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.