Page 116 of Closer than Ever

Hayley

Anna put her phone down on the table and rubbed her forehead with both hands. Closing her eyes, she pressed her fingers into her temples as a knot of anxiety formed in the pit of her stomach. She completely understood where Hayley was coming from, which made this even more unsettling. She’d lost Hayley’s trust. It was devastating.

If she was going to convince Hayley that she was all in, she had to do something big or she might lose her chance forever. She had to make Hayley see that she was seeing things differently now. That she was different now.

Anna stood up. Her body demanded action. There was only one answer. Anna would drive down to London right now and find her in Covent Garden. There was just about enough time to get there, find her, and talk things through if she left now. The window was closing fast. She’d better move quick.

Anna texted Kelly to let her know she was going down to London to save her relationship with Hayley before it was too late. She packed her things in a hurry and threw on a hoody and some trainers. In less than fifteen minutes she was in the car heading south with her pyjama top still on underneath her hoody. In the flurry of getting ready, Anna knew she had changed, because she had never done anything this impulsive before. She did know what she wanted now. She wanted an exciting life with Hayley that went beyond her wildest dreams. There was no doubt in her mind.

If she drove for a few hours she could stop at a service station and sleep in her car for a bit and get going again at dawn. She could feasibly be there by early tomorrow afternoon.

The drive south whizzed past in a blur given it was so late, dark and quiet. Apart from the occasional lorry, the roads were empty. Hayley could not get on that plane in two days. This had to work. Anna had to show her that she was serious, or she might never get another chance. Did she have enough time to get there and win her back?

Why was Hayley giving up on her dream to travel the world so soon? It was concerning. It didn’t sound like her at all. It was sad to think that Hayley wasn’t on top of the world right now after such an amazing trip. That Anna might have had something to do with that was even worse. She would spend the rest of her life making this up to Hayley, if she would let her.

Anna pulled up at some services at around half past three in the morning. She physically couldn’t keep driving through tiredness and Anna was a stickler for doing things right, and that meant safety first, even if she was taking a huge risk by driving down to London in the middle of the night. She found a parking space right outside the bright lights at the entrance. It was quiet but well-lit. The services were open all night and she felt secure enough. She lowered her seat back and drifted off to a light sleep, at least partially comforted by the fact that she knew she was doing the right thing by rushing down to fight for Hayley.

A few hours later, Anna woke to daylight and a busy car park. She swallowed. Her throat was dry. Her head hurt a bit. She’d dreamt about Hayley. Nothing specific or coherent, just her presence and them smiling together. It seemed so real and like home. Anna sat up and straightened her chair. Today was a big day. She got a large coffee and some chocolate-chip muffins for breakfast to have in the car on the way down.

After a couple of hours of non-stop driving, she hit the rush hour traffic on a huge stretch of motorway further into northern England. As her car slowed down to a very unwanted stop, Anna tried not to catastrophise the situation. It would get moving again soon. She still had time.

But the traffic may as well have remained stationary. Sloths moved faster than this sea of cars. Where did all these people come from?

When Anna had almost given up, the cars in front picked up speed. Yes! Finally!

Hours of super-focused driving led her further south. The roads grew busier and the drivers more ruthless, undertaking and cutting in and making it impossible to keep the required distance from the car in front. Her eyes stung with concentration. Too afraid to blink, she watched the cars as far ahead as she could as they formed an 80mph queue to overtake a bunch of lorries.

Brake lights, hazard lights. Something was going on ahead. She eased off the accelerator. The tailgating Audi driver behind her was too close. She put her hazards on for a bit. Red brake lights shone from each lane. She continued to slow. The Audi finally backed off. Anna crawled towards the slow-moving traffic ahead. Not again. A large lorry ground to a halt next to her. Just four miles from the M25, the southbound carriageway mimicked a car park.

After minutes of not moving at all, she turned on the radio for traffic news. An accident. She hoped it wasn’t serious and that everyone was okay.

She turned her engine off when it was clear they weren’t moving anywhere soon. She could message Hayley to let her know she was on her way, but she didn’t want to do this digitally. They needed to see each other in person. It was the only way. There was still time. As long as the traffic started moving soon, there was still time.

After three hours, she was past where the accident must have occurred and moving towards the heart of the beast, to busier roads and bustling-with-life Greater London. The whole place was far bigger than anything she came across in Scotland. There was so much going on as the evening closed in, but it didn’t overwhelm her as much as it might have done had she not gone on the trip with Hayley. Getting out of her routine had given her the confidence boost she hadn’t even known she’d needed.

Leaving the car in a multi-storey car park in Kilburn, Anna walked to the underground and got on the next tube. Sitting down so long had made her stiff and lethargic so it felt good to stretch her legs. The back of her eyes ached with tiredness as the carriage swayed her side to side. Not sleeping properly and doing the intense drive was a bit much. But it would hopefully be worth it, so it didn’t matter. She hadn’t been sleeping well for ages, come to think of it, not since she was with Hayley in the campervan on their trip.

Nerves rose as she walked up the steps from the underground. What if she couldn’t convince Hayley that she meant what she said? What if Hayley’s mind was already made up? It was nearly seven in the evening. She was running out of time. What if this couldn’t be fixed?

As she approached the pretty square, the nerves intensified. There were so many hotels in the area and no guarantee she would just magically bump into her. Getting there had been the most important thing, and now that she was, she didn’t have a plan, which was so unlike her. Anna liked the idea of surprising Hayley in her hotel and them instantly connecting and making up, but such fantasies were things of fiction. She had no idea where Hayley even was.

Anna took her phone out of her pocket and messaged Hayley instead. Sometimes technology made life so much easier and on this occasion it certainly did. Anna’s dramatic surprise was nothing if she couldn’t find her.

Hi Hayley. I’m in Covent Garden. I need to see you. Where are you?

The buildings were tall and relentless. There were so many people in such a small area, it was dizzying. What the hell was she doing here? Was she crazy for doing this? Her phone buzzed.

You’re here? I’m by the National Theatre.

Anna checked Google Maps. It wasn’t too far.

Be there soon.

Anna sped-walked towards the Thames. She darted between people in an attempt to get to Hayley as quickly as possible. This was her last chance. She’d better not fuck it up.

On Waterloo bridge, Hayley appeared. It was like her future walking towards her. Time slowed down the closer they got to each other. When they locked eyes, still walking, Anna felt a broad grin pull at her cheek muscles. Her heart filled with love and affection. Seeing Hayley again was simply everything. She was wearing a long grey and black tweed coat and black boots with a heel. She must have gone shopping because Hayley didn’t have those clothes with her before. Her hair was down and flowing around her face. This was the Hayley that Anna had not met yet, the woman she had become. All Anna wanted to do was hold her close and never let her go.

They came to a stop in front of each other. Hayley’s eyes were bright, but there was a slight wariness in them that made Anna’s heart hurt. Anna went in for a hug and squeezed Hayley so tight. Feeling her again was like coming home.

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