Remember Me - Chapter 1
Chapter 1
December 1977
Side 1 Track 1
Getting Ready For Love (Diana Ross)
Cassie's Story
The dreary streets of Maidstone perfectly matched her mood as Cassie made the short walk from the bus stop. She could see her breath exhale, like small balls of cotton wool in the cold morning air. It's been almost two months she thought. The day Josh left was the day the sunlight faded. He told me not to wait for him, but I didn't think he meant it. But I thought he would have at least written to me.
Sighing deeply, Cassie recalled their last tearful meeting. I might cried so hard I made my nose bleed. Josh had to pack, he couldn't get away fast enough. I should have realised then I was just a game to him. How will I ever be able to give my love to a stranger, when my best friend, the one person in the world I thought I could trust, broke my heart without so much as a second thought. I'm not sure I want to fall in love again if I know to leads to feeling like this.
Lost in her own world, she approached the kerb, jumping backwards at the clanging of a bell as a green military fire engine hurried passed up the High Street. Shaking her head to clear thoughts of her ex, Cassie coughed as the thick, black exhaust smoke caught in her throat. That was close! For god's sake, wake up, Cass.
Ignoring the twinkling coloured lights scattered in patterns across the shop windows, she crossed the road. Christmas was the last thing on her mind as she arrived at the café. Usually working at the Rumpy Bar on Saturday's, with the Fifth Form broken for the holidays, Cassie had taken a few extra shifts to put some money aside, saving for a holiday in Eastbourne with her best friend, Lucy. Imagining the scene, Cassie dreaded the reaction when she told her mother of their plans. If I ever find the courage to fight that battle.
Walking into the cafe, pleased not to see any sign of her employer, Cassie quickly hung her bag and coat on the hooks behind the swing doors leading to the kitchen. Playing on the radio was that weeks' No 1 by Wings. 'Mull of bloody Kintyre' Cassie muttered with barely concealed exasperation.
'Give me a break. It's been three weeks already. I really will slit my wrists if this is still at the top of the charts at Christmas'.
-- 👭 --
Later that morning, about to take a break, the sound of a plastic beaker bouncing off the tiled floor caused Cassie to look over her shoulder. She walked up to the booth as the toddler started to cry.
'Me wan duce!' the boy whinged.
'Don't worry, little man', Cassie said reassuringly, picking up the fallen beaker and neatly avoiding the spreading puddle of squash.
'I'm so sorry' the toddler's embarrassed mum said quickly, rising from her seat.
'It's OK. Happens all the time. Let me get a mop and I'll clean it up' Cassie said brightly, looking down at the boy. His red chubby face screwed up tight, the fat tears welling in his eyes. 'And I shouldn't do this, but if you don't say anything, I'll bring over another squash'she continued, furtively looking towards the kitchen to see if her employer was anywhere in sight.
'Thank you' the boy's harassed mum replied gratefully. 'Don't cry, Freddie. The nice waitress will bring you another blackcurrant.'
Moments later, Cassie returned from the kitchen with a mop and a fresh beaker. The tousle-haired toddler stopped crying the moment he saw her, and flashed a beaming smile as she placed the drink on the table. Cassie genuinely liked children, and had hopes of a career as a primary school teacher once she finished college. Little Freddie will be a proper handful when he starts nursery Cassie thought, grinning fondly at the toddler. Happy with his drink, now he was smiling the small boy looked positively angelic in his blue check shirt.
Cassie finished cleaning the floor and was about to go on her break, when she noticed the booths left empty after the mid-morning rush. If Stelios saw the tables hadn't been cleared away, she'd be in for another lecture. Better clean up first she reasoned, going about her business. Turning quickly, Cassie was singing along softly to the radio as she wiped down.
I love Diana Ross. She's so beautiful and elegant. Moving almost imperceptibly to the Motown beat, Cassie suddenly felt she was being watched. Anxiously scanning the room for Stelios, she caught the boy's eyes from across the café, shivering self-consciously as her body heated outwards from its core. Was that smile for me? she thought nervously.
