Our Stop(38)

‘Ohmygod,’ she said.

‘You’re okay,’ Nadia said, unclipping her seatbelt. ‘Emma – you’re okay! Fuck.’ She went into organization mode. Rolling down the window, she said to the group to her left, ‘Are you okay? We’re so sorry!’

‘Fucking sorry?’ said one, in a Barbour jacket and wellies. ‘You almost bloody killed us! Jesus.’

Nadia turned to Emma. Her face was deathly white. ‘They’re okay, babe. Can you hear me? They’re okay.’ She lifted the handbrake and put on the emergency hazards. ‘Emma?’

Emma turned to her. ‘That was … horrible!’ she said, promptly bursting into tears.

‘Oh babe, get out. Come on. Let me drive. We need to get out of the road. Go on.’

The women clambered out of the car, where thankfully the group they’d nearly hit had already headed off into a nearby field. They were mad. Really, really mad – but at least that was better than being hurt. One of them turned around and shook his head, but Nadia was relieved that they all kept walking. She climbed into the driver’s seat and drove them to a nearby pub car park.

‘Bugger me, that was close,’ she said, closing her eyes to finally catch a breath.

‘Yeah,’ said Emma. ‘That was … yeah.’

Nadia switched off the engine and pressed her forehead to the wheel. It was no good thinking about what could have happened, but it was hard not to.

‘What happened?’ Nadia said, eventually.

‘I just took my eyes off the road for like, a second,’ said Emma. ‘That’s it. I just panicked.’

Nadia shook her head and then turned so she could see her friend. ‘But why? I went to answer your phone and you freaked out. Why would that freak you out?’

‘I didn’t know who it was,’ said Emma, as if that explained it.

‘I really need you to talk to me,’ Nadia implored. ‘I need you to tell me what’s going on. Emma!’

Emma stared blankly ahead and shook her head. ‘No,’ she said. ‘Just drive.’

They didn’t speak another word until they’d got back to London.

‘I’ll text you later this week,’ Emma said, as a goodbye.

‘Okay,’ Nadia nodded, sadly. ‘I’m here, you know. When you’re ready.’ She didn’t know what else to say. She’d never seen her like this before.





18


Daniel


‘Fuck me!’ one of the lads said. ‘Watch out!’ Daniel was vaguely aware of a giant shove into the middle of his back, forcing him to stumble up the grassy verge at the other side of the road. Before he could turn around and see who it was, he heard an almighty screech – the sound of car brakes – and whipped his head around just in time to see Sam fling an arm out in front of Terrence, who had been about to cross the road behind him.

A cream Mini skidded, swerving slightly, and stopped exactly where Terrence had been about to walk. Dean and Jonny, who had already climbed over the fence to the field that would loop them back around to the pub, shouted out, ‘What happened?’

Daniel motioned for them to come over without turning around. He couldn’t take his eyes off what had just happened.

‘… Nearly bloody killed us!’ he heard Terrence say, foaming at the mouth in anger. Nobody was hurt, thankfully, but he could see the driver still gripping the steering wheel, knuckles white and deathly pale. She looked like she might throw up.

‘Are you all right?’ Daniel called, meaning both Terrence and the driver.

Terrence dragged his attention away from yelling at the passenger of the car through the car window and looked at him.

‘Yes, mate,’ he said. And then, directing his fury back at the car, ‘No thanks to this BLOODY LUNATIC!’ He hit the bonnet with the flat of his palm and he crossed in front of it, startling the driver, who seemed to burst into tears.

Daniel looked back to where the car had come from – to be fair, they had all crossed over just after a blind bend. Daniel didn’t think it wise to bait Terrence in any way, though, so didn’t mention it. It was just lucky everyone was okay. He tried to catch the eye of the driver to share a sympathetic smile, ducking at the knees slightly to get a better look. She needs to get out of the way, he thought, and watched as the hazard lights came on, blinking in the early afternoon light. It looked like whoever was with her knew what to do. They’ll be okay, he thought. He turned around to climb over the fence where the rest of the guys were.

‘I’m bloody shaking!’ Terrence was saying, and Daniel saw Sam turn around and give the car the finger as its engine roared into life again. It drove slowly away. For a second Daniel thought it was Nadia driving. He shook himself out of the thought. You’re obsessed, he told himself.

‘Talk about earning that beer,’ Daniel said, forcing himself to get the energy of the group back. He grabbed Sam’s shoulder and steered him in the direction of the pub. ‘Jesus.’

‘First round is on you, mate,’ Sam said. ‘That was nearly the end of us!’

‘You know what?’ Daniel replied. ‘I’m feeling generous. First round is absolutely on me.’





19


Nadia