Running with Scissors

Chapter 1

“Nicola.  Nicky.”  He glanced up at her.  “Nicky Dean.”

“Paul,” he told her turning back to the car.

Paul worked slowly on the vehicle, chatting to her all the time.  He saw her gradually relax as she became more comfortable in his company.

Half an hour later they had finished and Paul lowered the bonnet, carefully wiping off the fingerprints he had left.  Nicky was busy picking up the tools they had been using. 

He watched her. 

He had been watching her for a long time now and was glad to finally have the opportunity to be this close to her.

He liked to see her smile.  He loved the half embarrassed, unsure smile she always gave him when he passed her in the mornings. It was a smile that she seemed to save only for him.  He couldn’t see her face at the moment because her long brown hair had fallen across it, but he knew that she was smiling.  She was always smiling.

Nicky felt him watching her and looked up.

“Your hands are oily.  Best come in and wash up.”  He turned and started walking towards his house, not waiting for a reply.  As she began to follow she suddenly felt apprehensive.  She was going into a strange house with somebody she had known for half an hour, what was she thinking?

Sensing her hesitation Paul glanced back.  “Come on, it’s always easier to get off while it’s fresh.  My mum’s in, you’ll be perfectly safe.”

Nicky followed him inside.

Paul stole a quick look at her as she began to scrub at her hands.  She would probably want to leave as soon as she finished.  He tried to think of something else to say.

“Could I get you a drink?” he asked at last.  Nicky shook her head as she reached for the towel that he held.

“I better get going.”  He smiled at her.

“Call round again sometime?  I at least owe you a coffee for helping me out.”

“Yeah, okay.”  She didn’t mean it.

As Paul opened the back door for her Nicky glanced towards the adjoining street where she lived.  She wondered if anyone would see her leave.  Or more to the point, would Jayne, her step-mother see her.  She sighed, it probably didn’t matter anyway.  Jayne would find something to moan about even if she didn’t know where Nicky had been.

Paul sat down at the kitchen table, a steaming mug of coffee helping to warm his fingers to a bearable temperature.  His thoughts still with the girl that had just left his home. 

He had noticed her about four months ago.  From the very first time he had seen her he just couldn’t get her out of his mind.  This was the first time be had built up the courage to speak to her.  He couldn’t understand it, how could someone he had never spoken to have such an effect on him?