‘That’s easy for you to say – you don’t have your spirit interrupting your thoughts at random intervals.’ She turned and gave him a half-hearted smile, but couldn’t keep it up. She was suddenly on a downer.
‘I mean, you’ve got more of a sense of unity, even if you do struggle with your nature. I’m an outsider even amongst the outsiders. And I’m nothing like any of you lot. You’re all rich, suave, privileged. I’m a Scholarship, for God’s sake, on top of everything else …’ She trailed off and stopped at the top of the stairs, taking a ragged breath. People brushed past them as they stood facing one another. Ranjit reached over and took both her hands in his.
‘You …’ he leaned in towards her, ‘need to stop worrying so much. I may not be able to talk to my spirit, but I’m still on your side. I do have some idea what you’re going through. Believe it or not, I don’t just breeze through life without a care, despite what you might think.’ He seemed to be trying to comfort her, but there was a faint edge to his voice. He paused for a moment, squeezing his eyes shut as if trying to block something out. Without opening them, his lips found hers. Then after what seemed like forever, he pulled away. A small whimper escaped from Cassie’s mouth. Or was it just inside her head …?
Finally, wordlessly, he grabbed her hand and guided her down the stairs. For a moment all thoughts of their problems went clean out of her head as they came to a halt.
‘Oh, wow,’ Cassie breathed.
They were standing in the main concourse of Grand Central Station, below its iconic clock. Around them, commuters and tourists swarmed through the huge space, but she could only stare at the colossal arched windows, the elegant stonework, and most of all, the extravagantly beautiful painted ceiling. Once her attention was caught, she couldn’t look away.
She turned, dizzy with staring upwards. ‘It’s the zodiac.’
‘Yes.’ Ranjit had his hand on her elbow, steadying her. ‘Painted the wrong way round. See?’
‘I wouldn’t know. Is it?’
‘By mistake, yes. The Vanderbilt family commissioned the work early last century. When the error was spotted, they said it was deliberate. They said it’s as if we’re looking down on the stars. A God’s-eye view.’
Slowly, Cassie turned around again, taking it in. ‘I like that,’ she murmured. ‘A God’s-eye view. How appropriate.’
‘All right, Cassie Bell. So now we’ve got the first awkward date out of the way …’
‘Mmm?’ Awkward was right.
‘Please can I take you out again?’ His words rushed out. ‘Properly?’ His sheepish grin ruined her. ‘Valentine’s Day?’
Cassie took a breath. She’d never had a real Valentine’s date before: in fact, if it hadn’t been for the hearts-and-flowers displays in every shop front, she’d have forgotten the day was approaching.
‘OK,’ she said slowly, suddenly feeling hot.
He cocked an eyebrow, and the expression of mock outrage on his face made her laugh out loud.
‘Sorry – yes. Yes, I’d love to.’
‘Wonderful!’ His smile lit up his whole face, making him look altogether different. Cassie couldn’t help wishing she could give him that look more often.
‘So am I allowed to ask where we’re going?’
‘No, absolutely not. It’s a surprise.’
‘Great.’ She squeezed his arm mischievously. ‘It’s not as if I’ve had enough of those.’
‘Ha ha. Hey, it’s still pretty early. Want to go and take a look at the trains?’
She slipped her hand into his as they moved through the hurrying crowds. ‘So, what have we got here? Thomas? Percy? The Hogwarts Express?’
He laughed and squeezed her fingers. ‘Bog-standard Metro-North trains. But you never know. Keep your eyes peeled.’
They walked slowly, taking in the sight of thousands of New Yorkers and tourists. She took a moment to just enjoy being with Ranjit, and not being in a hurry to go anywhere. ‘It’s like a dance. How can this many people never bump into each other?’
‘I never thought of it that way. You’re right, it is pretty amazing. What else can we do here? Do you want to take a look at the shopping concourse?’
‘Ha! I get enough of that with Isabella!’ Cassie chuckled, over the whistle of a train about to depart.
‘I confess, that’s a relief.’
Letting go of Ranjit’s hand, Cassie backed away and looked upwards, craning her neck. ‘Who’d believe a railway station could be this entertaining?’
‘Well, you know, they nearly demolished— CASSIE!’
Out of nowhere, a figure was sprinting towards the departing train, shouldering Cassie violently aside. Taken completely by surprise, she stumbled sideways with a cry of shock.
She was aware of a train pulling in, of the deafening noise of it as she teetered on the edge of the platform, and the high shriek of what might have been a whistle or a terrified onlooker. Her arms flailed wildly in the air as she fell towards the track.
Then Ranjit snatched hold of her, his iron grasp dragging her desperately back to safety. As he clutched her wrist and finally pulled her clear, she felt the rush of wind in her hair from the train, the solid platform under her feet, and the tight grip of Ranjit’s arms.
‘It’s fine. She’s fine. Thanks.’ Pale with shock, he waved away a few concerned commuters, and in seconds they were left alone, the crowds once more sweeping past. Cassie could feel his muscles trembling beneath his coat.