Chapter 12 – All I Want For Christmas

Ten in the morning and I was already ready to leave. My train to Manchester was only at eleven, but I didn't want to risk getting to the train station late. I was feeling really excited, I still can't believe that I was going to see Phil again after such a long time (well, technically were only a couple of months, but it felt longer).

Christmas was fine, we had my family over for the holidays, but they are going home today. I received fewer gifts than last year, probably because I'm getting older, so I need to have more grown up things, like shaving cream or perfume. I even received socks… *Sigh*

I'm glad it's finally Christmas holidays, despite all the homework I still have to do, it feels good to be able to stay at home and to wake up late.

I was waiting for my mum to get ready to leave me at the train station, but she was taking too long, and my impatience was growing.

"Muuuum!" I said from the hallway.

"I'm almost ready Dan. Wait a second."

Now were twenty past ten. I still have plenty of time, so no need to get all stressed out, I thought to myself in order to get calm.

At twenty to eleven my mum was still upstairs. What the hell is she doing? I shouted again:

"Mum, hurry up! We're getting late!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming." She said getting down the stairs. She grabbed her purse and the car keys and we got into the car.

The train station was ten minutes away, so there shouldn't be any problem. But because everyone seemed to be against me, we had to stop due to a traffic jam in the main road.

"I can't believe this is happening", I said to myself. What if I lose the train? Phil will be waiting for me, and I won't be there. He is going to think that I forgot or that I didn't want to go anymore. Oh God. Okay, let's calm down. No need for all this drama. We can be there in time. There's still twelve minutes until the train arrives. I'm sure it will all be okay.

After five minutes stopped there, the queue of cars finally started to move.

Seven minutes until the train arrives.

I could see that my mum was becoming worried too, since she started to drive faster than she normally does.

After nearly running over two old ladies, passing a red light and getting four honks from other cars, we arrived at the station. I only have two minutes left and I still had to get my tickets. I gave a kiss to my mum and ran to the ticket machine and pressed the buttons as quick as I could. And because, for some reason, everything was against me today, I ended up pressing the wrong button twice, having to start the process all over again.

As the machine was printing my tickets I heard the train arrive.

Less than one minute. I could feel drops of sweat forming on my forehead.

When the tickets were ready I run to the platform and entered the train as the whistle sounded. The doors closed right after I was inside.

I still couldn't believe how unlucky and lucky I was at the same time. Ten seconds more and I would have missed the train.

Still not believing, I searched for my seat.

It took me a while to get calm and not that long to get anxious again. Phil, I was seeing Phil again. I was going to be able to touch him, and hear and see him without a screen in the middle. I should be less nervous this time, since it's not the first time I'm going to be with him, yet, here I am, feeling all sort of things, and getting a weird feeling in my stomach. Is this what people call, butterflies?

The journey is around three hours, so I tried to relax and enjoy it. Took my headphones out off my bag and started to play some music. For some reason, music always helps me to calm down and to clean my head from stressful thoughts.

I looked around the coach. Sometimes I like to observe people on the train and imagine where are they going; why are they going; if they're going to visit someone or are returning to their homes. The coach was not full, there were still some seats available, maybe for people on the next stops.

As I let my mind wander around, I also lost the track of time. I only realised where I was when I heard the voice saying that Manchester Piccadilly was the next stop.

I got up, gathered my things and waited near the door until the train stops. I kept looking through the small window on the door, searching for Phil, but there were no sight of him.

Once the train stopped I was one of the first people to get out. I looked in every direction for a tall, black haired boy, but he wasn't there.

I felt my heart shrink.

I couldn't believe that he forgot about me.

Trying to control my emotions, since my throat got dry and my eyes wet, I decided to walk toward the exit. Who knows, maybe he is there. I shouldn't be doing such a big deal out of this.

As I gave my first steps I saw someone running in my direction. At first I couldn't see clearly who, because my eyes were all blurry due to the tears wanting to fall.

The next thing I know I was being hugged by two long pale arms. He held me tight for a moment and when he let me go, he said:

"Sorry for being late, it took me a long time to chose what to wear and…"

But I stopped him right there, pressing my lips against his.

"It's okay, I'm glad you are here now."

a/n: I got happy when I finished writing this chapter. This is a good chapter x) Anyway, thank you for reading! Have a nice day xx

Mariana