Collision

  “Were the other girls…”

  “Raped? No… I don’t think so; but they were so out of it.”

  “What do we do about Elle?”

  “Help me get her to bed,” said Jane. “She’ll have to sleep it off.”

  Ben carried her into her bedroom, but as he put her onto the bed, she vomited onto the sheets.

  Ben looked at Jane.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll clear it up,” said Jane.

  “I’ll put her in my room,” said Ben.

  Ben carried her out of the room and into his room, and put her on his bed.

  Jane came in after him.

  “But where are you going to sleep.”

  “I’ll sleep on the settee,” said Ben.

  “You sure? I got Elle into this mess, perhaps I should take the settee.”

  “Don’t be silly, Sis. I’ll be all right on the settee.”

  He left her with Jane and went to make coffee.

  Five minutes later Jane returned.

  “How is she?” said Ben.

  Jane picked up her coffee and sipped it. “She’ll be all right. I’ve undressed her and put her to bed. I’ll check up on her during the night, but I’m sure she’ll be okay.”

  She sipped her coffee again. “I won’t be a minute.”

  She went back to Elle’s room and returned with the bed linen, which she stuffed into the washing machine. Once the machine was on, she sat down again.

  “I’m sorry I messed up your lads’ night,” she said.

  “I wasn’t having much fun. Richard was being a real pain in the neck. He’s also got himself a girlfriend and he was rubbing it in.”

  “What Richard? That must be a first. Was she carrying a white stick?” said Jane.

  “It does seem a little strange,” said Ben.

  “What happened to Cindy? I haven’t seen her for days,” said Jane.

  Ben paused for a moment.

  “She’s gone back to South America, to get married,” said Ben.

  “But you had sex with her.”

  “No I didn’t. I slept on the bedroom floor.”

  “What do you mean? What was all that moaning and groaning coming from your room?”

  “It was a joke. That movie: ‘When Harry met Sally’. You know the one with Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal are in the restaurant and Meg Ryan fakes an orgasm. Well, the bed squeaked during the night and I told Cindy that the walls were paper-thin. So, Cindy decided to be the practical joker and copied Meg Ryan’s performance.”

  “What a twisted sense of humour. So that wasn’t you.”

  “Are you kidding?”

  “But Elle thinks it was you.”

  “So she thinks I’m some kind of sex god. So what?”

  “She likes you, Ben.”

  “As a friend.”

  “But you took her to Scotland?”

  “That was to see Stuart about the maths problem.”

  “And nothing happened?”

  “Why has she said anything about the trip?”

  “Nothing much. Just said the weather was great and she went swimming with Kirsty.”

  “They did get on well together; like a couple of school girls.”

  “I thought you two were getting on to.”

  “We are; but we’re just friends — mates. That’s all she wants.”

  “Are you sure? She’s a nice girl, and she likes you.”

  “Then she doesn’t need a screw-up like me.”

  “You’re not a screw-up Ben.”

  “I’m an academic working for a pittance whose research budget has just been axed.”

  Jane shook her head. “Money’s not everything.”

  Ben put down his mug on the table and got up to go to bed. “It is when you haven’t got any.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Elle woke up the following morning to the sounds of someone cooking in the kitchen. Her head was banging, as though she had an almighty hangover. She looked around her. It wasn’t her bedroom. She tried to recall how she got to bed the night before. She looked under the bedclothes; she was naked. She remembered the disco and Ben sweeping her off her feet; but the rest was a complete blank.

  Elle threw her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. Her head was throbbing. She went over to the bedroom door and peaked out. She could hear someone in the kitchenette, but couldn’t see them. Quickly she tiptoed to her bedroom door and opened it.

  “Is that you, Elle?” said Ben.

  Elle darted into her room and closed the door behind her. Her bed had been made and there was a smell of air freshener in the room. She slipped on some underwear and threw on her nightshirt. She wandered out of the bedroom and saw that Ben was cooking in the kitchenette. It looked like scrambled eggs and there were two large steaming hot coffees on the table.

  “How are you feeling this morning?” he asked.

  “Terrible, my brain feels as though it’s too big for my skull.”

  She looked around the room and saw Ben’s clothes that he had been wearing the previous night scattered across the floor.

  “I’ve made you some eggs,” said Ben.

  “Thanks,” she said, although she was not sure she could eat anything.

  “You were pretty wild last night.”

  Elle paused to think.

  “I was?”

  He nodded.

  “This is really embarrassing, did I do anything I shouldn’t have?” she said.

  “Can’t you remember?” he said.

  “I remember having a few shots of vodka with Jane to loosen up before we got there. It was so hot though. I remember you, picking me up and carrying me.”

  “Can you remember what you said to me?”

  Elle thought for a moment. Her brain struggled for a moment; then the words came back to her.

  “Holy shit,” she said, “did I say that?”

  “About ripping your clothes off — yes.”

  And then she remembered where she woke up. Oh shit! Ben’s bedroom.

