“Oh crap, and I gave him my number too. He will have gotten the wrong idea. I was too distracted thinking about Zack, I wasn’t thinking straight. I was barely even listening to him. He could have been saying anything.”
“Is it too late to get out of it? Can you cancel?”
“No, I can’t cancel. Surely he won’t think it’s a date. He said he wants to ‘catch up’, it didn’t sound like a romantic request.”
“But what if it is a date for him?”
We were both silent as we thought about my predicament. What could I do if it turned out to be a date? So much for my date-free weekend.
“Will you have your phone on you tonight?” I asked Sarah.
“Volume is set to high, I’ll wait for your ‘tea’ text.”
20
I decided to keep tonight’s outfit as casual as possible so that Oliver would not think I was making an effort for him. I wore my dark blue jeggings with my long, baggy grey jumper with silver studs on the shoulders. Nice but not too nice. Also, flat sandals. He wasn’t worth the pain of heels.
I arrived at Circle Lounge just after eight o’clock to find Oliver waiting for me at the bar.
“You look lovely,” he greeted me with another over friendly hug, “what would you like to drink?”
“Just a white wine please.”
He leaned over to the barman and ordered a large white wine and a bottle of Budweiser. I checked out what he was wearing and he was also keeping it casual with his red checked shirt, jeans and red Converse. Surely if he thought it was a date he would have made more of an effort? I think Sarah was just trying to worry me, this wasn’t a date. Once I realised that, I managed to relax. This would be a nice night.
“Why don’t we go sit upstairs out of the way?” he asked. The bar was starting to get busy but there were always tables available upstairs for those who wanted to sit and chat. We made our way up and found one in the corner where it was quiet.
“I can’t believe we have both been working at the same company and never knew,” I said, “how random is that? It’s such a big company though I suppose.”
“Well, I have a confession to make. I knew you worked there. I typed your name into the database for fun and then it appeared, so I figured I’d see you at some point.”
“You searched for my name?” Hmm, weird.
“Yea, just for fun one day.” He saw the disturbed look in my eye. “I had a really quiet morning so searched for loads of people.”
“Ok,” lets walk past this, “do you speak to anyone else from school?”
“No not anymore. It wasn’t my favourite time.” He took a long swig of his beer. “Do you still see anyone?”
“No, once we all went to college and then uni we all kind of drifted apart. I guess that’s natural.”
“You don’t still speak to Peter then?”
Peter, my high school boyfriend. We started dating when we were fifteen. He was my first love, first kiss, first everything. He was one of the best-looking guys in our year group, so I couldn’t believe it when he asked me out. He didn’t like Oliver though as he thought he fancied me and hung around me too much. Peter turned out to be a bit of a wanker in the end, but for that first year together I was besotted with him.
“No, definitely not. Last I heard he was on to this fourth fiancé, third illegitimate child and had a career selling vapour cigs in shopping centres.” I realised how judgemental that sounded. At least he was working and providing for his children, unlike some.
“You had a lucky escape then,” Oliver said, “how long did it last?”
“Just over two years, I ended it a week after my eighteenth birthday. He’d started to change the year earlier when he became obsessed with smoking weed and stopped showering. I wasn’t important anymore, and he made it clear.”
“How? Did he stop calling you?”
“No, he made it blatantly clear to my face when he told me his friends were more important than me.” It gets better. “He told me this as my eighteenth birthday party ended and we were stood outside waiting for our taxi back to his house.”
“Wow, what a birthday present.”
“Yep, ‘happy birthday, I prefer smoking weed with my pals than seeing you’, that confirmed that we were over, so I decided that was it. He was gutted of course, but it was too late.”
“Well you were too good for him anyway, I always thought so.”
“Thank you.” I smiled, although this was tinkering very close to date chat. “So, what did you do after school?”
“Not much. College. Uni. Work. The usual.” He took another swig of beer, “So, are you seeing anyone now?”
“Erm, no, not right now. Which uni did you go to?”
“So, you’re available?” he leaned in closer and looked into my eyes a bit too deeply, I could see my stunned expression reflecting back at me in his glasses. I kept my hands out of reach in case he decided to try and hold them romantically.
“Yes,” please don’t ask me on a date. Or, a second date, as you clearly intend this to be classed as a first one. “But I’m not wanting to…”
“We could go out sometime then, yes? A proper date?”
“Erm,” I quickly downed the rest of my drink, “Why don’t we have another drink?”
“Yes!” He stood up too quickly, knocking the table with his knees. “I’ll go get you one. Same again?”
“Yes, but just a small please.” I don’t intend on staying too long.
“I’ll be right back.”
He shot down the stairs as quickly as Road Runner escaping from Wile E Coyote and out of sight to the bar. I quickly pulled out my phone and typed out ‘tea’ in a message ready to send to Sarah once I saw him walking back. She was right about him. I would have to endure the ‘I told you so’ conversation when I got home.
As soon as I saw his orange head bobbing back up the stairs I hit send and then left my phone on the table. I just hope Sarah doesn’t let me down again.
“Here you go,” this small glass looked fairly large, “I know you said small, but we have loads to catch up on, so I got you a large.”
