Non-stop

Page 17:18 17:23 17.34 19:13 19:33 21:41 23:42

17:18

are an unlikely pair.

Me and Matt

Background knowledge The start of the end Silence is a scary sound We’re far away from home Relief Hit the ground running Realisation

Copyright 2013 Joanne Hopley

Created, Edited, Folded and Published by Joanne Hopley

Published by Joanne Hopley Woodlane, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 4RH

Joanne Hopley Publications In association with Falmouth University

Non-Stop.

17:19

tolerate one another.

17:22

.

friend

But i’ve only ever seen him as a

17:21

me when he thinks i’m not looking, and pretends to not care about whatever I do.

never had his chance.

I’ve seen the way he secretly looks at

Unfortunatly for Matt, he’s

17:20

together.

Like together,

We’re constanly asked and interogated whether we’re together.

We’re the type to

I’ve known him since primary school, but we didn’t speak until the end of high school.

,

17:26

as normal

The Virgin service to Manchester was running late, .

17:25

first official concert.

Bless Matt, it was his

I was safe keeping our gig tickets for our favourite band, Paramore.

17:24

of Crewe train station.

platform 5

Me and Matt were waiting at

17:23

.

Cold

The 20th of November was like any other dark day in the history of British winters.

filled

17:30

to this Virgin non-stop service to,

‘

Welcome London Euston arriving at 19:08’

The annoucements bellowed from above us.

17:29

.

Which stank

We stepped onto carriage D, every seat was filled. We had no choice but to accept the pull down seats by the toilet.

17:28

arrived and rolled The 17.25 train to a halt infront of us, floods of people emerged from the sliding doors of the carriages.

finally

17:27

Suits and briefcases the platform, buisness men waiting to go home to their kids.

my fault

We spent the next 5 minutes arguing.

17:31

’’

You’re an idiot

17:34

everything

Why does he blame me for ...

17:33

opposite direction

I had to turn myself towards the window to look outside into the bleak darkness before I lost it with him. He was really hurting me through his accusations. I punched my headphones into my ears and continued to look in the to him.

17:32

Everything was because first of all, i’m a woman. I was the one who stepped on the train first and didn’t check the sign on the doors or the platform. I also didn’t ask people if it was the right train.

‘‘

I slowly turned towards Matt with a nervous, yet sheepish grin on my face. He took a minute to process what had just happened.

17:38

17:37

17:36

I can’t breathe...

Why do we have to be sat next to the toilets,

17:35

17:42

17:41

walk through here...

How many people are going to

17:40

17:39

17:46

17:45

17:44

17:43

17:50

17:49

17:48

Where are we...

17:47

17:54

17:53

17:52

17:51

I

17:57

17:56

17:55

need to stretch my legs...

17:58

don’t want to get up though...

I

18:02

18:01

18:00

17:59

18:06

18:05

18:04

Hope hes calmed down...

18:03

18:10

18:09

18:08

18:07

Wasted so much money on a gig we’re not even going to see...

18:14

18:13

18:12

18:11

Ah shit

18:18

18:17

18:16

shit...

18:15

, he just saw me turn to look at him...

18:22

Pleaseeeeeee...

18:21

Please be happy when the train stops...

18:20

18:19

18:26

18:25

18:24

18:23

will know

18:30

, she’ll only worry herself to death and the whole of Cheshire about it...

Nah

18:29

18:28

Should i text my mum...

18:27

18:34

18:33

train stops...

Shit, what are we going to do when the

18:32

18:31

18:37

18:36

18:35

18:34

Oh god,

18:41

Stop it...

18:40

Stop it...

18:39

staring into my soul...

I can feel him

18:38

18:45

18:44

18:43

18:42

...

Stop it

18:49

18:48

18:47

18:46

People need to its getting

18:53

18:52

embarassing...

learn how to lock the toliet,

18:51

18:50

There is a

...

18:57

18:56

idiot...

What an

18:55

button saying lock on the inside next to the toilet...

huge

18:54

an arse

Oh and there it is,

19:01

19:00

18:59

18:58

19:05

19:04

19:03

Please this train, i’m sick of people walking past and starring at me...

get me off

19:02

The train is

19:09

slowing...

19:08

19:07

19:06

19:13

anger in my face dissapeared.

Matt gave me a reassuring smile and the

I snatched the headphones out of my ears and beared to turn to my left.

19:12

London Euston, where this service terminates’

‘We are now approaching

19:11

19:10

Are we here...

wrapped my headphones around

19:17

Matt grabbed my hand

As soon as my batterd converse hit the hard, concrete ground. .

Matt was the first out.

19:16

the sliding doors parted as the cold air hit my red cheeks.

Creaking,

The open button flashed green as the trained rolled to a stop.

19:15

The platform was in sight, as we made our way up to the small portrait windows of the carriage door.

19:14

, waiting for me Matt was up and to follow him out of the carriage.

ready

my fingers into a circle and placed the bundle into the front pocket of my satchel bag.

