Chapter One

Chapter One: The Stranger

Nyan cat " that’s what I’m hearing next, as I claw for my phone on the dresser. Eyes still shut. Anne told me to never put my favourite song as my ringtone, but it’s only been a few days and I want to throw the phone already. Her voice appears on the other line.

“Caitlin? Do you know what time it is?”

“No…” I grumble. I sit up and rub my eyes, trying to make out my watch on the counter. Two thirty seven. In the afternoon.

Damn.

“Where are you? Are you still in bed?”

“How could you tell?” I sigh, almost stumbling as I leave the covers. I study my wardrobe " everything’s in the wash.

This isn’t happening.

“Do you know how awful it is to be woken up by that ringtone?”

“Do you know how awful it is to still be in bed when you’ve agreed to meet your friend at two thirty?” Anne counters. “What were you doing last night?”

“Soccer practise ran over, and then my team all wanted to go for drinks. You know what I’m like with drinks.”

“Yes, I do,” Anne sighs. “Good thing you only do it occasionally or you’d be a dead woman…unless you don’t get here in the next twenty minutes in which case you’re a dead woman anyway.”

“Loooove you,” I sing, hanging up before she can answer. I’m tempted to look up the settings on my phone, but remembering how Anne was the last time I was late I hurry out the apartment and down to the laundry room. Still a little damp, but they’ll have to do.

Sprinting back up the several flights of stairs, I dump the clothes on my floor and throw on a loose tank top and some jean shorts. Next goes on the watch, handbag over my shoulder…I spy a lone banana in my fruit bowl. I’ve shoved it in my mouth before I’ve even left the door " I leave it there as I fumble in the bag for my keys.

Made it, I smile, as I reach my car. I look at my watch " eight minutes to spare, and it’s not a far drive to the mall so I should be…

I pause.

My bag feels lighter. Why does it feel lighter?

Almost cursing, I slam the car door and hurry back to retrieve my purse.

#

“I had the same dream again today,” I say, as I hand Anne another forties style dress. I don’t know how to feel about it. I love the swing era, but I hate mixing with people I don’t know.

“Oh really?” she replies, but I can tell she’s not paying much attention. “Do you like this colour? I just don’t know if I can see myself in it.” She pops her head from out the curtain.

“Sure, you’ll look great. Do you think it might mean something?”

“Glitter boy? Probably that you read too many faerie books.”

“He wasn’t a faerie.”

There’s silence as Anne rustles about in the changing room. After a couple minutes she emerges, wearing a dazzling blue dress that ends just above her knees. I have to blink twice just to look at her.

“Wow, it looks stunning on you.”

She looks down at it, frowning.

“I’m just still unsure about the colour. What shoes could go with it?”

“Heels?” I say, as I check my phone for messages. Nothing.

“Wow. We really need to sass you up,” Anne replies, as she closes the curtain. “Has Jake messaged you yet?”

“Not yet,” I mutter. “He must still be on the plane.”

“Could you go and grab another dress for me?”

More rustling " loud rustling. For someone of her reputation, Anne’s not very good at getting in and out of dresses.

“Sure,” I say, as I leave to check the racks. So many colours, it’s almost disorientating. Regular clothes are so much easier.

“So what’s going on with you two?” Anne calls, even though I’m almost at the back of the shop. Lucky that there are no customers. And that the shopkeeper knows her.

I pause, eyeing a subtle dress of dark matte fabric. Not black, more of a midnight blue. I check the label " it’s my size.

“What do you mean?” I reply, taking the dress back to her along with the pleated polka dot one that was next to it. I exchange looks with the shopkeeper " she grins at me.

“Well, I mean tomorrow is your one year-versary, and you clearly care about him even though he’s been gone for three months so what’s the deal? Do you love each other?”

She pops her head out again, and her eyes widen when she’s sees what I’m holding.

“Yeah that’s cute!” She snatches the polka dot. “I don’t like the other one though.”

“Oh, this one was for me to try on,” I utter. I’m always nervous when we go clothes shopping " the way Anne’s staring now makes me want to drop the dress and wear jeans for the rest of my life. Her lips purse.

“Hmm. It’s not very showy, Caitlin.”

“But I don’t like showy…”

“This is swing! You’ll be swallowed up if you wear that tonight.”

“That’s what I was counting on.”

Her face relaxes, and she returns behind the curtain. When I look at the shopkeeper again, how she’s fighting to keep it together, I near lose it myself.

“You never answered my question.”

Anne again. Now I’m snorting, covering my mouth to try and keep the laughter in. I can’t look at the shopkeeper.

