the girl’s arms as she bowled into him on the station platform. Steadying her on her feet, he looked her over. The tip of her nose was pink, her cheeks flushed – with a combination of cold and embarrassment, he imagined. Her hair was tucked under a bobble hat with a fur trim, bar a few flame-red tendrils. It was her: the girl he’d sensed watching him every morning on the early train. She averted her gaze whenever he looked up, but he could feel her eyes on him when he went back to his phone. She’d looked startled, like a deer caught in the headlights, when he’d finally decided to break the ice and say good morning to her. She’d mumbled a ‘hello’ back and then glued her gaze on her book. Josh had smiled quietly when he’d caught it drifting back in his direction minutes later. He’d guessed she must be shy.
Her eyes were green, he noticed, unsurprisingly, given her hair colour and pale complexion. Unusual, though; sage green, but flecked with grey and amber. They were mesmerising.
‘Sorry,’ she said, her expression flustered. ‘New boots.’
‘No problem.’ He glanced down at her feet, which were adorned with ankle boots with the kind of spiky heels he had no idea how women stood up in, let alone negotiated icy roads in. ‘I quite like women throwing themselves at me,’ he added, smiling to put her at her ease.
Which he obviously hadn’t. Her blush deepening, she dropped her gaze. She probably thought he was hitting on her. He almost suggested she hang onto his arm until the train stopped, but thought that might make her feel even more uncomfortable. ‘You probably need to scuff the soles up a bit,’ he said instead, and then, smiling again, climbed on board.
Choosing his usual seat at the window, he watched as she passed him by, also taking her usual seat, one up on the opposite side, facing him. She hadn’t got him down as someone to be given a wide berth then.
Catching her eye as he dropped his rucksack at his feet, he tried another small smile. At last she smiled back. Josh was relieved. He didn’t like the idea that a female travelling companion might have him down as a creep.
She was on the station platform as usual the next morning. ‘I scuffed them,’ she said as he glanced in her direction. ‘My boots,’ she clarified, nodding down at her feet.
‘Good idea. I think there’s snow forecast later,’ Josh said.
‘Really?’ She glanced upwards at the heavy grey skies. ‘Do you think that means we might have a white Christmas?’
‘It would be nice, wouldn’t it? The sun was shining last year. It didn’t feel like Christmas at all somehow.’
She smiled at that, and then looked away as the train pulled in. She boarded it ahead of him, this time choosing a seat on the side he usually sat on. He was about to take the one behind her when he realised that might look a bit pointed. Moving on, he nodded at the seat opposite her. ‘Okay if I sit here?’ he asked.
She looked surprised. ‘Of course. I promise not to take up all the leg room.’
Josh doubted she would do that. She was petite, despite the killer heels.
‘Likewise.’ He smiled. ‘I’m Josh, by the way,’ he said, extending his hand.
She hesitated, her cheeks flushing. ‘Kimberley,’ she said. ‘Kim for short.’
‘So, Kim, do you work in Brum?’ he asked after a second.
‘Uni,’ she answered. ‘Fine art course at Birmingham City. You?’
‘School experience programme. I have to take a bus out of town once I get off the train. I’d prefer to drive, but I like to think I’m doing my bit and reducing my carbon footprint.’
‘Commendable,’ Kim said. He didn’t think she was being sarcastic. ‘So what does the programme entail?’
‘Finding out more about the role of a primary school teacher,’ Josh replied. ‘Also gaining school experience to support my teacher training.’
‘Sounds ideal. For someone so patient with children, I mean.’ She eyed him thoughtfully. ‘I’ve seen how you interact with them some mornings.’
‘I like kids.’ He shrugged. ‘It would make what I do a bit difficult if I didn’t.’
She smiled and continued to study him, making him feel slightly self-conscious.
‘What will you do with your degree, do you think?’ he asked her.
‘Well,’ her eyes flickered down and back, ‘I was thinking about teaching, actually.’
Josh arched his eyebrows. ‘Great minds,’ he said approvingly.
‘Clearly. It would be weird if I ended up following you around,