I

19:21

Our train was waiting for us at platform 15, and all we had was 8 minutes.

19:29 Manchester Picadilly 15 Arrived

19:20

Standing hand in hand, we looked up at the black and orange board waiting for it to change to page two.

open space of the station foyer.

w i d e

We reached the departure board in the

19:19

Running through the crowded platform.

Bodies and faces quickly merged into motion blurs, as we pushed our way through.

We were running.

19:18

blind panic

I put it down to a moment of .

never

I didn’t know what was happening, Matt has showed physical affection before.

19:25

my legs lept

I placed my right hand on the barriers cold, metalic wall and shifted all of my bodys weight to it as above the transparent plastic gates.

19:24

Widing my eyes i looked at Matt and floated towards the barriers.

I quickly scanned the area around around us, my eyes darting across the open space.

19:23

We knew our tickets weren’t going to work, so i let go of his now sweaty palm and stepped forward.

Matt stopped

The platform barriers came into view. .

19:22

Once again we were flying in amongst the bodies of business men, tourists and locals, recieving grumbles and shouts of abuse as we passed.

19:26

Wuss’’

19:27

Im so not’’

stopped.

19:28.01

A tall Indian man wearing a high vis jacket, proudly stood infront of us. Flashing his sercurity badge.

‘‘

Where do you think you’re going’’

19:28

Until we were abuptly

We began to run again, towards the waiting string of carriages.

‘‘

The shock vanished from his gentle, young cheeks and he raced up to the barrier, swiftly maneuvering his body and bag over the barrier.

‘‘

I stopped once over and flexed my wrist.

Looking back, Matt was in shock. I gave him a cheeky grin and whispered

this train’’

accidently got

19:28.11

19:28.14

‘‘That’ll be £60 please,

each’’

His face was filled with joy as he chucked the tickets back at me.

‘‘That is because we the wrong train’’

‘‘

These tickets aren’t permitted on this train’’

The man carefully scanned the tickets i had given him, a look of confusion crossed his aging face.

19:28.07

I cooly reacheaed into my satchel and pulled out my gold, metalic purse. I pinched a pair of oranged train tickets from one of the pockets and handed them over.

He looked at me suspiciously. Extending his hand ‘‘Can I see your tickets please’’

19:28.04

‘‘We’re getting

I turned to Matt, who was as pale as a ghost.

Looking the tall man in the eye, I relaxed.

Please

19:28.30

that bloke over there with the ‘‘ ticket machine having a fag, go to him. He might be able to help, but no promises. Now go, before I change my mind.’’

See

The man in his high vis jacket sighed, the smugnessed drained from his face. He quickly glanced behind himself and looked me directly in the eye.

19:28.25

sir, we got the wrong train and ‘‘ now we’re trying to make our way back home. Its too far for our parents to come pick us up, we want to be independant and make our own way back as we haven’t told them where we are yet. We’re ment to be in Manchester, watching our favouite band play at the M.E.N.’’

19:28.21

His arms extended outwards acting like his own barrier. I stood strong and waited for the tears to charge under my eyelashes.

thats a shame, it is peak time ‘‘ what do you expect? Im going to have to you from this platform’’

19:28.18

don’t have £60 between us let alone each’’

Well escort

‘‘We

I had never seen someone so smug, in my entire life. He folded his arms across his chest and waited. Matt tried to voice a sentence before I butted in.

19:28.42

Get on, never do it again’

19:28.48

Matt side stepped to the carriage passenger door and pressed the flashing green button.

The small, bald indian ticket man disappeared into the cabin in which he was stood infront of.

‘

‘So, may we please get this train to go back because we do’ have the money to... wait what?’

‘Get on’

19:28.39

‘Hi. We got on the train and ended up here instead of Manchester Picadilly, we’re ment to be at the M.E.N watching our favourite band play’

wrong

19:28.36

looked at us questioningly

We stopped before him. He threw his destroyed fag end to the floor and .

Giving a quick smile and thank you, we bypassed the sercuity guy and ran towards the ticket man.

19:31

We had done it.

arriving at 21.31’

19:32

lost in my thoughts

Once again I was staring out of the black window next to us, .

‘

Welcome aboard this Virgin non-stop service to Manchester Picadilly,

A shy smile stretched across his rosy cheeks as i took the small white headphone.

19:30

’’ ‘‘ As he offered me a battered, dirty headphone.

You’re still an idiot

I rolled my head against the seat towards Matt and looked at him apologetically. He stared back.

The seat beneath me felt like luxury compared to the previous pull down seat next to the toilets.

19:29

carriage C

We trauled through the packed train to finally find two seats, next to one another in .

I followed him onto the train still realing in what had just happened with the ticket man, this shocked me more than Matt grabbing my hand earlier.

worried...

19:36

19:35

I was getting

19:34

19:33

thank god...

Hes forgiven me,

19:40

19:39

19:38

19:37

Matts music choice is...

19:44

19:43

19:42

19:41

interesting...

19:48

19:47

19:46

19:45

I could easily fall

19:52

19:51

19:50

asleep right now...

