Present Day 2015
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Harry's beat up old car broke down twice during the long drive up to Leeds. What was supposed to be a two-hour drive, had turned into a four-hour one in his little shit-box.
Once he finally pulled into the university, he was much later than he wanted to be.
And with Harry's anxiety, the delay only served to spike his nerves. He always wanted to be early, because he had a fear of being late, all due to his anxiety.
When he found the car park nearest to his dorm, there were a very limited number of car spaces left, making him even more nervous.
So he had to park a while away from his dorm. Even as close as he could manage, was still quite a walk away. When he parked, he took a few deep breaths, resting his head against the steering wheel.
"You can do this." He chanted to himself, before getting out of the car and opening the boot.
He piled up his bags so that he wouldn't have to make two trips back and forth from the parking lot, and started making his way to his building.
He got a few odd looks from people as he struggled across the campus, but he tried to ignore them, even if his face was burning red.
When he finally got to his dorm and had lugged his suitcases up the stairs, he turned the corner and stopped in his tracks. The hallway was packed full of people, moving things into their rooms.
He was greeted by a peppy little red-headed girl, who told him his room number and gave him his key, accompanied by a wink and a little flirting, which made him a little uncomfortable.
He thanked her as quickly as possible, and moved along, trying to breathe deeply and stay calm.
There were people everywhere, hanging in doorways and throwing things around the small space. Harry was a little intimidated, so he kept his head down as he moved through the crowded hall.
Something hit the side of his face, he thought maybe it was a pair of socks or something. He didn't react though, he just squeezed his eyes closed and let out a shaky breath as his heart began to race. He was so nervous, the anxiety getting the better of him.
He stopped walking for a second and regained control over his shaking hands before continuing.
Once he finally found his room number, he unlocked the door and rushed inside, closing it quickly and leaning his back against it, breathing deeply as he tried to calm down.
He knew that moving away from home was going to be hard, considering his level of anxiety and the way he reacted in some situations, but it was something he was determined to do. He really wanted to prove to himself that he could do it.
He closed his eyes as he dropped his bags and then slowly opened them, looking around the room.
That's when he noticed the blonde boy staring at him.
"Hi." He said with a hesitant smile. "You okay, mate?"
Harry nodded and stood up straight, smiling back to mask his nervousness.
"Y-Yeah." He laughed awkwardly, stepping forward to shake his roommates hand. "It's a l-little crazy out there."
"Yeah, I much prefer to stay in here, in the quiet." The blonde laughed along, extending his hand. "I'm Niall."
"M'Harry." Harry mumbled, feeling better after he'd bet someone who wasn't crazy, and was sorta like him.
He grinned as Harry shook his hand, and then turned around to his unmade bed.
He grabbed his sheets and started to make his bed while Harry watched, still a little shaken up.
"So where are ya from, Harry?" Niall asked, not looking up from his work.
"C-Cheshire." Harry replied, clumsily picking up, then dropping his bags again as he tried to move towards the other bed.
Niall turned around at the sounds and stifled a laugh when he saw Harry with his arms full.
He blushed as he dumped his things on the bed and started to unpack his clothes into the dresser and piled his books on top.
"Um, you're from Ireland, yeah?" Harry asked. "I, uh, noticed the, um, accent."
"Yeah." Niall nodded. "Mullingar. Just moved over here for the start of this semester."
"Nice." Harry replied, tucking his now empty suitcase and trunk underneath the bed before unfolding the clean sheets.
"So, uh, you probably don't know many people here." Harry continued. "You know, being a different country and all."
"Yeah." Niall laughed again. "Well, I mean, I know you, now!"
Harry chuckled again as he smoothed out his newly made bed, and started to unpack his carry bag.
He placed his current book on the side table, and then started to alphabetize the others as he placed them up on the shelf above his bed.
"So you like books, hey?" Niall sat on the end of his book as he watched Harry work.
"Yeah," Harry nodded. "I always have."
"That's cool." Niall looked around the room, as Harry finished up and turned to sit on his bed too, facing Niall.
"I, um, I was going to meet some friends." Harry said, picking at the blankets. "Did you want to come with?"
"Sure!" Niall chirped. "Made friends already, hey?" He laughed, and Harry blushed.
"N-No," He shook his head. "They're my two friends from high school, we all decided to go to the same uni after graduation."
"Oh that's nice!" Niall smiled, nodding. "I would love to come with ya. Could use some friends here."
"Okay." Harry smiled back at him, standing up from his bed.
He picked up his phone and wallet from the side table and put them in his pocket as Niall did the same.
They went back into the crowded hall, and Harry's breath hitched. Niall closed the door behind them while Harry stood there, eyes squeezed closed again.
"Harry?" Niall nudged his arm, making the boy step forwards, hiding his frightened face from his new friend. He didn't want to freak him out after only knowing him for a little while.
He smiled as best he could and nodded, letting his breath out of his nose.
When they got to the end, they started down the stairs, Harry shaking his head a little as he calmed down, and flexed his hands.
"You alright?" Niall asked him, making Harry nod quickly.
"Yeah." He breathed. "I, uh, I don't like crowds."
"Neither do I." Niall laughed, making Harry nod. It was good to know that Niall was similar to him, but he was never going to be the same.
Harry knew he was weird, and it made him feel worse about himself. He'd always had issues keeping friends, because they all thought the same, that he was odd and quiet.
Harry was self-conscious enough, and the added bonus of being alone through most of high school didn't help.
So when he decided to come to university, he wanted to try and change. He wanted to be better with people, and be one of those people who could make friends.
Which was why it was important that Niall didn't know just how weird he was.
Harry laughed along with him, hiding his nerves.
"So where are we meeting them?" Niall asked as they exited the building and started walking across the campus.
"Uh, t-there's a diner." Harry pointed towards a park. "Through there. It's not far. And Liam says it's good."
Harry tended to ramble a little when he was forced to speak through his nerves.
"Okay." Niall nodded, noticing Harry's nervous rambling. He tried to be nice and calm, to make him feel better.
And that was when Harry knew that he'd made a good choice in being his friend, and that he had the world's best roommate.
Because Niall never pressed him or asked questions, he was just kind and supportive and a really good friend.
Making Harry's already stressful and hectic life, just a little more bearable.
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