Playground Cool

by Sinclair, Jamie

  At half time she stood up to go to the toilet and the two men followed her to use the gents. She was about to open the door to return to the main bar, when she overheard them talking in the corridor outside and stopped to listen.

  ‘Get a grip, I hardly know her myself. I only met her a couple of days ago.’ It was Simon speaking.

  ‘Mate, she is unbelievable. I can’t take my bloody eyes off her.’ Her heart raced.

  ‘You know absolutely nothing about her; she could be married for all you know.’

  ‘Nope, no ring. I checked.’

  ‘God, you have been looking haven’t you.’

  ‘I can’t help myself, God knows why but I think she’s definitely got something.’

  ‘Yeah, she’s nice enough but…’

  ‘You wouldn’t see it you big queen.’

  ‘Hey, just ‘cos I’m gay I can still appreciate when someone is attractive.’ She gasped. How had she not noticed Simon was gay?

  ‘Yeah, but it’s more than that.’

  Katie missed the rest of their conversation because they’d walked back into the main bar. She was stunned. Jack must have been talking about her, which was fantastic. Equally surprising was the revelation that Simon was gay. She checked her hair and make-up and went back to their table for the second half.

  Throughout the match she and Jack kept looking away from the screen to find the other looking back and then quickly averting their eyes with a smile. Katie, not being completely naïve when it came to football, followed the game and made the right noises in the right places as the game progressed. At the final whistle, Jack was pleased because his beloved Liverpool had come from behind to manage a draw against the loathsome Manchester United.

  ‘Right,’ said Simon when they were back outside, ‘I’m going to have to scoot off. I said I’d be home by five. I’ll probably see you on Monday Katie and I’ll ring you tomorrow,’ he said looking at Jack.

  ‘Nice one mate, see you later,’ Jack replied enthusiastically.

  ‘Anyway,’ she began, unsure of what she either wanted, or was going, to say next, ‘I’d better get going. I’ve got a meal to prepare and I’ve got people coming in a couple of hours.’

  ‘Yeah, right then.’ Jack looked at her. ‘I’ll walk you to your car if you like.’

  Her heart was pounding in her chest as they set off to her car. Their hands touched briefly as Jack took her grocery bags from her, although neither of them acknowledged the action.

  They talked easily and keenly as they walked, asking another question as soon as the other had finished answering, concentrating upon the answers given and responding appropriately. Too soon, they were approaching the car park which meant they would have to part. Katie realised that she was desperate not to go home yet and wished she didn’t have plans for the evening.

  ‘Thanks for helping me with my stuff Jack,’ she said as he put the bags in the boot of her car. Now, she thought, why don’t you climb in the passenger side and I’ll whisk you off to my place.

  ‘Anytime,’ he replied as they stood looking at each other awkwardly, neither wanting to leave.

  ‘Right then,’ he said finally, ‘I’ll be off. Hope you have a good night.’

  He turned to walk away and she could feel the opportunity to make something happen slipping away with each step, but she couldn’t make herself say the words to stop him. It had felt electric when their hands had touched; now she was standing looking at the back of him as he walked away. She turned to get into her car and put on her seatbelt. She started the engine and then there was a knock on the driver’s window. She looked up, startled, to see Jack looking down at her with a slightly nervous expression on his gorgeous face.

  ‘Erm. I’m sorry to hassle you but I’ve just seen my bus disappearing down the street,’ he said feebly as she wound down her window.

  Oh Yes! Jump in and I’ll give you a ride. ‘Nightmare,’ she said, ‘I’ll give you a lift if you want. Get in.’

  While he walked around to the passenger door, Katie could hardly keep herself from smiling. She knew that what she was thinking was ridiculous but she couldn’t help herself. Besides, she’d overheard him saying that he thought she was amazing.

  ‘Whereabouts do you live?’ She asked excitedly.

  He explained the route to her. This just keeps on getting better.

