Chapter 2

Quin Playlist: Sparks Fly (Taylors Version) – Taylor Swift

“I’m just going to go and take this call guys” I say to my group at the table, as I put on my coat and scarf. Outside is freezing, frosty and covered in snow. Idyllic really for a Winter holiday away. There’s a fire outside and a table with packs of marshmallows. How romantic. I feel like I’m in The Holiday. The question is, would I be Jack Black, or Jude Law… Glad to be thinking of this internally rather than out loud. Great movie. Not that my friends would agree.

I walk to the far left, out the way of the locals’ loud and cheery chatter. A quick call to my family goes well. I take in the view of the hills and trees covered in a white blanket of snow and take a moment to myself to inhale the cold air into my lungs. It’s nice. It’s even nicer when I head back to the pub doors and stop to the sound of a woman’s voice. It’s her, from the bar. She’s sat beside the fire alone on a high-backed cushioned rattan chair, that almost swallows her up. She looks so cosy. I kind of wish I was that chair. A beautiful woman in my lap. Wouldn’t be half bad, would it? “Hey bar guy. How do you feel about being defeated by the locals?” she says. I turn towards her.

“My team were gutted. But then again, I blame those trivia questions” I say, smiling . I walk towards the chair next to hers, only separated by a small table and gesture towards it.

“Chair taken?”.

“Nope, feel free” she says, smiling enthusiastically.

“What’s that you’re drinking” I say. She looks so content, wrapped in a deep red cardigan and scarf, holding a large mug topped with a tower of whipped cream. She smiles. “Hot chocolate with a dash of spiced rum. Keeps me warm” she says. “What’s your tipple?”.

“Just a simple old fashioned to do the same thing” I say with a smile. “Cheers”. I raise my glass to meet hers.

“I love a good old fashioned. I just thought I’d up the cliché cosy girl look, you know?” she says as she snuggles her hot chocolate near her face.

“Well, you’re doing a good job” I respond. She smiles and her face lights up when I ask, “Are you getting any marshmallows”.

“Yeah, I was just waiting for someone else to get one, so I look less desperate”. She laughs and looks down, embarrassed. That was my cue. I get up and grab two skewers and two marshmallows. Luckily enough the brand is one I know, so no need to be awkward about finding vegan ones. Despite being vegetarian and vegan my whole life, I still find it awkward to bring up in certain situations. You know those people who love to cause a scene by questioning your diet choices? Yeah. I like to avoid that as much as possible. Otherwise I just feel like punching someone in the nose for prying for no good reason.

“Well, I’m grabbing one, so, care to join?”. Her eyes brighten at my invitation. She puts her mug down and leaps up to grab one from me. “Don’t mind if I do!” she says enthusiastically. We toast our marshmallows successfully and take our seats again.

“So, how cheated do you feel in regard to the quiz?” she asks. I grasp my chest, faking heartbreak before being serious again. “I mean, we clearly raised the bar in the academia section, but sadly entertainment trivia just takes over every time” I respond with shrugged shoulders and take a bite of my toasted marshmallow, letting her fill the silence. “I know. It’s not my strong section, clearly. If it included questions about romance novels, horror movies, games and animals, I’d have more of a chance” she says, laughing into her hot chocolate.

“Same but replacing the romance novels with academic texts and comics. Also, I think we’re perhaps a few decades too young for many of the questions. So, they had the upper hand” I say, nervous about assuming her age, but she laughs, nonetheless.

“Very true. I’m not too bothered though. The locals will cherish the winner’s prize more than we would” she says through a mouthful of marshmallow. I nod in agreement, smiling and sipping my drink. Even with so many woolly layers on, and her mouth stuffed with marshmallow, she’s genuinely gorgeous. My mind starts wishing it was something else stuffing her mouth, but I’m quick to halt those thoughts. I’m trying not to stare, but this view is too good to miss. She’s smiling into her hot chocolate, the light from the fire illuminating her face. Her hair, up in a messy bun with bangs hanging loosely either side of her face. Little whisps sticking out, the fire reflecting on them. She looks ethereal. I look down at her legs and notice how one of them sits differently through her tights and the colour is just slightly darker than her skin below the knee. I’m almost certain her leg is prosthetic below the knee, and I am in awe.

