Chapter 1

995 10 4
                                    

Jacklyn's POV

I grip the steering wheel agitatedly, staring at the endless grey road before me. I am lost. Completely lost. I remember how the American-Indians tracked buffalo at the slightest change in wind currents. So how hard will it be to find Harry's flat? Very hard, says my self concience cruely. "Shut up." I end up muttering that part out loud. Maybe I'm going insane.

I pull over to the side of the road and bang my head against the wheel. Stupid, stupid Jacklyn. Where are you, you silly little girl? I pull out my phone and dial Harry's number. Maybe he knows where I am. 

The phone rings for a long time before he picks up. Then: "Jacky? You aren't lost, are you?"

I squeeze my eyes shut and rest my sore head on the steering wheel. "No," I fib, my voice going all squeaky. 

"Yes you are. Look, I'll be done in a bit, and I'll come pick you, right?"

"Right. But Harry, I don't know where I am."

"I'm in the studio right now. I'll get someone to track you. Drive around and see if you can spot my place--you've got a spare key. Look, I have to go now. They're all getting mad. Bye Jacky." He's trying to be gentle, but I know he's really annoyed. I swallow. 

"Bye Harry," I echo. I gently place my phone on the dash board where it slides down and clunks the windshield, almost cracking it. I swear under my breath. 

I've always needed Harry. When we were in kindergarten and third grade boys had stolen my chocolate, I needed him. When I went to the pools and someone pushed me under, I needed him. When I got stuck on my algebra tests, I needed him. I needed my brother, but he didn't need me. He's obviously the independent one. I mean, look at him. International popstar, songwriter, singer, making mega-millions every day. And look at me. I ended up dropping out of uni, I own a tiny bookshop, I have a second-hand car and always find it difficult to pay the bills. 

There's a sudden honk and I'm jolted back to reality. There's a shiny thing approching me. I squint at it. It's a truck. Adrenaline shoots through me. I can't turn--it's a one way street. He's driving in the wrong bloody lane, I think unhelpfully. My foot slams down on the brake, but even before it makes contact I know it's too late.

There's a screech of tires against road and a deafening crash as the two vehicles collide. I'm somehow flung out onto the concrete. There's the acidic smell of burning rubber and--pain. Pain everwhere. It cuts into my skin and I'm throbbing all over. Everything is fuzzy as my head hits the asphalt. Someone is yelling and there's a lot of screaming. My vision's all hazy. Dark blue sky. Shining stars. Loud sirens. There's a wetness on the right side of my face and my left temple and red liquid seeps into my eyes. I can't see anything at this point but I feel strong hands lifting me up. There's a blackness at the back of my mind and all I want to do now is sleep. I stop trying to focus and recede into the blackness. Darkness hits me like a wave, blocking all my senses, and I welcome it warmly. 

A/N

Hiya. I'm Saff. How do you do? Pleased to meet you. I bet you already know what's gonna happen. You're cool like that. So why don't you vote, comment, follow, smile, be nice and eat waffles? I answer most questions. Don't be afraid to ask! 

Baby Steps (ON HOLD SORRY)Where stories live. Discover now