  ‘My place is on the way. Do you mind if I drop off my shopping and chuck this meat in the oven before I take you home?’ She asked. Please please please don’t go home. ‘Yeah, fine,’ he answered, smiling at her.

  As soon as they arrived at Katie’s flat she rushed in ahead of him, very conscious of the fact that she’d no idea how tidy she’d left it before going out earlier in the day. He wandered in a moment later, eyes scanning the room, taking in as much detail as they could.

  ‘This is nice,’ he commented, ‘great floors, and a brilliant view of the canal. This place must cost a fortune.’

  ‘Well, a fair bit I suppose. The penthouses cost silly money compared to this, though.’

  ‘So where shall I put these bags then?’

  ‘Oh here,’ she said grabbing them off him, ‘I’ll put them in the kitchen and get the food started.’

  She ran into the kitchen and closed the door behind her. Her hands were shaking now and the previous euphoria had given way to something approaching panic. What the hell am I doing? I have no idea who this man is. He’s probably a total lunatic who’s unplugging the telephone and removing his trousers while I fantasise about shagging his brains out.

  ‘Do you want a drink?’ She shouted, though because of her nerves, she almost ended up screaming the words at him.

  ‘Please,’ he called back, ‘Whatever you’re having.’

  She unpacked the joint of meat, seasoned it and then placed it on a tray before sliding it into the oven. Then she opened a bottle of wine and poured two glasses out. She gulped down the first then re-filled it before heading out into the living room.

  ‘What time are your friends coming?’ He queried, looking at his watch.

  ‘Oh about half seven. Christ!’ She said looking at the clock on the wall behind him, ‘It’s after six now.’

  ‘It’s okay,’ he said finishing his wine, ‘I’ll walk home, it’s not far. You crack on with your meal and stuff.’

  ‘Oh, right,’ she said. Shit! Shit! Shit! ‘I’d better pull my finger out I suppose. God I’m a crap cook as well. Especially when I’m rushing,’ She laughed nervously and drank more of her wine.

  ‘How many are coming?’

  ‘Erm…there’ll be six including me. Why?’

  ‘Do you want a hand with the cooking? I used to cook for the whole of our house at uni. It wasn’t flash but I’d gladly lend a hand.’

  Yes! Yes! Yes! She’d met this man a few hours earlier through another man that she barely knew. Now he was standing in her flat offering to help her cook a meal for her friends. She was in totally over her head and loving every minute of it.

  ‘You’re a star,’ she beamed at him. ‘I’ll nip in the bath while you watch the veg. Come on; I’ll show you where everything is.’

  After pouring herself another glass of wine and grabbing the cordless telephone, she scurried into the bathroom and under the noise of the running water she called Jen.

  ‘You fucking what?’ Spluttered Jen in horror. ‘And he’s in the kitchen with all the sharp stuff while you’re in the bath naked?’

  ‘Shit. I hadn’t though of that. But he’s all right. At least, I think he is. I couldn’t keep my eyes off him in the pub.’

  ‘You’re loving this aren’t you kid? Do you want me to come over early, just in case? Is he staying for the meal?’

  ‘Christ knows. I’m thinking on my feet, but he seems as keen as me. Fuck Jen, what am I doing? This is so not me.’

  ‘Fuck it. Get in there mate. I’m still coming round early though, so I can have a nosy. See you in a bit.’

  After a rushed bath, Katie threw on her
new dress and a bit of make-up before dashing to the kitchen to see what was Jack was up to.

  ‘How’s the food coming along?’

  ‘Fine,’ he said with a smile, ‘The veg is bubbling away quite happily, but I don’t think the meat will be ready in time. However, I have a couple of solutions available.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘One, you can dash round to my place and get the steaks out of my fridge and fry them sharpish. Two, you can nip round to the offy and get plenty more wine in to distract people from the fact that there’s only vegetables to eat.’

  ‘Your place it is then,’ she said grabbing her car keys and heading for the door. Jack swiftly grabbed the keys from her.

  ‘I’ll drive; I’ve only had one glass of wine. By the way,’ he remarked as they ran to the car, ‘You look superb in that dress.’

