Australia X Reader - Different Tracks

The bell chimed as the train came speeding into the station. It didn’t take long for it to slow down, but when it did you were still busy fixing your hair. It had been a long day and you were ready to get on the train and get out of here. The doors slid open and you stepped inside, quickly finding a seat.

Relieved to be free of the cold outside, you let out a sigh of relief as you rubbed your frozen solid hands together. The horn of the train hollered, as the train began moving, again. You close your eyes listening to the sound of the pushing wheels against the rail. You swear it created its own melody.

It seemed the moment the melody began though it slowly came to a stop at the next station. People bustled on and off, all getting to their jobs or returning home. A few more stops before it would head onto a much longer journey. While you were busy going through your thoughts, a young man walked up to your row of seats.

“Mind if I sit here?” The voice caught you off guard, causing you to jump.

“Uh, of course. Go ahead.” He slipped into the seat next to yours, as you heard the horn of the train roar, again. You were trying to keep your focus off him, but he was pretty distracting. Pale green eyes, ruffled brown hair that had a strange parted cowlick in it, his strangely huge eyebrows, and he wore a strange bandage on his nose. He seemed to notice you staring and turned to you.

“Like what you see?” You scoffed and looked away, a light blush dusted on your cheeks. “Hey, I was only joking with you.”

“Didn’t seem like it…” You mumbled.

“Hm… (Your Nationality), am I right?” He asked. You turned to him, looking him up and down.

“Australian, am I right?” He laughed a little at your response.

“It was obvious? Now you didn’t answer me.”

“Yeah, I’m (your Nationality).” You looked away and out the window. The silence you were hoping for didn’t end so soon though.

“The name is Ralph and you are?” You didn’t look back at him.

“I don’t tell my name to strangers.”

“Good on ya, but we’re not exactly strangers anymore. Unless you count looking strange, I can see why you don’t want to tell me.” He paused. “Want to tell me why a young lady like you is all by herself on a train that’s heading out of the county in a few more stops?”

“You sure ask a lot of question, how about you tell me why you’re on here first… Ralph.” You turned to look at him, giving him a stern look. He hesitated before nodding.

“Sounds fair, but you gotta promise that you’ll tell me why you’re here when I’m done.” He was now the one giving you a stern look.

“Sure, whatever. Go on.” Ralph didn’t look convinced, but continued anyway.

“I’m on my way to an orphanage at one of the next stops.” He began, looking past you and out of the window. “You see, I used to volunteer there a couple months ago with my brother. The kids there were crazy nice and young. Except for this one girl. She was stubborn, feisty, and just didn’t like neither my brother nor I.

“But even though she never gave us a second glance, I would always hangout with her. I’d eat lunch with her and ask her about her day and get no response, I’d help her with her chores and try to strike a conversation with her, and right before bed, I’d sit by the side of her bed and tell her about my life growing up in Australia. I never got one “Thanks” or even a simple smile. The last day of my brother and I’s volunteer service came and just before I left the premises, that little girl ran out to me.” Ralph smiled a little. “She hugged me, trying to reach her small arms around my waist. I had never seen her give so much attention to anyone.

“She looked up at me and said, “I’m sorry, I never thanked you for anything and I’m sorry you want to leave, because of me…”” Ralph chuckled a little and continued. “”But promise me that you at least come see me one more time.” I hadn’t known what she meant at the time.”

Ralph looked back to you.

“Turns out, that little girl is sick. I’m not sure with what, but it isn’t anything good. So, I’m heading back to her, so I can keep that little promise of hers.” He faded off, looking straight ahead of him. It took him a moment, but he looked back to you.  “Alright, it’s your turn. Where you headed and why?”

The train slowed down once more, as more people bustled about. Once the train started moving, again, a lady came down the aisle with a cart filled with treats.

“Hello, would either of you two like something?” She asked. You were about to decline, when Ralph stopped you.

“Actually, do you have any hot chocolate?” He asked.

