Authors Note - Hey, so this is my first attempt at writing. other than english at school. i hope you enjoy reading as much as i do writing! if you have any constructive criticism etc please let me know!
Lily
I gasped for air as the rain pelted against my face, blurring my vision. The icy wind stung as it whipped my hair in all directions. My feet thumping against the concrete as I continued to run down the quiet pathway. The smoothness of the concrete never fails to amaze me every time I run across it.
I am unsure as to why am out running in the cold autumn weather instead of in my bed attempting to get more sleep. It seemed like the best idea given I've been sat awake since three AM, it was now five thirty. I have became accustomed to surviving the day on limited hours of sleep but it did not make it any more appealing. So while I was lying awake an hour ago I thought if I use as much energy as possible throughout the day by the time night comes I will hopefully manage a full nights sleep.
I continued to run up the small gravel path to the back of my apartment block as the rain began to pour harder. Cringing at the feeling of it against my already frozen skin I picked up my speed ignoring the ache in my legs and lungs as I sprinted up the gravel towards my flat.
Hastily I unlocked the door and pushed inside pausing the music that was blaring out through my headphones.
"Hello?" My call was met with silence. Jamie was either asleep or had already left for work. I presumed the latter as I walked into the small kitchen and saw the crumbs from toast scattered all over the counter with a buttered knife carelessly hanging over the edge. I moaned in annoyance as I threw the cutlery into the sink and gathered the crumbs into my cold and wet hand. "What on earth is so hard about cleaning up as you go?!" sighing to myself as I binned my friends rubbish before moving towards the bathroom and putting the shower on, setting music up on my phone as I let the water heat up. This was one of the best rooms in our small apartment. Just as we were moving in the shower broke, there was a constant flow of water and ended up flooding the room forcing the landlord to fix it. It was a bit of a pain for Jamie and I having to stay in a hotel together for a short while but it is so worth it to now have a perfectly working shower. Sometimes I like to imagine the landlords face when he had to replace it, the old geezer despised putting his hand in his pocket for anything let alone a place he doesn't live in personally.
"I am going to kill you Jamie" I muttered to myself as I reached for my own fluffy grey towel only to be met with a used, damp towel. Grabbing the small hand towel I attempted to dry myself as efficiently as possible before changing into my uniform. It wasn't a terrible outfit but I also wouldn't rush to walk down a runway with it on. Black skinny jeans, a black top and a pair of black vans. Eating coco pops, shovelling coffee down my throat and doing my make up all at once, in my opinion, was an extreme sport. It was the most peaceful part of my day despite how rushed it was. Watching myself paint my face and eating my favourite food and drink the highly addictive drink. Once happy with my make up I pulled my hair into a tight low ponytail, the long dark locks cascading down my back. I grabbed my phone and bag before making my way towards the door, locking it behind me, I turned on my heel and kept my head down as my raincoat took a battering.
The walk to the subway station wasn't particularly long but in the ruthless British weather it really was an awful journey to make. Maybe if I could drive it would be more ideal but my shitty job doesn't allow for me to even dream of cars. As I began to cross the road I was forced to step back as a black range rover raced past me, nearly trapping me underneath.
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"Watch it!" I yelled after the manic driver, unsure why I even bothered as the car was already out of site. Sighing I continued my journey towards the subway. Who on earth needs to speed that much anyway? I pondered the question in my head as I routinely continued my daily commute. It could be a business man in a hurry, a fancy car in a business run city. It's very plausible but boring. A criminal in his getaway car, now that is a story. I was abruptly drawn from my thoughts as something thumped against my stomach. I looked down to see an arm blocking my access to the road, a bus replacing where I had placed my right foot before it was drawn back as the strangers arm stopped me.
"Look next time would you?" I tilted my head up as I heard a voice grumble. The person already turned, back towards me with curls protruding wildly from his head, as I called out after them "eh, thank you?" needless to say I did not get a reply. I turned back to face the road and done exactly as the stranger had said and looked before I crossed the busy road ahead of me. I broke into a light jog upon realising I was running behind schedule. I couldn't risk being late for work, my boss would have my head on an ugly china plate.
Many things made me enjoy London, the underground was in fact not one of them. The stench was enough to make anyone cry. It wasn't all bad though, I enjoyed the people watching. Slyly studying people as they went along with their day, I often came up with stories about them. Who they were, where they were going what they'd do later. I couldn't tell you why I done this but I have for as long as I can remember. It has became habit when I leave the house just to take in the people surrounding me and have my own idea of the life the lead. My friends would always scold me for it or tell me to at least make it a bit more conspicuous.
