Playlist for a Broken Heart

by Cathy Hopkins

  ‘Just one would do,’ I said. ‘I’ve had enough of complications.’

  Mum, Dad, Aunt Karen and Uncle Mike got up to dance and, after watching them for a while, Tasmin leant over.

  ‘They’ve set up a hall downstairs for some local bands to play. Want to go?’ she asked.

  ‘In a while,’ I said. I already knew that there would be music downstairs because FB had texted Allegra to say that his band would be playing at nine o’clock and that we must be there. In the meantime, I was enjoying watching the dancing so much I didn’t want to miss a minute of it. I did scan the room again to see if there was any sign of Niall amongst the diners and dancers but there was none. I felt disappointed that I hadn’t heard from him and he hadn’t even come looking for me to say hi. Curiously, I wasn’t bothered that Alex hadn’t been in touch and wasn’t even sure that he’d come down from London as Allegra had said.

  Allegra and Clover went with Tasmin so, when it got close to nine o’clock, I went downstairs to find them.

  The hall on the ground floor couldn’t have been more in contrast to upstairs. It was disco city, full of teenagers, and up on the stage FB and his band were belting it out.

  I looked for my friends and saw them on the dance floor, all with their long skirts tucked in their knickers à la Tasmin’s version of Austen style. Clover and Allegra were still wearing their bonnets, as were a number of girls. It was a funny sight to see all the girls in long dresses boogieing away, and one boy in the corner in his dress coat and boots was doing a moon walk much to the amusement of his mates.

  Allegra saw me and waved so I went over to join them. We danced through a few numbers and I noticed Alex to my right with his arms around a petite blonde girl. So he had come down. Well, he didn’t waste any time, I thought. So much for his email saying how much he wanted to see me next time he’s here. He didn’t even text me to let me know he was here. As I watched him, I felt relieved that I hadn’t got too involved and then had my heart broken when I realised, as I inevitably would, that I was just another name on his list of conquests.

  FB’s band finished their set and FB took the mike. He looked over the audience and when he spotted me, he nodded. ‘And now we’re going to slow the pace down a little and to do so, we have a guest performer. Let’s hear it for Niall Peterson.’

  Clover, Tasmin, Allegra and I all glanced at each other in surprise.

  ‘Niall?’ said Tasmin. ‘I didn’t know he sang.’

  ‘Me neither,’ I said.

  ‘Our mystery boy has hidden talents,’ said Clover.

  ‘Maybe,’ said Tasmin. ‘We haven’t heard him sing yet.’

  Niall came out centre stage. He was still dressed in the velvet coat and high knee-breeches. He looked slightly nervous as he scanned the audience, as though looking for someone. I looked around too, expecting to see Molly, and there she was on the opposite side of the room. My heart sank when I saw Niall give her a nod of acknowledgement. He was going to sing to her. But no, he was still scanning the audience. A moment later, he saw me. He made himself stand taller, took a deep breath and smiled. ‘OK, this next song is for a very special person here tonight.’ He glanced behind at FB and gave him a nod and FB began to play his guitar. After a few chords, Niall began to sing, looking straight at me while he sang the lyrics. He had a great voice, mellow with a lovely rich tone.

  It’s you.

  Not just mates, more than dates, we’re soulmates.

  No matter what they say I know today’s the day

  to stick my head above the parapet.

  There is no other word for it.

  It must be love.

  It’s you.

  I’ve been acting like a fool, breaking all the rules.

  Now I take my heart from my sleeve

  and ask you please, to believe

  In a thing called love.

  Tasmin nudged me. ‘He’s singing to you. Way to go Niall,’ she whispered.

  He can’t be, I thought as I looked for Molly again, and there she was listening along with everyone else. ‘He can’t be,’ I said. ‘He’s been hanging out with Molly.’

  ‘That’s as may be,’ said Tasmin, ‘but he’s singing to you.’

  I looked back at the stage where Niall was still watching me and directing all the lyrics to me.

  It’s you . . .

  I admit I was lonely, make me your one and only.