“Caitlin?”

“…I don’t know, maybe.” I wipe my eyes, which are spilling. “What do you think this is, girl talk?”

“That’s exactly what this is,” she says, as she pulls back the curtain. She twirls. “A little cheesy…but I think I can make it work. I love it!” She grabs me by the wrist, handing me the dress I picked " which she shrugs at " as she pushes me into the changing room. “Now you get in there and do what girls do. Geeze, what would you do without me?”

“Play soccer all day,” I smile, poking my head out only to be pushed back in.

“Play soccer all day,” she mumbles, but I see a hint of a smirk.

#

The air is cool when we reach the seafront, despite it being midsummer. My arms are aching because I offered to carry Anne’s bags.

“When did he say he’s meeting us?”

I check my phone again.

“Should be a couple of minutes. He landed in LAX about an hour ago,” I reply.

I sit back on the bench, gazing silently at the beach. It’s one of the hottest days there’s been, and there are crowds of people filling it. That’s the joy of living near Santa Monica " there are always tourists, happy. Children on holiday with their families, arms fitted with those adorable floats. One child close to me has a sequence of happy crabs printed on them, and his sister is wearing dolphins. Also happy.

“"sorry, am I interrupting something?”

I jolt, and turn to see the devious grin of Jake, who is still carrying all his luggage. I leap up and into his arms.

“Hello you…” he laughs, as I emit a few embarrassing noises.

“Jake! Sorry, I was well away! Like, so far away!”

He steadies me. “It’s ok, you’re here now.”

I turn to Anne.

“How long has he been here?”

“About five minutes,” she smiles. I feel my cheeks burn.

“Oh God…that’s so awful of me.” I hug him again. “How was it? Tell me everything!”

Before he can respond Anne speaks, holding her phone to me in utter joy.

“Caitlin! The shopkeeper just text me " turns out they do have those shoes in my size! You know, my first choice?”

I look to Jake, who also looks to me, and then we look at her. Neither of us says anything, but the laughter is spontaneous.

“Hey, this is a big deal!” Anne accuses. “I heard Jennifer Lopez was spotted in those shoes about five days ago at a premiere! I mean in fashion terms, today is last chance saloon. Babe, I’m going to have to let you go.” She goes to grab her bags, but then has a change of heart and only takes the one. “I’ll take these ones back. Do you mind taking the rest for me to your place? We’re having a makeover session and yes, it is obligatory.”

She’s running before I can consent, or even say goodbye. I’m left with my arms around Jake’s neck " only the waves and joyful squeals fill the silence.

“So, how was England?” I say finally, releasing him. I sit down, but he doesn’t sit immediately. Instead he looks on at the beach, smiling in a strange way. Almost a sad way. “Jake?”

“Oh yeah.” His face relaxes, and he takes a seat next to me. “Very interesting place. Did you know that they have buildings there over two hundred years old?”

“Well yeah,” I grin. “I did know that. Did you skip history or something?”

“Urm, yes, if you’re wondering.” He pulls me into him, and I laugh. “I couldn’t think of anything worse…other than geography…and math. But no, you know, it’s just cool to see it for yourself.”

“How did the work go?”

He pauses again, but rubs his face.

“Yeah great, my boss wants me over there again in December. Said he wants to promote me.”

“That’s great news!” I push his shoulder, but he resists it. He’s still smiling but it’s definitely sadness, what I’m seeing. His eyes have lost their glint.

I pause.

“So how long will you have to leave for?”

“It would be permanent,” he says, without facing me.

Next I find we’re both gazing out, staring at the ocean like it’s talking to us. Hands cupped, bodies leant forwards as if we’re tuned to it. But all I hear is noise. Just loud, lonely noise.

“Caitlin…I didn’t want to bring this up n-”

“No no, it’s ok,” I interrupt, but my positioning doesn’t change. “We need to talk about this, so we should.”

“Ok.”

“…I would never ask you to give up your job for me, and I’m so relieved that it’s worked out for you.”

My knuckles have found my mouth, and my foot won’t stop tapping. I know where this is heading, but every part of me wants to skip it. Wants to just kiss him. Yet I still can’t face him.

“I…feel like I would’ve moved with you. I would. But I have a life here now. Tonight’s my last day of freshers " I’m about to start college!” I laugh, trying to keep the tears back.

I finally look him in the eye.

“I would have done that for you, but I can’t leave it behind. So if we’re going to make this work I need to know how you feel.”

He sighs, holding his head to his knees. I say nothing else. Now I only hear my heart, which is also trying to speak to me…because it knows the truth.

