When you think of Fall, what first comes to mind?

It's the leaves, right?

Orange, yellow, scattered across the ground, some still falling.

The idea of 'letting go'?

Well, when I first saw you, that's all you reminded me of. A leaf, spiralling in the wind, free and on a beautiful kind of journey.

Colourful, too. but mostly just free.

With both earphones in and sat high up in a tree, you were completely oblivious to the world around you.

Every so often a leaf would fall, and you would just smile to yourself.

I envied you in that moment, uncaring about all of the problems in the world. I wish I could just stop caring about all of the problems, and just be as free as you were, just for a moment.

But I couldn't, I knew I couldn't. Not in this moment.

I twirled the yellow umbrella, currently sitting on the pavement in front of me, between two fingers, in an attempt to clear my mind- which was unsuccessful, obviously.

I glanced up at the sky, disappointed that it looked like there was almost no chance of rain. So I cast a glance toward my phone this time, as it sat silently on the bench beside me.

I willed it to ring, bearing some good news.

Except it didn't. Ring, I mean.

At least, not immediately.

I twirled the umbrella a little too vigorously this time, and it clattered to the ground in front of me.

And almost as soon as it hit the ground, my phone vibrated.

A little weird as far as timing goes, huh?

I had hoped for something positive, for a change. That's really all I hoped for as I answered the phone. Just maybe a little bit of good news.

It didn't come.

I hung up the phone, devastated, almost to the point of tears. And to think all I wanted was to hear something positive, something good.

I put my head in my hands at this point, angry with the world.

And that's when I felt a raindrop on the back of my neck, again, the timing- weird.

The rain began to pour down harder now as I cast my eyes back up to the sky.

I thought the dark rain clouds above head were smiling at me.

'Here's just a little bit of good news' They said.

A smile tugging on my lips, I leaned back on the park bench, hoping to let go of my problems and enjoy the shower.

And that's when I remembered you.

You had moved down to a lower branch than before, and you were looking up at the sky, your earphones now hanging around your neck, you seemed to be smiling more widely now, clearly enjoying the rain as much as I was.

I couldn't really see you before, but now I could see the way your shoulder length auburn brown hair was slightly wavy at the bottom and the way your fluorescent yellow converse were completely spotless, except for the splatter of dirt on the toes.

Bear with me, I know that sounded completely stalker-ish of me but you were so intriguing, and I watched you with curious eyes as you descended the tree, gracefully, somehow. If I was in a better state of mind, I might've introduced myself or something.

Ah, that's funny. If I was in a better state of mind, I might have waved at you awkwardly and then ran in the opposite direction. Let's be realistic, here.

I tilted my head upwards and shut my eyes, getting lost in the constant pitter-patter of the rain against the pavement, and the feeling of the cold goodness against my skin.

I didn't know how long I sat there like that but by the time I opened my eyes, I got the surprise of my life.

"Aargh!!"I let out a yelp and jumped sideways on the bench.

Of course, you were sitting there, and you flinched when I freaked out and nearly fell off the side of the park bench. I didn't know how long you'd been sitting there, but to be completely honest, asking was not my first thought.

When I composed myself, (though my mind was going into meltdown and I'm about 80% sure my heart stopped beating) you gave me this adorable sheepish smile that made me want to laugh out loud.

It was almost an awkward smile, but it was too pretty to be called anything like that.

"Hello..." You said unsurely, in a shy manner.

"Hi..." I responded in the same unsure tone.

There was an awkward silence as we both sat in the pouring rain, wondering what we could possibly say next.

We were clearly both uncomfortable. You fidgeted and shifted uncomfortably, tapping your shoe against the pavement and eventually turned to say something but hesitated, turning back and I think you thought I didn't notice, but I did. And I had to hold back a smile.

I just sat there, kinda amused, kinda in shock, and feeling kinda socially awkward.

I was a little surprised when you took the leap and spoke first. I admired you courage even before I knew what you were saying.

"So.. would you happen to like cookies?" You asked, and when I turned to look at you, (just to check I hadn't imagined it) and you had such a straight face, which made it all the more hilarious.

I half laughed and half scoffed, giving you a small, questioning frown.

"cookies?" I repeated.

"yes, cookies." You confirmed, still somehow maintaining your straight face.

I chuckled softly to myself (I could't even help it this time)

"Of course I like cookies." I told you, unable to refrain from smiling at you.

It's only I noticed your incredible blue eyes and how there was a touch of gold in them, hardly noticeable, which just made them look so much more enchanting.

I felt like I had stared at your eyes for a lifetime (because I probably could've) and I was in a crazy kind of trance that I couldn't snap out of, when finally, you spoke.

"I'm glad you like cookies. You'd be really odd if you didn't. Oh hey, I'm April, just by the way." You seemed more comfortable now, the words coming out so casually.

Your hair had fallen in front of your face while you were talking, and I had to remind myself that I only just learnt your name a second ago and had only actually laid eyes on you the first time, 10 minutes or so ago.

April.

And then after a few moments I realised I needed to respond because that's how you have a conversation, like a normal human being.

Of course, I wasn't exactly a social butterfly at the best of times, but I felt like I constantly had to remind myself to breathe, and stop staring at you like a creepy stalker.

Most of the time, my eyes wouldn't move off of you when I told them to. You were just that pretty.

"uh, I'm Declan." I said quietly after a few moments had passed.

"Declan." You repeated with a nod.

The rain had eased to a constant light shower now, as we sat there.

There were so many things that I wanted to just say.

You're beautiful.

Can I buy you a cookie sometime?

Here, have my umbrella, it's kinda pointless because we're both drenched now, but have it so you don't forget this incredibly stupid, awkward boy that can't stop staring at you, and know that he won't be able to forget you, and the way you reminded him of a leaf, and also because it matches your shoes.

Instead, I sat there, going over all of the things I wish I had the courage to say to you.

I managed to blurt out (before I had time to overthink it)

"Hey, April?"

You looked at me, a small smile playing on your lips

"Yes, Declan?"

Be casual, be casual, be casual.

I picked up the yellow umbrella and moved it in your direction.

"Have my umbrella?" It was supposed to be a casual, confident, 'here April have my umbrella and don't think I'm weird', but instead it came out as an timid question.

You glanced at the umbrella, before giving me a curious look with those beautiful blue eyes.

I just stared back at you blankly, and you gave me a small smile before grabbing the umbrella from my outstretched hand.

"Thanks."

I decided to just enjoy this moment, because here I was, sitting on a park bench with a beautiful girl in the pouring rain, while she held the yellow umbrella that matched her shoes. This isn't really something that happened every day.

And I realised how strange this seemed, that a pretty girl like you would just randomly come and sit with an incredibly awkward boy like me that you'd never even met before, but I decided not to question it.

Instead, every few seconds, I would peek out of the corner of my eye and make sure that I hadn't imagined you, the enchanting girl that reminded me of a leaf in Fall. Only every time I would peek, my eyes would disobediently stay on you, and I hoped you didn't notice, but if you did, just know that I really couldn't help it.