by Dee Palmer
“I have to get to work my shift starts soon!” I rush to announce as if this revelation will save me from this excruciating encounter. It’s not a lie, but I could have stayed a little longer if I wanted; I don’t. I step away and feel the sudden loss of heat. I have to lean awkwardly around an immovable Daniel Stone to place my coffee cup down. Only when I am safely on the other side do I release the breath I had been holding. I risk a look back into the room through the small window in the door. There are several groups of people now, but undoubtedly most eyes are fixed on the mountain of a man next the Mr. Wilson, his eyes are however, undeniably fixed on me.
“So?” Sofia leaves a long dramatic pause. “How was your first day? Did you make any friends? Did the other children play nice?” She is carrying a bottle of white wine and two glasses from downstairs and flops into the armchair opposite me. I am curled up in a ball wrapped head to toe in blankie.
“Pour first.” I instruct pointing at the empty glasses.
“It couldn’t have been that bad; you didn’t even have any lectures did you?” She passes me a very full glass.
“Urghhh.” I take a large gulp, this is not going to touch the sides. “I think I’ve been rumbled.”
Sofia laughs then stops. “You’re serious? How?”
“Some guy at the gathering, a ‘Friend of the University’ they’ve roped into to giving some free lectures, flat out told me I was lying in front of my course leader.”
“What? Oh my God, Bets. What did you do? What did Mr. What’s-His-Name say?”
“Mr. Wilson, well he didn’t say anything, he didn’t actually hear, this guy whispered it in my ear.” I get a shiver as I say this, like I can still feel his breath skim my skin. I can feel my face heat and I quickly down the rest of my glass.
“Oh my… Miss Thorne, I do believe you’re blushing.” She giggles.
“I know! What is that about? Some random hot guy whispers in my ear and I light up like a red light district. They all swear like sailors in the kitchen and the topics they share, well it’s no holds barred most of the time and not a hint of colour!” I am just as shocked.
“Hot guy?” She hums with excitement.
“Oh yes.” I swallow. “Did I not mention that he was off the charts, hot as hell? And he knows, I don’t know what he knows, but he knows I’m lying.” I’m frowning now and waving to get more wine. Sofia leans forward and tops up my glass. I take a smaller sip this time. “Oh God, I can’t lose this place, Sofs.” I drop my head in my one free hand.
“Random guy, you say, so he is not on the staff?” She muses.
“No.” I like where she’s going with her thinking.
“And you didn’t confirm he was right?”
“No.”
“And your Mr. What’s-His-Name didn’t hear?” Her lips begin to curl in a reassuring way.
“Mr. Wilson and no.” I mirror her pleasing smile.
“So then there is nothing to actually worry about, nothing material has changed here, so don’t worry. Nothing will come of this I promise, other than me laughing at you for actually blushing over some ‘random hot guy’.” She moves to sit next to me and nudges my arm not quite spilling my drink. I think about what she’s said.
“You are right, he’s not staff and not a student. I probably won’t even see him again.” I take a satisfying sip to drain my glass,
