AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“There was! I saw it. A black Range Rover. Each time we stopped, it stopped and each time we started walking, it started moving. It was so funny. I think the driver is playing peekaboo with us.”
For a second, I fall silent, realising I shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss Freddie’s razor-sharp observation. He does, after all, have a photographic memory. And now that my little brother has mentioned it, I do seem to remember being vaguely aware of a black car across the road from the school as we talked to Jack. A black car that looked suspiciously similar to one I saw parked outside my workplace earlier today…
Could there really be someone following us or am I just being paranoid?
“You’d better start getting a move on,” Cynthia smiles, stroking my arm. “We don’t want you to be late for this date of yours.”
“Good point. All right Kiddo, let’s go.” Taking Freddie’s hand, I lead Little Columbo back to the living room and quickly help him set up the playmat for his rows of toy cars. Then I head for my bedroom in search of something suitable to wear tonight.
Opening the bottom drawers, I curse under my breath as I remember the ironing board is broken, meaning anything crinkled will have to be ironed on the floor using a towel to protect the carpet. God, getting anything done in this house always feels like such a chore! After much toing and froing, I eventually settle on a pair of brown, slightly flared leather trousers and a white strappy top that shows just a hint of my diamante bellybutton piercing. Finally, I straighten my hair and style it into a sleek, centre-parting and finish off the ensemble with a pair of wooden parrot earrings. When I stare at my reflection, I’ve got to admit I’m quite pleased with what I see. Hopefully Jack will be too.
At last, at ten to five, I wave goodbye to Mum and Freddie and, throwing on my studded leather jacket, head for the bus stop on the high street that will take me to Streatham Hill. When the bus arrives, it’s completely packed and I end up standing for most of the journey, but nothing can dampen my spirits. I feel on top of the world and can’t stop smiling. I keep laughing to myself. People on the bus stare at me like I’m a crazy woman, but I don’t care.
This date with Jack is something I’ve spent half my life dreaming about, and I can’t believe tonight it’s really going to happen. I can’t believe I’m going on a date with the sexiest guy on the planet. Jesus, what will I say to him? How will I keep myself from blushing the whole time? I think of his voice, his smile. Those gorgeous, dreamy blue eyes. His beautiful golden hair. Just imaging kissing those sweet, perfect lips turns my insides to mush. I’ve never had a crush like this before and finally getting to enact my girlhood fantasy feels so surreal, but in a good way. I’m not particularly religious, but I must say that if God exists, the heavens are truly smiling on me today. Good things like this rarely happen to people like me and I promise myself never to take it for granted.
At five minutes to six, the bus pulls into Streatham High Street, and I’m hit by a rush of butterflies as I spy the long queue of couples spilling out onto the pavement outside the Odeon cinema, presumably waiting to seeTitanic. The novelty of the moment is not lost on me. For the first time ever, I’m going to be a part of something.
After spending so many years feeling like an outcast, I’m finally stepping out from the shadows and going on a date with a gorgeous guy, just like all these other girls. For once, I’ll experience what it’s like to be normal and blend in with everyone else and not be treated like a pariah. I find the moment strangely moving and struggle to keep my emotions in check as I step off the bus onto the pavement.
Glancing at my wristwatch, I see it’s fast approaching six o’clock. Okay, no sign of Jack yet. A cold wind blows, and I tighten my scarf for warmth. Hugging my arms, I climb the stone steps to the front entrance doors of the cinema and stand off to one side, facing the high street so I can get a good view of Jack’s Lotus when it arrives (presuming he’s driving, of course).
Ten minutes pass.
Fifteen.
I’m starting to get a bit agitated. Where the heck is he? In my estimation, the adverts and trailers only usually last for about 20 minutes, so if Jack is any later than this, we risk missing the start of the movie. And we’ve still got to buy drinks and popcorn.
Running my fingers through my hair, I step inside the foyer to check that he definitely isn’t waiting for me inside. But no—there’s no sign of him anywhere.
What the hell, Jack, you’re scaring me. Where on earth are you?
With mounting concern, I return outside to the front of the cinema and look at my watch again. It’s now half past six. My God, the film will almost definitely be starting now, but where is my date? What could possibly have happened? Could he be stuck in traffic? Did something happen to him on the way? God forbid, did he have an accident and is right now lying somewhere in a hospital bed?
Biting my thumbnail, I begin pacing up and down the street erratically. Fuck, if only I could call him, but he didn’t give me his telephone number. In any case, calling his landline would be of little help as once he’s left the house, I would have no way of knowing what might have happened en route. Still, it would have been good to at least know if he left the house and was on his way.
And then I really start to panic. Perhaps I misheard him. Perhaps I got the day wrong. Did Jack definitely say six o’clock this evening? My head is so messed up I can’t think straight. This is complete torture!Come on Jack, where are you, where are you? Please don’t say you’ve stood me up. Please!
For the next hour, I stand outside the cinema in the freezing cold, holding the line, clinging to the hope that my knight in shining armour will finally put in an appearance. But he doesn’t. Every couple of minutes, I see someone approach who I think could be Jack, and my heart skips a beat, only to be disappointed when I find that it isn’t. It’s no use. I’m all alone out here while everyone else is inside enjoying the highs of Leo and Kate’s epic romance. Jesus, I’ve never felt so shit. I can’t believe he would do this to me, yet at the same time, part of me is holding onto the hope that there is an innocent explanation for him standing me up like this. Perhaps he did have an accident. It’s certainly possible. I mean, how would I know? I can’t exactly call him to check on his wellbeing.
Eventually, after I’ve stood in the punishing cold for a grand total of an hour and a half, I throw in the towel and cross the road to catch a bus that will take me home. Inside, I feel heartsick and on the verge of tears. This is so unfair. How can this be happening? This was supposed to be the most perfect night ever, but now it’s become memorable for all the wrong reasons. But even after all that’s happened, I refuse to give up on Jack and pray that when I next see him, he will be able to explain what happened. I mean, I can’t imagine he would do something like this to me on purpose—would he?
At just gone nine pm, I arrive back home in a malaise of misery. My head aches and all I want to do is go to bed. I can’t bear speaking to anyone, least of all Cynthia, who I know is going to want to know all the details about the date that never happened. Why do bad things like this keep happening to me? Life is so unfair.
“Hey, how did your date go?” Mum calls from the living room as soon as she hears the front door closing.
“Don’t ask!” I mutter. “I just had the worst night ever.”
“What was that you said? The best night ever? Oh, Jess, before we discuss your date, I forgot to say, your friend Amina keeps calling. She says it’s really important that you phone her back. The last time she called was about five minutes ago. She seems desperate to get hold of you but wouldn’t tell me anything. Sounds like a bit of an emergency.”
Amina?Wow, I wonder what she wants? She rarely ever calls me at home unless it’s to discuss swapping shifts at work. Calling at this time of night feels so out of character, and something doesn’t sit right with me. And what’s all this about an emergency?
Throwing down my coat, I rush into the hall and pick up the phone to dial Amina’s number. As the call connects, my body is wracked with tension.Something tells me I’m not going to like this…
“Hello, Amina, it’s Jessica. My mum said you called?”
“Oh my gosh, where have you been? I’ve been trying to get hold of you for ages!” Briefly, I hold the receiver away from my ear. Her voice is so shrill she sounds almost hysterical. “Tell me, did you go on a date with Jack Parker tonight?”
“Um, yeah.” I get a sickish feeling in my throat. “Well, I say it was a date, but he never showed. I just got home from the cinema now.”
