Victoria, hang on a tick. The girl turned towards the voice. She knew only too well that William was waiting for her again, parked in front of her house like a particularly persistent postman.
“You again? Dont you ever get fed up with this?” Victoria grumbled, arms folded tightly. “Youve been loitering here for ages!”
William, awkward as a teenager at a wedding, handed her a rather hopeful bunch of daisies. I just wanted to see you, he mumbled.
Victoria accepted the flowers, but it was clear she would rather have accepted a parking ticket. She let out a sigh that was practically Olympic-class. What am I supposed to do with you? she groaned. “Honestly, Will, how many times? There cant be anything between us! I have to tell you this every single day. Youre like a lost little boy.”
I cant help myself. Maybe Ill get over it one day, he offered with a slightly sheepish smile.
It wont pass if you keep following me about! Ive told you a hundred times! You mean nothing to me!
Dont be cross, love, it doesnt suit you. Sweet dreams, William replied, not missing a beat.
And for the record, Im not your girlfriend! Victoria shouted after him.
William had fallen head over heels for Victoria the very moment she joined their school back in Year 7. Since then, shed sat at the same desk as him day in, day out. Shed liked William too, and the pair of them had been glued together school trips, canteen lunches, you name it. But now, fresh out of school, Victoria had changed. He couldnt see himself by her side anymore. Hows that possible? he puzzled, watching Victoria being escorted home by other chaps. It was like a punch in the gut. Every time, he swore hed stop chasing her. By the very next day, his traitorous legs had carried him right back to Victorias doorstep.
Victoria knew full well William would be perched on the bench next to the front steps, like usual. She rather hoped hed see her with another bloke and finally give it a rest.
Why are you sitting here every evening? Waiting for someone? she asked, trying to sound casual but failing spectacularly.
William glanced up. In front of him stood a striking girl with a mop of ginger hair and enough freckles to form a constellation. When she grinned, she was, annoyingly, absolutely lovely. Trotting beside her was a dog as ginger as her hair. William immediately thought this girl was troubleand so was her dog. He grinned anyway.
Waiting for happiness, he replied. But it seems to have misplaced itself.
Maybe youre looking in the wrong place, she said wryly. Why not get up and have a wander? Jack and I walk here every day. Want to join us? Maybe the three of us will have a bit more luck.
William glanced up at Victorias flat window his old shrine. Then, making a snap decision, he stood straight and said, in a brave voice: You know what, count me in.
It was probably the first time ever Victoria didnt spot William glued to his bench. She slowed down, puzzled, and looked around. Nobody. Tentatively, she headed towards the bench Williams eternal waiting spot. Empty, she thought, her heart giving a silly sort of lurch. Suddenly, she heard a dog barking. Her eyes followed the sound until she spotted two figures in the distance William and the mysterious girl, arm in arm with the ginger dog capering round their legs.
A wave of jealousy hit Victoria like an unexpected hailstorm in April. For the first time, William wasnt waiting for her and the empty space beside her felt a lot less satisfying than shed imagined. And as that new girl led William away, Victoria realised, to her horror, that she might just miss the chase after all.
