The Girl Before Eve

by Lisa J. Hobman

  He was tall and had dark floppy hair back then. His chocolate brown eyes sparkled when he spoke and his full lips were so kissable. He had saved up and bought a set of weights, which he used religiously. She used to laugh at him and call him vain. At first. But other girls started to notice.

  Looking back, she couldn’t quite put her finger on when she actually fell for him, but she could remember the day she realised that it had happened. It was the day they had played tennis at the local outdoor courts. He had overheated and removed his T-shirt…

  ♥♥♥

  July 1998 – Jedburgh

  “Forty thirty!” Adam huffed as he pulled his black Pearl Jam T-shirt over his head and tucked it into his belt. In doing so, he exposed a broad chest and shapely biceps. His abdomen was sculpted and almost every muscle was visible under his tight, olive skin. He bent to rest his hands on his knees.

  Lily may have been losing, but she was putting up a good fight. She was thankful that she’d put her shorts and a tank top on, as the summer heat was almost unbearable. Sweat ran down her spine, and she pulled up her hair into a scruffy knot on top of her head, securing it with a band she carried around her wrist.

  Lily panted. “Well, that last ball was out as far as I’m concerned.”

  “It was not!” Adam’s voice rose an octave. “You’re just a sore loser.”

  “Ha! Says the man who emptied a bag of cheese puffs over my head when I beat him at gin-rummy!”

  Adam straightened and pointed his racket at her. “That was an accident and you know it.”

  Lily huffed. “Accident-schmaccident. You don’t accidentally do something like empty a whole bag of snacks on someone’s head! If it’s an accident you stop when you realise! I wouldn’t mind but I’d only just washed my hair and the crumbs made it all greasy.” She pretended to sulk.

  Adam bent double again but this time it was through laughing. “Yeah…you smelled pretty bad too. You came close to getting a new nickname from that incident. Well…I say pretty close…Cheesy.”

  That was it. She decided to seek revenge and there was no time like the present. Dropping her racket, she set off running toward him at full pelt, and before he could protest or get out of the way, she launched herself onto his back.

  “Time to pay, Adders.” She clung onto his body with her thighs.

  “What are you doing?” He gasped in between loud guffaws. Spinning around, he tried to release himself from her grasp. His laughter caused him the weakness she needed to finish him off and so the struggle ensued. “God, you have the thighs of bloody She-Ra!”

  “And don’t you forget it. Maybe you’ll think twice about pouring snacks on my head in future, eh?” She squeezed him, making him cough.

  “Gerroff me, you loony!” He struggled, still laughing, but she was relentless in her attack, and he stumbled toward the grass at the edge of the court. He slumped to his knees and then onto his stomach. Lily fell flat on top of his back still holding on.

  It was then she began the tickling. “Do you surrender?” she asked as her fingers dug into his sensitive ribs.

  He squealed in a high-pitched, girly voice. “Never!” And so she continued her revenge assault. “Get off, Lily! Pleeeease! I’ll pee in my boxers!”

  Out of breath, she finally stopped, and he rolled onto his back. His chest heaved as she laid half on and half off of him, her hands flat on his toned, bare, glistening chest. She locked her eyes on his and suddenly felt trapped in his melted chocolate gaze. Her smile disappeared. His smile faded too as he stared up at her and his hold on her upper arm tightened slightly. His heart pounded underneath her fingertips. His cologne, mixed with the manly scent from his damp body, infused her nostrils and her heart rate accelerated. God, he was stunning. She inhaled sharply at the realisation, and heat rose in her cheeks. He frowned and opened his mouth to speak, but she broke the spell.

  Clambering to her feet and turning away from him, she spoke as breezily as she could. “Come on. We need to get going. I think we can safely say that you won.” She turned to where Adam still laid on his back, propped up on his elbows, brow furrowed and looking confused. “Adders! Come on!” She feigned frustration and made her way out of the tennis court.

