Chapter Nineteen

“How long now?” Rose asked Chloe.

“Technically, 15 minutes. But I don’t know where we are so it could actually be longer than that.”

“Why not shorter?”

“Trains are never early.”

“Oh yeah.”

“We haven’t passed a station in ages so we could be getting close.”

“I hope we are. I want to see Mark!” Rose said impatiently.

“ So do I! Ben I mean, not Mark.”

“Yeah whatever.”

Chloe smiled. “Shut up! Anyway, I think I’ll probably burst into tears when I see Ben. Then I’ll look really stupid!”

“No you won’t, he’ll think it’s sweet. You’ll get lots of hugs if you do cry.”

“And suddenly that seems like the best option.” Chloe joked.

“You’ll get lots of hugs anyway though. Ben’s a very huggy person.”

“I know. But so will you.”

“I hope so. Hugs from Mark are the best ever!”

“The next station is London Paddington. All change at London Paddington.” The in-train tannoy announced.

“Oooh! We must be close now!!” Rose squealed excitedly.

“I can’t wait any longer! I want to be there now!”

“Me too! Ow, hurry up train!”

“My stomach’s gone all weird. I’ve got butterflies.” Chloe said.

“Aw bless.”

Rose’s phone beeped, telling her she had a text message. It was from Mark and it said:

Luv ya babe, not long now!

Mark xxx

“Aw that is so sweet!” Rose exclaimed delighted. “Look!” she said, showing Chloe the message.

“Awwwwww! That’s so lovely! Do you reckon they’re at the station right now?”

“I dunno, they could be. Aw, waiting for us!”

“Do you know how many times I’ve had to remind myself that this is real? It’s like we’re living in some kind of mad fantasy world!” Chloe said.

“I know! It’s like w… oh my god.”

“What?”

“Look!” Rose pointed out of the window. “We’re here!”

“Oh my god! But how? It’s not time yet, we’re 10 minutes early!”

“Miracles do happen.” Rose said, smiling happily. “Guess it’s our lucky day.”

“It’s our lucky week!” Chloe said. “Oh my god! I think I’m going to pass out!”

“Don’t do that coz otherwise I’ll have to drag you off the train and that’d be most embarrassing!”

Chloe giggled. “We’re gonna see Mark and Ben!”

“Oh my god!!!!!!”

The train came to a stop and the station was announced again.

“Okay,” said Chloe, taking a deep breath to calm herself. “ready?”

“Think so!”

The two girls picked up their bags and headed towards the nearest door.

“Where are we meeting them?” Rose asked.

“By the escalators. I hope they’re there.”

“Me too.” Rose agreed as they stepped off the train and started making their way through the masses of people towards where they hoped Ben and Mark would be waiting for them.

There were so many people trying to catch trains that it was impossible to see more than five inches ahead, so Chloe and Rose couldn’t look for Mark and Ben in advance. But as they got nearer to where they were headed the crowds thinned, and suddenly there they were. Ben and Mark, waiting for Chloe and Rose, exactly where they said they would be. Huge grins spread across all four people’s faces as Chloe and Rose quickened their pace.

Ben started to walk towards Chloe and as they met, Chloe dropped her bag and threw her arms around Ben. Completely oblivious to their surroundings, they hugged each other so tightly they could barely breathe, but even that didn’t matter as long as they were together again.

“I’ve missed you so much.” Ben whispered to Chloe before kissing her.

Rose and Mark hugged and she gave him a quick kiss.

“No I’m sorry, that’s far too nice to be so quick.” Mark objected as he pulled her back towards him and kissed her properly. They broke apart for a moment and Mark grinned at Rose.

“Again.” He said and Rose laughed.

“Well, if you insist…” she said, happily obliging.

When the greetings were over, they discussed the plans to get home.

“We’re gonna go back to my place on the tube, if that’s okay with you?” Ben asked Chloe, arms still around her.

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

“It'll be an… interesting experience. All you have to do to avoid us getting any hassle is not say my name or draw attention to us. Which could be difficult seeing as you look absolutely stunning today and everyone will be looking at you. You look more like a pop star than I do!” Ben said, tightening his grip around her waist.

Chloe smiled lovingly at him. “You’re so sweet.”

“It’s true, you’re gorgeous.” Ben said, kissing her.

“Shall I compare thee to a movie star?” Mark asked Rose.

She laughed. “It’s not a competition.”

“I know, but Ben’s so much more romantic to Chloe than I am to you.” Mark complained.

“That’s not true. Ben didn’t send Chloe a lovely text message while she was on the train did he?” Rose asked.

“Chloe hasn’t got a mobile phone.” Mark said.

“That is not the point and you know it.” Rose said, smiling as Mark put his arm around her. “I’m perfectly happy, you don’t need to change anything.”

“Well I don’t want you thinking that I don’t like you as much as Ben likes Chloe. Coz that’s totally not true. If I’m being a rubbish boyfriend you’ll just have to kick me or something and tell me to be more romantic.”

Rose laughed. “Okay, I have one request.” She said.

“What’s that?”

“More kissing.”

“I can probably manage that.” Mark said, putting both his arms round her and kissing her.

“Are we ready to go then?” Ben asked before looking round to where Rose and Mark were still kissing. “Well they’re obviously not!” he said laughing. “Are you ready to go?” he asked Chloe.

“Yeah, after I’ve said goodbye to Rose.”

“Well I am so desperate to get you home that I’m gonna have to interrupt them.” Ben said. “OI! YOU TWO!!” he shouted loudly.

Rose and Mark broke apart and looked round.

“We’re going now.” Ben said.

