! :: strangers (?) to lovers , req open, not proof read
By the time Hollis dropped you off back at your dorm it was around 11:45. You two spent a large chunk of time together. Looking back at your previous weeks that have been filled with so much stress the time you’ve spent with Hollis makes up for it.
You don’t know if it’s just because you’ve had bad experiences with guys in the past but Hollis is a really sweet guy.
The last guy you were with wasn’t good with words, he never told you how he felt and rarely took you on dates, it was refreshing for Hollis to be so straightforward and actually show you he’s interested.
The next morning you can’t even get through your usual routine without thinking of last night. You feel your cheeks heat up at the thought.
You’re in your 8 am lecture pretending to care about what your professor is saying. Hollis hasn’t texted you or given you a heads up about this date, which makes you slightly anxious.
Your head shoots up when you hear your professor assign you into pairs with a random guy who’s name you don’t even know.
This is the part you hated the most, you were more on the introverted side. You'd rather do all the work on your own than have to constantly check in with your partner and make sure everything is up to your standards.
He approaches you with a smile and stretches his arm out to shake your hand
“Hi, i’m ♡” you return the handshake and smile
Your professor dismisses you and encourages you to get to know your partner.
You pick up your bag and walk out hoping you can hold off the contact information exchange until tomorrow since you were in a rush to meet Ryan at your usual spot.
Until you hear someone callout your name
you sigh before turning around finding a tired Eren, “Hey sorry, I was just wondering if I could get your number..for the project”
“yeah sure one sec, sorry i’m in a rush” You pull out your phone handing it to him so he could type in his number.
“Here you go, Text me!” is the last thing he says before running off to do god knows what.
“Text me” is also the last thing Hollis hears meanwhile creeping up behind you.
“Who was that?” You felt your heart drop to your ass when his deep voice hit your ear suddenly.
You turn around visibly shaken “Never do that again.”
He laughs, “Sooo..do you think you could be ready by 9 pm tonight?” He now has a hint of nervousness in his eyes.
“Okay okay..good. Where are you headed?”
“me and ryan are going to have lunch or something”
“was my invite lost in the mail or something”
“Unfortunately your invite wasn’t written, anyway why are you here ? I never see you on this part of campus”
“I’m going to meet roman we’re going to the studio together”
“cool..I’m running late but i’ll see you later okay?” and with that you were off, you had to excuse yourself before your heart began to beat out of your chest. You wonder if he ever feels the same way you do.
You don’t realize that he does. You don’t notice how sweaty his hands become when he’s talking to you, constantly wiping them off on his jeans. You don’t realize when he plays off the facts that he can’t hold eye contact with you for that long. And you especially don’t realize the way his heart aches when you mention going to hangout with Ryan. He wishes you granted him that much of your time.
He watches you walk away until you’re out of sight.
“I realize you don’t value our friendship” Ryan says as you hang your purse on your chair.
“What is it now?” Ryan has been accusing you of having a thing for Hollis and unfortunately his claims are becoming the truth.
“your insta post?!? THAT'S why you decided to leave."He takes a sip out of whatever he’s drinking “Would if I got into a car crash. I would’ve died alone”
“SO YOU’D WANT ME TO DIE WITH YOU? boy you're crazy.“
“not the point, you left my side for hollis.”
“well if it makes you feel any worse..he asked me out” you watch the light leave his eyes
“Ryan, be supportive. He’s actually a nice guy”
“Don't forget he sells drugs.”
“okay so what if he’s a hustler”
“bye. where this date supposed to be at”
“he hasn’t told me..all I know is I have to be ready by 9”
“how are you going to know what to wear?”
“That's…a good question. should i text him”
You: Hey sooooo i was wondering..where are we going tonight????
Hollis: I was debating on where we should go but i’m leaning towards the pier..What do you think?
The Santa Monica Pier was a famous LA attraction, pretty much everyone in California has been here at least once. There’s a large roller coaster and Ferris Wheel closer to the water grabbing the attention of passers by. There’s usually visitors from other states recording the same videos trying to go viral. Overall it was a lively place.