  Back at home, after they had parted at the end of her street, neither willing to discuss the moment they had shared, Lily went straight to her room and sat on her bed. With her head in her hands, she recalled his toned body and his smell. Oh shit. Not Adam. Please not Adam. She sent up a silent prayer to God, willing her feelings to revert back to the norm she was used to.

  She had never really had a first love—until now—she’d had several boyfriends but none of the heartbreaks had been that serious. She always made them out to be worse than they were simply because she liked the attention she got when Adam thought she had been wronged in some way. Now the pieces had clicked into place. Now she understood why his attention had always meant so much. He was the reason. He was the one she was in love with. Please let it be a phase. Please. Just a phase…please?

  Neither broached the subject after that. Things did go back to normal, whatever normal was. It turns out that God had more pressing issues to deal with, and so to Lily, normal became loving Adam from afar.

  It seemed that Adam’s normal was playing tennis and dating girls, lots of girls. How different one person’s normal can be from another’s.

  Chapter Three

  Adam and Eve (Paul Anka)

  October 1998 - Edinburgh University

  Unwilling to be apart from each other, Adam and Lily had applied to the same universities and when they had both been accepted at Edinburgh—Journalism for Lily and English for Adam—they had been overjoyed and had gotten a little drunk to celebrate. It was just a continuation of life as they knew it. Always together, never apart.

  Edinburgh University had been the first choice for both Adam and Lily for several reasons. First of all, it wasn’t a million miles away from home in the Scottish Borders. Second of all, it was the most amazingly bright and culturally varied place making it exciting to spend time there. The atmosphere was electric and the history was enough to keep even the most enquiring minds sated. The multi-coloured buildings of Grassmarket’s curved street brought a smile even on a dull day, and the multitude of bars and restaurants meant that even a student’s meagre purse was not negated.

  Another attraction for the pair was The Fringe Festival that took place annually in the month of August right in the city centre. It was such a blast with comedians and street performers taking over every available inch of the Royal Mile and every venue with a room to spare. The place came alive with laughter, fancy costumes, and vivid colours. Myriad aromas wafted through the air from vending carts, tantalising the taste buds, and a wide variety of music vied for the attention of each person’s auditory senses. A person could walk down the street and be accosted by all manner of characters, wielding leaflets and free tickets, trying to entice you in to see their shows. Both Adam and Lily made the trip up to the capital every year, together. When they were younger they would travel to the festival with their parents, but once they got older, they would travel by themselves, feeling very grown up and independent.

  Although they had spent many Christmas shopping trips in Scotland’s capital, both Lily and Adam never failed to be overwhelmed by the stunning stonework as they gazed upward. The Scott monument stood in its proud position overlooking the main shopping thoroughfare of Princes Street. The imposing castle, high on its rocky precipice, peered out over the city below. History and hidden stories from days past oozed from the very mortar of the churches and tenements in the Old Town area. Edinburgh truly was a spectacular city and the decision to study there had been made with very little trepidation.

  Their first day on campus had the butterflies on edge for every new student. Lily and Adam were no different. First day nerves were a certainty. But the excitement was what got the adrenalin pumping. This was the start of life as an adult; the first day of the rest of
their lives.

  “I can’t believe we’re finally here, Adders!” Lily twirled around, arms spread, and head back with her long chocolate waves following like streamers, as they took in the centre quadrangle of the Old College. They had been taking the self-guided tour of the campus and had stopped on the grass to take a break and grab a quick drink of water. The sun was surprisingly warm for the time of year, and its presence, hung low in the autumn sky, cast a golden glow over everything, giving an ethereal quality to the old architecture.

  “Yup, it’s pretty spectacular, eh?” Adam laughed watching his best friend collapse dizzily in a heap next to him. “Bit of a change from high school that’s for sure.”

  Lily stood again. “You’re not kidding. I’m looking forward to being treated like an adult,” she stated as she began to spin around again with her eyes closed.

  Adam burst out laughing. “Yeah…because that’s what you are, eh? An adult!”