She was immediately envious it wasn't her turn to serve the row of booths by the entrance. Cassie regularly swapped stations with Lucy, her best friend. They both hated the icy blast blowing through every time the café door opened. Looking over again, she guessed the boy was perhaps seventeen, or at most eighteen, slim but muscular, with short, wavy brown hair. He's cute. The haircuts all wrong but he looks a little like David Cassidy.
Again the boy's eyes locked on hers, and for a second Cassie's next breath caught in her throat. Why is my stomach leaping like that? The blood rushed to her face, and Cassie quickly looked towards the kitchen, hating the way her face became red and blotchy when her emotions heightened.
Glancing around she noticed the café had started to fill with early lunchtime regulars. Trying to ignore the boy, she hurried to finish clearing her tables. By the time there was another break in her orders, and she looked for him again, Cassie was disappointed to find the boy had left. The connection, her attraction, had been instant. Different to any feeling she'd had before. After recently splitting up with her first boyfriend, she'd struggled to overcome their breakup; but after many weeks of longing, deep enough to drown in, was it time to put the pain of Josh ending it behind her?
Is it possible? Cassie thought. After Josh hurt me, am I ready to like another boy again?
-- 👭 --
Two days later, she looked up and saw him again, her heart giving a little jump as he took a corner booth by the window. He's seriously good looking she thought. I wonder who he is?
Glancing from behind her straight blonde fringe, Cassie noted broad shoulders under a dark blue shirt, tapering down to slim hips encased in casual fawn coloured trousers. The boy made himself comfortable, placing a brown suede jacket on the seat before opening his newspaper. Cassie smiled tentatively in his direction, but wasn't sure if he'd noticed. Waiting to be served, the boy pushed the ashtray to the furthest corner of the table, taking a pen from his pocket. Staring into space as he clicked the biro against his teeth, Cassie saw he was doing a crossword.
Within minutes, Lucy brought over his order. He lifted the white coffee mug, gently blowing the top of the frothy, hot liquid, before casually putting it to his mouth. Josh never sipped like that. His lips are thicker, like Mick Jagger's. I always laughed at the way he slurped. I'm sure he did it on purpose to annoy mum. Watching the boy, trying not to be noticed, Cassie felt more butterflies in her stomach. Get a grip, Cass. He's only drinking coffee for Pete's sake! She had to force her gaze away before Stelios noticed her day-dreaming, and came over to deliver another ill-tempered lecture.
Her eyes followed Lucy as she returned and swapped out the ashtray. Cassie experienced a pique of jealously, along with a twinge of guilt, as the boy looked up and laughed, revealing white, even teeth and a wide, boyish grin. Typical! Cassie thought, at that moment resenting her friend's popularity. Lucy was bubbly and confident, the most talked about girl at school, especially amongst the boys. Along with a larger bust, Lucy had a womanly shape Cassie knew they admired.
Trying not to make it obvious, Cassie kept returning to fill up the shakers and wipe down the empty tables closest to his booth. I hope he guesses what I'm doing. Attempting to get a better look at the paper he was reading, she got her chance when a customer tried to back out of the door with her pram, and Cassie quickly made her way over to hold it open.
Returning to her station, trying and failing to sway her hips like Lucy, Cassie walked passed his table. Although she didn't get a clear look at his face, Cassie saw he was reading Melody Maker. Comparing him to the boys she knew from school, most of which hadn't progressed from Commando comic books, he seemed so grown up. The boy stayed for half an hour, occasionally scribbling in the crossword. Once or twice, Cassie glanced across and caught him staring back, but they both quickly looked away, as if they were playing a game. Finding her courage she tried to lock his gaze with a shy smile. From the short distance, their eyes connected, holding for an instant, before he again looked away. His eyes are my favourite thing; like twin pools of molten chocolate.
Without warning the boy gathered his things, leaving a few coins on the table before making his way out of the café. She instantly experienced a sharp stab of regret. Don't go, not yet! And for the rest of the day, Cassie was surprised how many times she pictured him, sitting in the booth with his coffee and crossword.
That night, alone in her room, she recorded her confused thoughts in her journal. Of her ex, and how much she missed him; and the brown-eyed boy, who'd given her heart butterflies, and whose smile caused her stomach to do cartwheels.
'Will I ever see either of them again' she wrote.