Someone Else

Chapter 1

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A/N: Welcome to Someone Else, a 2017 Watty winner and now a Wattpad Paid Story! (I still can't believe I'm writing that.) This is book one of what has somehow become a three book series over the course of a few years. I hope you enjoy reading this novel as much as I enjoyed writing it :)

1

The repetitive drone of a booming bass and the tightly packed atmosphere of dance clubs never quite appealed to me, and I certainly hadn't expected the charity fundraiser I was at to turn into something like a Vegas nightclub, but I guess every party is doomed to resemble a frat house on a Friday night at some point. Instinctively, my feet pulled me in the direction of the nearest exit, and upon seeing a little sign that read "Roof Access" I knew where I could make my escape.

As I pulled back the door to my temporary getaway, the cool London breeze I was still trying to get used to sent a chill up my spine. I stepped through the doorway and tried to admire my little hideaway, but it was dim as the only light I could see by was emitting from the moon and the street lamps below. I felt around to the left of the door and located what the tips of my fingers were searching for; when I flipped up the switch, the scene before me came alive. Hundreds of small lights that were strung across the rooftop deck flickered on; they would have made even the most mundane setting feel slightly magical. Outdoor furniture was neatly placed to provide a cozy reprieve, and a soft glow completely illuminated the scene.

The moment the door shut behind me, all of the noise from the party vanished, and I felt like I could be myself again. I tread over to the edge of the roof to admire the view, wishing that it was just a little warmer so I could give my feet a moment of relief from the heels that clung to them. Once there, I set my drink down and gripped the ledge with both hands.

Another breeze picked up and ruffled the black chiffon dress that fell to my knees while simultaneously sweeping up the dark chestnut waves that barely grazed my shoulders for a little dance. I guess I should've been grateful that the bridesmaid dress I spent way too much money on was getting a second use.

Big Ben was less than a mile away, and I could see his face mocking me; it was only two minutes to midnight, and I knew there was no way I was leaving the party before three in the morning. I peeled my eyes away from the London landmark to try to focus on anything other than how I was going to bide my time. Before I knew it, Ben was chiming his big heart away, and I found myself closing my eyes and counting along in my head.

"You know, it's hard to see how lovely the city is with your eyes closed."

A deep English voice carried across the still night into my ears, and I turned to the source of the disturbance in my escape to see who had crashed my date with Ben. When I looked at the voice's owner, I found myself looking at someone who I was sure I'd seen before.

"Huh? Oh, right...it's a lovely city," I said.

He must've come up while Ben was clanging away. Intrigue and confusion began to mix on my face as I tried to place him in my memory. Dark curls and facial hair made for a stark contrast to his fair skin, and eyes that hosted a deep, dark blue hue stared right back at me. They were such a dark blue that they nearly looked black in the night that surrounded us.

"Have I met you before?" I poked around in my mind trying to match his features with someone I knew.

"I don't believe so. I came up here to get away from the crowd for a bit. I was here just last week for another event, but I didn't think anyone else knew about this space since it wasn't being used for the party. It's a shame, isn't it?"