ALIEN DRIVE, Read Chapter 1, HER

Hyde park is beautiful today, unlike everything else in my life. The serpentine lake sparkles in front of me. I almost feel like I'm a million miles away, sitting here in the sun, soaking up the atmosphere. I am walking two Bichon frise dogs for a wealthy lady that lives across from the park. She's got arthritis and is not that mobile but she spoils these pups rotten and pays me badly but there are worse ways to make some extra cash. I enjoy these strolls in the park so much.

I'm going to have an awkward conversation with her and tell her it’s not really making the money I need. Mary often forgets to pay me and when she remembers, it’s often less than the rate we agreed upon. Then, there are more uncomfortable conversations I have to have with her. It's just not worth the hassle. I hate having to ask her repeatedly for the money. In honesty, I hate asking anyone for money, but I really need to. I just need to pay off these debts somehow. All the trouble started when my idiot step brother gambled what little money he had and got a loan from some shady loan sharks. He couldn't pay back. Then they started coercing him into doing drug runs for them. Like an idiot, I paid off his loan with money in my joint account with Mark, my boyfriend, and then that ended up causing him cash flow problems at his business. Just a big old mess now where we are barely keeping our heads above water. 

Maybe if I can pull a few more night shifts at work? Maybe I can smooth things over that way. This is depressing in its self. I've been a theatre nurse for almost three years, but somehow since my mother died I just hated being in that intense life and death situation. I need to do something different in life. But what? I can't start from the beginning again. A few weeks ago, someone offered me money to do that kind of work too, just as brother does. I couldn't do it, but for one small moment I thought about it. That's how desperate I have become. 

Across the way, there is a bench with a man that comes to sit down, breaking my thoughts away from the sad state of affairs of my pathetic life. If I were to guess, I'd imagine he's a rich guy making his money on new tech or money products that make no sense to me, because who else would sit on a park bench at 3pm on a Monday? He's attractive, clean cut, looking in with his camel coloured chinos and white polo shirt. He looks like he's just stepped off from the Italian island of Capri. His gaze comes to meet mine and there is a brisk, polite smile. I look away immediately. The last thing I should do is gaze at men. I'm really going to have to move fast as my shift at the hospital starts at 9pm. I have to get home and get into scrubs before that.

"Bobby stop that." I say to the white Bichon frise, who's chewing at leaves. He's going to get a sick stomach and Mary is going to kill me for allowing it. Bobby spits something, but then he is panting hard. He's wheezing too. What's going on? 

"Bobby drop it.." I open his jaw but I can't see anything that might obstruct his passageway. He's not breathing, he's suffocating. Oh, dear god! I get down on hands and knees and try to look in, but he's writhing and difficult to hold. I can’t help him properly. Meanwhile, the other dog, Poppy, is barking wildly and trying to run away with all the panic and excitement.

"Let me help you," a voice says. I barely look up, but it's the guy from the opposite bench. I can’t even reply as I'm trying to control Poppy and trying to see to Bobby. He crouches down next to us, and takes Bobby into his chest, placing his hands around his rib cage and then quickly presses him hard. Something releases and he checks Bobby's mouth. I notice some green gunk come out. Bobby finally takes a breath in. 

"Oh, thank god." Relief floods throughout me. "Thank you, thank you so much." I say, while Poppy runs rings around me. "I don't know what I would have done. Are you a vet or something? You did that so perfectly."

"I'm glad he's okay now." He smiles."Yes, I'm a vet, actually." He adds. 

"What are the chances!" I say, smiling idiotically. 

I could marry this man right now for the love I feel for him. He is gorgeous too with that broad, Colgate smile. He strokes Bobby and places him back down. I can’t help but notice that he has the most strong yet gentle hands. 

"He's a cute dog. How long have you had him?" he asks.

"He's not mine. I'm the dog walker."

"I see, well it was nice meeting you and these dogs and I'm glad I was here to help. Take care." He says, and he takes steps toward the other exit of the park. 

I watch him walking away and feel like I just missed a chance of something, but I don't know what. I am in no position to take up anything right now and he is way out of my league, anyway. A good reason flashes up on my phone. Mark has just texted me to make sure I'm at home for a delivery tonight. He's obviously forgotten I start night shifts tonight. Why does he remember nothing I tell him?

