Little Shy Ariel (ft. Harry Styles)

Chapter 15 - Excitement

Chapter 15 - Excitement

I feel like jumping and dancing and singing with all the birds. I, Ariel Hamilton, did it. I talked to a stranger and not just a hello, I actually had a conversation. Did I almost die? Totally, I almost had a stroke and I’m sure I got an ulcer. But I did it, regardless of how hard it was, I did it. I’m not sure if it was because I was under pressure, because I saw this as homework or something else, but I did it and I couldn’t be happier.

I feel powerful, I feel incredible, I feel like I can conquer the world and nothing can stop me. I know this feeling won’t last long but it’s the most wonderful thing I’ve ever felt. This adrenaline pumping in my veins is indescribable. I wonder if this is how people feel when they are high?

I stop on my tracks for a few seconds just to look at the sky and smile. I can’t stop repeating I did it. Maybe Mare is right and I have the confidence inside me, hidden and really hard to access to, but I have it. For her it’s easy to be confident, for me it’s difficult, extremely difficult, but not impossible and this experience with Niall has proved me I can do it. I just have to keep trying, practicing until it’s less difficult. It will never be easy, but it’ll be easier than it is now.

When I look in front of me again, I still have the huge smile on my lips until I see Harry Styles coming my way. I freeze, but in a very different way. It’s not terror that makes me want to run away, it’s surprise.

“Hi there,” he says with a big smile, cute and sweet, a smile that can put anyone at ease. And I’m still so happy and excited for what I did that I smile back at him, a big smile.

Harry blinks a couple of times and his own smile flutters a bit as he keeps staring at me. My heart is racing but I’m still so pumped up that I don’t lose my smile, my happiness is so much more than my anxiety right now and I never thought I would feel this way.

“I um— I,” Harry mumbles shaking his head a bit as if he forgot what he was doing. Seeing him like that makes me giggle. Is that how I look like when I face new people? If so, I look cute. “I— I was looking for Niall, my band mate. Blond, Irish, laughs at everything. Might look a bit sad, though,” Harry explains and I nod.

“Stables,” I say surprising myself.

Did I just… did I just talk to Harry Styles? One word, no stuttering and with a smile? Did I actually do that? I didn’t even realise! I was… it was….

My eyes are so wide I think they will pop up out of my sockets.

“Thanks!” Harry chirps and he’s about to walk past me when he realises I’ve said a word. The girl he thought was mute is talking now. “Wait, you’re not mute!” he exclaims and I laugh but his eyes are so wide and saying he is surprised is an understatement.

“I’m not,” I say and I giggle because I’ve talked again. I don’t know if this is a result of my excitement or something else, but being able to tell Harry something, to make him see that I’m not mute is making me even happier. I’m talking to him!

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry! It was so rude of me to think you were. My God, I’m really, really sorry!” he apologises and he looks really stressed about it so I shake my head with a smile still on my lips. I don’t want him to feel bad about it. “Really, I’m so sorry.”

“It-it’s okay,” I say and giggle a bit. I stuttered this time but I’m still talking. I think I’ll hug Mare for making me do this.

“I’m sorry,” he says more calmly this time, his smile uncertain and I can’t stop looking at him and smile. I am talking to him, I just can’t get over that fact. I’m talking to someone. Small sentences, but I’m talking. He doesn’t believe I’m mute anymore. “So, what’s your name?”