Unlikely Places (6 page)

Tuesday

While staring at the computer screen, eyes glazed over
looking at a car manual text book my phone rang expecting it to be my sister
again I picked it up without looking at the caller Id.

“Hi Alex....I’ve got some info for you good news and bad I’m
afraid”.

Nick’s voice was echoing in my ear. “Really....bad news
first,  get it out the way”. My mind was buzzing expecting the worst.

“She will need to pay some fees to re-join the course, but
they are willing to give her a chance, the tutor remembers her and was
disappointed when she left he seemed to think she had real potential”.

“That’s great....she’ll be really pleased”. I was so happy
for her, I forgot the bad news.

“The tutor needs to confirm it with the department head but
he thinks it should be fine, if you give me a postal address I can send out a
letter when it’s confirmed”.

“How much will the fees be?”

“Umm that’s the bad news part it’ll cost twelve hundred, but
she should be able to apply for a student loan to pay for it”.

“That’s not too bad...so when would she start if she came
back?”

“Well the tutor said she had completed the first section so
shouldn’t need to repeat any of that, so March or April time”.

“That’s quite soon....okay I need to talk to the centre
manager to see what he thinks......thanks Nick I really appreciate your help
let me know if there’s anything I can do in return”.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?.......Why she left....I
asked one of my colleagues if they knew what happened....do you want to know?”

“Should I be worried?....Is she dangerous?”

“No....well not that I know of”.

“Then I don’t want to know....it’s private....I wouldn’t
want people snooping in to my life”.

“Fair enough...you must like her?”

“I’m not sure....I guess...I don’t even know her really just
trying to help out”.

“Okay, keep me informed so I can send out that letter”.

Reaching the hostel I felt a lot brighter than I had in a
while possibly due to the fact I had good news to deliver at least I hoped it
was good. I knocked on Mike’s office door a few seconds later he opened it
revealing Caroline Richards sat opposite his desk.

“Ah Alex perfect timing....come in“. He motioned with his
arm to a seat next to Caroline.

“Hello”. I said as I sat down.

Mike closed his door and returned to his seat behind the
desk.

“Hello Alex....how’s it going here.....any problems?”

“No...I don’t think so”. I said eyeing Mike suspiciously.

“Good...good I was just checking in with Mike about another
client and I thought I see you while I’m here”. She began placing folders back
in her briefcase. “Well I won’t keep you....get in touch if you need to....keep
up the good work”. She got up nodded to Mike and was gone.

I looked at Mike unsure what to make of the situation.

“So what can I do for you?”

“I got my friend to ask about Sam Johnson going back to
Uni....they seemed to think she could return if she wants to, the tutor
remembers her thought quite highly of her from what he said.....he said he
would get back to me about the fees if there were any?” I don’t know why I said
that, I just wanted a bit more time to think about it before telling Sam.

“Great thanks for that....we’ll wait till we hear about the
fees till we tell her I think....I don’t want to get her hopes up only for them
to be dashed”.

“Okay.....” I got up to leave him to his paperwork. “See you
later”.

I stood in the doorway reluctant to leave. “Umm Mike...do
you think she’s ready to go back to Uni?”

He looked a little shocked at my question, leaning back in
his chair he seemed to ponder my question. “Honestly...I don’t know she seems
pretty together on the outside but I am a little worried how she will react
under the pressure of University”. 

“Right....sure”. I said trying to hide my deflation.

I excused myself heading for the counter to see if Jill
wanted me to do anything, providing with a number of posters to put up on the
various notice boards. After finding a spot in the downstairs common room I
moved up stairs entering the large common room, removing some pins from the
corner of another poster I pinned it in position. Hearing footsteps behind me I
turned to see Sam wearing a black fitted t-shirt and dark jeans, she looked
slimmer in more fitted clothes, a very mischievous expression on her face as
she held a pool cue. 

“So you still wanna game?”

I smiled. “Sure....I’m probably really rusty though....it
might be a short game”.

She eyed me suspiciously. “Is this where I find out you were
the local pool champion for the last five years”.

