So there was this girl in our friends group I was pretty into in college, but I never believed I was worthy, so I never had the nerve to ask her out. She then transfers to another school across the state and I figure that’s the end of it.

A year later, she’s returned to my school, and I fall harder than ever. It’s my chance to make up for past cowardice and go for the one that got away! So of course I don’t do anything.

She texts me one day and says she has an assignment that requires her to have someone peer review an essay and asks for help. I say sure, and she asks if I can come over the next night around 11. She mentions specifically that her roommate will be out of town, and that she’s not in a relationship.

I go to her place, and she’s wearing yoga stuff, the lights are dim, and there’s music plating. She offers me a drink, and sits down next to me on the couch, and I know why she invited me over.

SonI put down my drink, look her in the eyes, and ask for the paper.

She’s like “Oh, yeah”, and goes and prints a paper. I go to the kitchen table, turn on a light, and spend about 10 minutes critiquing it, finish my drink, and leave shortly after to let her get back to work on it.

I didn’t realize what I’d done for like a year.