Meeting Nicky - Part One

I have never told anyone the entire story of how I met Nicola, and our first few weeks together. Not even my parents know everything, I was afraid they would think badly of Nicky because they didn't know her as I did. This will be the first time ever I tell this story in full, without hiding anything and it is all true.

I had to work late on a Tuesday evening, working late is kind of a given sometimes in my profession. Usually someone would give me a lift home from work, but I was one of the last to leave so I had to wait outside for the bus to arrive.

So, I took the bus to Newcastle. As it arrived in the town center, I stood up to get off. But the bus pulled into a stop I never used before I hadn't realised this stop was there before my normal one. I contemplated asking the driver to continue to the next stop, but it was late and I couldn't be bothered. It didn't really make the walk home any longer, I would just need to take a different route.

Now, I should stress at this point I *never* got off at this bus stop before and I *never* walked home this way when getting off the bus either. But March 27th 2001 I did, for the first and only time in my life.

I started on my journey home, thinking of taking a nice bath and going to bed. These were the only things on my mind.

"Excuse me." a girl says to me, "Could you lend me a pound for a drink?" I didn't look up really, I got asked this pretty often. I fished in my pocket and took out a pound coin and handed it to her. She looked at the pound in her palm, and I guess this was where I first looked at her. She was pretty, but looked a little sad. She looked up at me again. "mmmm, is this... Would you like to go for a drink?"
"I don't have any more money on me, sorry." I said, truthfully.
"Could you get some?" I looked at her a bit more closely now, I think this was actually the very moment I fell in love with her :) Sounds strange, but true.

Now, I didn't have much money in the bank. I was due to be paid on the Friday. But, I withdrew my last money. I thought "What the hell, it's not like I will starve the rest of the week." She waited for me in the doorway, I think she thought I wouldn't come back and I thought she wouldn't stay there :) But, I did come back and she was still there.

She was pretty chatty, tried to get me to dance once but didn't quite manage it (hell I had never even sat next to a girl before let alone danced with one). Then later in the night she turned to me and said "I've decided, I'm staying over yours tonight.". Now don't get this wrong, I was in love with her but I was a little shocked someone would want to stay over a strangers flat. I didn’t know what to say really, she looked a little doubtful then “Is that ok?” she asked.
“ummm, sure if you like. You can have my bed, I’ll sleep in the spare room.”

So that night, she stayed in my double bed. Whilst I slept on the single bed in the spare room. The next morning I woke up and got ready for work, listening for signs of the girl waking.

“Ummm, I need to leave for work in about 10 minutes.” I called. Some rustling in the room, but it didn’t sound like she was getting up. I knocked on the door and poked my head around. She was curled up in a ball within the duvet. Her head poked out and she said

“Can I stay please?” she asked, she looked very cute wrapped up like that. But I wasn’t stupid enough to let a complete stranger stay unwatched in my flat.
“Ummm, I really need to goto bed.”
“Please? You can lock the door.” Which, of course, was out of the question. I thought of her as a guest not a prisoner.
“I can’t lock you in.”
“Please can I stay?”

I paced in the corridor, it would be insane to leave her here alone. But yet, inside I did trust her. I didn’t think she was going to rob me.

To be continued.