“Thank you.” I took a sip and within seconds my phone starting ringing. I was saved. “Oh, sorry, that’s my friend Sarah. I hope she’s ok.” I picked up my phone. “Hello?”
“Hello, it’s me, your house exploded.” She came out with it so quickly and unexpectedly that I had to hold in a laugh. It was a good thing Oliver couldn’t hear her over the music.
“Hi Sarah, are you ok?”
“Bing swallowed a balloon, inflated it as a result of farting and now he’s floating down the road.”
“Oh no, you’re kidding?” I tried to sound shocked and upset by what she was telling me, but she wasn’t helping me much. I had to put my hand over my mouth to hide my smile. “Do you need me to help?”
“I put rocket fuel in my car and now I’m floating around in space because I hit the accelerator instead of the brake.”
“Oh my god, I’m on my way, stay where you are.” I put my phone down and back into my bag, looking up to a very disappointed Oliver. “I’m so sorry, I have to go help my friend.” I stood up.
“What’s happened? Is she ok?”
“Yea, she erm, she…” Dammit, Sarah has filled my head with funny stories I can’t think of anything serious. “She’s had a little bump in her car. She’s ok but shaken. I’ll have to go help her out.”
“Where is she? I can drive you.”
“No! No, you stay and finish your drink, there are taxis just outside.” I grabbed my jacket. “I’ll see you later. Maybe see you at work sometime. We’ll catch up another day.”
I turned and ran before he could hug me, impersonating Road Runner myself, and was soon out the door and into the fresh air. I decided not to hang about in case he came out looking for me so found a taxi. It was still early evening so there were loads available to take me home.
The taxi had to drive by the bar to get out of town. I was expe
cting to see Oliver loitering outside looking like a lost puppy, but instead I saw Zack, making his way in among a group of friends, looking absolutely gorgeous.
21
“I told you so!” Sarah’s voice bellowed down the phone at me. I called her as soon as I walked through the door.
“I know you did.” I dropped my keys on the coffee table. “I can’t believe it. And I can’t believe I forgot what he was like in school. It’s my own fault.”
I wandered into the kitchen to grab the wine from the fridge. There was just enough left for one glass. What I wouldn’t give for James’ wine cabinet.
“What if I had been busy tonight and couldn’t call you? You’d still be stuck there with him… hello? Are you there?”
“Yes, sorry,” I was staring at Bing’s food bowl. “I don’t think Bing has been home. His food hasn’t been touched. I don’t think he was home last night either.”
“He’s been away for a few days before, hasn’t he? He’ll be fine.”
“Yea, he’ll be back when he’s plotted some evil plan to use against me. So,” I poured the wine into a glass, “when are you free? I can’t believe I haven’t seen you for so long!”
“It’ll have to be when I get back from my holiday now. We go on Wednesday.”
“I can’t believe you’re off to Crete for two weeks. How would Max feel about coming back after a week and I join you for the second week?”
“Ha-ha, I’ll let you ask him that.”
“Just don’t be falling pregnant, you’ll ruin my hen do plans.”
“Oo have you booked anything yet?” Her eyes lit up.
“Not yet, but I know what I want to happen. I just need to get the Facebook event page set up so I can get an idea on numbers coming.”
“What are you planning?”
“You’ll find out on the day!”
“You won’t be able to keep it a secret, you’ll blab!”
“I’ll try my best not to, this has to be a surprise. Anyway,” I sipped my wine. I decided to drink it slowly so it would last the rest of my night. “I’m going to go and stick a film on to watch in bed.”
“Okikoke hun, I’ll try keep in touch whilst I’m away. I’m happy to be on hand for more emergency calls if you get stuck on a disaster date.”
“Without you here to set me up on them, I don’t think I’ll be out much. Speak soon. Have a good time.”
22
The next few weeks went by rather slowly and boringly. Work was quiet, which was worrying. Without the footfall of customers then we have little chance of an increase in funds next year. There was no Zack during this time, so I had to rely on my daydreams in order to see his beautiful face. Cheryl had been on annual leave too, so I had no one to gossip with. I decided it was time to book some time off for myself, so by the time Friday came along I could relax as I would not be back here for ten days.
“What are you doing with your week off?” Sam asked as I was signing out to leave. “Are you going away?”
“No, nothing like that. Just some time to myself really.”
“Any signs of your cat yet?”
“No, still nothing.” I sighed. Bing had been gone for some time now. It was the longest he had ever been away from home. I was actually missing him which surprised me and thought the worst had happened. My brother had made up some posters for me and posted them around the neighbourhood which I thought was nice of him. I was surprised he made such an effort for the cat that pushed over his child as it was taking its first steps in my living room.
“He’s probably curled up on the lap of an old lady who has taken him in, he’ll be fine.”
“He’ll be fine, not sure about the old lady.” I put the pen back down on the signing in book. “I’ll see you later.”
As I walked out of the building, I was faced with the heat of the September sun. It was still hot and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I was suddenly in the mood to go to the pub and sit outside with a drink, but I had no one to go with. Sarah was back from her holiday but we couldn’t meet up until tomorrow. We were finally going to see each other after such a long time apart. I hope she’s brought me a present back from her holiday.
