Mysterious Chime (Book #1)

C H I M E 4

⁴| A HANGRY GIRL

England was the summary of red double decker buses, vast traffic jam, pound signs, black cabs, red telephone kiosks, too many buildings and too many people, in simple. Regardless of too many things to see and get hyped at about them I still had my worries on this certain 'he-who-will-be-my-first-and-the-last' along with the 'murder' on my plate.

The food stores somehow made all my worries go away for a while and replace them with extreme hunger. My stomach grumbled when I spotted a café for the fifth time in my plain view. I stomped past the café angrily like it was to be blamed for what I'm going through. How am I to think of living when I don't even have money to satisfy my necessities.

With the hunger still on I ended up in a park coming to an absolute realisation that the air would help ease things up for me. There weren't anyone except for few kids who were playing around with mouth full of cheers and laughter. Smiling at their active, care free figures I walked further down to finally plant myself on a bench which was heavily guarded by an Alder tree. The breeze coming down from the tree was refreshing that I automatically closed my eyes, allowing my system to inhale the pure greenery. I felt relaxed for the first time in my action filled life. Sitting in this place, I thought things through and came to certain realisations. I realised that it would be pointless exhausting my mind trying to remember details I can't remember, that I should take baby steps. But still there were fewer concerns of How's and What's and Where's nagging at the back of mind when thinking about a place to live, food to eat and an earning to survive.

My thoughts were interrupted when someone tapped me in the shoulder. Turning around I locked my eyes onto the bluest pair I've ever seen. This guy who appeared to be around his mid twenties with a well built body and black combed back hair, could second my father with no effort when it comes to the "catchy eye section." I realised I was ogling at him as though this is my first time seeing a greek god like specimen. Indeed it was my first time but isn't quite the first time messing up trying to create a good first impression.

"I felt bad seeing you alone with no company. Mind if I occupy a bit of your space?" My heart pummelled when I picked up his British accent.

"Maybe I enjoy my own company," I stated but since his words came out so nicely I had no heart to decline his request. So I let him,"although, I could use some for a change." He smiled playfully before coming around to take a seat. The seating position was too close to my notice but not to the level of making me feel uncomfortable.

"What's your story? Ran away from your demons to face these little demons?" He stated literally pointing at the children who were caught up in their own little world.

I laughed shaking my head. "No I just-" I paused struggling to come up with a story. I didn't really think of sharing my story with anyone or the least I expected was someone to be interested in my life. What should I say? He wouldn't believe me in the first place if I had to tell the truth so a lie wouldn't hurt, right?

"I came here to clear my mind off of some stuff," I replied honestly before spinning the bottle back at him. "What about you?"

"Trying to spend the summer with this," he stated sheepishly shoving a caramel coated ice cream on my face. Not ice cream please, I internally begged in my mind for him to take it away from my face unless he wanted me to attack on it like a zombie hungry for brains.

"You can have it if you want. I'm not really a lover for caramel toppings."

"Then why even buy it?" I laughed again not buying his excuse.

"Frankly, when I saw you seated alone I wanted to talk to you at the same time I didn't want to scare you off so I thought why not approach the girl with an ice cream. Sorry the parlour is the closest at the time," he smiled nervously rubbing the back of his neck. He must probably be assuming I'm judging his gesture.

Nevertheless I chuckled this time buying his story. He thinks before taking an action which make me come to an immediate conclusion that he's not like other guys.

Trust no one, a voice whom I recognised as my mom's whispered. She told the same thing when I passed out at the beach. Maybe I should get to know him better. Also just because someone offer something nice doesn't mean one should always welcome another like a close friend. Even angel lucifer turned out to be Satan.

"I'm Axel Reed by the way," the guy stretched his arm out to which I took with no hesitation introducing my very self. "I'm Nora."

The fact that atleast I've got my name clear without a doubt had me settled down.

"Nora?" Axel furrowed his perfectly thick eyebrows while looking at me in wonder. The way his eyes ran across my face with a peculiar expression on, made me feel like I was sitting on pins and needles. His sudden change of attitude left me into thinking that he knew something, somehow. Does he know me? If so he wouldn't be introducing himself or trying to get to know me in the first place now would he?

Locking my inquisitive eyes at his own, I questioned. "Axel, is everything alright?"

Axel closed his eyes and opened again with a killer smile that could melt anyone in the radius. "Apologies for my sudden shut down. Your name, somehow, struck a memory within me. You could say that I was recalling it."

"Nora," He tested my name but dare I say it sounded more teasing than testing to me. The way my name rolled out of his tongue was like a song of a Siren's- luring me to forget questioning further about what happened before. I really had my questions ready when he mentioned the particular word "memory."

His smothering gaze held me captivate before he skimmed those blue orbs away, landing them softly on my lips. Inching closer to me, he whispered my name once again. "Nora." All I could see was Axel's lips nearing mine with every passing second. Gulping at the building intensity between the two of us, I moved back slowly with an attempt to meet his eyes. Axel, however, had other plans when he turned his body towards me, caging me in place with one arm beside my head. His warm breath fanned across my neck as his lips lingered closer to my ear away from my lips.

"Your ice cream is melting, No-Ra. We wouldn't want you dirty now, would we?" His voice came out rasped. Cominf out of the trance like state he put me into with cheeks on fire, I realised the ice cream was given no attention that it has begun melting all over the tissue. If it wasn't for Axel, I'm pretty sure I would embarrass myself with patches all over my dress.

"Here," Axel offered me his handkerchief to which I swooned internally when his perfume, strong and masculine, hit my nostrils.

"No I wouldn't," I declined politely not wanting to ruin it.

"Are you afraid that I used this on me? It's clean so take it. Unless..." He trailed off with a smirk carving at his lips. "You are a germaphobe." Axel declared pointing his scented handkerchief at my face, accusingly.

"I'm not!" I scowled, upset that he misunderstood my intention. "I have no such nonsense; only that I don't want to mess what's yours."

"You take me as a homeless person who survives with this priced handkerchief in my pocket and nothing else to live with?" He joked. Knowing its impossible to make a point with him firing back a counter point, I shook my head whilst taking the handkerchief unwillingly before mumbling a 'thank you.'