The summer of 2012 held promises far beyond anything Hollie had ever had the nerve to imagine. It had started in the most inappropriately innocent way, with a smashed wing mirror, clearly the work of the latest preteen daredevil gang. That had caused a trip down to the nearest scrap yard and it was there, amongst the totalled convertibles and the old Fords that she'd reconnected with Daniel Evans.
He was one of those men that her father would have instantly disapproved of with his smudged mischievous face, oil covered hands and the jeans-pocket stuffed with grubby banknotes. But then again, Dad had always disapproved of Danny. Hollie didn't care that he smeared petrol when they awkwardly hugged and she didn't care when he accidentally scratched the paintwork on her Seat Ibiza. All she cared about was the fact that she'd rediscovered her childhood soul mate. And this time, something in his eyes told her that their relationship was destined to go far beyond a simple friendship. This wasn't going to be one of those stupid high-school summer romances she told herself as he gallantly helped her over the remains of a mangled VW Golf, this was going to be something real.
Maybe it was presumptuous of her to immediately decide that a relationship was going to stem out of this chance encounter, but the kiss they shared mere minutes after meting, overturned any previous qualms. Danny's hands were in her hair, his mouth rough on hers and had it been any other greasy scrap-metal-dealer, Hollie would have been horrified. But it was Danny, a man whose personality was etched into every last feature of his good-natured face. A man, who unlike others, didn't fumble when he spoke to her, didn't feel the need to compliment her for no particular reason. He was as naturally masculine as they came, and it suited Hollie just perfectly.
~
She could remember him as a child, the scruffy schoolboy who was always fighting, scabs on both knees as he charged around the playground. And then their infant school teacher, Ms Donald, telling him off, shouting at him for being such a nuisance, before the words, "Go and sit next to Hollie! Maybe she'll be a good influence on you." And that was the clincher. The little menace seated next to the groomed girl in the polished uniform, the two of them looking at each other with uncertainty until she spoke, with all the pomp of a pampered bitch-to-be, "What are you staring at? I don't like little boys.". And Danny, the charmer since day one, smiling wickedly as he borrowed one of her Winnie the Pooh pencil crayons, "I don't like little girls. But you're pretty. I like you." Being a golden child, the compliment shouldn't have taken the six year old Hollie by surprise but it did and since then, she and Danny had been inseparable.
Hollie's mother hated it when her little darling brought Danny over for tea every day; she didn't think much of the little rogue or his parents or the council estate where they lived. But Hollie loved every part of him. She loved running around the high-rise flats, sneaking through the allotments, her mouth crammed full of stolen strawberries as Danny's hand pulled on hers, tugging her through the hole in the barbed wire fencing. It had been the best four years of her childhood, and it could have gone on forever until Dad had had quite enough. His little princess had come home once again with sticky, juice stained fingers, the front of her ridiculously expensive frock stained with the same blackcurrant remnants.
They were moving, Hollie was told as she idly scrubbed her hands with washing-up liquid, they were moving to a nicer part of town, with less nasty little children to corrupt her.
And that had been it. Hollie hadn't even had time to say goodbye to her best friend before she was whisked away but now, ten years later, here she was, sitting on the bumper of an old Nissan, Danny Evans next to her, his arm draped casually around her shoulders as they reminisced.
"So how's Daddy now?" Danny asked, a hint of playful tease in his voice.
"Fine." Hollie grinned, "Just as pompous, just as disappointed in me and just as money oriented."
Danny laughed. "Perfect." She turned to smile at him and his mouth was on hers again, his tongue warm and searching, his grease-covered hand brushing her white skirt, green eyes zoning in on hers as they broke apart.
"I never thought I'd see you again." Hollie murmured, looking distractedly in her bag to retrieve a tissue with which she attempted to wipe the oil stain from her skirt, "We moved so far, I mean."
Danny laughed, watching her futile attempts in amusement, before he leaned back against the windscreen of the car, "Your father clearly wasn't taking any chances."
"Mmm." Hollie abandoned her attempt at improvised laundry and turned to look at him, "You're different."
"Oh yeah?" A small smile played around the corners of her old friend's mouth, "In what way?"
Hollie shrugged, "Just more mature. A little more cynical I guess. Less innocent."
Danny sat up, "And are those bad things?"
"No." Hollie slipped off the hood of the car and smoothed down her outfit, "Not at all."
"Where are you going?" Danny sat up, squinting slightly as sunlight reflected sharply off the various old vehicles, "Already been scared away?"
"No." Hollie stepped forward and kissed him again, marvelling at her own reckless attitude, "I'm not scared of you."
"Good." Danny's voice was low as his hands slipped around her waist, pulling her slender body into his, "Because you've changed too. In a good way."
"Oh yeah?" Hollie's voice was barely a whisper as his mouth moved to brush against her neck, "How's that?"
"I dunno." Danny pulled her in closer between his denim clad legs, making her shiver slightly, despite the soaring temperature, "I was never good with words."
She stepped back as he pushed hard against her, a slight feeling of panic erupting in the pit of her stomach as she realised just how much of a man he'd become.
