Five Things I Love About You

Chapter 1

1

The first thing you should know about me is that I don’t believe in fate.

The second thing you should know about me is that I’m indecisive.

So, when I woke up this morning and saw it was raining, I decided there was no way I should be cycling to work today. Not, as my mother would say, because I’d be tempting fate , but because rainy days bring out all the terrible drivers, people who only get behind a wheel once in a blue moon when they don’t want to get their hair wet or ruin a new suit.

The trouble is, I couldn’t face the Tube either because it always puts me in a bad mood – and as a secondary school teacher, the end of the summer term is stressful enough as it is. By the time I was ready to leave, the rain had begun to ease a little, so I changed my mind and decided I would cycle after all.

See? I told you I was indecisive.

I’m trying to channel my earlier optimism now as I carefully edge past a car while my lungs fill nicely with exhaust fumes, but it’s easier said than done.

Finally, free of both the car and an enormous rainwater-filled pothole, I glance up. The lights are still green so I push down, trying to gather some speed and get over the junction before they change back to red. Rain is dripping from my helmet down the back of my neck and the car beside me is driving far too close to my leg for comfort. The lights begin to turn to amber. I’m not going to make it.

It takes a moment for the realisation to sink in. The following few seconds happen in slow motion.

First, a man steps off the kerb into the road.

Next, I tug on the brakes until my fingers turn white. At the same time I scream, a blood-curdling sound I didn’t even know I was capable of. The man’s head swivels round and his eyes widen, his mouth opens, and he freezes, eyes fixed on me. There’s no time to stop this collision, and there’s nothing either of us can do except wait to see how efficient my brakes and his reflexes are. I’m hurtling towards him, getting closer and closer until I can see the whites of his eyes, the dark flash of his hair and the pink of his tie. I’m not breathing, braced for impact.

Right at the last second, something tells me I can stop this, and I yank my handlebars to the right.

I barely graze his arm as I pass.

I’ve done it! I’ve saved us both!

Except I haven’t. Because my front wheel is stuck at a peculiar angle, and it’s skidding across the tarmac. I am also no longer upright.

Panic floods my body.

Then I hit the ground.

Silence.

* * *

‘Oh my God, are you okay?’

The voice is deep with a northern accent – Geordie maybe? I don’t recognise it anyway, but it sounds worried. I keep my eyes squeezed tightly shut and wait for whoever it is to say something else.

‘She’s still not opening her eyes.’ The same voice again.

‘Don’t move her.’ A different voice, a woman this time.

‘She might have broken something.’

‘Has anyone called an ambulance?’

Wait, are they talking about me?

I snap my eyes open. I’m looking up at the sky. I try to turn my head but it hurts like a motherfucker so I swivel my eyes from side to side instead. Blurry faces peer down at me.

‘What’s going on?’ I try to sit up but the pain in my head is immense, so I decide to stay where I am.

‘She’s awake!’

‘Oh thank God.’

‘Step back please.’

‘I just want to check she’s okay.’

Someone touches my arm, then another indistinct face appears above me, concern etched between well-sculpted eyebrows.

‘Try not to move,’ the woman says.

‘I—’ I start.

‘You came off your bike,’ she continues, and I stare at her hazily, trying to work out what she’s talking about.

Then I remember: the lights turning amber, the man stepping out, the slippery road, the last-minute decision not to take him out – it all comes tumbling back into my mind like a win on a two-pence arcade game.

‘The man—’ I manage through a throat that feels dry and scratchy.

She glances away briefly, then smiles.

‘He’s okay, you managed not to hit him.’

‘Is he here?’

Once again I try to lift my head but it’s made of lead and there’s a slow, steady throbbing across my temple so I give up and let my eyes flutter shut again.

A sharp slap to my cheek brings me round and I open my eyes. ‘Sorry,’ eyebrow lady says, ‘but you need to stay awake.’

She’s blurrier now than before, and I’m vaguely aware that there’s someone else there, and although I can’t see his face clearly I think it’s him, the Geordie who was speaking before.

‘I’m awake,’ I assure them.

‘An ambulance is coming.’

Ambulance? Surely I don’t need that? But I can’t seem to find the words to say so.

