A Bitter Coincidence

(Skylar's P.O.V) I love colours. All colours in the world. I loved the tones, shades, hues and the shapes they make. I’m looking up towards the sky and deciding what clouds look like what. So far, I’ve seen a cupcake shape, a rabbit and a funky looking star. Apart from a few clouds it was a clear blue sky during a lovely spring morning in London. Every Sunday it’s been my routine to have a walk around Hyde park and to enjoy the runners and quiet start to the city. It was only 9am and already there was people running around and setting up picnics, ready for a warm day ahead.   I found my usual perch at the bottom of a huge tree that overlooked a pond and grassy area perfect for people watching and finding interesting things to sketch. Since I moved to London in August last year, I have loved everything about the city. The busy atmosphere that seemed to consume the city daily was great for my photography portfolio and imagination. I took my camera from my backpack and quickly snapped a shot of a toddler running towards the pond. I was in complete bliss, capturing and finding little gems that I couldn’t wait to edit later on and place in my portfolio. While getting some more shots of the clouds and some more people, I could hear my phone ring from my jacket pocket. I usually had it on silent, but my frazzled brain forgot to turn it off. But I knew who’d be ringing me at this time on a Sunday morning and without looking at the name I accepted the call.   “Please tell me you’re at some hottie’s house enjoying yourself?” George said.   “Good morning to you too! No, I’m at the park as usual but you would love it if I was.” I replied back. George wasn’t only my best friend but my roommate and guardian angel. I moved into a shared house with him in August and we’ve been stuck together like glue ever since.   “Of course, I would, it would mean you’re finally getting some action and all the drama wouldn’t be coming from moi.”   “Now, what kind of friend would I be if I did that? You love having the drama in your life. And I’m happy just listening to it.”   “Yes, yes I am a drama queen. No need for a reminder. I was going to make breakfast, when are you home?”   “Give me an hour? I’ve got to grab the tube. Want me to pick anything up on the way?”   “Fab! And no thank you, I have everything here, unless you can think of anything you want to eat besides what we have at home. Maybe grab a bottle of wine for tonight because we are gonna need it!” He shouted the last bit so loud that I had to move the phone away from ear. We planned on going out tonight for a few drinks since we had a day off tomorrow as it was Easter Monday. Since I was a teacher, I had a lovely 2 weeks off while George was an interior designer so he didn’t get the same holidays as me and he took advantage of days off together so we could get drunk and enjoy ourselves. “Okay, wine and tequila. This girl needs to let loose and I might as well regret it tomorrow morning whilst my head is down the toilet.” I replied back.   “That’s the spirit baby! Love you lots and kick your arse home. I miss you.” He hung up and I had to laugh to myself. I quickly packed my things in my bag and stuffed my jacket in as well as it was getting too warm. Families around the park were starting to hide chocolate eggs in bushes and behind trees, ready for their little ones to do an Easter egg hunt. The kids didn’t seem to need the sugar rush and I was more than happy to leave before the mayhem started.   As I was turning the corner, I slammed right into a huge tree trunk that I don’t seem to remember being there, but it was enough to knock the wind out of me and I fell in a heap on the floor. I was a little worried as my camera was knocked to the ground along with my A3 sketchbook, so I was preoccupied checking on them rather than what I thought was the tree that I walked into. Instead, it was a man. A very tall man with muscles that I didn’t know could exist on a male. I was still on my now sore bum, but I had a perfect view of him. He was a mountain of a man, although wearing a long-sleeved black gym top and shorts, he had tanned skin and sandy blond shoulder length hair that flicked around his ears. His nose was sharp that turned up towards the end, his rose-coloured lips were full but not overly pouty. However, it was his eyes that sucked whatever bit of air was left from my lungs, they were the darkest brown, they looked almost black. Eyes that were staring right at me. Staring at me still in a heap on the floor. He c****d his head to the side and that seemed to wake me up and grab my things from the ground. He squatted in front of me and picked up my sketch book that fell open on a drawing I did of a wolf. It was a mixture of paint, pen and fabric that was sewn into the paper. I saw his finger glide over it and his eyebrows pinched together.   “Did you do this? It’s very good.” His voice was like velvet and it completely floored me. f**k how was I going to have a conversation with this man if my damn tongue had lost all function. I nodded and looked from him to the sketchbook.   “I think you captured the wolf really well. It looks almost… scared.” He said the last bit like he wasn’t sure if he should say it.   “Thanks.” f**k I needed to say more “I wasn’t sure what the outcome of it should be. I guess people interpret it as they see it. I don’t really think about the finished product, I prefer the making part.”   Finally, I was speaking, I wanted to slap myself for babbling but it was either silence or this. He seemed at a loss for words after my babble and his eyes roamed my body and as I followed his eyes, I notice my buttoned dressed managed to fly up barely covering my crotch. But it was enough for him to see the tattoo of an owl on my thigh. Completely mortified about what I must look like I spun into action of gathering my things and standing up. He was still crouched on the floor holding my sketchbook when I saw he was now looking up at me from the floor. I gestured with my hand that he should grab hold of it to help him up and when we did make contact, it felt like fireworks, explosions and an electric shock all rolled into one. I tried to not let the feeling show and I was instantly grateful that he let go and pushed himself off the floor instead and handed me back my sketchbook.   “You have a great talent, I wish I could draw like that, and it seems you do photography too.” He nodded to the camera hanging around my neck and smiled. If God ever created an angel and brought him to earth, it was this person right in front of me. His smile was small but enough for me to want to see the full-blown version of it. “I’m Sam, nice to meet you.” He held his hand out and I slowly took it, feeling those fireworks again. His eyes darted between our hands to my face that I could feel was becoming the colour of a tomato. I yanked my hand back, because the feeling of fireworks was making their way south and I needed to leave this park right now.   “I’m sorry for bumping into you and ruining your jog. It was nice to meet you Sam.” I gave him a small smile and walked past him to leave. I got a few steps in when I heard him shout. “YOU NEVER TOLD ME YOUR NAME!” I smiled to myself, finally seeming to get the sass I lost back there. I turned around, still walking away and shouted back. “YOU NEVER ASKED!” I turned around quickly and once I made it to the path and towards the tube I turned around and saw he was still standing by the tree staring it my direction.