Love in the snow

Better never than late

Nell woke to the buzz of her alarm with a jump. Scrunching her eyes together to attempt to block the sharp rays of sunlight peeping through the curtains and blinding her, she groaned. How could it be Monday already? She thought, hadn't it been Friday only yesterday, when she and Rory had gone dancing and got far to drunk for their own good? But no, as Nell glanced at her phone on the bedside table she saw the date as clear as day; Monday 2nd November, 7:45.

"7:45?" She mumbled, moments later the realisation hit her "7:45! Shit shit shit, I'm so late!" She screeched. Leaping out of bed, she scrambled to the wardrobe and threw on a cute pink top, her denim mini skirt and a pair of woollen stockings. Dashing over to her dresser she fumbled in her makeup draw and finally pulled out her mascara. Quickly applying a light coat to her lashes she added a touch of lipgloss and flew towards the kitchen.

Nell's kitchen was tiny, but so was everything in Nell's apartment, but living in London requires compromise on space she told herself. The flat was open plan, with a small sofa area in the centre, the cluttered kitchen to the right and the door to Nell's bedroom on the left. With barely enough room for the bed itself, the rest of the bedroom floor was covered in an array of dirty clothes, bags, shoes and makeup. But Nell loved her flat really, it was small and not exactly perfect, but it was hers and that meant something.

After fighting with the toaster to free the precious breakfast, she ran to grab her purse off the sofa, shimmied on the coat and sprinted out the flat. Slamming the door behind her.

Cramming the  second piece of toast into her mouth, she leapt towards the lift. "Why today?" She hissed as she saw the 'out of order' sign on the elevator. She was on the fifth floor apartment and stairs were not her forte. "Stairs" she cried, "my sworn enemy". Rushing down the steep steps she cursed, "Jesus Christ" as she almost slipped on a Christ packet on one of the stairs. If shed had slipped, she'd be ass over tits right now.  Quickening her pace as she neared the end of her marathon, she hugged her purse to her side. "Finally" she cried as she jumped from the final step and dashed to the door.

Nell's apartment was in Camden Town, a nice spot, overlooking a park and close enough to the centre to have time to walk to work, but not today. The building was old and had a Georgian feel, with tall windows and stone brick work, it was homey to Nell, if not a little scratty, but she wasn't complaining.

"To late to walk" she said rolling her eyes at her stupidity and whistling to catch a cab drivers attention. As soon as the cap stoped she flung open the door and jumped in, "BBC building please" she cried and the taxi zoomed off down the road, to Nell's personal nightmare.

It wasn't that she hated her job, it was more that it had been less than she had hoped for.  It was a bit of a disappointment. She'd longed for a fast paced, highly competitive workplace to learn and thrive in, but she was bringing to realise this was just a dull office job. As a kid she'd always wanted to work in television, and she knew that this was a brilliant opportunity for her, but something was missing. Maybe it was the face that she was only 20 and she had already settled for a dreary 9-5 office job. Or maybe it was the regret that she never went travelling like her friends did, and like she'd promised she would with Rory. But this job offer had come up straight after she'd graduated uni and she'd felt like she had to take it, she had to start her career. After all, that's what she'd always wanted right? But she'd only been working there a year and she already felt the toll of the daily grind and it was wearing down her party spirt too. She only went out clubbing with Rory every couple of weeks and she missed the crazy late nights and the drama.

Thoughts bubbled through Nell's busy mind as she stepped through the glass revolving glass doors, "I'll make sure to take the elevator this time" she mumbled, walking to the lift doors, as they opened, she stepped inside.

The moment she caught sight of who was already in there she instantly regretted her decision not to take the stairs. "Shit" she mumbled under her breath, as the tall, heavily build and astonishingly hansom man in the lift took her in and smirked as he recognised her. Swirly grabbing her purse and covering her face in a weak attempt to hide Nell cursed herself for being late, or she wouldn't have run into... into HIM.

Running his large hands through his short golden locks he gave her a wink and laughed " if it isn't the famous Nell". He swiftly grabbed her hand and pulled her into the elevator, the doors closing as he did so. Throwing Nell another charismatic smirk as he laughed "my favourite ex"