  Twenty minutes later they were hurrying back into Katie’s flat and, while Jack fried the steaks, she laid the table. Moments later the doorbell rang. It was Jen.

  ‘You’re very red in the face, what have you been up to?’ She joked.

  ‘Fuck off; I’ve had a food crisis which Jack’s sorted for me. Come and say hello.’

  She introduced them and, while Jen went to the bathroom, Jack took Katie into the kitchen.

  ‘The steaks are all but ready and I’ve put the veg and stuff on a low light to keep them warm. I’ll shoot off and leave you to it. Hope you have…’

  ‘You what? You’re going nowhere. The least you can do is stay and eat with us since it’s thanks to you there is something to eat.’ Please stay, she thought, I’d love to have you for dinner.

  ‘No. I don’t know anybody. I don’t even know you really.’

  ‘Well then you’d best stay and get to know me hadn’t you then,’ she said, taking his hand and leading him to the living room where she pointed him to a chair. ‘Now sit down and talk to Jen while I finish getting ready. Oh and Jack.’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  She stopped Jen in the hallway and instructed her to be nice to Jack while she sorted herself out, then disappeared into her bedroom.

  As the night progressed, Katie and Jack laughed and talked along with everyone else as if they’d known each other for far longer than a few hours. As midnight approached, a couple of people said they had to go and decided to share a taxi. Finally, only Katie, Jack and Jen remained.

  ‘Roaring success mate. Nice one,’ said Jen simply from the chair where she was slumped, glass in hand.

  ‘All thanks to the man in the corner,’ Katie slurred, getting up from her chair to pour herself another drink and then going to sit on Jack’s knee.

  ‘A pleasure,’ he responded, putting the hand without a glass in it around her waist and pulling her on top of him in the chair.

  She slipped back and they were face to face. They looked drunkenly, but affectionately, into each other’s eyes for a moment and then leaned forward at the same moment to kiss.

  ‘Whoa. Time for a taxi,’ Jen cried reaching for the phone, ‘I’ll leave you two love birds to it.’

  ‘Stay here mate; it’s too late to be buggering about with taxis now.’

  ‘You sure?’ Asked Jen flicking her eyes at Jack.

  ‘Yeah, you stay. I’m off now anyway,’ he replied, sitting up as best he could in the chair with Katie on top of him, ‘It gets me out of washing up.’

  Katie laughed. ‘I’ve got a dishwasher, so there won’t be any washing up.’

  ‘Oh, right. Well anyway…’ He looked uncertain how to proceed.

  ‘Why don’t you both stay? Jen can have the spare room,’ Katie offered, draping an arm around Jack’s neck and stroking his hair. As for you, she thought, you’re staying in my bed.

  ‘Good enough for me. See you in the morning kids,’ Jen said hauling herself out of the chair and heading for the spare room.

  ‘Are you sure you want me to stay?’ He asked as they kissed again in the chair.

  ‘At this moment I am. I might not be in the morning. Don’t you want to stay?’ Fuck, he’s going to blow me out.

  ‘Oh yes. Definitely.’

  Yes! Pulled!

  ‘Well then, let’s see how we feel in the morning then shall we?’

  ‘Fair enough. I just don’t want you thinking I normally do this because I don’t. At all.’

  ‘I shouldn’t worry about it. I am so far away from my normal behaviour that I’ll probably have a heart attack and die in the morning.’

  ‘Hmm,’ he smiled, ‘Will that make me a necrophiliac?’

  ‘You’re optimistic,’ she chastised playfully; ‘I think that all depends on how drunk you are doesn’t it?’ She closed the door behind them.

  Chapter Twenty

  After sitting on the steps for several minutes, Ben slowly got to his feet and walked up to his bedroom. Unable to fully comprehend what he’d just learned, he felt exhausted again, and wanted desperately to sleep. He closed the curtains, removed his trousers and climbed into bed.