  Elle tried to remember what happened when they got back. “Oh... Ben we didn’t. Did we...?”

  “You mean you don’t remember...”

  Elle grimaced with embarrassment. She stared at him. He could not keep a straight face and burst into laughter. “Nothing happened, nothing at all.”

  “You bastard. You let me think we had sex together.”

  “I was just teasing. Do you really think I would take advantage of you like that?”

  Elle thought for a moment. “I suppose not. But how did I end up in your bed?”

  “You were sick on your bedclothes… Jane cleared up.”

  “Gross. I’m sorry.”

  “And how did I get undressed?” said Elle.

  “Jane put you to bed.”

  “So where did you sleep?”

  “The settee.”

  “I’m really sorry… I didn’t think I drank that much.”

  “You didn’t. Jane thinks those jokers spiked your drink — the ones from Eastern Europe.”

  Elle took a mouthful of the egg and pulled a face, “Do I have to eat this?”

  “It’s good for you. And get plenty of fluids in you; it will help as well. You said you like running.”

  “Yes I do.”

  “Look, I’m going to the beach to run this morning. When I get bladdered, I find a good run helps to expel the toxins from my system. You’re more than welcome to join me if you want.”

  “I would love to. But shouldn’t you be with Cindy?”

  Ben went quiet for a moment.

  “She doesn’t like running; I could do with the company.”

  “Do I need to put on the leathers?”

  “Not this time. Jane is out all day and she said I could take her car.”

  An hour later, Elle got out of the car in the car park at the coast and could immediately taste the salt in the sea air. They were both dressed for running, with shorts and vests and trainers.

  Elle found the sight of
the sea and the beach exhilarating. She remembered going to the sea with her mum and dad for the last time when she was just twelve. Soon after that her parents were killed in a motor accident and life changed in many important ways. Opportunities to go to the seaside disappeared. However, even after so long, the sense of excitement had not gone away.

  As they reached the beach, Elle could see the last of the military trucks leaving the beach a mile away down the beach. They were free to jog and look around. They walked down to the water’s edge where the sand was firmer under foot.

  “You’re not worried about the UFO?” said Elle joking.

  “I think if it was still here, the army would have found it.”

  “Perhaps it’s invisible,” said Elle. “It might materialise and take us away to perform some strange unnatural experiments on us like Richard said,” she said, poking her finger into Ben’s tummy and laughing.

  “I don’t think so. In the movies they only seem to abduct young attractive and defenceless blondes.”

  “You don’t think I’m attractive enough?” she said.

  “No, I said defenceless. I’m sure you can hold your own,” he said. “Would you like me to show you the spot where it landed?”

  She nodded.

  “Are you ready to jog? I won’t go too quickly for you.”

  “Just try to keep up with me then,” said Elle, teasing him and running off.

  Ben caught up with her. “Keep it steady and keep within your limits. I don’t want to have to carry you back.”

  Elle responded by accelerating and leaving him behind. “Elle!”

  She was laughing; she knew she could hold her own. In her school days she had been a champion sprinter, and since then she had always ensured she kept up her fitness. Ben caught up with her. “Okay, you’ve made your point. You don’t have to show me up any more.”

  “Spoil sport.”

  They continued to run until Ben decided they were there.

  “This is the spot,” said Ben. “This is where it landed.”

  Elle noticed a flash in the dunes.

  “Someone’s watching us, Ben; someone over there. I saw the sun reflecting off their glasses. Do you think it might be the Military spying on us?”

  “It might be. This is where the craft landed.”

  “Then let’s throw them off the scent.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t want them doing to me what they did to you.”

  “So what do we do?”

  She had an idea. “We could pretend we were lovers out for a walk. You could give me a big hug like they do in the movies.”

  “Just a hug? Okay; I can do that,” he said.

  She put her arms around his neck while Ben put his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around. For a second she looked into his eyes as she began to melt into his arms; her heart was pounding with excitement. Automatically she pulled his head towards hers and kissed him tenderly on the lips. Seconds later she realised what she was doing and quickly broke off the kiss.

  “What was that about?” he said, looking directly at her.

  She tried to think quickly, but her brain would not respond fast enough — she was confused. “I’m sorry; just trying to make it look realistic,” she said, trying to avoid eye contact with him. She felt guilty. The kiss was a mistake.

  Elle tried to change the subject.

  “So this is the UFO landing spot?” she said.

  She could see that he was thinking, but probably not about the landing spot.

  “Pretty much,” he said.

  “But there’s nothing here, Ben, just sand. There’s not even any footprint to show it was here,” she said, trying to talk about anything other than the kiss.

  “Perhaps it wasn’t. Perhaps I just imagined it,” he said.

  “No, I’m sure you didn’t; but perhaps not Richard’s UFO.”

  He went quiet again.

  “Shall we head back along the beach?” she said. She grabbed his arm and threaded her arm though his as they started to stroll back to the car. The sea breeze was picking up; it felt bracing and refreshing.

