"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" Dianne exclaimed before she looked up, seeing a pair of captivating blue eyes meeting her honey brown ones.
"No need to apologise, I wasn't looking where I was going either." The man replied. His low voice sent shivers down her spine, but she could also detect some nervousness in his words. It was only when she went to respond that she noticed some groceries scattered along the pavement.
"Shit, your shopping! I'm sorry, let me go and get you some more, sorry." Dianne anxiously rambled on and started fiddling with her necklace, before she heard a chuckle coming from the man in front of her.
"Honestly, don't worry about it. The shop will be shut now anyway, I'll just come back tomorrow." It wasn't until now that she realised his accent. An English one, that reminded her of someone she wanted to keep in her past.
Quickly shaking her head, she helped him put some of the groceries back into the bags, accidentally touching his hand in the process.
"Sorry." She whispered, almost embarrassed.
She watched as he straightened up, and held his hand out.
"Let's start over. I'm Joe."
Dianne slowly moved her hand forward in anticipation, feeling sparks when their hands touched.
"Dianne." She said, with a tad more confidence. "So, I assume from your accent that you are not from around here, London?"
"Yes, I live and work in London now, but I was brought up in the countryside. And I assume from your accent that you're a local?" He replied, and Dianne noticed he had a small smirk on his face.
She found herself blushing for some reason, before responding. "Yeah, born and breed here. I may be bias but I really couldn't live in a prettier place."
His smirk turned into a smile. " I can't disagree with you there." He looked down at his watch, and then back up to her. "I'm sorry to cut this conversation short, but I really must be heading off. Hopefully I'll see you around." He smiled again, before picking up the bags and hesitantly walking off.
Dianne felt her heart shudder. How was it possible that a man she had just met had this reaction on her? The thought terrified her.
She was grateful when her parent's house came into view, and she practically ran up to the door and unlocked it, not surprised to see the lights off.
"Juno, lie down!" she instructed, while pointing to his bed.
She couldn't get to the bathroom fast enough, splashing cold water from the tap over her face. It has been years since she last felt like this, and had vowed then to never let a man have control over her like this ever again.
There was one thing she felt lucky for though; the likelihood of seeing Joe again was small.
Lying under the covers, she quickly took out her phone and sent a message to one of her oldest friends, who had been there through everything. She explained the events that had just occurred, happy to have told someone. Throwing her phone to the end of her bed, she squeezed her eyes shut, hoping that it was just a dream.
//
Waking up to the sun streaming in through the curtains, Dianne opened her eyes after her restless sleep.
Groaning, she stood up and grabbed a pair of shorts and a t-shirt before walking into the living room where Juno was wagging his tail excitedly. Picking up his lead, she walked outside where the glorious sun greeted her. Nothing could ever make her leave this place.
Starting to jog, it was no surprise where her feet were leading her. The café where she felt she lived in. The truth was that they really did make the best coffee in the world, so it had instantly won over Dianne's heart.
Opening the door, hearing the bell ring, she stood in shock as she saw who was in the queue in front of her.
"Hi again."
