Chance Meetings

This chapter has been prompted by lozxtichx and fanficgirl1999 with the joint prompt of What if Lindsey had met Freddie before Joe?

Everyday you meet new people pretty much wherever you go, whether that be at work, the local coffee shop that makes your medium latte just right, school or even when you drag yourself down to the gym to try and lose those final two pounds for your holiday next week, it's inevitable that you won't come across a stranger.

Some people believe that if you keep to your routine, keep doing what you do without anything to change it then fate will play its hand. That it's then, when you're waiting at the bus stop, ready to get to work you'll meet someone, your soulmate and then, go on to live happily ever after.

But then there's the others, who think it's not about the people who you see every day when you pass by the street, but more about the people you meet when you go off the book and drop any semblance of routine and balance in your life. Because those meetings are magical, they so nearly never occurred and are therefore, that much more important.

One of these chance meetings happened one summer's day in 2004, or rather, almost didn't.

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Lindsey's bus was late. And not just a couple of minutes 'this is a bit annoying' late, no, she and the six other people had been waiting for a good twenty minutes and the student was slowly losing the will to live. She had been meant to met Cesca for a coffee, but there was no way she was going to get there on time now, not if she stayed where she was that was.

She knew she could always call her friend and re-arrange a time to meet, but Lindsey really needed the chemistry notes that Cesca was going to give her, exams were only a few weeks away and if she had any hope of becoming a doctor, Lindsey needed all the help she could get.

The brunette's sigh of relief at hearing the familiar sound of a bus pulling into the stop was quickly cut short as she realised it was heading to the other side of town.

"Where's the 3 mate?" one of the other waiting passengers yelled to the bus driver when he opened the doors, frowning as he pointedly checked his watch again.

"It's broken down by Carter Avenue," the portly man yelled, ignoring the groans from everyone outside. "They're getting a replacement but it'll be a while."
"Fat lot of good that is," the same man from before muttered under his breath, though the glare he was shot suggested that the bus driver had heard him.
"Look is anyone getting on here?"
"Me, I am," Lindsey cried, jumping onto the bus before the driver could move off. It was a nuisance that the bus would drop her off far from where she wanted to be, but a twenty minute walk would be worth it if she could get her needed chemistry notes.

As she made her way down the bus aisle to a free seat, Lindsey made eye contact with a teen her age, brown eyes warm and curiously looking over to her. As she moved, Lindsey studied the lad whilst trying to remain as discrete as possible. She had been under the illusion she was doing somewhat okay before the stranger smiled at her in acknowledgement. A faint blush rose in her cheeks and Lindsey shot him a quick smile before breaking eye-contact to sit down.

For the rest of the journey Lindsey resolutely didn't look behind her, she just couldn't it was too embarrassing. The stranger probably thought she was already a big enough freak, she didn't want him to think she was a creepy stalker either.

When the bus stopped at her stop she shot up like the seat was on fire, the sooner she was out of there the sooner she could forget the whole sorry incident, even if she did want to get another look at the stranger, to see if he was as gorgeous as Lindsey first thought.

Her urgency turned real the second she checked her watch and realised that Cesca had been waiting for her for a good ten minutes now. Ducking past shoppers at speed, Lindsey only hoped her friend wouldn't be too mad at her, though she knew that it was more than likely to happen worst luck.

"Ooft," Lindsey cried as she ended up shoulder-checking a random passer-by, the oncoming force too much for her and causing the young brunette to find herself sprawled out on the floor, blinking away stars.

"Are you okay?" A concerned voice asked and it took Lindsey a second to realise she was staring at the boy from the bus, holding a hand out so she could get up. Cautiously Lindsey took it and went to stand.

"Are you following me?" She asked before she could think, hating herself when the words left her mouth and half expecting to be dropped by the stranger. "Sorry."

"Yes I was following you," the boy said, causing Lindsey to pause, eyes widening. "I mean you were the first person to get off the bus, everyone followed you."

"Jerk," Lindsey said with a practised roll of her eyes, though the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth was enough to tell the guy she wasn't serious.

"Are you always this nice to guys who help you out?"

"Only the ones who stalk me."
"Ouch," the stranger winced as he and Lindsey started to walk down the street together. "Where were you headed off to in such a rush anyway?"

"I need to get some notes for school and if I'm much later my friend is going to kill me."

"Ah... I see, I imagine you're in a rush then?" the stranger nodded, almost looking a bit put out by Lindsey's answer.

"Why, did you think there was another reason?"

"What? No, no of course I didn't," the stranger said hurriedly, his cheeks flushing a deep scarlet colour.

"Uhuh, whatever you say," Lindsey said with a sly smirk, glad to be the one in control. Up close the guy was even more gorgeous than Lindsey first thought, though she realised he was probably a year or so younger than her. She had no chance anyway, no doubt a guy like him was fighting all the girls off, and the wannabe doctor didn't fancy adding herself to the mix.

"Right, well this is me," the guy said after a moment as the two teens reached a small corner shop.

"Oh right," Lindsey replied, unable to hide the disappointment that she was feeling. It was stupid, but she really wanted to spend a lot more time with this mysterious teenager. Knowing her luck, she'd never see him again.

"Do... do you want to grab a coffee sometime?" the boy called after Lindsey, making her stop where she was stood. "I mean, if that's cool with you."
"Yeah, yeah I'd love to go," Lindsey smiled, turning to face the other teen. "But I don't even know your name."

"Freddie, it's Freddie Roscoe."

Sorry about making some people cry last chapter, it wasn't my intention but at the same time, it's nice to know what I write has such an effect on you!

Next chapter - Jason signs up to the army much to Sandy's distress. But when he returns from tour it's not all sunshines and smiles. War has affected Jason a lot more than he's letting on, will he let his family do anything? - prompted by a guest, sam, MyOwnPerfectWorld and GeorgaBryony