Page 6 of Game Changer

Chapter3

Zara

This last week has been a rollercoaster of emotions. Knowing that Buckie is coming back to Glasgow has had my stomach in knots. I know he's been in London for the last two days organising interviews and TV shows, but today he's coming home.

I check myself in the mirror that hangs in the hallway of my West End home. I've tried to make myself look as nondescript as possible. I don't want to appear as though I'm trying too hard.

The sounding of the taxi horn outside has my stomach flipping. I breathe a sigh of relief when I see they’ve sent my usual driver. There’s something comforting about familiarity.

I get in the back of the taxi and the driver has me at the station in no time since it’s early morning. Rush hour hasn’t kicked in yet and the streets are empty. It’s like the calm before the storm. Soon the place will be full of commuters and shoppers.

I nod to the driver as I get out of the cab. “Thanks Phil. Put it on the account.”

“No problem Zara. Have a good day.”

The station concourse is quieter than usual. As I reach my destination under the clock, I’m hit by an uneasy feeling. I’m nervous about seeing Buckie again. It’s as though I’m a teenager crushing on a guy. His email back to me last week was short and sweet.

Caledonian Sleeper 7:30am. Meet me under the clock. x

He’d attached the train timetable and a copy of his ticket too, to make sure I knew he was serious. So here I am under the clock. I can see from the information boards that the overnight Caledonian Sleeper train is due in soon.

The last time me and Buckie were in this train station together was the day he left for London. Five years ago, right before his career took off, and it was under this clock that I left him. If I'm honest with myself, I’ve never got over him and I don't know how I'm going to see him again and still be just friends.

The echoing announcement has my stomach twisting. “The train approaching platform one is The Caledonian sleeper from London Euston.”

I stand on my tiptoes and see the train coming in towards the buffers. I turn my back to the platforms trying to compose myself. I don't want him to think I'm nervous or that I don't want to see him. My hands are shaking so much I have to bring them together to stop them and I focus my attention on the ticket booth. On the people collecting their tickets. Anything to calm my nerves. I'm so engrossed in not thinking about Buckie that I don’t hear him coming up behind me. I let out a little squeal when he touches my shoulder.

“Oh my God Buckie you frightened the life out of me.”

“Zar you look absolutely amazing come here.” Buckie smiles at me pulling me into a huge warm hug.

I take a deep breath in and lay my cheek against his shoulder. He smells exactly as I remember him, and it takes me right back to five years ago. It's as if he never left.

“Oh how I’ve missed this Buckie,” I whisper against his chest.

“You have no idea sweetheart.”

Sweetheart. His term of endearment for me that I haven’t heard in such a long time. I push myself back from him and drink him in. He’s changed a bit in the last five years. But to his advantage. He’s a very good-looking guy — but then I always thought that anyway. And he reeks of Hollywood now with his sun-bleached tips to his fair hair that sits just so, and his Malibu tan. He’s toned in all the right places too. I know he is I’ve seen all his movies. It was a little weird the first time I watched him do a love scene, knowing what we used to get up to. I tried to picture us like that and then annoyed myself by getting jealous of his co-star.

“So where are you staying when you’re up here?” I ask detangling myself from him.

“I’ve organised a duplex apartment in Park Quadrant, but it won’t be ready for a few days yet, so it’s a hotel in the meantime. I’m going to visit my parents while I’m here too, but I want to spend as much time as possible with you. I’ve missed you so much. I’ve been a terrible friend. I’m sorry Zar.”

“God you’re a famous Hollywood actor now. Why would you want to still be seen with a peasant like me? A lot has happened over the last few years, I don’t know where the time has gone. I’m dying to show you what I’ve been up to.”

He flashes me the most beautiful gleaming white smile and I almost melt in front of him.

“Me too. I have much to tell you about.”

“Oh I’ve seen plenty of what you’ve been up to, don’t worry.”

“Really? Everything?”

“Everything,” I say laughing and blushing.

He shakes his head. “Yeah, mum was a little critical of it. And not in the way you would think a parent would be. She told me the lighting wasn’t great and that I could have shown more of my body off. I mean, my parents have had a habit of embarrassing me with their crazy shenanigans all my life. But that took the biscuit.”

“Oh my God I can imagine your wee face going all red.”

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