Short Story – At first sight – part III

Short Story – At first sight – Part III

The forearm across Jon’s throat pressed harder. His breath whistled and rasped, as he struggled violently but unsuccessfully to break Guy’s grip.

“You are going to give me Vikki’s address. Nod your head to show you agree.”

Jon threw himself from side to side. Guy swayed, but his grip didn’t loosen. Then he pivoted on his heel and barged forward as hard as he could, crashing Jon’s face into the brick wall beside the steps up to his front door. Blood from Jon’s broken nose trickled into his throat, making breathing even more difficult. He focussed intensely on ignoring the pain and thinking clearly.

His father’s voice spoke in his memory.

“When someone grabs you from behind, use your heel to kick their shin, scrape it right down and stamp on the arch of their foot.”

As Jon kicked backwards, he heard Guy gasp an expletive. The grip on his arms loosened a fraction and he tore his left arm free, striking repeatedly with his elbow to Guy’s midriff. With a violent heave Jon freed himself from Guy’s grasp, and spun round to confront him. He balled his fists, raised them ready to fight.

“Go to hell,” he snarled, and flung himself forward.

Guy dodged, pushed Jon’s head to one side, and sidestepped the charge.

“Oh, I’ll get the address, with you or without you. But next time, it will be friends of mine who will ask you; and they’re not nice men at all. Tell me now, or face the consequences.”

Jonathan glared at Guy, who looked calmly back at him and seemed scarcely out of breath. He raised a hand in ironic farewell, and sauntered away. Jon pulled out a handkerchief and gingerly felt his nose. It was bleeding profusely.

*       *       *       *

“Dear Jon

I was so happy when your letter arrived, and I danced with delight when I read that you’re going to come to Australia quite soon! It will be wonderful to see you again, and to get to know you better.

Because we don’t really know each other very well yet, do we? That’s important to me, but it says something about how little we know each other that I can only guess that it’s important to you; I don’t know for certain. We mustn’t be carried away.

I wish we could be together.

I shall write frequently. I shan’t wait for your replies, I shall just write.

Oh, I’m so looking forward to your next letter! Write soon, dear Jon, write soon!

Love

Vikki

xxx”

Vikki was singing quietly as she dropped the letter into the post box.

“Hi, gorgeous! You look…” Dan waved his arms expressively, “…well, just fantastic!”

“Hi, Dan. How are you?”

“Pining for you. If you don’t come on a date with me soon, I shall waste right away! Seriously, Vikki, why do I have the feeling you’re avoiding me? Is there somebody else?”

“I don’t know you’ve any right to ask me that, Dan.”

Dan raised his hands in mock-surrender. “Just in the interest of clarity! I don’t want to pester you if you’re committed to somebody else.”

“I’m not avoiding you, Dan. We’re here chatting on a street corner. Do you see me making excuses to escape? You’re a dear friend.” She reached up and touched him gently on the cheek, and saw the hunger blossom in his eyes. “Let’s not spoil our friendship by trying to make out it’s more than friendship. Please?”

“Come to a movie with me tonight, Vikki. I won’t step out of line. I don’t deny I fancy you – I would say I love you – but that just means I want what’s best for both of us.”

Vikki’s face softened. Dear Dan. He was gentle as well as strong, and she valued both qualities. It wasn’t as though she didn’t like him

“That would be great, Dan. Yes, please.”

The answering smile from Dan was something special. His whole face lit up, and his strong, even teeth gleamed ivory in the morning sunshine. He leaned forward and kissed Vikki very gently on her forehead.

“See you tonight, then, at six o’clock!” He waved, and strode off, with vigour and purpose in every line of his body.

Vikki shook her head wistfully. Why was life so complicated?

*       *       *       *

That same night, Jon arrived home to find that his flat had been turned over. His files had been ransacked, and his diary taken. His valuables, such as they were, had been ignored.