  Want to hold you close and say,

  When I saw you that first day,

  I knew . . . it was love.’

  As Niall continued to look at me, I surrendered myself to the moment. I knew I was blushing and that half the audience was looking to see who Niall was singing to. It didn’t matter. I didn’t care. It felt amazing. I felt connected by an invisible thread to Niall and for the rest of his song, it felt like we were alone in the hall.

  ‘This is for you,’ whispered Allegra.

  I didn’t take my eyes away from Niall. ‘I know,’ I said. It was the most romantic moment of my life. This song could have been for Sarah if things had worked out differently, I thought. But fate led me to find the CD that day in the charity shop, then inspired my search for the boy who had made it, and then to this moment here. And there he is, my mystery boy no more, smiling down at me. Your loss, Sarah, wherever you are. FB played a few more chords, Niall took a bow and the audience cheered.

  ‘That was so cool,’ said Clover as we watched Niall leave the stage. Then FB’s band went into another number.

  ‘Go and talk to him,’ said Allegra and she pushed me in the direction of the stage.

  ‘I . . .’ I didn’t need to move because I saw Niall come out into the crowd and look for me. I went straight over to him. ‘Thank you, that was—’

  I couldn’t get any more words out because Niall grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the door.

  ‘Where are we going? I asked.

  ‘Somewhere private. Come on,’ he replied.

  I felt my stomach flip and didn’t resist as he led me out of the hall, across the reception area, through the door, then we leapt down the stone steps to the street.

  ‘This way,’ said Niall and we ran round the corner towards Pulteney Bridge then along the pavement towards Parade Gardens. We took the steps down to the garden two at a time again, crossed the grass and Niall stopped by a tree. We stood for a few moments, panting, laughing and catching our breath.

  Niall gestured with his hands at the hills to the right of the city, the river roaring behind us, the Abbey to our left. In the clear night sky was a perfect crescent moon.

  ‘You get a good view from down here,’ he said.

  I nodded. ‘I think you do,’ I said but instead of looking at the landscape around us, I looked straight at Niall. I could tell by his slow smile that he got my meaning. I turned to look at the scenery. ‘I didn’t think I’d like Bath when I first moved here.’

  Niall’s smile became a grin. ‘Or anybody in it.’

  ‘Not anybody, just you,’ I said cheekily.

  ‘I like to be different and stand out from the crowd.’

  ‘You did.’

  ‘For all the wrong reasons,’ said Niall.

  ‘I’m sorry about that. I know about Keiron,’ I said. ‘I thought you were heckling but I know all about him now.’

  ‘Ancient history,’ said Niall. ‘But I’m glad that you know I’m not a bully.’

  The air around us felt intense and charged with electricity. I knew that we were both thinking the same thing. A first kiss. All of a sudden, I felt nervous. My heart was pounding in my chest and not because we’d been running. I didn’t know what to do. Reach up and touch his face? Take his hand? I wished that I could think of something brilliant to say but words seemed to have deserted me. Niall looked into my eyes as if searching for some confirmation of how I was feeling. I didn’t look away.

  ‘So. I . . . er, you brought me here to look at the view, huh?’ I finally asked.

  Niall smiled. ‘Not exactly,�
� he said and continued to look into my eyes. He took control, put his arms around my waist and drew me to him so that I could feel the warmth and weight of his body pressed to me, his eyes not leaving mine for a second. It felt amazing, sensual, right. I closed my eyes and a moment later, I felt his lips, soft, on mine. For a flash, Tasmin’s advice about kissing and how to do it came into my mind. But not for long. I didn’t need it. Kissing Niall couldn’t have felt more perfect. As his kiss grew stronger, it felt as though I was melting into him and feeling the most lovely sensations of warmth and sweetness inside, I’d never experienced anything like it before. As if we were connected body and soul.

  When we pulled back from each other, the look that passed between us told me that he’d felt it too. A chance find in a charity shop had led me to him, to this moment, but this was just the beginning and, from the way Niall was still holding me, I knew it was the start of something special.