The incident with Bobby has made me late. I practically sprint to Mary's and drop the dogs back. I explain what happened and fully console her that Bobby is fine, and I also explain that I won't be dog walking anymore. It all takes thirty minutes more than I have. I'm running late for my shift. The head nurse hates me as it is. She does not know how I've come to hate trauma work. This is just going to add to my catalog of errors and incompetence in her mind. I come back to get my bike, which is chained outside Mary's town house, and cycle over to the hospital, which is another thirty-minute ride. I'm going to have to go straight there, as there won't be enough time to get home first. Just as well I have spare clothes in the locker. As I'm cycling there, a torrential downpour comes down. This is just brilliant because now I am questioning why I put on this thin summer dress and why on earth I left the house with no coat. I am about two miles away from the hospital, almost there. I hear a sudden noise, like a clanking, the bike seems to freewheel under my feet. What the..? I realise what's happened. The break chain seems to have snapped. Shit. I have about ten minutes before my shift starts. I cannot be late yet again. I try to fit the bike chain together, looking in my handbag for something that might hold it together. I can’t see for all the rain. There isn't a garage or anything that's walkable distance from here. 

"Hey again," a voice calls to me. I look up into the grey billowing rain. There is a dark SUV that's pulled up next to the cycle lane. 

It's the man from the park, the vet of all people. What is he doing here?

"Are you ok?" He asks.

"Just my bike, it's busted." I reply. Two problems in one day. He must think I'm an absolute clown. 

"Well, do you want a ride? I'm just headed home."

"That's really kind but..you've done enough for me today." 

There's heavy traffic and the car behind him is honking and flashing lights as he's stopped the line of traffic. 

"Come on," he says, "it's no trouble. It's just a ride. I saved your dog, remember? I won't let you die." He says, with a smile. 

God, that smile. The car looks warm, inviting and dry with its bright, cream interiors. It's just one ride. I can practically see the hospital from here. I chain my bike against the railings as quick as I can and hope for the best it doesn't get stolen by the time the shift finishes. I slide into the car. 

"This is so kind of you. Thank you." I say, wiping the wet hair from my face. 

"Here, take this," He says, passing me a towel from the back seat. He offers to put my handbag in the glove box between us. It closes shut. 

 Now, there's a line of car honking from the cars but he's doesn't seem in the least bit concerned. His eyes are completely calm, with a flick of an apology in his rear-view mirror. Then we are off. The locks of the doors click in place. We make slow movements along with the traffic. The rhythmic sound of the wipers and the blurry red tail lights gives everything a wet and nightly glow. 

"I'm so late, it's unbelievable. I'm a nurse actually and it's night shifts this week and it’s such an intense environment sometimes. The lead hates me."

I'm babbling. Shut up Nina, he doesn't care. Going by the wristwatch he is wearing and this plush car, he is not interested in your mundane life problems. 

"Tough job being a nurse. Glad I can help." He says coolly, his eyes remaining on the road ahead. I glance toward him. There is a glow to his skin, a silvery blueness. Maybe it's just lighting in this car. 

"You can drop me off here, by the side. I can walk the rest. It's not far."

He doesn't reply, but I assume he heard. Soon enough, we round the corner and we are at the junction by the hospital and the lights are red. 

"You'll never stop here, and parking is difficult, so I'll hop out here." I say and try to open the doors, but they're locked. "Can you release the locks, please?" 

"It's not safe here." He says. "I can’t let you do that."

He's lost the warmth in his voice he had before. There's an air of irritation about him now. I feel like I need to get out of this car. "You know, I really am getting out. Could you let me out, please?"

"Like I said. Not yet." He says, not meeting my eyes. 

"Let me out! I just want to get out now!"

"No."

"You're making me feel uncomfortable."

"Already?" he mumbles, but there is a tone of amusement in it too. "I'm going to make you feel a lot more uncomfortable than this." His eyes come to meet mine. There's something so cold in them and it's not just the iridescent blue of them.

The lights finally turn green, and we're rushing through the traffic. The car speeds onto the highway, way past the hospital.