  “I feel good, Ben.”

  “Me too.”

  “I’m pleased you brought me here today.

  “I was coming anyway. It’s no bother.”

  “It is; you’ve been a really good friend to me.”

  “Friend?”

  “Yes friend — my best friend right now… You know what — Cindy’s a lucky girl to have you.”

  Before Ben could reply it started to rain, first a few large spots, then a deluge. They were caught in the open with nowhere to shelter.

  “Come on we’ll have to run for it,” said Elle, dashing off with Ben in pursuit after her.

  They reached the car breathless and soaked to the skin. Ben opened the door and they quickly jumped in. The rain was battering the roof of the car and the windows had steamed up. Ben started the car and they waited for the heaters to clear the windows. A few minutes later, they were on their way heading back to the flat with the windscreen wipers working overtime.

  When they reached the flat, the rain showed no signs of wanting to ease. They jumped out of the car and ran to the door. Ben fumbled with the key and dropped them on the floor. They both bent down to retrieve them bumping their heads together.

  “Ouch,” said Elle, rubbing her head.

  “I’m sorry,” said Ben, helping her up. He finally opened the door and they went into the lounge.

  “I’m absolutely soaking. Even my underwear is soaked through,” said Elle. She could feel her hair flat against her head and rivulets of water were running down her face. “I must look a mess.”

  “You look like you’ve been in one of those wet T-shirt competitions.”

  “That’s not what I wanted to hear.” She tried to cover up her breasts. “Do you think anyone saw me like this?”

  “Only me. And I’ve seen you in a lot less.”

  She looked at him and burst out laughing. He looked so comical, as though he had just been pulled out of the sea.

  “I’ve got to get out of these clothes and take a shower,” she said, as she walked towards the bathroom.

  “We could always share,” said Ben.

  She turned towards him. “In your dreams,” she said.

  “At least let me in, the bathroom.”

  “No.” She went into the bathroom and closed the door in his face. Elle stripped off her top and shorts, and threw them into the sink. Then she started to remove her underwear.

  “But I’m dripping all over the carpet out here,” said Ben.

  “You can’t come in,” she said.

  Elle turned on the shower and felt the water. It was cold.

  “It didn’t bother you in Scotland,” he said.

  “That was different.”

  “Oh come on, I’ll catch a death out here,” he said

  “What would Cindy think if she turned up?”

  There was a long pause.

  “Cindy’s gone,” he said.

  She could hear the pain in his voice. She wrapped a bath-sized towel around her and opened the door.

  “When?” she said.

  “Friday morning,” he said.

  “Why didn’t you say before?”

  “I didn’t want to talk about it.”

  “Do you want to talk about it now?”

  He nodded.

  “Okay, you better come in,” said Elle.

  He came into the bathroom and sat on the bathroom stool. “We broke up months ago,” he said.

  “But you slept with her, Ben. I could hear you; Jane could hear you; most of the university could hear you,” she said. “You must have been going at it like rabbits.”

  “It was just a silly joke. I slept on the floor.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She was just messing about. There’s this scene in a film where the actress fakes an orgasm in the middle of a restau
rant with all the quests staring at them. Well the bed squeaked, and Cindy decided to joke around just like the actress in the film. She’s always been a bit of a joker.”

  “So you’re not some kind of supper sex-god after all.”

  “I’m afraid not. Are you disappointed?”

  She gave him a fake stern look.

  “Anyway she’s on her way back to South America.”

  Elle put her hand into the shower; the water was now the right temperature. “I need to get into the shower.” She slipped out of the towel and handed it to him. “You better get out of those wet clothes too. There’s another towel on the rail.” She climbed into the shower. The steaming hot water added to the rising temperature of her body. She picked up her shampoo and started to lather her hair. “So why did she go?” said Elle.

  “She’s getting married to this Brazilian investment banker and was having second thoughts. She wanted to know if she was making the right decision… Last minute nerves I guess.”

  “I’m sorry for you,” said Elle.

  “It was really over a long time ago.”

  There was another pause.

  “What’s the water like?” he said.

  She put her head out of the shower door. “It’s fan… tastic,” she said, stopping in mid-sentence when she noticed he was completely naked. She closed the door quickly and smiled to herself.

  “Don’t be too long, I’m waiting to get in,” he said.

  “I can see that,” she said.

  She closed her eyes and let the hot water cascade over her body. She began to fantasise that he was in the shower with her touching her and caressing her body. She opened her eyes and her mind flashed back to reality. Why was he affecting her so? She could not seem to help herself around him.

  She opened the door and put out an arm. “Pass me my towel.”

  A towel materialised in her hand. She climbed out of the shower and wrapped the towel around her in one smooth movement.

  “It’s all yours,” she said.

  Ben slipped into the cubicle.

  Elle started to dry herself. Her tummy was filling with butterflies, as she imagined them having wild sex together all afternoon.