Creative Writing Series 4

4.     A broken wristwatch, peppermints, and a hug that goes too far.

I met Daniel outside a nightclub my friends and I often go to. I was crying in the rain at the bus stop when he approached. Some idiot friend of mine had once again gotten out of hand drunk and clingy which resulted in her groping me and trying to kiss my neck. The argument had gotten quite heated before I turned her over to her sober boyfriend with the promise that he would ensure her safe return home.

He approached me asking for the time. I went to reach for my phone before seeing the watch lying innocently on his wrist. Laughing he said "I take it you wouldn't believe me if I said it was broken no?"

"Not likely!" I replied. However his question had served its purpose: I was no longer crying.

The night bus was usually an interesting experience. Unusual characters which seem to hide through the daylight hours provide light-hearted entertainment, singing and dancing up and down the length of the bus. After giving over our fair to the exasperated bus driver we made our way to the back of the bus. For the entirety of the journey we alternated between talking, joking and joining in on the singing.

We didn't realise until our hands touched as we tried to hit the stop signal that we went to the same university and both stayed in the halls there. Likewise until we started walking across campus to our blocks we hadn't realised we not only shared a uni, accommodation,  block, but we also shared a floor. In fact our flats were directly across the corridor from one another.

As we were saying goodnight he took hold of the back of my neck and kissed me.

I could do nothing but stare at him in shock leaning against my flat door as he quickly disappeared behind his flat door with a rushed goodnight.

As I touched my lips there was only one thing on my mind. 

He tasted of peppermint.