Short Story > Rocket Science

Three years later and another hangover. The bed creaked beneath me and I felt an arm encircle me. I opened my eyes – painfully – and squinted at the unfamiliar surroundings. “Oh crap,” I thought. I’d done it again.

I was fastening my bra when he stirred. “What are you doing?” he asked.

“I’m late for work.” I said.

“I thought you didn’t work on a weekend?” was the confused reply.

“Yeah, I don’t normally, but I forgot I was supposed to cover for one of my bosses.” I lied.

I refused his offer of a coffee even though I could have murdered for one. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. He asked if he could call me later. “Sure.” I said as I avoided his sleepy attempt at a hug. I made a play out of writing down my phone number for him – wrongly, of course – then I left.

I didn’t know where I was and I’d refused his offer to call a cab. I didn’t want to wait with him. I walked aimlessly, my head thumping, until I turned a corner and came upon a row of shops. I bought myself a Lucozade Sport at the newsagent and asked the girl behind the counter where in the world we were. She looked at me like I was from another planet – I felt like I was. She gave me the postcode and the name of the road and as I walked out into the sunshine I called my usual taxi firm. I sat on nearby wall and waited, miserable with myself, and the direction my life was taking.

By the time the cab turned up I was in a foul mood. My head was killing me from trying to work out how many one-night-stands I’d had in the last three years – “Too bloody many”, I thought. A cab turned into the road and was crawling slowly along the road so I stepped towards the kerb and waved at it. It was bright yellow and made me squint just to look at it. “What’s the name?” called the driver.

And so: back to Newton’s first law of motion.

“Lyn,” I said, “I use you lot all the time, don’t you recognise me by now?” I asked, I wasn’t in the mood for this; I just wanted to get home.

“I’m new to CityCab,” came the curt response as the door was opened and I climbed in, “you look like shit, you okay?”

I looked up at the driver’s mirror – the brightest blue eyes I’d ever seen were looking back at me. Then she turned around to face me, sliding the glass over as she waited for me to speak. “I’m fine,” I said, “just knackered.”

She laughed at me “Shagged out more like,” she said, “where can I take you, love?”

“I’m desperate for a coffee – do you know the coffee shop on High Street?” I gave her the full address, blushing like a schoolgirl.

********

Saturday morning – six months later – I was sitting reading the paper in aforementioned coffee shop. “I thought I might find you here,” she said, as she dropped onto the leather sofa next to me.

“Hi Karen,” I said, surprised, “not working today?”

“Nah, the cab’s in for its service, I’ve got the weekend off,” she replied. She looked around the room, fidgeting. “Listen. I’ve been thinking,” she said. I put the paper down and looked at her.

“Did it hurt?” I teased.

“Smart ass,” she said. “Look, you know I’m into women … and, well … I thought you might like to go out on a date, erm … with me … somewhere …” her voice tailed off.

I was looking at her astonished. “What makes you think I’m into women?” I asked.

“Well … aren’t you?” she suddenly looked nervous.

“Well … yeah,” I laughed, “I suppose I am.” I felt fantastic saying it. Then I frowned.

“Look, it’s no big deal,” she said, “I like you is all, and I just got the impression that you liked me too,” she paused, “you do don’t you? Cos, if you don’t, it doesn’t matter,” she was looking flustered.

I felt on fire, and not just my face. “Well … yeah, I do actually” I said, smiling.

“So,” she sat back, looking relieved, “you like me, I like you. What’s to think about?” she said, “I mean, it’s not rocket science is it?” she asked.



Written by Steph T