Page 237 of Falling for You
‘Excuse me.’ I grab a man wearing a station uniform. ‘Please help me. My card isn’t working.’
He looks down at my card dubiously.
‘That’s because you need a ticket to get through that barrier,’ he says in a bored voice. ‘Do you have a ticket?’
I blink at him mindlessly. ‘No, I have a … this, I have a … this!’ I wave my bank card at him. ‘How much is a ticket?’ I blurt.
‘Where are you going?’
‘Nowhere. Wherever that train is going.’ I hurl an arm in the direction of the platform, trying to spot Annie.
I can still see her. The doors to the train haven’t opened yet.
‘Depends where you’re getting off. Tickets to Worcester cost forty pounds.’
‘Fine,’ I gabble, ‘I’ll buy one.’
‘The ticket machine is over there.’ He holds up a non-committal arm towards the other end of the station and I feel my stomach drop.
‘What?’ I manage. ‘Can I not just buy one off you now? I really need to get on that train, I can’t miss it.’
It’s taking everything in me not to grab hold of his lapels and beg.
‘I need to go and tell that woman how I feel about her!’ I cry, hoping the romantic appeal might tug on his heartstrings. Instead, he just rolls his eyes at me.
‘Ticket machine is over there,’ he says again, and before I can think of anything else to say, he turns his back on me and is swallowed into the crowd.
I hear a whistle blowing and stare at the ticket machine. A line of people, at least seven deep, is standing patiently behind it. There is no way I’ll make it. And then I’ll miss her. I’ll miss her for good.
Before I can think about it, I race towards the ticket barrier. I slam my hands against the edges of the barrier and launch myself over the top. In the background, I can hear people shout in alarm but it’s too late, I’m racing through the crowds. People have started to slowly move into the train carriages now and I bang on the windows, scouring each one for her face.
‘Annie?’ I yell. ‘Annie?’
But it’s no use; each window I get to I can’t see her. Andthen the doors shut with a final slam and before I can even breathe, the train pulls away. My heart leaves with it.
She’s gone.
I can’t believe after all that I’ve—
‘Nate?’
I whip round, and there she is. She’s wearing a purple beanie, her dark hair is curly around her face and her eyes are wide. She’s looking at me as if she’s seen a ghost. My heart races as I stare at her, my chest rising and falling heavily.
She’s there, she’s standing right in front of me. I did it. I made it. She’s here.
But now, as I look at her, my mind is blank. I’m frozen to the spot. I don’t know how long we’re staring at each other for, but it’s enough for the train to leave the station.
Eventually, I speak.
‘Stevie told me you’re quitting your business.’
Her face falls. ‘Yeah.’
‘I … I don’t think you should do that.’
She scoffs at me, ‘Nate, I just missed my train and you’re here to give me career advice?’
‘You’re really talented,’ I stumble, feeling my face burn.
