Getting a Life (4 page)

It was a restless night. It was freezing cold in the bedroom. Jo always thought it was healthy to sleep in a cold room but by three o'clock in the morning, she decided it was sheer stupidity and switched on some heating. She then fell deeply asleep and didn't wake until eight-thirty.

'Help,' she squeaked. Just when she wanted to look nice for Mike at college that afternoon, she woke late and had to rush. She showered in seconds, made some coffee and still just made it to her lecture by nine-fifteen.

When Mike arrived, along with several others in her class, she felt her heart leaping again. He was still as handsome as she remembered, clad in his leather top and jeans that had certainly seen better days. She delivered her class and set them all tasks to work on. Her heart beating faster than she was used to, she stopped beside him.

'Hi,' she said softly.

'Hi yourself. You look nice.'

'Not sure why. I dressed in seconds this morning. Sorry, I mustn't chat like this to you. I'll see you afterwards?'

'Okay. Sounds good.'

When the class finally reached its end, she made her final speech.

'There is only one more week before we break for the Christmas holiday. Make sure you bring everything won't you? I need your course work in next week. Thanks.'

The usual buzz went on in the room and soon, she was left with Mike. He picked up his leather jacket and hooked it over his shoulder.

'Shall we get a drink in the café?' he asked her.

'Okay. I'll just switch off everything and I'll be with you.'

They went to the main café, now full of students.

'Is there a table anywhere?' he asked.

'I'll go and look. I think there's one in the corner.'

'I'll go for coffees if you can grab it.'

'Sorry about last night,' he said when he arrived. I thought I was going to be free but a late call came in.'

'I was disappointed. Where did you go?

'Oh just out. I really don't want to talk about it.'

'Why do you really do it? Be an escort, I mean?'

'Why did you book an escort?'

'Because I didn't want my friends to know I don't have a boyfriend. Not a real one, I mean.' She blushed as she spoke. It seemed such a shameful thing to have to admit.

'So, there you have it. That's why I do the job. There are lots of female escorts on the agency's books, too. So it isn't just females who don't like going to functions on their own. I need to earn some extra money and this is one way to do it. I don't understand why you haven't got a whole swarm of men in tow.'

'Probably because I'm too fussy. And I'm quite brainy. Men don't like that. If I know more than they do, they soon get bored. Emasculated or something.'

To her surprise he laughed like mad. She felt annoyed. What had she said that was funny?

'An intelligent woman is a delight,' he said. 'You wouldn't believe how difficult it is to look interested when some woman drones on about clothes or make up. Honestly, they do. They seem to think I'm actually interested in what they bought in the town or how long it took to change their hair colour.'

'I have the same problem with my female colleagues. I'm boring, because I love my work and if I talk about it outside the college, I'm booed.'

'I can understand that. Typical of the world really. It's quite tough being a mature student. Most of the rest of the groups are rather young. I have to make it work though, for my family's sake.'

'Why?'

'We have a family business. Small manufacturing ... electronic components. My father runs it and my sister and I both work there. We need to develop various new projects. I'm also updating various systems and it appears that I need to have a recognised, formal qualification. Meantime, I also need to earn extra money.'

She listened to his story. He must work very long hours, trying to fit in his college stuff and everything.

'I'm really sorry,' she told him. 'I never should never have gone on nattering for so long.'

''Nonsense. I'm enjoying the conversation.'

'I don't know how we're going to manage to form any sort of relationship with all you have to do,' she said.

'Won't be easy,' he smiled.

'You mean, you actually, want to ...? Great.' She sat blushing.

'Jo ... sorry, Joanne,' he began. She remembered her decision.

'Jo will do just fine,' she said with a smile.

'Jo, then. You must stop putting yourself down so much. Get yourself a life. Go out with people ... other men. You're a gorgeous, sexy woman. You have a good wit and excellent conversation skills.' She finally blushed as if there were no tomorrow.

'And I'm good with animals and hate small children,' she added frivolously. 'None of it comes naturally to me. You are perfectly charming to everyone.'

