The Call Sheet

Chapter 4 - Sarah

"You have great taste in literature" a deep voice pulls me out of my fictional world, shocked at the intrusion I snap my head up, prepared to move away and put distance between myself and this stranger who clearly does not understand social norms. But when I look up my eyes widen in disbelief and I look up and down at this gorgeous stranger sitting beside me waving the same book I have in my hands in my face.

This human in his tight black chinos, white polo shirt that wraps round his tanned arms emphasising the chiselled muscles of his biceps perfectly. The silver rings on his thumb and index finger catch my eyes. I never thought a man who wore rings would be attractive to me but on this man, wow, I focus on them as they clutch the spine of the book. Next my eyes fall to his jaw line, his jaw so sharp I'm pretty sure it has cut through my eyes just by being near me. Is he? No, no way, it looks like his jaw is clenching in that nervous way men do. But he couldn't be nervous talking to me, no way could he be nervous talking to me.

Before I can stop myself the words are out of my mouth: "Holy shit, you're Tiernan Tucker" I can see the embarrassment etched all over his face, his eyes stay shut a couple of seconds longer than a normal blink would, I see his breath catch at the top of his chest not quite making it a full inhale and he releases it with a sigh. I feel so bad for this poor man, he has been dragged through the tabloids now for the last few months due to the end of his relationship. The strain of this is apparent on his face, he looks drained, handsome, yes but his green eyes betray him and I can see the exhaustion masked behind the polite smile and kind eyes. I don't know why I care, I don't know this man and I don't know why I have noticed so much about him in the space of 30 seconds. Maybe broken hearts are drawn together? I understand the pain, it has taken me the best part of a year to get to the stage I am at now and I was able to do that in private, alone, without the scrutiny of millions of strangers judging me. I can't even begin to comprehend how hard that must have been for this poor man and his kind eyes.

"Oh I'm so sorry, that must be really annoying" he raises an eyebrow quizzically, I continue on my alcohol induced word vomit undeterred "not being able to introduce yourself because everyone knows your name so they assume they know you. Not having that opportunity to showcase who you are without preconceived ideas from others must be frustrating." He looks me up and down, a soft smile starts to spread across his mouth and up to his eyes, probably thinking I am a mad woman and regretting ever approaching this lunatic on the tube. But looking at his smile my heart leaps and my stomach lurches, I really need to catch a grip here but instead I continue on babbling "Can we start this conversation over?" I ask with a wry smile, half expecting him to stand up and sprint to a different carriage to escape me.

"You have great taste in literature" he says again with a laugh that makes me feel giddy while waving the book in my face again.

I agree with him and we go back and forth about plot lines and quotes, discussing favourite characters and favourite moments from the book. It's so easy and natural as if we have known each other for years rather than just 10 minutes. I go to talk about part of the book and before I can finish my sentence I'm interrupted by his finger pressing against my lips "Eh excuse me, no spoilers please!' he says in a feigned panicked and indignant tone. The moment his finger touched my lips I felt like I had been shocked, electricity surges through my whole body, my heart is pounding and my chest feels like it's about to explode all over this breathtakingly handsome stranger in front of me. I swat his hand away in a playful manner trying to push down everything I am feeling hoping my exterior isn't giving away the internal battle I am currently fighting. As his hand drops from my face I can still feel my mouth burning where the contact had been made.

"WOW" I say with mock horror 'imagine the audacity a person must have to infringe on my personal space without even knowing my name!"

Tiernan throws back his head and laughs such a hearty laugh that I think I might actually combust from seeing something I say elicit this kind of a response from someone. What on earth is wrong with me?! It must be the alcohol, I have never felt like this around someone before. It feels like an out of body experience because there is no way this is happening to me.