peirce said following me inside. We hurried to my room and I put my book bag on my bed and grabbed my wallet and purse. I quickly headed out of my room, “Okay I’m ready,” I said.
Peirce smiled at me and gave me a quick kiss on the lips. I could get used to all these kisses.
“You don’t need your wallet,” he said smiling at me. “I got you girl.”
I laughed, “I can-”
“My girl doesn’t pay,” he said pulling me close to him again.
“I’m your girl huh?”
“Yes you are Leah,” he said as he kissed me again. I smiled and wrapped my arms around him.
“Alright, I’m happy for you two but honestly, get a room,” Shelby said walking into the room with Aubrey.
Peirce and I pulled away from each other and smiled. “Sorry,” I muttered.
“We were just leaving,” Peirce said taking my hand.
“I’ll be back soon,” I called as we left the room.
We headed back down stairs and we walked to the Chipotle nearby campus, hand in hand.
“So, for our picnic tonight what do you want for dinner?” Peirce asked as I started to eat one of my tacos. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“We just got lunch and you’re already thinking about dinner?”
“Well, I want to know what I’m getting you for dinner. I like to plan ahead.”
“How about you surprise me,” I said as he started eating.
“Deal,” he said as he chewed.
I smiled at him and continued eating. After we were done we sat and talked for a little while. He would occasionally call me babe or baby girl. I couldn’t stop myself from blushing.
We finally left an hour later hand in hand and Peirce walked me back to my building. We kissed goodbye and I headed up to my room.
“So, how’d it go?” Shelby asked.
“I like him so much!” I said as I fell on the sofa.
“That’s so cute,” Audery said.
“No, I’m terrified. What if it doesn’t work out between us or-”
“Whoa there! Take a breath,” Audery said.
“Yeah, it’s been two dates,” Shelby chimed in.
“I’m a child of divorce,” I explained. “My mom left when I was younger. It was hard to literally watch my father break his heart. I’ve never dated anyone before. Peirce is the only guy who has gotten this far and it’s terrifying.”
“Don’t think about all that. Be open to this new experience,” Shelby said smiling at me.
I nodded my head and sighed, “Okay. I should probably get ready. We have another picnic date.”
“Cute,” they said together as I headed into my room. I turned on my painting playlist, which is mostly all Dave Mathews and got my supplies ready for tonight.
Around six Peirce and I were headed to the park with large pizza box and a six pack in his hand. Once we were under the tree we were under last time we got set up and sat down next to each other.
Peirce drank his three beers as he watched my paint the sun set. I sipped my beer and nibbled on my pizza as I worked. He ran his hand up and down my leg, which I found oddly soothing.
“I love how focused you are,” he said making me smile.
“I am an artist, hon.”
“I know, do you mind if I take some action shoots of you?”
“Oh no,” I said laughing. “You brought your camera?”
“Yeah, I wanted to take some pictures of my girl.”
“Fine, you can take some…” I said running my fingers through my hair.
“You look beautiful,” he said taking out his camera.
I smiled to myself and continued to paint, “Just not flash, it’ll distract me.”
“Deal,” Peirce said taking a picture.
He took about a dozen of me hard at work before putting his camera away. He placed his hand on my leg again and sipped his beer.
“Okay… I’m done,” I said moving over to him.
“You’re amazing,” he said kissing my forehead.
I looked at him and smiled. I slowly leaned in and he met me in the middle. We kissed for a while before I pulled away.
“I like you too,” I said looking away from him.
“I know,” he said laughing. “Why else would you be here with me if you didn’t like me?”
I chuckled, “good point.”
“So, I’m assuming this means that we’re dating,” he said looking at me.
I couldn’t help but smile, “Yes?” I said laughing a little bit.
“Was that a question or a statement?” he said chuckling.
“It was a statement, but this whole dating thing scares me a little bit,” I admitted.
“Hey,” he said turning my head to him. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
I smiled and kissed him again.