“This isn’t fair on you.” When Jake looks up, his eyes are red. My heart is screaming, but I ignore it and push closer to him.

“What isn’t?” I try to hold his hand, but he withdraws it. “Tell me.”

“I slept with my co-worker.”

#

Anne’s right. When we enter the hall I realise I’m the only one wearing a dark dress " I’m the only one not smiling either. The music is loud and already people are twirling, tapping, swaying…but I’ve pushed through to the corner, where the bar is. It’s one minute past seven " the event began at seven. This is going to be a long night.

“Vodka double for me please,” I say, hitting the counter. Anne shortly follows me " her face is a cartoon when she sees me down it.

“Oh no,” she frowns, propping herself up on the barstool beside me. “You said you wanted to come here to enjoy yourself, not wallow in sorrow. Come on.”

“I’m fine,” I assure, trying to offer a smile. “You go ahead. Go and dance with that boy you just spoke to.”

“He’s cute isn’t he?” she coos, almost impulsively, but immediately reverts. “Nope! Tonight I have girlfriend duties and I’ll make you dance with me if I have to!” She tries to take my wrist, but I feign a sulk and smile again. It lightens her mood.

“I’ll catch up! Go on…I can see him standing over there for you. He looks lonely,” I wink. Anne turns round " she blushes when he waves at her.

“Oh you!” She hits my arm. “You find me in the next five minutes or there will be a DJ request and we will be performing a solo.”

With that she’s vanished " absorbed into the vibrant mass of merry and cheer. The same crowd I’ve been with for the whole of freshers week, and yet I don’t know one of them.

There’s something wrong with me, I titter, as I swig the second shot. I try to picture a scenario where my life hasn’t been shattered, where I’m not craving to scream, but it still results in me sitting here alone.

I sip the third to make myself feel better, but it doesn’t take a genius to guess how this night will end. Still, when I make out Anne I find it’s enough to delay the fourth. She’s one of the few wearing a flower, which adorns her finger waved hair just as mine does. She’s only known her man for five minutes, who’s looking dapper in a tailored tux, but still she looks like the happiest girl in the world. I get up, drawing towards them as I watch him spin and dip her into a stupor. I’m grinning like a fool.

“You look very lovely in that dress.”

A voice speaks over the trumpets, smooth, distracting me from Anne. He looks down at me, eyes drunk, but charming. The only man without a partner, and who isn’t dancing.

“It’s not that dressy,” I smile.

“On the contrary, it caught my attention. Initially,” he replies, lips partially puckered. “Where are you from?”

“Nashville. And you?”

“Can’t you guess?”

“Britain, but where?” I roll my eyes, but this only amuses him.

“Who wants to know?”

I give him a hard stare. His suit is also tailored, and he’s particularly tall. Tall, dark…and handsome. And he knows it.

“Someone curious,” I reply.

As if triggered the music changes, suddenly, and people start cheering. Sing, sing, sing. It had to be.

In response the man downs the shot he held, and whispers to me as he moves away.

“London.”

Part of me is relieved, but the other part…the other part leaps when his hand catches mine. Just as I think he’s left.

“Care for a dance?” he asks. He pauses, and so do I, and immediately the room becomes a blur to me. Just a slow-moving haze, to which all is irrelevant except for this man. The one who gazes at me, eyes wide, holding onto me like I’m something precious. Like he’s known me forever.

It’s enchanting.

“Yes, I would care for a dance,” I tease, in an exaggerated English accent. As he leads me to the centre I think of Jake, but it doesn’t affect me. It’s strange, because I know it should, but as I look back to the man whose full lips smile at me, it fades to barely a memory. I want to enjoy myself, all of a sudden.

“Your accent’s not very good.” He pulls me towards him in a jolt, and I spin into his arm. Effortless. Not once looking away. “Do you know that?”

I can’t respond " my head is inches from the floor, and his grip is firm on my waist. He pauses, and retracts me to an upright position, but not without twirling me once I rise and throwing me into the open. Only his hand keeps me from hurtling into the adjacent couple, which once again jerks me back to his chest. All in a second.

“What’s your name?” he asks, as he sways me out again. I can’t keep up " one moment I’m away from him, hands in his, and the next we’re close, where I’m guided from my hips.

I gasp.

My feet have left the floor " he coils me round his shoulder, planting me perfectly where I was like I’d just imagined it. He continues to swing and tap with the rhythm, knees bent, looking on at me expectantly.

“I don’t give my name to strangers,” I pant. My head’s a whirl, but our movements are faster still. I get a glimpse to the crowd when he lifts me again, swirling me under his arm and backwards, in a full somersault. They’re parting a way, rapt to us. No one dances like this.