“Well, not all five years”. I winked at her while she racks
up the balls.

Turning to see her resting her head on her arm sprawled on
the table giggling uncontrollably, my flirting was a bit rusty but I didn’t
think I was that bad.

“What’s up with you?” I asked standing next to her.

She looked up red faced and giggling eyes. “What was that?”

“What?” I was at a loss as to what I had one that was so
funny.

“Did you just try to wink at me?”

I look around concerned we were being watched or overheard.
“No....maybe?” I felt my face begin to redden. I could wink couldn’t I? Or at
least I thought I could, I couldn’t recall a reaction like this before.

“Do it again”. She managed through giggles.

“No....I don’t think so if that’s the reaction it gets”. I
felt my face getting hotter and hotter.

“I was just a bit shocked that’s all...come on do it again”.

I repeated my wink feeling I had something to prove, but
instantly regretted it as Sam’s reaction is even more raucous than before.

“I’m sorry....I’ll let you break if you like or would you
rather I did it in case you feel the need to wink and miss?” She struggled to
say through fits of laughter.

“No its fine I’ll do it”. I stropped to the end of the table
placed the cue ball in the D and fired a shot hard into the pack shattering
them around the table. Annoyingly I didn’t pot anything giving Sam the table,
she comfortably pots three balls in quick succession but misses the fourth.

I look at her shaking my head. “I think we know who the pool
shark is”.

“What?......I don’t know what you mean I’m just playing the
game”.

Leaving me a full table I considered potting several before
going for and easy corner shot which pots two by mistake, luckily they were
both mine. After failing to pot my next ball, Sam has the table again moving
swiftly she pots three more balls with ease before making the mistake of
potting one of mine. With my two shots I managed to sink three balls in quick
succession, leaving us even with one ball and the black. Still in control of
the table I managed to hit a long shot doubling my last ball in a corner
pocket. Catching Sam’s eye she looked impressed by my play but her face quickly
turned to a frown when she realised her situation as I leaned down to aim my
shot on the black gently nudging it towards a corner pocket.

The black ball sank in the pocket, much to my surprise let
alone Sam’s, I turned to see her face in an expression of disbelief. “I think
they call that Karma....all that talk of winking has come back to bite you in
the ass”. I softy placed the pool cue down on the table near the cushion. “Let
that be a lesson to you”.

I walked away feeling elated at my win grabbing the remaining
posters I headed for the notice boards on the next two floors. As I pinned my
last one on the top floor, I heard the door behind me open, I turned to see a
smiling Sam.

“Hey pool shark....I think I need a re-match”.

“Really?.....do you want to lose again?”

“Only if you wink at me again....was that your
plan?.....Distraction?”

I smiled. “Now you’re just being rude.....I can’t help it if
I’m challenged...it’s an affliction”.

“Is that why you’re on community service....for winking at
too many people....causing havoc on the streets of Sheffield?”

Struggling to suppress a giggle I continued to pin up the
poster. “Is that how you talk to afflicted people....it sounds like you might
be a poor loser...I’d better let you practice for a day and we’ll have a rematch
on Thursday if you’re free?”

Her smile travels all the way up to her beautiful green
eyes, struggling to tear myself away I stab my finger with the drawing pin to
bring me to my senses. Jumping at the pain as Sam refocuses her attention on my
hands.

“What’s up?......Don’t try and make out your injured
hindering your pool play”.

“No no don’t worry I’ll play regardless of my afflictions”.

“Okay.....Thursday it is I’ll be ready”. Smiling she
disappeared by the same door leaving me to finish my postering.

Thursday  

On arrival at the hostel Mike discretely informs me of the
various new residents in the dorms giving me a brief rundown of their
backgrounds. My pool opposition was waiting for me as I finished my
conversation with Mike.

As we make our way up to the common room I ask what she has
been up to the last few days.

“Well apart from practicing my pool skills, I worked out in
the gym and went into town with Jo”.

“So what do you do when you’re not here?” She asked looking
at me sideways.

