Page 54 of Falling for You

Nate

I jab my bank card against the ticket barrier but it stays shut. I slam it down again, and again.

I can see her, she’s halfway across the platform. I tried shouting her name, but it was carried by the bustle of people streaming past me. My heart lurches as I look up and see the train pull into the station.

I’m so close. I can’t let her go now.

‘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. And then 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.

Oh God, what am I saying? This isn’t why I came here! Why didn’t I think about what I was going to say?

‘Thanks,’ she says coolly, and I realise with a jolt that I’ve been silent again.

I need to say something or she’s going to leave for good. ‘I’m sorry for how I spoke to you on Saturday.’

She places her suitcase onto the floor and I fight the urge to carry it for her.

‘It’s fine,’ she says. ‘I’m sorry I ran out on you and assumed the worst. I should have known better …’

We drift into silence again, and just when I think I’m about to start chatting about the weather in some desperate attempt to say something to her, Annie explodes.

‘Fuck, Nate! Why are you here?’ she cries. ‘Why can’t you just let me forget you?’

My heart thuds. ‘Is that what you want? To forget me?’

She stares back at me, and I notice her eyes glisten. She turns her back on me, throwing her arm in the air.

‘No!’ she cries, turning around again. ‘Of course that isn’t what I want. But I don’t have a choice, do I? You’re going back to New York.’ I hold my breath. ‘Aren’t you?’ she adds, when I don’t respond.

I give a small nod.

‘It’s just not meant to be, is it? The universe doesn’t want us together.’ She gives a small laugh. ‘Just go, Nate. I don’t know what you’re doing here.’

I close my mouth, a cold stone dropping through my body as I suddenly start to question what I’m doing here too.

‘Sure,’ I say eventually. ‘I just … I just don’t think you should quit your business. You’re the most talented person I’ve ever met. Really, you’re great.’

I turn on the spot and begin to walk away, when her voice calls after me.

‘I really was falling for you, you know.’

Her voice is scratchy and desperate, like it’s forced itself out of her mouth of its own accord.

‘What?’ I look back to face her. Exasperation is spreading across her face.

‘You asked me if I felt the same as you did,’ she says.

‘I do. And I know you’re going back to New York, which probably is a good thing as it was all too perfect anyway, but just so you know, I really, really like you.

More than I think I’ve ever liked anyone, which is mad since I didn’t even know you a few weeks ago, and fuck!

Every sign from the sodding universe seems to be destined to keep us apart or together or fucking apart again, but this is just how I feel and I’m sorry but I—’

But her words are lost, because by this point I’ve walked up to her. I’ve placed my hands firmly on her face and I’ve kissed her. I’ve kissed her with everything in my body, and she’s kissing me back, our arms wrapped around each other like we’re never going to let each other go.

And that’s a promise I make to myself right there.

Annie: I will never let you go.