“Don’t you now?” He spins me again, blissfully oblivious to the spectators. “Is that what I am to you, a stranger?”

I break into a grin, and his eyebrows rise. As if influenced by him I duck, and he kicks over me, scarcely missing my head. I spy Anne when I stand, who’s standing by her partner awestruck, just like everyone else. We have our own circle now " a large one.

“Yes, and my mum told me I shouldn’t talk to strangers. They’re dangerous,” I laugh. My gaze shifts to the crowd " the people are whooping.

He moves into me, lips pressed to my ear.

“Well, I am dangerous.” His hand finds my waist again, slipping lower than before. “You just don’t know it yet.”

Again I’m incapable of a response, utterly speechless. He’s spun me back, releasing me, and now his feet are ablaze. Spreading his arms he loses himself, tapping with the tempo at such speed I can barely follow. Occasionally his eyes draw back to mine, and he smirks. I just watch on, jaw to the ground.

“Two shots!” he orders, slamming his palm onto the bar which the crowd space themselves from. Wherever he moves they make a way, and all the while his pace doesn’t slow. My smile’s wide when he signals me to join him " I skip and hop forward, which brightens his face. He slides me the drink and we both swig at once, then straightaway we’re on our feet again " twisting, whirling. The song doesn’t end.

“I love this music!” I cry, clutching his shoulder and he spirals me round and round. I watch his feet, trying to mirror his movements, which he notices.

“My favourite era!” he shouts, copying my own steps. Soon he builds up again, just when I get comfortable, until I’m moving at his speed. It’s straining my lungs, but I still can’t wipe this smile.

People hoot whenever we pull close to each other " Anne’s one of them. When the song draws to a close I’m sweating, faint, but my spirit wants to dance on. I hold him tighter, wishing the moment won’t stop, and eager to tell him, but I can’t let myself. I shake my head and smile, trying to regain focus.

“How comes you’re so good? Did you take swing classes or something?”

“You could say I’ve lived it darling.” He shoots me a wink, dipping me as the band play their final note. I lay back, chest heaving…absorbing the applause.

What just happened?

“You’re not too bad yourself,” he says, as the crowd start to move in again. He holds me up from under my arm, leading me away from the commotion. He offers polite smiles as people cheer and pat his back. I can hardly see straight.

“You mean for someone who hasn’t lived that era?” I crane my neck to him, and he leans into me.

“Exactly.”

I giggle, spontaneously, and almost falter in my step. It’s all caught up with me suddenly, and the memories of Jake are returning.

“I need another drink,” I wheeze, as we pass the bar. He doesn’t say anything, but merely sits opposite me not once breaking eye contact. I raise another shot to my mouth, but I can only stomach half before I splutter and spill the rest. I’m seeing Jake again.

“I think that’s enough drink for you, don’t you love? Here, I’ll help clean you up.” He helps me off the stool, only gently this time. I bend over, thinking I’m about to vomit, but he hoists me up again and guides me towards some doors. It leads to a corridor, which is empty. We enter the bathroom. It’s also empty.

“You’re in the ladies room!” I snigger, and almost trip. He catches me, but doesn’t let go. My back’s against the wall.

“Settle down…there’s a good girl.”

My dizziness dissipates, suddenly, and so does my glee. His eyes are intense, almost predatory. When I try to move he holds me there.

“Wouldn’t want people to hear this.”

My mouth opens, but I can’t speak, or even utter a sound. I can only stare at his pupils, which are driven to me as if they’re stone, firmly set…and expanding. They’re increasing in size, growing to the width of his irises. Two voids, enticing me in…and it’s stealing my energy. I feel my bones weaken, and his grip on my shoulders ignites, yet I can’t wince. It’s burning me, but the pain feels illusory. I can’t scream…because it’s not real.

As quick as it happened his pupils lessen, until I’m staring at regular eyes. They widen, and avert from me, and without saying anything the man has left. I can move again, and when I reach for my shoulders I feel skin, not burns.

I shut my eyes. I’m alone, drowned in the echoes of my own gasps. The bathroom light is hot on my face, the walls rough on my fingers. It’s all physical, all tangible…

Heart racing I rush to the hall again, scanning for the man who is nowhere.

…but it doesn’t seem real.

Reviews

[MissEponine16]

it's truly shocking you don't have a larger fan base, this story is amazing! I'm totally hooked!

[Daniel Harris]

Aha thank you :) It's just getting the story out there, you know. I've only just started writing it though.

[MissEponine16]

Yeah, I know, writing is always the easy part!