An unexpected meeting

Chapter 4

As promised, I have managed to piece together another chapter for you all :) So it didn’t end up being as light and pleasant as I thought, but I promise the next one will be!! Also thinking of writing in Benedict’s point of view at some point – comment and let me know if anyone would like that? As always, thanks for reading and commenting xox More trigger warnings

Enjoy :) 

Saturday morning arrives all too quickly, and I oversleep. Getting ready in record time, I skip breakfast in an effort to avoid being late. Again. ‘Aidan I’m heading off now. Money is on the bench if you need to go out today. I should be home around five this afternoon.’ A non-committal grunt comes from his room and I rush out the door. The brisk morning air is refreshing, and I start the half hour trek towards Molly’s café. I try not to think of the events from last night, but I can tell today will be difficult. The wounds on my legs sting with every step, but it’s a pain I welcome. I double check to make sure the cuts on my wrist are still hidden beneath my watch and sleeve. Alright, everything is in place. Just get through the day and deal with your shit at home. I smile brightly as I walk through the door and greet the other women behind the counter as I move to join them.

‘How are you Elena?’ Margie asks cheerfully. Out of all the other employees, it’s Margaret who I get along with best. She’s a few years older than I am, but we share a few common interests and she is one of the only people who know about the accident and my brother. ‘I’m alright, how about you?’ I call back cheerfully as I go to take a menu out to the couple who have just walked in. ‘Hi I’m Elena and I’ll be your waitress this morning. Can I get you any drinks to begin with?’ This goes on for the next five hours - taking down orders, bringing out food and drinks and clearing up after customers. I really hate doing this, but it’s the only thing keeping my brother and I off the streets. It isn’t until about an hour or so before my shift ends that something interesting happens. Oh god, no. He can’t be here! The excited gasps and whispering of Margie and Amelia cause me to look up from the table I am in the process of cleaning. There, walking through the door of my café is none other than Benedict Cumberbatch. I feel my face go bright red and quickly finish what I am doing before ducking my head and practically running behind the counter and into the kitchen. Of all the cafés in all of London, WHY did he have to choose this one?! Margaret calls my name and I wince, praying to god that he doesn’t hear or notice. After a while she comes to get me, looking slightly annoyed. ‘Elena, we have another customer! I can’t believe you haven’t already noticed who it is – Benedict Cumberbatch! I need you to go and serve him and his friend.’ I feel ill. I can’t go out there. He can’t see me working here or I’ll never be able to look him in the eyes again. And that’s already hard enough to manage without this extra drama thank you very much!

‘Umm….I’m actually not feeling well at the moment. I – uh – can I go home early today?’ I stutter desperately. Her eyes are narrowed as she looks me over before a look of compassion softens them. ‘You do look rather pale actually. Alright, just this once. Amelia will be grateful now that she gets to be the one to serve her celebrity crush. Although I’m surprised you’re not jumping at the chance as well – I know he’s a favourite celebrity of yours too.’ I just smile weakly before gathering my things. Taking a deep breath I compose myself before I venture out from the safety of the kitchen. My text alert goes off just as I dart through the door and into the busy streets outside. I don’t look down to check it until I am safely through the door of my apartment.

Hello again, I hope you’ve been enjoying your weekend? I’m sitting in a lovely café and one of the waitresses called out your name. Life has such strange coincidences sometimes does it not? Well I just thought of you and thought I’d see if things are still fine for lunch tomorrow? Benedict.

My breath chokes in my throat and my heart rate increases as I read through his message. Almost caught out. I can only imagine how awkward and humiliating it would have been if he’d seen me. Gathering my resolve I text back and then wait nervously for his reply.

My weekend has been lovely so far thank you =) And yours? Oh, that is strange hah which café was it? Yes tomorrow is still fine by me. Elena.

As I wait I wander through the apartment to check if Aiden is home or out with friends. Things were awkward between us – two weeks ago I’d been called into school to speak with his teachers about him acting out and displaying ‘aggressive behaviour’. I had nodded politely and assured them I would address the situation. Once home I had confronted him about it, and his response still made me feel terrible to this day.

“So I spoke with your teachers today. Want to explain why you punched Dean Mackintosh and then pushed Carl Saunders into a locker?” He had stared at me blankly before a look of anger and frustration crossed his features. “What the fuck are you trying to do?! Take mum and dads place? Because guess what – you aren’t them! You never will be and I don’t want you to try. Just leave me the hell alone. I’ll stay out of your way and you stay out of mine. You can never be what I need, so just don’t even try.” His voice had turned calm by the end of his outburst, and I was shocked. I told him not to let it happen again and he agreed. Perhaps I should have pushed, but I just didn’t have that kind of strength in me. I was always exhausted and worrying about what the future might hold. I had never felt like such a failure; to Aiden, my parents (for not providing what my little brother needed) and lastly to myself. I had to give up University to afford everything and it seemed my dreams of becoming a lawyer were never to be fulfilled.

A beep brought me out of my reverie and I looked down at my phone.

I’m glad to hear it. Mine has been decent so far – catching up with an old friend from University today. Indeed it was: Molly’s Café. Alright, I’m looking forward to it. I have to go now so I probably won’t be able to speak to you again until tomorrow. Have a lovely night. Benedict.

Sounds like fun =) So am I. No worries, I shall talk to you tomorrow then. You too. Elena.

I’m suddenly exhausted, both mentally and physically. I shut the door to my bedroom and allow myself to fall into the bed. As I do so a burning sensation on my thighs reminds me that I have business to attend to, before I get dinner ready for Aiden and head to bed. Doctoring my wounds, I am struck again by how ugly they are. The scars. Some are thick and pink while many others are thin white lines which are almost indistinguishable against my skin. How could anyone ever love me? Who would want a young woman covered with scars and without any kind of respectable future? These are the thoughts which keep me awake most nights. I haven’t had anyone to comfort or hold me in so long, and the only people who have never turned their backs on me, my family, have gone. Only Aiden and I remain, and I have a feeling he hates me now too. Before I even realise what’s happening, I have added to the collection of wounds on my legs. I can’t ever get anything right. After I have finished for the night, I make spaghetti Bolognese and leave it out for Aiden to help himself. Suddenly I cannot bear to be awake any longer. I could never end my life as I have wanted because my brother needs me. But that doesn’t make anything easier. If anything, it gets more difficult.

 In a desperate attempt to change my train of thought, I read over all of Benedict’s messages. I never would have believed I would actually meet Benedict Cumberbatch: my favourite actor and slight obsession. Even less likely is that he would seem to enjoy talking to me, and invite me to have lunch with him. He is so kind it is almost ridiculous. I really hope we can become friends even though I know he deserves much better than someone like me. He has somehow managed to distract me from the depressing reality of my situation, and for a moment, I am able to pretend that my life is normal. That I am just another young woman gushing over a handsome man and wishing I had a chance with him. That is my last conscious thought as I finally succumb to my body’s demand for sleep. For the first time in weeks, it is peaceful and uninterrupted.    

A/N: Well there you go; I hope you all enjoyed it. I will try and update again ASAP but hopefully this makes up for the last two weeks or so.