Run to Me

Chapter 1: A New Beginning

Mandi's POV

Autumn in England is just fantastic. The leaves are crisp, the air is fresh, and just about everywhere you go, you're met with vibrant colors, reminding you that Fall is finally here. I really missed this. I missed my days as a young girl growing up here. I missed riding on the back of the local farmer's tractor with my best friends as we screeched with joy every time it hit a bump, sending us flying. I missed spending hours in the pumpkin patch, searching for the fattest and ripest one to carve into a Jack-O-Lantern. I missed lying wrapped up in a blanket on Saturday afternoons, sipping apple cider and watching reruns of Our Gang until my mom kicked me out of the living room. I guess being an adult makes you nostalgic...makes you miss being a kid.

I recently moved back to England from America. My mother thought that it would be best for me to go back to the States for college, as there were better opportunities there for an aspiring writer, and I didn't really have anything going for me here. But now, as a graduate, I returned to Manchester to begin a new and exciting life. I sat cross-legged on a bench in Alexandra Park, which is where I used to come a lot as a little girl, with a notebook and a pen on my lap. I got a degree in creative writing while in America, and my dream of becoming an author one day was finally falling into place. This was a great place to come for inspiration. It was quaint and peaceful, and the breeze felt nice against my auburn hair. I bit my lip and snatched the cap off of my pen, scribbling down ideas for plots and stories and characters for future reference. The hardest part about being a writer, at least in my opinion, was trying to decide which idea to choose to indulge in first! I guess I was so focused on my work that I didn't notice a figure come up to me right away.

"Mandi?! Mandi, is that you?!" I glanced up from my notebook and was met with the excited eyes of a young man about my age. I shot him a confused look.

"Yes...can I help you?" I asked uncertainly. He stood a good three inches taller than me, and had a wide, toothy grin plastered on his face. His shaggy reddish brown hair hung loosely in his face as his smile widened.

"Oh my gosh...it really is you!" He squealed, running into my arms. I stood up quickly, trying to shake the overly attached stranger off of me, but he had a strong grip. Everywhere I moved, he moved with me.

"Um, excuse me!" I yelled. "Do I know you?" The man loosened his grip and glanced up at me, his mouth forming into a smirk.

"My god, Mandi, all those years away from us must have brainwashed you! I can't believe you don't remember one of your best friends!" He shot back sarcastically. I stood there confused for a second, before it dawned on me. The humongous overbite. The squeaky British accent. The playful, puppy dog eyes. I brought my hand to my mouth in a silent gasp as my eyes widened.

"Robin?!" I asked, tears suddenly starting to fill my eyes. He nodded enthusiastically, his smile growing wider by the second. I shrieked, running into his arms, his warm embrace squeezing my shoulders. I couldn't believe it. Robin Gibb was one of my two absolute best friends growing up here as a kid. We hadn't seen each other in almost ten years, because when we were about eleven, his family moved to Australia. I had thought he was going to stay there for the rest of his life...but I guess I was wrong.

I stayed in his arms for what felt like centuries, tears of joy streaming down my face and onto his shoulder. He rubbed my back gently until I broke free of his grasp. I stood back from him and just stared in wonder. I just couldn't believe it. When I finally came to my senses, I took a seat back on the bench and motioned for him to join me. Smiling, I started to wipe the tears away from my face. I glanced up at him and chuckled.

"Sorry about that," I sniffled as he grinned at me slyly. "I just...oh god, I just can't believe it's really you." Robin laughed and swung his arm around my shoulder.