'There you go. You have to learn to accept compliments. I really mean what I say. The charm is purely a role I play.'

'I don't believe that, not one bit of it.

'Do you fancy a film?' he asked suddenly. 'There are one or two I'd like to see, if you're in the mood.'

'Why not?' she agreed.

They went to the little town's one and only cinema. She was actually surprised to discover that there were several theatres within the building and several films were on offer. Just shows how stupid and out of touch I am, she was thinking.

'Our own little multiplex,' she murmured.

'Mini-plex, more like,' he laughed.

It was a pretty bad film but sitting so close to him, she felt slightly unnerved. She kept wanting to touch him. To feel his arm round her, like the couple in front of them. She left her hand lying casually on her lap, near to his. What a kid she was. He bumped into it at one point and looked at her. He smiled and joy of joys, he picked it up and gently pressed his lips to her fingers. She felt such a rush of whatever it was, she nearly burst with pleasure. She smiled in the darkness and squeezed his hand back. She'd never dare tell anyone about how she felt. Most twelve year olds today, had already experienced the sort of emotions she was going through. If only she wasn't so pathetic. She had honestly, never felt such pleasure in touching another human being. Of course she had touched other people ... kissed friends and colleagues but never had this sort of reaction. Did love at first sight have a grain of truth? But even if it did, she'd certainly seen Mike for several months, at college. He was one of her students, after all. Had she felt attracted to him at any other time? She couldn't remember anything. But, her mind was always focussed at college. And there was the small matter of a dozen or more other students in the room.

She could hardly wait for the film to end.

'Shall we have a drink and something to eat?' Mike asked as they left the cinema. His hand was tucked under her arm. Just as it had been on that Friday at the dance.

'Hallo you two,' came a voice from behind them. Joanne swung round.

'Oh, Trisha. Dave. How are you?'

'Fine. Rotten film wasn't it?'

'Seen better,' they all agreed.

'Fancy coming for a swift drink?' Dave asked.

'I don't really think I want one,' she replied. 'We're going home for a coffee.'

'And something else no doubt' she laughed. Joanne looked at Mike and they both smiled. 'Okay. Enough said. See you tomorrow.'

'Sorry to deprive you but I didn't want to get into a long discussion about where we'd met. Hope you didn't mind too much.'

'Not at all. I mustn't be too late though. Early start tomorrow.'

'Know the feeling,' she sympathised. 'We've only got a week more to go before the Christmas break'

'About the New Year's Eve party. I meant it when I asked you to come with me. No strings of course.'

'Thanks. I'd like that,' she replied, a warm glow sweeping over her. Something to look forward to. A family party. It could never be like one of her family's parties. No Aunty Ethel singing her heart out with some ancient old crone called Sally, living in an Alley.

'It will be quite a large party, probably in the village hall. It's a reunion to celebrate the Australian contingent's visit. Can't think why they want to come to the UK in the middle of winter.'

'What should I wear?' she asked in sudden horror. She didn't fancy going through the pain of buying another dress she'd only wear once.

'Would you wear that glorious silvery thing again? I loved it. You'll have the entire male membership of the family ogling you. But I'd actually rather like that.'

'OK. If it you think it's suitable.' she smirked inwardly. It all sounded very promising.

They swapped notes on their respective prospects for Christmas itself. She told him how duty bound, she felt, being at home and suffering from terminal boredom. Same old jokes about the turkey. Same old routine with crackers, unfunny mottoes and paper hats.

'Sounds quite peaceful compared with my lot. I get nearly demented with my brother and sister's kids. They seem to go to bed at midnight and be up again by about three. I did think of bailing out and going away somewhere. But that's not much fun on your own.' Mike looked thoughtful.

The idea hit her at almost the same moment as the words were streaming out in full flow.

'You could always come home with me and help save my life,' she blurted out.

'Er ...' he mumbled, looking shocked. Bad idea, she thought.

'Sorry. I shouldn't have said that. It came out before I thought. Of course you wouldn't want to spend a totally boring time with my parents. In any case, my mother would expect us to announce our wedding day before the roast potatoes were dished out.'

