Years & Years (h.s.)

- II

september

where did i go wrong? i lost a friend, somewhere along in the bitterness
- the fray.

So, maybe it was a bad idea to have worn nothing but a dress and a thick cardigan to the Farmer's Market. But, in all honesty, it wasn't her fault she was terribly used to the crowds in New York that would usually keep her warm and covered from the cold breeze.

And now here she is, in an open air market, where everyone is wearing beanies and mittens and scarves and thick, puffy coats, and she's strolling around in a dress and a pair of boots. With no tights. No tights. God, she is thinking of hypothermia right about now.

Her mother and Anne are picking out fruits as they talk animatedly; laughing and listening carefully to what the other said.

Bella, on the other hand, is searching for somewhere a bit less cold than the open air. Which is, in other words, indoors. After walking along the stands, teeth chattering and hands trembling from where they are hidden inside her sleeves, she finds a small caravan on the side that sells nuts. At least this is kind of indoors.

Without a second thought, she steps inside, quickly looking like she was interested in actually buying from the range of nuts, when in reality she has no money. The man behind the cashier doesn't actually seemed to look up at her from his newspaper, so she thinks she is pretty much fine in roaming around inside until her mother calls her.

A blonde girl steps inside after her, a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a full shopping bag on the other. She nearly stumbles up the stairs, and quickly, Bella steps towards her to help.

"Gah- Thank you for that. I think I might have landed face first on this floor if it wasn't for your help," the girl says, eyes brown and earnest. She is slim and a few inches shorter than Bella, her short hair pulled back into a low ponytail and her lips painted deep red.

She has the face of a baby but looks much older in other parts that are non-face related. As in, she is quite fortunate in the chest department. Bella might be a bit jealous.

"No worries, you're welcome," Bella smiles before stretching out the hand that didn't hold her shopping bag, "I'm Bella."

A flash of recognition seems to go through the girl's eyes, but it quickly disappears, "I'm Paige, nice to meet you," she says, shaking her hand. "I don't think I've seen you around here, and Holmes Chapel is small."

She laughs it off, "Yeah, I just came back yesterday from New York actually. Catching up with the family," no need to tell a complete stranger how she is actually coming back to live here once again. She might never see Paige again, so.

"Oh, that must be amazing. I've always loved New York. Want to go there in the future. Maybe with the boyfriend," she winks at her cheekily. Paige seems nice, she wouldn't really mind becoming her friend.

At that moment, Anne and her mum step inside the caravan, a smile spreading on Anne's lips.

"Oh, Paige, so nice to see you here!" Anne says delightedly, giving her a one arm hug.

"Great to see you too, Anne," she smiles as they part. They knew each other?

Her mother gives her a small smile and walks around, picking up a plastic bag and placing a few spoonfuls of nuts inside.

"Will you be coming to dinner again any time soon?"

"I'd be happy to. Your pasta yesterday was delicious," Paige smacks her lips, as if she could still savour it.

Yesterday? So she knows Harry?

Anne glances at Bella and grins, pulling her into the conversation, one arm on her shoulder. "Paige, have you met Bella?"