“Oh, okay.” Rose went over to Chloe and gave her a hug. “See you tomorrow.” She said.

“Yeah, have a nice time!” Chloe said.

Rose grinned. “I will. And don’t you go getting up to anything you shouldn’t be with Ben, if you know what I mean…”

“Shut up! I won’t!”

“Just checking!”

“Yeah well, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Chloe said again, making a face at Rose. “Bye Mark.”

“See ya.”

“Come on.” Ben said to Chloe. “See you tomorrow you two.” He said to Rose and Mark.

“Bye!”

Ben took Chloe’s hand and they got on the elevator. Chloe turned round and waved to Rose and then they disappeared from view. Chloe looked at Ben and their eyes met. She grinned at him.

“This is so cool.” She said happily.

“What? We’re only going down an escalator!” Ben said, squeezing her hand.

“No, being with you! I’ve had such a rubbish week since Tuesday being without you. All I’ve been able to do is think about how much I wish you were with me.”

Ben nodded. “I know. Everything’s been so boring without you. All I’ve been doing is waiting for this weekend.”

“Really?”

“Yeah! You never believe me when I say that I miss you do you?” Ben asked.

“I do try to, but I guess I just didn’t ever think I’d be hearing you say things like that.”

“Well if you don’t start believing me soon, I might have to do something to prove it to you.” Ben threatened.

Chloe grinned. “Like what?”

“I can’t tell you that, it has to be unpredictable!” Ben said.

He reached into his pocket and brought out two travel cards for the tube.

“Here you go.” He said, giving one to Chloe.

“Ah thanks, that’s such a lovely present.” she joked, following Ben through the card activated gates.

“I do have a present for you actually.” Ben said, re-linking hands with her.

“Really?”

“Yeah, it’s at home.”

“Aw, you didn’t have to get me anything.”

“I know, but I wanted to. Just to show you that I was thinking about you. And that I love you”

Chloe smiled at him. “I love you too.” She said.

Chloe and Ben walked down the steps to the platform where a tube had just arrived.

“Come on, let’s get on this one.” Ben said.

They got on the tube when all the people had finished getting out, and as there were no seats left they had to stand in the corner. A lot of people got on after them and by the time the doors closed, the carriage was completely full.

Chloe took a deep breath and tired not to think about the fact that she couldn’t get out if it crashed or something.

“Are you okay, babe?” Ben asked, from where he was standing behind her with his arm around her middle while he held onto a bar with the other hand to keep them from falling over.

“Yeah, I just get a bit claustrophobic in places like this. I’ll be fine though.”

Ben kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll look after you, don’t worry.” He said as the tube started to move.

Chloe put her hand on his. “How many stops is it?” she asked.

“Not too many. About five.”

Chloe took another deep breath as the tube stopped at its first destination and more people got on. She really didn’t like tubes, especially not when they were this full.

“I know what’ll take your mind of it.” Ben said, not liking to see her uncomfortable.

“What?”

“Turn around.”

Chloe did as he said and when she was facing him, he put his free hand around her waist and kissed her.

“I’d hardly call this not drawing attention to ourselves.” Chloe said as the tube jolted a bit and they broke apart.

“Is it making you feel better?” Ben asked.

“Yes.” Chloe grinned.

“Well why stop then?” Ben asked, kissing her again.

“How far away do you live?” Rose asked Mark as they drove through the busy streets of London.

“From where?”

“This exact spot.” Rose said.

Mark smiled. “Not far. About 10 - 15 minutes if the traffic’s not too bad. We’ll get back, I’ll show you around, you can meet my parents and then we can do whatever you want to do.”

“Like what?”

“Like… I dunno. Anything you want! There’s loads of fun stuff we can do in my room”

“Like…”

“Watch TV, watch videos, play on my playstation…”

“What games have you got?”

“Loads!

“Like what?”

Mark laughed. “Um… well practically all the Disney games…”

“Toy Story?” Rose asked.

“Both of them.”

“Thought you might do. Bugs Life?”

“Yep.”

“Um… damn, I can’t think of any other things you like.”

“So I only like two things in the whole world do I?” Mark asked, amused.

“No, three. There are two Toy Story’s. And anyway, they don’t do a Beatles game.” Rose said grinning. “Ooh I know!”

“What?”

“WWF ones.”

Mark smiled. “Yep, got all of them.”

“I knew it!” Rose said triumphantly. “See, I know lots of things you like.”

“Bet I know lots of things you like.” Mark said.

“Bet you don’t.”

“Okay, well not loads but some.”

“Go on then.”

“Me, I would hope…” Mark started.

“Well that’s a bit obvious isn’t it? No, you can’t have that one.”

“I think that’s very unfair.” Mark complained.

“No it’s not! I didn’t say that you liked me and I still got, um, five things you like!”

“Okay, fine. You like a1.”

“Yep.”

“And Steps.”

“Yep.”

“Aaaaaaaand…”

“You don’t know any more!”

“I do, let me think! Can I have a don’t like?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Coz you can’t. That’s not the game.”

“You’re so mean.” Mark said, grinning at Rose.

“I know, it’s great isn’t it?”

Mark sighed. “Okay, you like…”

Rose tried not to laugh.

Mark looked at her. “Shut up, I’m thinking!” he said.

“Sorry.” Rose said, not sorry at all.

After a few more minutes, Mark gave up. “Oh I don’t know! Okay, you win, I’m a complete failure as a boyfriend.”

“No you’re not, you just haven’t known me for very long.”

“Well then this weekend, my task is to learn absolutely everything there is about you.”

“Okay, and you have to tell me loads of stuff about you too. I won’t remember any of them but that’s just totally not the point.” Rose said and they both started laughing.