  Lily stuck her tongue out at him and plopped herself down beside him again. “Durrr, I’m officially over eighteen, so yes. Are you happy you decided to live in halls for the first year?” They had several options, from renting a place, to driving in every day, to living in halls. They had both chosen the latter.

  “Yeah. I think it will be much better to get the whole university experience,” Adam replied thoughtfully, pulling at blades of grass and throwing them at her.

  “Yeah right, that’s the reason.” Lily rolled her eyes. “I think what you mean is that we’re out from under our parents scrutinising gaze, and what they don’t know can’t hurt them.” She pulled a chunk of grass, and threw it back at Adam in retaliation.

  He laughed heartily. “Oh yeah, that’s what I meant. Seriously though, I think it’ll be cool.”

  “I reckon so. And we’re close enough by so that if you need me for anything—”

  “If I need you for anything? Don’t you mean that the other way around? You’re the one who’s always forgetting shit. I can see it now. Ooh Adders, I’ve run out of coffee…ooh Adders, I can’t find my textbook on the Principals and Practises of Investigative Journalism… Oooh Adders, my boyfriend has dumped me because I’m still in love with Chris Cornell from Soundgarden. If I need you, pah!”

  She hit him playfully with her satchel. “Bloody cheek. The only part of that likely to come true is the last part. I only have eyes for Chris Cornell. God, he’s so sexy.” She threw herself backwards onto the grass swooning and feigning a black out.

  He smirked. “Yeah, well you ain’t likely to bump into him here, so get over it…Cheesy.”

  At that, she sat bolt upright and pursed her lips. He readied himself in case she decided to launch another attack, but instead she stood up, huffed and stormed off.

  “Oy! Lil! Come back, you muppet!” He ran after her. And so was laid the foundation of their time at university…

  ♥♥♥

  October 2000 – Edinburgh University

  The first two years at university had Lily and Adam forging many new friendships and making the most of the social aspects of the wonderful city of Edinburgh. Both had found part time jobs in local bars and still managed to spend time together in between. Summers and Christmas holidays were spent at home with their families, and two years on, half way through their respective courses, things were going well. The summer of 2000 had seen a group holiday to the Spanish resort of Magaluf, where they had over indulged in alcohol and raising hell like normal twenty-years-olds. But as always, the time was coming around for uni to be back in session again.

  The two friends had moved into a shared house after their first year in halls, and they arrived back just before their next term was due to start. The first week of lectures came around quickly. They had met up to walk in together, and had made plans to meet for lunch so they could regale each other with tales of their first encounters with new lecturers. Lily had talked non-stop about the fact that one of her lecturers for this year had worked all over the world for The Times and she was so excited to meet him.

  The refectory was buzzing with the hum of myriad conversations going on simultaneously. Adam arrived first and grabbed himself a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich and a coffee. He bought a coffee for Lily, knowing she would no doubt be too excited to eat—as was usually the case when she was enthusiastic about something. He found an empty table, and whilst he waited, he went over his notes from his first lecture of the day. He had thoroughly enjoyed listening to Marcus Foreman, his knowledgeable tutor, and knew from the start this was going to be his favourite lesson of the academic year. He glanced up just as Lily approached his table. A big, mischievous grin spread over her face. He knew that look all too well. She was closely followed by someone he couldn’t quite see, as whomever it was hung back.

  Lily was finding something very amusing. “Adders! You’re not going to believe this!” She pulled the person who had been walking with her around to her side. “Adam…this is Eve! Ha ha! Adam and Eve.” She playfully gestured back and forth between the two.

  He smirked as his gaze moved up to meet the person in question. He swallowed hard and stared. Just stared. Eventually when he snapped out of his stupor he realised the girl, whom he had been informed was called Eve, was blushing profusely.

  “Sorry…sorry…I…I was just eating my sandwich.” Smooth, Adam, very smooth. He stood, wiped his hand down his jeans, and held it toward her. The whole situation had seemed to take forever, and he felt very, very stupid. “Ahem…I’m Adam… Oh, but Lil already said that.” His cheeks heated as the girl took his hand to shake it.