19:49

19:56

19:55

where are their parents...

Well if the kids infront would shut up,

19:54

19:53

20:00

19:59

19:58

19:57

Crewe

20:04

20:03

20:02

20:01

Will we go through ? Or is it taking a different route...

20:08

God I can’t keep still...

20:07

20:06

20:05

20:12

20:11

20:10

20:09

20:16

20:15

20:14

, i’m not going to reply to your text...

Go away Cullen

20:13

20:20

20:19

20:18

20:17

Maybe I should text my mum....

20:24

20:23

20:22

now to wait...

Message sent,

20:21

20:28

20:27

There it is...

20:26

20:25

20:32

20:31

20:30

are you safe...’

‘Are you okay, what’re going to do,

20:29

20:36

20:35

20:34

20:33

Oh

20:40

20:39

20:38

20:37

my mother...

20:44

20:43

20:42

20:41

20:48

20:47

20:46

20:45

20:52

20:51

20:50

20:49

20:56

Ohhhhhh he wants to get out...

20:55

Why has he tapped my leg...

20:54

20:53

21:00

20:59

20:58

20:57

21:04

21:03

21:02

21:01

Eurgh

21:08

21:07

21:06

21:05

so much effort to get up and move, god Matt...

21:12

21:11

21:10

21:09

Come on, i want to see

21:16

21:15

21:14

21:13

Paramore already...

21:20

I can see you Matt, staring from the corner of your eye...

21:19

21:18

21:17

Oh we’re in Crewe...

21:24

21:23

Stop staring at me, i’m so unattractive...

21:22

21:21

21:28

21:27

21:26

21:25

Oh we’re in Stockport,

21:32

21:31

we’re close...

21:30

21:29

21:36

21:35

21:34

21:33

21:40

21:39

21:38

21:37

21:44

at the carriage doors. The platform that appeared infront of the windows looked more familiar than the last one.

We were up and waiting

21:43

‘Approaching Manchester Picadilly, where this service terminates’

21:42

21:41

Yes, we’re here...

21:46

Tram’’

21:48

The tram wound its way across the non existent tracks, through town past primark, next and the arndale centre. The shop displays were fully lit with decoration of clothes, plastic models and the hint of christmas.

21:47

Sounds of metal rubbing against one another bellowed. We were off.

I flew down the esculator leading to the ground floor, and entered the empty platform where a tram was waiting. The lights flickered as we jumped on.

‘‘

‘‘Run across town or take the tram?’’

21:45

I hit the concrete and started running.

Matt followed, clutching his leather messenger bag as we passed the glass platform seperation.

The sliding doors released us from the stuffy compacted carriage, one step and we were free.

21:51

Tickets please’’

21:52

I recieved back the now half torn tickets and had my arm pulled from beside me forward.

concentration

I scrambled for the tickets in my purse, my was focused on the empty stage ahead of us.

‘‘

The areana was filled with chanting. We made our way down the steep steps, bypassing all those seated where we were greeted by two massive, burley bald men in bright yellow t-shirts.

21:50

from the one in the foyer.

entered another world

It was like we had

Matt ran towards the black pull doors underneath the massive ‘standing’ banner.

21:49

dead venue

Flying forward, the tram stopped sharply as we met Victoria station. We were running once again, up the stairs to the back of the M.E.N where it was a ghost town. I pulled the heavy back doors and entered the .

bright flurescent

23:42

23:43

your major detour?’’ ‘‘To the concert A cheeky grin spread across his face and we both started laughing.

or

‘‘What did you think then?’’

force

My eye lids were ready to close, but i had to myself to stay awake.

We sat down as the departing train was about to leave. I pushed my fringe from over my eyes to behind my right ear.

21:54

I found my place a few people away from the stage barrier, as soon as i stood still the lights blacked out. Matt came up from behind and stood to my right, smoke apreared on stage and the guitar riff to ‘Decode’ began.

21:53

A , pink band was now attached to my arm. Matt pushed me forward down the remaining steps to the floor. I gracefully walked toward the stage as if it was beconing me. I weaved myself in and out of darkly dressed teens with odd coloured, dyed hair and nerd glasses.

23:47

, three years on, i am teased about that one time i went to London instead of Manchester.

Even until this day

23:46

much as he torments me, there will always be a soft spot in my heart for Mr Matthew Shirt, my best friend. But it will only ever stay that way, because i’d rather be the big sister he never had rather than the girl who he always had that thing for but is a mere memory now.

23:45

The train journey back home was spent in silence, a comfortable, happy silence wrapped up against one another. I did think long and hard about slipping a cheeky soft kiss in, but i left it. I didn’t want to destroy our friendship as we had already been through enough that night. I was happy enough to be curled up next to him, than mess around with his feelings.

23:44

I could feel Matts cheek on top of my head, bless him. He took his free hand to genterly stroke my hair and i felt relaxed.

burning

shoulder and delicatly grabbed his sweaty, wet hand and squeezed it.

Smiling, I placed my head on his right