'Wedding day? Heavens no. Can I think about it?' he asked. 'If it was a serious invitation, I mean?'

'I was half joking,' she responded, her jaw still somewhere down on her chest. 'You don't have to think about it. I wasn't really serious,' she added lamely. Poor bloke was obviously totally embarrassed. She'd put him in a real spot, now.

'I ... well, I'd quite like to come with you. Trouble is, I'm working on Christmas Eve and won't be free to leave until Christmas morning.'

'Please don't worry. I was only ... well... thinking how nice it would be to have something to look forward to. Forget I said anything. Please, just forget it.'

Back at home, she made two mugs of coffee and started to chat about any irrelevancies she could think of. She felt acutely embarrassed and just wanted him to go. Why did she seem to spend half her life wanting something to happen and when it did, she couldn't wait for it to be over? As she showed him to the door, he caught her hand. He pulled her towards him and wrapped his arms round her. She waited with her eyes closed for the kiss that she knew was coming. So incredibly gently, his lips touched hers. She waited for the world to begin turning again and held her breath. The gentleness gave way to a firmer, more insistent pressure and she responded. At this moment in her life, she knew she'd fallen in love. Whatever he'd said about her not being serious about him, she had fallen in love. She could feel his warm breath on her cheek. She could feel his heart beating against her body. She could sense his blood as it coursed through his veins. She wanted it to go on for ever. She clung to him as if trying to pull his very essence of life into hers. She released his lips briefly, intending to take a much needed breath. He gasped and pulled her back. Obviously, he was feeling something of the same intensity as she was. She lost track of time as they stood, cramped in her tiny hallway. When he stopped for breath a second time, he murmured in her ear.

'I think I should stop kissing you now, or I may never be able to stop.'

'Fine by me,' she said, pulling him back. His body scent filled her nostrils, bringing with it, a whole new flood of desire.

'Jo, I have to leave. This is too fast for both of us. Don't let's spoil anything.'

'I'm sorry.'

'Hey, don't look like that,' he laughed. 'I'm saying, don't let's rush things. I'm sorry but I can't ... I must go now. It's late.'

After he'd left, she leaned against the door feeling like a love sick adolescent. At last, she really did have someone special in her life. If Trisha plagued her with questions, there was something to talk about. Really something.

The final days of term passed in such a whirl of activity that she hardly had time to think. When they finished, she realised she hadn't heard anything at all from Mike. He hadn't even been to college that final day. She hoped nothing had gone wrong or worse still, that she hadn't been dreaming at the weekend. After the inevitable last evening of drinks at the pub, the gang were swapping details of the joys of the coming Christmas. It seemed that every single member of the group was dreading the prospect.

'Why don't we abandon all our plans and just get together for a booze up?' one of the blokes suggested.

It occurred to her that if everyone hates it as much as they say, why does everyone make such an effort? They all claimed to love their families, yet dreaded spending time with them over Christmas. Maybe it was the inevitability of everything that dampens the spirits. On the other hand, she'd heard nothing at all from Mike. It had been one of her very worst ideas, ever to invite him to join her family.

'So,' Trisha was saying. 'Is he coming home with you?'

'Who?'

'Who do you think? The gorgeous Mike, of course.'

'I'm not sure. He has things to sort out and a large family to organise.' Joanne was blushing hard, she knew it. Obviously, Trisha had successfully read her thoughts during the temporary detachment of her body from her brain.

'What's the family got to with anything?' she asked. 'If he loves you he'll be with you, won't he?'

'I suppose so.' To her great relief, she let the subject drop and concentrated on another bottle of wine. After a curry and calls of 'have a good one,' Joanne finally arrived home just after ten. She glanced at the machine and the light was flashing to indicate a message. Her knees went weak as she sensed it would be Mike calling. He said it was seven o'clock as he called and was she free for the evening? Typical. The next message was left at nine and a third at ten. She must just have missed that one. Unfortunately, he left no real message, so she was left wondering. She dialled his number. The sound of his voice set her heart pounding.