“He said the pier” You relay the message to Ryan
“Everyone goes to Santa Monica on the first date. He gets 10 points off for being unoriginal”
“oh hush it’s cute! At least he didn’t choose something awkward like a restaurant”
You were back at your dorm and for the past 3 hours you’ve been deep cleaning. It’s now about 6:00 pm which means you’re 30 minutes behind.
you’ve mapped out your day and scheduled everything you need to do before your date. Honestly you’ve been trying to stall, you were way too excited and have been wanting to start getting ready since 2.
You took an everything shower, you even pulled out your expensive hair care you got from Sephora as a birthday gift. You don’t remember the last time you’ve looked forward to something.
7:30 you wrap up your dermaplaning, wash your face twice and apply every face, eye and lip mask you had.
8:00 you take down your hair and start blow drying it, you decide to wear it down just because.
And finally at 8:45 you have your outfit on. Drenching every inch of your body in perfume. You can hear your jewelry clinking every time you move.
You finally felt ready with a good 15 minutes left to spare.
At 9 you expected hollis to drop you a ‘im outside’ text, but he didn’t. He was in the parking lot of your dorm checking his hair in the mirror, quadruple checking everyone, even spraying his cologne on the passenger seat (so you could leave smelling like him).
At 9:05 you hear someone knocking at your door. You open the door to find a Tense Hollis holding a beautiful bouquet of lilies.
He extends his arm holding the flowers signaling you to grab them
“Hollis, they’re beautiful” you speak in awe
“You’re beautiful” he returns.
He holds your hands walking you down to his car, holding the door open for you to slide in. The bare minimum, I know. But it means something to you.
It’s a 15 minute drive to the pier, Hollis is playing some random playlist and listening to you talk about your day. He tells you about his studio session with roman. You like this, You both do.
When you get to the pier your eyes sparkle. It’s always a beautiful sight. There are teens running around and churro stands on every corner. You truthfully can't remember the time you were here, but standing here now brings back waves of nostalgia.
You drag him by his arm taking him into the arcade. You two are yelling at each other during the most intense game of mario cart the world has ever seen.
“REMATCH. IT’S BEST OUT OF THREE” hollis whines
“Fine but when I win you’re buying me a pizookie.”
Hollis didn't win a single round.
“I meant best out of six.” He says swiping his card at the desert stand
you’re walking eating your well earned prize when your eyes find the biggest plushie you think you’ve ever seen.
“Hollis oh my god I need that”
It was at a basketball stand. Although he knew these games were scams he went ahead and tried anyway.
And he succeeded. 40 dollars later.
After tonight you were sure you’d have to cut sugar out of your diet for a week. You and Hollis were stuffing your faces. Deep fried oreos, churros, Fresca con crema, just anything that might’ve been even slightly sweet.
You‘ve never laughed this hard until Hollis tripped on his own two feet trying that punch machine in the arcade. You had to pretend like you didn’t know him for the next 10 minutes.
You two were tired and stuffed. You were just about ready to call it a night. You’ve rode the one roller coaster that the pier offers at least 4 times. But Hollis insisted you both go on the ferris wheel before leaving.
“Hollis let me pay for this atleast. You’ve taken care of everything else. I feel bad.”
He ignores you tapping his card then leading you into a cart.
The view was beautiful, you could never get tired of being by the ocean. You and Hollis linked hands soaking in each other's presence.
“I really like you ♡, I want to keep spending my days with you.” He admits, You feel everything else around you start to blur. You could only see him in front of you. The sound of children playing and music thumping tunes out.
“Today was really fun. Thank you for this. I really like you too, Hollis.” You smile at him, You couldn’t be happier. This felt like a dream you didn’t want to wake up from. It’s funny to think that Hollis was once someone you wouldn’t surround yourself with. Now he’s all the company you want.
a/n :: this wont be the last time we see eren so I didnt write him in for nothing dooonttt worry. Sorry i hate proof reading i cringe soo bad.
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