The 10 O’clock Train

The 10 o’clock train

Okay u guys, so this is the first time that I post any of my writing, so if u got any comments or tips I’d be eternaly greatfull!!!

                       The sky suddenly opened up, and as the rain started to pour down, they ran across the street to the station. Already soaked, through and through, her otherwise loose dress stuck to her legs, as they made their way down the stairs. At the sight of an approaching lot of people, he gripped her hand tightly and pulled her closer, careful not to get lost in the swarm. Weaving in and out of children, couples and the occasional elder citizen, they held tightly on to one another. The crowd started to scatter, either hurrying up the stairs to the inevitable rain or further down the hall to the trains waiting to take them to their destinations. They got to the platform, and he made to loosen his grip, but she only held on tighter. He looked down upon her, meaning to tell her she could let go if she wanted, but she merely smiled at him, squeezing his hand for emphasis. Why on earth would I want to let go? Her eye seemed to ask. Her hair – which had been neatly arranged just 30 minutes ago – was now plastered across her face, her red dress no longer flowing in that special way, and yet she looked even more astonishing than ever before.

                         A train arrived at the platform, and they were once again crowded and pushed together by the countless people getting in and out of the train. She laid an arm around his waist, resting her head in the nook between his chest and shoulder. Above all of the noise, she could hear his heartbeat. She rather liked listening to his heart beating, especially when he’d be asleep, but she wasn’t, or whenever they were squashed together like now. The horde vanished as fast as it’d come once the train left, and the passengers started to make their way towards the exit. Above their heads, one of the speakers rustled as if clearing its throat, “Attention passengers, the 10 o’clock train towards the central station has been delayed due to weather conditions, we apologise for the inconvenience.” As the speaker once again rustled and went out, he turned his head to look down upon her, finding her already looking at him, with a displeased expression in her deep blue eyes. “Beautiful summer, huh?” he asked her with a crooked smile. Summer was always like this so they ought to be used to it by now, but somehow the poor weather always seemed to take them by surprise. “You’re not funny, you know!” she tilted her head back, looking at him as if she was getting cross. “Yes, I am. In fact, I’m so damn hilarious that only those of the highest intellect, might understand my impeccable sense of humour,” he looked away, pretending to think, “must be why you don’t get it, I suppose.” Before he saw it coming she withdrew her hand and whacked him at the back of the head. “Ouch!” he burst out, rubbing the spot with one hand. “You deserved it! And if my memory serves me right, when we first met, you proclaimed that I was ‘the funniest person, you’d ever had the pleasure of meeting’.” He shook his head, drops of rain falling as he did, and put both his arms around her small figure. Despite of the wet layers of clothes it felt nice, standing there his arms around her, as he snuggled her head into the comforting warmth of his body.

                         They stood like that for a while, his arms around her shoulders, her head half buried in his chest. After some time, she lifted her head, taking a step back to look him in the eyes. “So, how shall we pass the time? Seems to me that the train might not be here for quite some time.” He thought for a second, taking in the almost empty platform, and the few people scattered on various benches. He pulled back, letting go of her fully. Just as she opened her mouth to protest – already missing the heat from his body – he stretched out his left hand towards her. “Dance with me?” She started to laugh, but stopped abruptly as she laid her eyes on him. His face serious, eyes sincere and sparkling. “Well…uh…well there’s just the slight problem that I can’t actually dance.” His smile widened, “neither can I,” he conceded. “But we haven’t got any music either!” she protested. He merely ignored her, grabbing the headphones currently dangling out of his pocket and waved them an inch from her face. “Don’t we?” the crooked smile on his face grew.  

                         They each took one of the earbuds, as he dug up his phone willing it to play her favourite song. As the song started to play he once more stretched out his left hand towards her. While she put her small hand in his larger one – both of their hands still shaking because of the rain. He slid his right hand around her waist, leaving it to rest on her back. They both took a small step closer to the other, as she finally placed her remaining hand upon his upper arm. The music began to pour out and into their heads, as they started to move – clumsily at first, but with each passing minute more and more sure of themselves and their partner. As the dance grew more fluid, and their smiles grew equivalently bigger people started to notice them – the two teenagers dancing happily as if they hadn’t a care in the world. The minutes passed, just as the people around them, yet neither of them noticed, utterly infatuated with each other and the music only they could hear. Time passed, the arms on the clock above their heads moving around, trains arriving and leaving, neither of them bestowed with the pleasure of bringing the young couple home. No, they just stayed there at the platform, unaware of the time that passed – happy in the company of the other.