  “Hi, Adam. I’m Eve…obviously.” She giggled. “For some reason that’s a sentence I never thought I would be saying.”

  He decided then and there that she had the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. Her hair was long, thick, and golden blonde, and her eyes were a vivid sky blue. She had a lovely figure, curvy like a girl should be, not skinny. Her skin was flawless. He lost the ability to speak again and had reverted back to staring.

  “Good grief, Adders, put your tongue away.” Lily snorted derisively.

  Realising he had been staring again, he sat. “Are you girls going to join me? Lil, I got you a coffee.”

  Eve nodded and sat in the seat next to him. “Thanks Adam, that’d be great. I’ve only just transferred in, and it’s all a bit strange right now. Lily is the first person I’ve really spoken to.”

  Lily grabbed her coffee from him. “Cheers, Adders.” She slumped into the seat next to Eve.

  “It’s a nice friendly place, so you should find you settle in quickly,” he reassured Eve. She smiled warmly and nodded. “So what brings you to Forrest Hill?”

  “Oh, I was studying down in England, but my Dad has been ill, and so I applied for a transfer nearer to home. I can get back easier from here…not easy…but easier, at least.”

  “Oh right… Sorry, I must seem really nosey.” His cheeks heated.

  “No, no that’s fine.” She smiled.

  They chatted through lunch about their respective courses and the lecturers they had all experienced that morning. It turned out they were all free for the rest of the afternoon, which pleased Adam to no end. “Hey, Lil, seeing as she missed it, we could take Eve on the tour that we did when we started here,” Adam suggested eagerly.

  Lily shook her head. “Oh, I can’t…I have to…go…and get some books… Yes, there’s a book I need, and I need to go get it today.”

  Eve turned to Lily. “Isn’t there a book shop on campus? I’m sure I saw a sign—”

  “Oh yes,” Lily interrupted. “I’ve tried there. I really need to go into town to Blackwell’s. You two go on the tour though.”

  “Nah, we’ll go when you get back. It’s fine,” Adam said.

  “No, don’t be daft. You should go. Show Eve the delights of Forrest Hill.” She smiled. Adam knew there was no way Lily could have missed his reaction to their new friend. She appeared to be giving him an opportunity to get to know Eve alone. He’d have to th
ank her later. Seriously, he owed her one for this.

  “Okay, great. What do you say, Eve?”

  A blush spread from Eve’s neck up to her cheeks, and she nodded shyly. “Thanks, Adam. That would be great.” His heart swelled in his chest. She was so sweet.

  ♥♥♥

  After waving Lily off, Adam and Eve set off on the tour. Adam thought Lily had seemed distracted by something. Perhaps her concerns about not finding the right book were playing on her mind. He would make a point of chatting to her about it later.

  “So, where are you from, Eve?” he asked as they strolled around the large campus, weaving in and out of the other students.

  “I’m from Skye. I was born and brought up in a village north of Portree.”

  “Oh it’s a beautiful place, Skye. I went there on holiday with my parents and my brother when I was little.”

  “Yes it’s stunning. It’s completely different to here though. I’ve been living down in England for two academic years, but even after all this time living away from home, I still feel a little like a fish out of water when I come back to uni…a country girl in the big city and all that.” A wistful look washed over her face. “The views from home are stunning. I can see the tops of the Old Man of Storr from my bedroom if I stand on my tiptoes. I kind of miss that already.”

  “Oh yes, I remember that place. It’s quite spectacular. Out of interest, why is it called the Old Man of Storr?”

  She smiled. “It’s simply because people think that the rock formation looks like an old man.” She giggled.

  “Really? Oh, I’d never really thought about that to be honest. I’ll have to look it up and see.”

  She looked down to her feet. “I feel quite homesick… Well, I did until I met Lily and you.” She tucked a golden strand of hair behind her ear and the pink hue rose in her cheeks again.