Chapter 1: An unexpected meeting
"Crap!" I curse as I turn around the corner onto the platform I need. The tube looks quite full and I can tell that the doors will most likely be closing any minute. I have to call it: Do I wait for the next one? Do I go for it?
I hesitate only for a second before I begin to run towards the closest carriage, dodging the many people lingering idly on the platform. When I'm close enough I jump into the carriage and manage to get in far enough that no part of my body or clothing will get caught in the doors (an experience I know all too well when my handbag got caught in them when I was 12 on a school trip to London). Not to soon either, as the doors beeped and slid shut moments after I had jumped on.
"Yes!" I cheer in victory. Slightly louder than I meant to judging from the looks the people standing close by shot at me. I awkwardly smiled and shuffled away to hold onto the pole not far away from me.
The tube started to move and I gripped on tighter to the pole, knowing all too well my balance is terrible at the best of times. As the tube comes to a stop at the next platform, I manage to only sway slightly with the momentum. The same, however, can't be said for the boy standing next to me. It seemed that I happened to be the perfect height for his elbow.
"Oww!" I cried as the elbow in question collided with my boob.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" questioned the boy, looking down at me slightly embarrassed.
Something about his face made the whole situation quite amusing rather than awful (which he was no doubt expecting me to think was the case), so my reply threw him off slightly.
"It's okay- I'm fine. It's not like getting elbowed in the boob hurts or anything. Don't worry about it" I smirked
"Oh God, I really am sorry. Please don't hurt me" He didn't seem to know what to do, other than apologise and cringe slightly. He must know that it does hurt. Like hell.
I giggle slightly at his earnest. "I'm only joking! It was an accident after all. I'm not going to hurt you, okay?" I smile reassuringly, trying to ease the awkwardness.
The boy nods and smiles back. I turn away slightly so I can make sure I don't miss my stop. The normal silence of the tube is back now, save for the sounds of the brakes screeching and the tube turning corners. The boy clears his throat.
"I, uh, like your top by the way. They're an amazing band"
I look down at my top as-most people do when someone compliments them on their outfits- and notice that today I was sporting a Muse T-shirt I bought from one of their gigs.
"Thanks", I say in reply to the compliment. No doubt he's just trying to make it less awkward between us, but I'm curious, "Do you like them too?"
He smiles, obviously pleased that the conversation is a normal one. "Yeah, they're one of my favourite bands of all time".
I grin slightly at his enthusiasm and that he genuinely likes Muse
"Same here! Which album of theirs do you like the most?"
He replies without any hesitation "Origin of Symmetry. You?"
I seriously can't help the grin that creeps back onto my face, as I tell him I like Origin of Symmetry the most as well. I can't believe how much I have in common with this stranger I happened to meet coincidently.
He smiles "Wow, we have so much in common! How are we not best friends?" he says in a voice that I can only describe as sarcastic, with a hint of mock enthusiasm. But it makes me laugh none the less.
"Maybe because I've never seen you in my life before?" I pull a face that says 'I dunno, just saying' and shrug.
This seems to pull him up short. "You don't recognise me?" he asks and I can't help but notice that he looks a little shocked.
I shake my head, frowning slightly "Why, should I?"
Shrugging, he holds out his hand towards me " We didn't get off to the best of starts", he still looks a little embarrassed about this even though he laughs slightly before continuing, "So let's start over. Hi, I'm Dan". He smiles in what I have to admit a rather attractive way.
I blush as I realise this and quickly grab his hand, managing to keep my cool enough to say "Lucy" before giving him a quick smile and releasing his hand.
"See, it's not so bad now we're not complete strangers" he has a laugh in his voice as he says this, and for what feels like the millionth time since I met him I can't keep the smile off my face.
I snap out of the trance I seemed to be under when I realise I hadn't been paying attention to the stops. I look at the platform we are currently waiting at and see mine is the next one. I sigh with a mixture of relief and sadness.
Dan seemed to notice my sudden alarm and was looking at me strangely.
"You haven't missed your stop have you?" he queries, guessing that that was the reason for my panic.
I shake my head.
"When are you getting off?" he asked it as an innocent question, but I was weary to answer him in case he followed me off. I mean, I had only just met him and it was on the tube. There are a lot of creepers in London.
"When are you getting off?" I shoot back.
"Next stop" He replies, glancing at the map above the doors.
I eye him up suspiciously "Are you stalking me?"
Dan's eyes widen with surprise and a slight blush brightens his tanned skin
"No no no no, God no!" He holds up his free hand to show his innocence and shakes his head quickly. I stare at him a little longer before deciding he's telling the truth.
"Okay then. I believe you." I let my eyes wander to outside the tube and hear him let out a sigh in relief.
It's slightly awkward again, as we get off the tube and follow the crowd towards the way out. Dan frequently adjusts his dark brown hair and I can't help but notice how straight it is. He must use straighteners.
As we step onto the escalator, I ask him something that had been bugging me for a while now.
"Dan, why were you surprised that I didn't recognise you? Are you a celebrity or something?"
Dan looks at me briefly and scoffs "No way"
"Then why.." I begin before he cuts me off
"It's not something bad! It's just that I get recognised sometimes from YouTube. I have a vlog on there. I had half a suspicion that you were a fan in disguise." As he says the last bit, he starts doing some ninja poses and begins to laugh. His laugh is so infectious, I join in before I know it.
We swipe our oyster cards on the ticket barriers and push past the hordes of people around the exist into the drizzly London air.
We stand there for a moment, un sure what to do next. Dan clears his throat the same way he did on the tube, before he asks, "So, um, I was wondering…did you want to go grab a drink? If you're not busy that is"
I smile at his nervousness. "That depends. Are you sure you're not a stalker? Or a murderer?" I joke, pushing his arm slightly to let him know that.
"I'm pretty sure actually" he says in a joking voice, more confident than before. He runs a hand through his hair again.
"Then I think I have enough time for a quick drink"
We grin at each other as we walk in the direction of the near buy Starbucks. I'm honestly taken aback by how easy it is to be around Dan. It may surprise you to know that I don't exactly go around talking to strangers, but this time is different. I'm oddly happy about being elbowed in the boob.