The carriage swayed unforgivingly as I latched onto the pole next to the electric doors. I breathed a sigh of relief as my stop approached, practically running to get out of the confines of the subway. The small cafe on the corner of Whitechapel Road sat unopened and ready for the morning rush. Enjoying the last few minutes of freedom I unlocked the fancy new doors that have been made to look aged and old fashioned. They are beautiful but almost the exact same as the doors that were replaced a few months previous. John, the owner, said it was for safety reasons as the lock was dodgy. He would have saved a hell of a lot of money if he just changed the locks but he brushed me off when I made the suggestion complaining the glass was too thin. I locked the door behind me, not wanting to risk someone coming in and demanding coffee before official opening hours, I still had an hour until we opened to the public. By the time Kirsten arrived I had already switched the ovens on and put our first batch of pastry delights in. "So, would you like to whip the fresh cream or mix the muffin batter?" I held an electric and manual whisk up as I proposed the question, watching her eye up the first.
"Fine. You whip the cream. Again. But seriously, tomorrow I am refusing to do the muffins! I get left in the back all day once I've began muffin duty!"
"Aww c'mon it's not that bad Lily!" Kirsten laughed." You eat the batter as you go anyway, plain cream isn't that tasty so who's the real winner? Eating batter and avoiding all civilisation in the cozy kitchen all day." I couldn't argue with her as it was true so I just rolled my eyes and escaped into the stock room and brought out some paper cups and bags before the breakfast rush began. You do not want to keep hungry Londoners waiting. "OK, that should do you for now. Call on me if you need me, John should be in soon anyway. Good luck!" Smiling to Kirsten, I stalked back into the kitchen to finish off the muffins.
"Lily, you good to go?" Kirsten walked over to me, jacket on and zipped right up to her chin. "Ehhh, I need to switch that oven off and grab my stuff. Are you leaving now?"
"Yeah, that ok? I need to study tonight, I'm falling behind and my lecturer is constantly reminding me in the most impolite way possible." I laughed lightly at her as she rolled her eyes and huffed in annoyance. "No problem, just let me know when you get home." Nodding in return she turned and made a hurried exit from the cafe. I struggled to push my arm behind the industrial ovens, squishing my body up against the white tiles I pushed my arm as far as it would go behind the oven in attempt to reach the plug that controlled the oven. I breathed a sigh of relief as I finally managed to flick the switch, retracting my arm quickly and gathering my belongings as I stalked into the office which doubled as a staff room.
"You ready to go? Everything's switched off just the lights to go off." John jumped slightly and quickly looked up from the papers sprawled all over the desk in front of him. "Shit" he murmured under his breath, "Yeah, let's go." Shoving the numerous papers carelessly into the first drawer of his desk. He locked it before putting on his large grey duffle coat.
"Get home safe Lily, I'll see you tomorrow. Good work today." I smiled up at John, quickly giving a good bye before rushing down the stairs to the subway station. I dread to think what this winter is going to be like if this is only autumn. Luckily it had stopped raining but given it was nine o'clock at night there was no sunlight. The things I would do to be away in warm sunny country right now instead of the cold but still sweat smelling subway carriage are unspeakable. Stepping off the carriage I broke into a light jog to exit the station and head home. I was beyond cold and was in desperate need of a shower and some warm food.
As I stopped to cross the road I saw a black range rover parked with the lights off but I could faintly make out silhouettes inside. Despite looking as if they were parked I still ran across the road to ensure I wasn't at risk of getting run over like this morning. Shaking my head lightly I continued my speedy journey home while remembering to look every time I came across a road. Once closer to home I attempted to grab the flat keys from my bag but couldn't find them, stopping in the middle of the pavement I opened my bag up and raked around inside of it.
"Ah ha!" Smiling and clutching them up in front of my face. A car in the background caught my attention. Another black range rover, again with no lights on and silhouettes moving inside the vehicle. I could only see through the front window as the others were all blacked out. It looked like there were two people. I shook my head as I thought I saw curly hair reminding me of the man from this morning. I must be imagining things now. I ducked my head down to face the ground so that they couldn't see me. Surely it's just a coincidence? Maybe even some sick form of karma as I nearly got murdered by a black range rover this morning. It could be planned though, maybe someone is after me. But I haven't done anything wrong. No it's definitely a coincidence, I'm basically home and there's no point in someone following me I have a rather boring life. I tried to stay calm as I walked the last few feet to my apartment, I didn't play it off as cool as I had wanted instead I ran down the road clutching my keys so tight my knuckles felt like they could tear the skin any second. Panting I rammed my keys into the door and slammed it behind me, leaning my back against it as I attempted to regain steady breathing.
"Christ, what happened?" I huffed and slid down the door to seating position while looking up at Jamie.
"Saw a black range rover." He rose his eyebrows in a questioning matter. "I nearly got hit by one this morning and some random guy then stopped me being hit by a bus then tonight I saw this black car, like this morning, outside the station then at the end of the street here."I rambled, my eyes wide in fear. I must have looked hysterical with my arms waving around in front of me. Sighing Jamie crouched down next to me taking my hands in his own. "Lily, I think you're just being paranoid. You're tired and stressed. It's London do you know how many black range rovers there are? C'mon lets get to bed." Nodding I allowed Jamie to help me, locking the door before we left to shower, eat and sleep.