At first sight – part 2

While I’m taking part in NaNoWriMo I have no time to write fresh material for my blog, so I’m reposting a serial from 2017. In the first instalment Jon, a student in London, met Vikki and they fell in love. Unfortunately, Vikki has had to fly back to Australia leaving Jon in London. Will their love survive separation? Read on and find out!

Despite the long flight from England to Australia, Vikki was up early on the morning after her return. She drank her coffee sitting in the kitchen so she could see the post arrive.

“You’re up early, Pet. Difficulty sleeping?”

Vikki gave her mum a hug.

“Body clock’s all wrong. I expect I’ll go back to bed after the post.”

Margaret Marsden gave her daughter a quizzical look.

“Post takes days from the UK,” she observed. “Would you like a croissant? I’ve been down to the bakery.”

“Mm, please.”

Vikki enjoyed having her mum all to herself over breakfast, but there was no letter in the post.

Daniel came to call on the third morning. His embrace wrapped Vikki in warmth and physical strength. His scent, the pleasant smell of a fit male body, almost overwhelmed her. “Am I allowed a kiss?” he asked.

Vikki proffered her cheek. Chastely, Daniel pecked it. He ran his hand through her honey-coloured hair. The look in his eyes spoke of everything other than chastity.

“We’re having a barbie out at Mothers’ Beach tonight. Do you fancy coming?”

Vikki moved away from him, and sat down on the other side of the sturdy wooden kitchen table.

“I’m a bit tired. Jet-lagged, I guess. I’ll give it a miss this time, if you don’t mind, Dan.” Dan shrugged.

“Jessica will be there.”

“Sorry, Dan, I’m going to have an early night. Maybe next time?”

She woke next morning feeling light-hearted and she was singing as she went downstairs.

“Postie was early this morning,” said her mum, gesturing at the envelope on the table.

The handwriting on the envelope was well formed and fluent. Vikki stared at it, turning it over and over, caressing it.

“Would you like a coffee to take to your room?”

“Gosh, thanks, Mum. That would be lovely.” She stroked her mum’s short, dark, curly hair. “You’re so good to me. It’s great to be back home.”

“Dear Vikki

I hope your flight home went well and wasn’t too gruelling. And I hope you received the big family welcome you told me about, with lots of hugs and kisses from your sisters. (How jealous I am of your sisters…)”

Vikki frowned, then sighed. Maybe Jon was premature in writing a love letter, but she couldn’t pretend to herself that she didn’t feel the same powerful attraction. Those few kisses with him after the party had been different from any she’d ever experienced.

“We had so little time together before you had to leave today, and yet I feel that in some way we know the essence of each other. I hope you don’t think I’m being too pushy, but – I love you. Is it ridiculous to feel that some people are made for each other? Reason tells me it is. And yet, how strongly I feel that we belong together.”

Vikki nodded, thoughtfully. She knew what it was to be roused by a man; Dan excited her intensely, for instance; but, yes, what she had felt with Jon was different.

Tomorrow morning I’m going to see my Professor, to ask if he can arrange some more paid work for me supervising undergraduates in practical classes. It shouldn’t be too long before I can afford to fly out for a few weeks and stay close to you in a B&B or somewhere. If you want me to, of course.”

Vikki’s face lit up. She read the short paragraph a second time, and a third. She could think of nothing she would like better than to have Jon visit.

Four days earlier, as he had written the lines, Jon had agonised over this last sentence. Still, now it was done; he must close.

“And now I’d better seal the envelope and post the letter.

With all my love,

Jon”

He looked at the crumpled balls of paper on his desk, the discarded drafts. The letter had taken him the whole evening to write. Feeling foolish and infantile for doing so, he nevertheless touched his lips to the fair copy. He slipped it into the envelope, and tucked it into the inside pocket of his jacket. A great wave of exhilaration lifted him. He trotted down the stairs and out into the night.

Two strong arms seized him, one pinning his elbows against his ribs, the other pressing like an iron bar across his throat. There was a faint scent of expensive cologne.

“I think you know Vikki’s Australian address,” hissed Guy.

The next episode will be posted tomorrow, 21st Novemeber. Don’t miss it!