I slipped off my cardigan to try and get some sun on my pasty arms whilst I walked to my car. I had made the mistake of parking in the middle of the carpark, away from the shade, so my car would be like a furnace when I got inside.
Walking through town on a hot day like today brought out some interesting sights. Just like the rain pulled the worms out of the soil and on to the pavements, the sun pulled out all the chavs. Men, old and young, walked around topless displaying their beer bellies and faded blue tattoos. Women pushed their prams with one hand, with a fag in the other. The kids in the prams munched on sausage rolls, bored as they were being ignored but also flustered from being outside in the heat. I had only been walking around for two minutes and it was too hot for me.
My car, as expected, was bloody boiling when I sat in it. I turned on the air conditioning straight away. I was reluctant to open the windows as the last time I did, a wasp almost flew in. I don’t need that kind of trauma.
I turned off the radio and plugged in my USB. This kind of weather was meant for some old school tunes. As soon as I had Good Charlotte’s Greatest Hits playing I set off, singing loudly along with the band. My drive home usually lasted around forty minutes so I could get through the entire album.
I had my phone connected to the car via Bluetooth, so when Sarah called it interrupted me as I was singing along to ‘Girls and Boys’.
“This better be good,” I said as I answered, “you’re interrupting some amazing singing.”
“Your windscreen hasn’t cracked yet then?”
“You cheeky sod, what you up to?”
“I was calling about tomorrow.”
Please don’t cancel, I thought. I had been feeling a bit miserable lately. I’d been looking forward to our lunch date all week. I had even been checking the menu for La Luna whenever I got the chance to pick out what I was going to eat. The less time I spent looking at the menu, the more time I could spend talking to Sarah. The only people I had spoken face to face with all week were customers, and that doesn’t achieve anything more than wanting to bang my head against the wall.
“What about it?” I tried to sound casual, but there was an air of despair in my voice.
“Instead of going for lunch… how about a night out?”
“Really?” We hadn’t been on a proper night out in a long time.
“Yea, why not? The evenings are still warm and light, we could have an early bird tea like the old birds we are but then stay out drinking, last man standing, what do you think?”
Times had definitely changed. We never used to eat before a night out, which would explain why we used to have bar staff hoisting us up and off the toilet floor in Rios on a Wednesday night after too many Jägerbombs. One of us would be throwing up and the other half passed out. Oh, to be eighteen again.
“Oi, less of the ‘old’, but yeah, I’m up for that!” I turned off the main road and I was getting close to my house. “What time? Where? Give me the details, boss.”
“Well, we could still go to La Luna and then take it from there. Go to Circle Lounge, start off classy and with good intentions, but end the night at Cookies like we used to.” It’s not been a good night unless you ended up in the dive that is Cookies. With its sticky floors, cheap booze and rock music it is the perfect end to a perfect night.
I was suddenly going through my wardrobe in my head, trying to pick an outfit. I’d also need to go back to La Luna’s online menu and change my order. I don’t want to feel fat and bloated if we were going out drinking and dancing after eating.
“Let’s do it!” My mood was starting to pick up and I felt very giddy for the new plan.
I turned down my road, narrowly missing one of the neighbour’s children that decided to run out into the road without looking. The sun was still shining and I could
smell barbeques being lit from nearly every garden.
“I’ll meet you at La Luna at six, we have loads to catch up on. Right, I’ll let you get back to your singing.”
“I’m home now anyway,” I pulled into my driveway, “the world will need to be deprived of my beautiful voice until next time. I’ll see you tomorrow babe!”
“You will, see you tomorrow!”
Well, that certainly perked up my mood. I grabbed my bag and cardigan off the passenger seat and stepped out the car. I had been protected by the cool air conditioning in my little Citroen, I forgot how hot it was outside. There was no wind in my little cul-de-sac, our houses created a barrier against any kind of breeze. It would be great for sunbathing, but how often does one wear a bikini in one’s own garden?
I hope Bing is ok. He hates being out when the sun is shining. The hair on his ears is really thin so his poor ears can burn easily. I tried to put sun cream on them once, you can probably imagine how well that went down. When I walked in, I glanced at his food bowl as I had been doing every day, it was still full.
I stood in the kitchen contemplating what I could have for tea. I was debating ordering a Chinese as a treat. Enough time had now passed for me to get over my flatulence trauma, but I had actually lost half a stone since giving up the greasy goodness. My fridge was no longer filled with half empty takeaway boxes, but now contained actual food that could be cooked. On Wednesday I made a chili and there was still a small portion left. I decided to stick to my unintentional healthy eating and finish off the chili. It was surprisingly good and would have been a waste to throw away.
As I was putting it in the microwave, my phone starting buzzing. It was Dan calling me. I didn’t know whether or not to answer. I didn’t want him to think I was avoiding him, but at the same time, I was trying to avoid him.
“Hey gorgeous, long time no speak, how are you?” He said as I answered.
“Hey, I’m fine thanks. How you doing?”
“I’m pretty good, you free tomorrow night?” He sounded very relaxed and casual, more so than me.
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