Read The Darkness Within Him: The Untwisted series for Free Online Page A

He’d actually sat on a chair to escape sharing the piano stool with me, for goodness’ sake.
    In fact, as I cast my mind back to our meeting after the concert, I couldn’t recall him having touched me then either. Not a handshake, not a brush of his fingers over my arm; no contact at all. How peculiar.
    Then, as if nothing had occurred between us at all, Nicholas resumed his lesson on the basic chord changes, leaving me reeling once again, God, he was so confusing. Halfway through instructing me on how to play a G-chord correctly, however, he once again shocked me with his changeable ways by turning to me and closing the music book so I couldn’t continue with my piece.
    I turned to him in confusion, thinking that perhaps I had done something wrong.
    ‘Are you single?’ he asked me bluntly.
    Completely thrown by Nicholas’ random question and odd tone, I frowned and answered hesitantly, ‘Um … yes.’
    After almost having recovered from his earlier “beautiful eyes” comment, my heart was once again pounding in my chest to the point of pain. I thought that perhaps after my affirmative response Nicholas might act, ask me out, but he didn’t. Exasperatingly, he merely nodded, reopened the music, and continued my lesson.
    What the heck had that been about? This man was infuriatingly difficult to read! Mind you, compared to the other men I’d dated, Nicholas made them look like inexperienced boys. He somehow came across as a real, manly man, completely self-assured and confident; something I had recently discovered was a rather appealing combination.
    From the corner of my eye, I could see Nicholas’ continued assessment of me, but saw that he wore an expression that seemed to be a mix of arrogance and derisive passiveness. Apparently, he was unmoved by my single status.
    It was ridiculous, but his obvious rejection of me stung like a burn across my skin. As I left that night, I made a conscious effort not to look at Nicholas or show my disappointment. I also decided I’d call him in the week and cancel all future lessons. The piano was fun but I didn’t need an unrequited crush on a ridiculously handsome man to complicate my life.

Chapter Three
    The rasping noise of a harmonica broke me from my reverie, and as I blinked back to the present I realised I’d walked the entire length of Camden High Street in a daze. Trying to push away my daydreams of Nicholas and focus on the more important reality of living my life, I looked down at the familiar figure of Max, a local busker and harmonica genius, whose favourite spot is just on the end of the road where my shop is located. After chucking him a quid and a KitKat from my bag – they’re his favourites – I headed for the junction that leads up the smaller road to my bookshop.
    Turning off the High Street, I was almost instantly surrounded by a refreshing calmness as the number of people surrounding me died down to barely a handful. It always amazed me that by just walking ten or so paces away from the main road you could somehow escape the noise and bustle so quickly. Even though I knew that Camden was still happening back there in all its colourful, crowded, noisy glory, I now felt a million miles away.
    The side street that my book shop is on also has a few markets of its own, but these predominantly sell fruit and vegetables and, while still busy, it’s nothing compared to the crowds on the main drag.
    I smiled at Johno on stall five as I passed. He’s my fruit guy and always has the freshest, most tasty figs I’ve ever been lucky enough to ingest.
    Once I walk past the fruit stalls, the road starts to look more residential, lined with pretty, brick-built townhouses laden with overflowing hanging baskets, most of which have shops on the lower floor like mine. There’s a vintage vinyl shop selling records from the 50s, 60s, and 70s, a fancy dress boutique, a hairdresser and me, the Camden Book Emporium. The name came with the shop when I bought it,