Distracted as he was by the conflicts between good and evil on the page, Daniel’s head jerked upwards immediately upon hearing the voice that had been running through his head all day for real. In a hasty motion, he stuffed the book and its attendant bookmark into his bag, while setting his face to a friendly smile. If anything, he had to tone down the smile from downright [i]manic[/i] to merely [i]friendly[/i]. He had very nearly forgotten about the lady from the morning while reading and now felt strangely guilty about that.

[color=D04931]“Hello, fancy seeing you here!”[/color] [i]Too strong, take it down a notch.[/i] [color=D04931]“I take this train pretty much everyday, actually, though I haven’t been living on this line long. How about you?”[/color]

[color=#49da50]”Yes, all the time! I’m absolutely terrible at driving, I figure I might save myself and some others a trip to the hospital by using the train.”[/color] Elaine self-consciously tucked her hair behind her ear, swallowing her words before she went off on a ramble. When she was nervous, her words would spill out of her mouth without any thought and she would end up embarrassing herself more often than not. [color=#49da50]”I hope I didn’t interrupt you or take you away from your book…”[/color]

[color=D04931]“Oh, no, not at all! It’s just some easy reading to get me through the journey, I much prefer talking to… I’d much rather talk to someone.”[/color] [i]Way too strong, move on quickly[/i] Daniel extended a hand. [color=D04931]“Daniel Gordon is my name, nice to meet you.”[/color]

[color=#49da50]“Elaine Fitzgerald, the pleasure is all mine.”[/color] Elaine answered, grasping the offered hand. The handshake was pleasantly firm — nothing like the wimpy, loose ones that she had grown to despise over the years. Now that they knew each other’s names, their relationship instantly shifted from mere strangers to acquaintances. Now Elaine could allow Daniel to wander across her mind without feeling [i]as[/i] guilty or creepy as she did earlier in the day.

[color=D04931]”So, Elaine, what does this train take you to and from, apart from home?”[/color] Daniel asked, trying in the back of his mind to recall what station she’d gotten on from in the morning. They hadn’t been sitting opposite each other for that long earlier so it couldn’t be far to her place, meaning their conversation would likely be cut short soon.

[color=#49da50]“Nowhere special, just to my job,”[/color] She answered, momentarily forgetting that she should elaborate. There was a beat before Elaine hurried to supply some more information. [color=#49da50]“Oh, I’m a music teacher. I teach people how to play instruments at the local music store. What about you? What do you do?”[/color]

[i]Don’t bring up The Proclaimers, she won’t like them just because she’s a music teacher. Don’t bring up The Proclaimers[/i] [color=D04931]“Oh, I’m an actor. Well, not exactly a real actor, a voice actor. I do roles in audio dramas or books and that sort of thing…”[/color]

[color=#49da50]“Oh my gosh, that sounds so much more interesting than what I do!”[/color] Elaine chuckled. There was so much more that she wanted to ask him, but she couldn’t help glancing out the window every few seconds in anticipation for her upcoming stop. The thought of missing her station and doubling back for at least a few more minutes of chatter did cross her mind, but that was far too clingy and creepy even for her. 

[color=#49da50]“I actually have to get off here,”[/color] Elaine reluctantly slung her bag over her shoulder with an apologetic smile. She slowly got to her feet well after the train came to a gentle halt. [color=#49da50]“Well Daniel, it was lovely meeting you! Maybe tell me more about talking into a microphone some other time?”[/color] With the implication that they would see each other once again, Elaine dashed off to exit the train without waiting for a reply, slipping through the doors right before they shut.

[color=D04931]“Yes, great, sure!”[/color] Daniel replied, his words garbling a little as he waved her off. Settling back into his seat, he ran a hand through his subconsciously and examined himself in the window’s reflection. [i]Was that okay? Did she think I was weird? I wasn’t expecting her to be here on the train, I mean, I was hoping for… calm down, deep breathes.[/i]

With a hiss, he let out a long sigh. [i]I’m too old to lose it like this over a girl, no matter how good looking, polite and friendly she might be...[/i]