  For a few moments his mind tortured itself with thoughts of Rhia rolling around in bed with his best friend, the fact that he knew both parties so well making the images easier to conjure and all the more vivid. Then, his mind overloaded and head throbbing, Ben’s body suddenly shut itself down and released him into sleep, his mind temporarily free of the mental video it had generated and had been playing on a loop since he’d thrown Rhia out.

  Hours later he awoke and, for a heartbeat, lay with his eyes still closed and breathing steadily. Then, as his mind put itself into gear, reality crashed in and he was aware of the hurt, yet still drowsy enough to push it away, able to fool himself a little longer that everything was alright. He drifted in and out of a light sleep for the next half an hour until finally his body gave up fighting his brain and he sat up.

  A second later he heard the doorbell ring. He sighed as he realised that he’d been hearing the sound for the past five minutes and it hadn’t registered. He pulled on the nearest pair of jeans and plodded down the stairs with heavy feet. He could see a figure through the frosted glass of the front door. He turned the lock and pulled open the door.

  ‘Afternoon mate. You took your time. You rough?’

  In his weary state it took Ben a fraction longer than normal to engage his brain and speak.

  ‘Steve,’ he observed, caught totally off guard and unprepared, ‘What do you want?’

  ‘I had to go into town and I thought I’d see how you were feeling. You were looking a bit shaky when you left mine.’ He smiled broadly and walked past Ben into the hallway.

  ‘Rhia’s been round.’ Ben said quietly, suddenly waking up. He studied Steve for a reaction.

  ‘Brilliant.’ Not a flicker. ‘Any progress?’

  ‘No, not really,’ he said, amazed at how cool they were both being.

  ‘Why, what happened?’

  ‘I threw her out and told her not to come back.’ Anger rose up in him as the words brought back his confrontation with Rhia.

  ‘You pillock, what the hell d’you do that for?’ To his credit, Ben noticed, Steve looked genuinely bewildered.

  ‘Because she’s been shagging you, you bastard!’ Ben lashed out and struck Steve on the side of the head, causing him to fall into the wall and then backwards on to the stairs. Ben immediately clenched and unclenched his fist a few times to dull the ache. He was not a fighter and had hit Steve on a particularly hard part of his head, just behind his ear.

  ‘Jesus Ben,’ was all Steve managed as Ben looked down at him in disgust and fear, before disappearing into the living room.

  Steve climbed to his feet, holding a hand against his head where Ben had hit him, and followed.

  ‘Ben?’

  ‘Fuck off Steve you shit,’ he spat, back to the wall, arms folded across his chest. His eyes were angry but already his temper was fading, as he knew it would. Some people had the mentality to beat people up and do a really good job. Ben had more than enough reason to badly bruise S
teve, yet he found himself unable to maintain the adrenalin levels needed.

  He’d been in a similar situation when he was seventeen. He’d been seeing a girl in the same year at school and was, of course, totally in love with her. They’d been out with a large group of friends one Friday evening and he’d come out of the toilet to find his girlfriend sitting on his mates knee, arms wrapped around his neck, in mid snog. As soon as they became aware of his return, they’d sprung apart and she’d rushed over to him, full of apologies, blaming the drink.

  A few of the lads had started goading him, trying to instigate a fight between the wronged and the wrong doer. Ben had stormed up to the boy in question and called him a few names to try and build himself up, but even half-drunk, and despite the public humiliation in front of his peers, he just couldn’t bring himself to strike the boy. Instead he’d stormed out of the pub and gone home early and had informed the girl that she was binned on the Monday morning at school. By first break she was wandering around hand in hand with Mr Friday night.

  ‘I can’t believe you hit me. It really hurt you know,’ said Steve, touching his hand to his head as he looked at Ben.

  ‘Good.’ He smiled, satisfied, though he already felt as if he should apologise. ‘You’re lucky that’s all you got.’

  ‘Look mate,’ he began, ‘I don’t know what the hell happened. She was fed up with you two arguing and came round a bit to talk and that.’