“Why, of course, it will just take a minute.” She scribbled the order down on a notepad and continued down the aisle.

“Fan of hot chocolate?” You looked to him, raising an eyebrow.

“Who isn’t?... Besides the lactose intolerant people.” He smiled lightly.

“I guess I can’t argue with that.” You admitted.

“Alright, on with your story, go on.” He pushed you.

“Okay, okay…” You took a deep breath, looking to your hands in your lap. “The holiday season ended and I thought everything was going fine. My dad had work off, my mom didn’t have to drive anywhere, and I got what I asked for, for Christmas. But I realized something. Every Christmas that came and go caused my family to part more and more.

“My mom only has little chats with me every now and then and my dad is too busy even at home to talk to me. I just feel so… distant from them. So, I snuck out for a whole day during the break and came back the next morning.” You covered your face with your hands. “They didn’t even know I left. So, I decided to leave… If they didn’t notice me then, what says they’ll notice me now?”

“Wow, haven’t exactly heard that one before…” Ralph mumbled. You looked up as the cart lady returned with Ralph’s hot chocolate.

“Here you are.” She handed it to him and he took it happily.

“Thank you.” He paid her and she left. He turned to you and placed the warm mug in your hands. “There, that should warm you up.”

“But this is yours.” You offered it back, but he declined. “You’re not giving this to me, because you pity me, right?”

“Of course not, you’re freezing to death right there. Some hot chocolate should fix that up though.” He glanced at the window and back to you. “And we’re switching spots when you’re done, since that window isn’t helping.”

“… Thank you.” You looked down at the cup, before putting it to your lips and taking a sip of it. It burned your tongue a little, but it warmed you up. “So, what I did… are you gonna say it’s stupid?”

“Not exactly, I can see why you did it, but I have a feeling what you thought was losing something was actually a broken bond.” He hummed a little, looking at you. “I’d bet you that if you went home right now, you’d see your parents pacing around, worried about your whereabouts.”

“You wish…” You scoffed, taking another sip.

“I swear on it and if they aren’t, I’ll personally pay for your next ticket out of here.” You looked to him, but he gave you a confident nod.

“Alright, it’s your money…” He smiled at your response. He paused, before digging for something in his pocket. Moments later, he pulled out a train ticket. Usually the ticket would have the address printed on it already, but this one’s address was blank. He handed it to you. “What’s this?”

“An Off-Peak ticket, it can be changed to wherever you want to go. So, if I was wrong, you can write down where you want to go, as long as it’s connected to these rails.” You looked to him surprised. “But I want you to promise something.”

“What?”

“If I was right, I’d like you to visit that little girl at the orphanage. Her name is Piper and she’s at-“ He cut himself off looking at the screen that showed the next destination. “This next stop actually.”

The train rolled to a stop and he stood up. He looked to you and held out his hand to you.

“Hope we can meet, again, hopefully around here though.” You took his hand and shook it, as he turned to leave. He headed for the exit, as an idea popped into your head. You stood up and pushed past some people to the cart lady. You pulled out the little money you had and looked to her.

“How much for one of those?” You pointed to a freshly baked cookie.

~

Ralph stepped off the train and into the bitter cold station, and began to make his exit. That was, until a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

“Ralph.” You let out an exhausted pant. “Here.”

You held out the bag, with a couple cookies inside. He seemed a bit surprised as he took them.

“I can’t take these-“

“There not for you, there for Piper.” You interrupted him. His confusion turned into a gracious smile.

“Thank you, she’ll love these.” He nodded his head in thanks. He turned to leave, but you stopped him once more.

“My name is ___, by the way.”

“___. Well, next time we meet, ___, I’ll be sure to repay you for all this.” He smiled and before you could blow off his offer, he turned and left. You watched him go, as you heard the train’s horn holler once more. You quickly stepped back on the train and took a seat, again. You pulled out the ticket he gave to you and glanced up at the sign of the station, stating the name of this station. You memorized the name, as you stuffed the ticket away.

You were keeping your promise, just like how he kept his.