“I work from home on a computer mainly, my sister and her
husband have a small publishing company, I do some of the layout work putting
the books together, it’s a bit boring but I get to work my own hours”.

Reaching the common room I opened the door to let Sam enter
first, she smiled as she walked by.

“Is that why you don’t get out much?”

“Probably and the fact I’m not really a people person”.

She smiled watching me as I walked around the table to fetch
the chalk. “What else do you do?”

“Not much....I watch a lot of films I guess”. All too aware
of my reclusive lifestyle. 

“What sort of films do you like?” She asked as she retrieved
the white ball.

“I quite like science fiction because they’re really visual,
I invested in a big screen TV a few months ago to watch them on, but I like
lots of different films”. I felt a bit bad talking about my home comforts
knowing Sam had very few.

“What about you?....What films do you like?”

She moved next to me leaning on the end of the table eyeing
me curiously. “Umm have you seen ‘High Art’?”

I smiled immediately realising my cover was blown. “Yes I
have....I really like that film”.

Walking around the table to break the pack she innocently
remarks. “I thought my gaydar was correct the first time we met”. 

“Me too”. I said a little less innocently, catching her eye
as she moved around the table making her smile.

She potted a ball off the break and continues to work her
way round the table potting balls along the way. 

“What makes you think you’re not a people person?”

It’s my turn on the table, I gently pot one in the middle
letting it run on to the end for a corner pot only to miss it. “I don’t like
being in big crowds I prefer my own company I guess”.

“Don’t you have a girlfriend?”

Whoa she’s very confident. “No.....not for a while....you?”
I asked openly, hoping for the same response.

“No”. She quickly dismissed the question, watching me as I
move around the table giving her access to the cue ball. “You’re a bit of an
enigma aren’t you?”

I frown as she decides on her shot. “What do you mean?”

“Well....you’re on community service and I don’t know
why-yet?....Then there’s the fact that you’re obviously not a mental case but
you haven’t had a girlfriend in a while despite being...well...cute?”

I was embarrassed by her complement almost as much as she
was, I wanted to tell her about my dodgy past but felt it was too soon. I was
enjoying our banter I didn’t want to ruin it with talk of temporary insanity.

“Sorry.....have I made you uncomfortable?” She said grinning
knowing full well she had, her blush was already gone unlike mine burning like
a beacon.

“Is this how you plan to win?....With dirty tactics?” I said
smiling.

“I wasn’t me who winked me into distraction last time”.

I snorted. “Careful how you say that.....anyway I could say
the same about you?”

I could feel her green eyes boring in to me as I bent down
to play my shot, I figured it was time to change the subject before it got in
too messy.

“So do you watch many films?” I enquired without realising
there probably wasn’t anywhere to watch them.

“I haven’t been to the cinema for a while but I do enjoy
watching a good movie.....maybe you could lend me something form your
collection......is there anything you recommend?”

I moved a little closer to prevent anyone else from
listening. “I’ve got a few gay films you might like”. Feeling a bit like a drug
dealer secretly offering my wares.

Her face brightened at my suggestion. “Yeah....not porn are
they?” She giggled at my shocked expression.

“No No...umm what about....‘Imagine Me and
You’....or....’Kiss Me’...”

“Are we still talking about films?”

My stunned expression must have said it all as she quickly
reigned it in focusing on the pool table, although she didn’t bother to hide
the slight grin that appeared on her face.  

“I’ve heard of ‘Kiss Me’ it’s foreign isn’t it?”

“Yeah.....it’s really good though...or don’t you like
foreign films?” Realising a large proportion of my DVD collection were in a
variety foreign languages.

“I do I just can’t watch them all the time....I could borrow
a laptop from Mike to watch them on”.

“I can bring them in next time I’m here if you like?”

“Okay...thanks I’d like that”.

All that talk had distracted me into losing, as the black
fell into the top corner pocket I pouted at her as she stood up from making her
shot giving me a semi-innocent look.

“Guess that makes us even”.

“For now”. I said putting the cue back on the table. I
walked away with the sound of Sam’s subtle laughter ringing in my ears.