Time passes, I don’t know how much. There’s a hand in mine. I stare up at the sky again, a leaden grey.

‘Police are here.’

‘What?’ My voice cracks.

‘I’ll go and speak to them.’ The Geordie again. I hear footsteps fading, people talking.

‘Can you tell me what happened?’ I think someone says, but the sound of passing traffic drowns out any reply.

‘Not long now,’ eyebrow lady says from above me.

Geordie man’s voice drifts back into focus somewhere in the background.

‘Yes, of course. It’s J. A…’ But the rest fades again, and then a police officer appears beside me.

‘Are you okay?’ she asks. She looks very young, her forehead free from lines.

‘I’m fine,’ I say. I attempt to sit up but a firm hand pushes me back down.

‘Try to stay still until the paramedics arrive,’ she says.

I do as I’m told.

‘I’m sorry to do this.’ It’s the Geordie again, and the police officer stands to speak to him. ‘I’ve told your colleague what happened, do you mind if I go? Only I’m meant to be somewhere urgently and…’ he trails off.

‘Yes you’re fine to go,’ the officer says. ‘Thank you for your assistance.’

‘Are you sure? I do feel like this was my fault.’

‘Seriously, go,’ eyebrow lady says. ‘She’ll be okay. The ambulance is on its way and she’s in good hands until then.’

Through the narrow slit of my eyes I see him hesitating. I can make out a clean-shaven chin and the pink tie from before, a navy suit and a full head of dark hair. He doesn’t move straight away and I think he’s decided to stay. But then he stands and disappears from view and the sky is above me once again.

I hear footsteps disappearing, and slowly the low rumble of voices around me filters back into my conscience. Traffic and people and then, in the distance, the whine of an ambulance.

‘They’re nearly here,’ eyebrow lady says. ‘I’m Genevieve by the way. I won’t leave you on your own.’ The warmth of her hand is pressed against my shoulder and I close my eyes again, and let the professionals take over…

* * *

The hard gravelly surface of the road feels like a luxury bed now, the mattress soft, the pillows beneath my head thick and downy. I let myself sink into them momentarily, and a smile spreads across my face.

Opening my eyes I turn my head to find someone watching me. A man. I can see his dark hair and the bottom of his chin, a slender neck – but for some reason the rest of his face is in shadow and I can’t make out any of his features. That’s weird. I close my eyes, rub them, open them again. But nothing’s changed.

‘Hey,’ he says, and the low timbre of his voice makes my skin tingle.

‘Hello,’ I say, trying not to let him know I have no idea who he is or why he’s here. I don’t feel scared though. In fact, I feel happy and comfortable. I smile at him.

He moves closer, and when he’s close enough to feel his breath on my skin, his eyes swim into focus; a deep, dark brown with flecks of gold. The sun comes out from behind a cloud and they burn amber, reflecting back fire.

‘I’m sorry I stepped out in front of you,’ he says in a soft Geordie lilt.

‘It’s okay, I think it was my fault,’ I reply, hardly daring to breathe.

He hovers over me a moment, his eyes burrowing into me. I want to pull away, to see what he looks like, who he is, but I can’t seem to move. And now he’s even closer and I shiver as the warmth of his lips presses against mine and I respond hungrily, as though kissing this man right here, right now is exactly where I’m meant to be.

My mind might not know who he is, but my body definitely does, and my heart thumps as his hand gently caresses my face, my shoulder, my waist. A low throb pulses deep inside me and I ? —

He pulls away suddenly, the gap between us cold, a yawning canyon. He’s speaking again and although I can see his lips moving, his voice sounds different, higher, no accent and…

Wait.

I know that voice.

‘Kirstie?’ I whisper, frantically looking round for my best friend, but she’s not there. In fact, there’s nothing there at all and as I look back, mystery man’s face starts to shimmer, becoming paler and paler until it’s almost transparent and I don’t understand what’s happening.

Then he’s moving away from me, drifting towards the end of the bed and floating upwards. I reach out to try and pull him back, but my fingers only lightly brush his, then he’s speeding up, up, away from me, hurtling now, back, back, back… And then POOF!

He’s gone.

And my eyes open.