Her ocean eyes look towards me, catching me watching her. Her smile widens and my embarrassment causes me to laugh under my breath and look down at my drink. She decides to respond to my gazing. “It’s totally fine to look at my leg. I’m used to it. She usually gets all of the attention anyway” she says, referring to her prosthetic and gives me a wink. Her honesty and upfront manner are refreshing. It makes me admire her even more. This is so unlike me. I never really notice women, let alone set my focus on them. There’s just something different about her in my eyes. I feel a pull to her, although I’m not one to believe in love at first sight. She sips her drink and gets whipped cream on her nose. She laughs and wipes it off. “It’s nice to speak to someone different tonight. I’ve spent the week with those lot so it’s nice to have a fresh conversation with a cool like-minded individual” she says. Thank goodness she didn’t find me creepy looking at her like that. Sort yourself out Quin. “It’s nice to speak to you too. Honestly that’s the first time someone’s described me as cool though. I’m not so sure” I say with a low laugh.

“Oh, come on. You’re clearly intellectual, funny and charming. Don’t sell yourself short” she says to me. To me.

“Charming ay? Well, people at work probably wouldn’t agree. And I’m sure my mates would take the piss. You’re cool too” And stunning. “I haven’t met many people who could even attempt to answer those academic questions, so it was awesome to see” I say.

“Well, thank you. Likewise. Same wavelength”. We both smile and hold each other’s gaze shortly. Her eyes taking breaks, looking around but always coming back to me, before we get pulled out of the moment by an interruption I do not appreciate.

“Quin, are you coming in?”. It’s Edward; my best friend and colleague, summoning me.

“Yep, I’ll be in soon” I say to him whilst side eyeing that I’m currently occupied.

“Sorry I didn’t realise he had company” Edward says to... I didn’t ask her name. Shit. I’m sure her friend called her Lista or something along those lines earlier.

“We met at the bar earlier during the quiz. We Just bumped into one another again. This is... Lista?” I half say and half ask. “I believe I heard correctly earlier”.

She smiles at me. “You are correct. I’m not sure how we’ve been speaking all this time and not asked each other’s names” she says. “I’m guessing yours is Quin?”. Hearing my name from her mouth is addictive. “Yep” I say, just smiling back. I think I’ve smiled more this evening than I have this entire year. My cheeks hurt. What has gotten into me?

“This is Edward. My best mate”.

“Good to meet you Edward” she says, politely.

“You too Lista. Nice work at the quiz! Those locals totally busted our balls” he replies to her, awkwardly, realising he’s disrupted our conversation.

“Tell me about it! Anyway, Quin, Edward, I’m going to head in before the guys think I’ve been kidnapped. Although a break from them is always welcomed. Maybe I’ll see you before the night ends” she says with a smile as she looks straight at me. She walks into the pub leaving Edward and I alone. “Well, that’s a shock. Quin Russell talking to a woman…” Edward says. I walk off before I can be interrogated by him.

After a few hours, the pub owners usher everyone outside for the New Year’s countdown. There’s a large inviting box with ‘sparklers’ written on the front, and two men setting up fireworks a little further down in the space the pub owns. After a few whiskeys and the guys feeling merry too, I’m feeling rather…unlike myself. I feel warm and fuzzy. Shit, maybe I am the Jude Law type. No crying Quin. I search the crowd of people gathered outside the pub, looking for Lista. I really hope she hasn’t left. Not that it matters after tonight anyway I guess. I feel a bump on my back and turn to nudge Edward, but when I look round, I see a petite, gorgeous girl looking up at me with those stormy ocean eyes. Very grateful I didn’t decide to elbow who I thought was Edward. “Lista”.

“Hey Quin. I happened to see you so thought I’d stand around here for the countdown. Plus, I got us both sparklers to pay you back for the marshmallows”. She has a mischievous, half embarrassed expression as she bites back a smile and hands me a sparkler. I nudge her arm with mine slightly and face towards where the fireworks are being lit. Both of us smile.

“10…9…8…7…” You know the rest.

I don’t know what comes over me, but when everyone shouts, “Happy New Year!”, Lista and I seem to be facing each other, smiling. I learn forward towards her, not sure if we’re about to hug. I take her waist. She lifts her hands around my shoulders and links her fingers behind my head… and our lips meet. We kiss. Her lips are warm and soft, a contrast to the crisp freezing air surrounding us. It feels like a welcome home kiss. The best kiss of my life, and yet it’s so brief. I still feel it when we pull away from each other. Her eyes beautiful. Her smile wide, and her cheeks pink. The fuzzy feeling in my body is something I’ve never felt before. She takes a piece of paper out of her pocket and puts it into my hand. I smile. She tip-toes up to meet my ear. “My phone number is on that paper. Text me if you like, but no pressure. Thank you for a great evening” She whispers, following it with a kiss to my neck. I get shivers down my spine. Little does she know. She pulls away to look at me. I open her hands and place a piece of paper in hers. I lean down towards her, kiss her neck and whisper “Same wavelength”.