Chapter 4



“Bread? Milk? Margarine? Coffee?”

“Sugar. Sugar and eggs, I think.”

“But not bread?”

“Nope, got some yesterday.”

Elisabeth and Becky were sorting out the shopping list for the week. They had one big shop every weekend, for the whole week, to get supplies. They sometimes ran out and had to go on emergency splashes on weekday nights, but most of the goods for the flat, for the two of them, were bought in one go. Sometimes it was a Sunday, but sometimes Saturdays, and if it was then, Elisabeth and Becky also liked to go clothes shopping as well, and not just for food. They had planned to do that today, but Elisabeth didn’t feel up to it.

She needed time to “recover”.

Paul had had a real effect on her.

“Right- and besides them, we need everything else?” Becky said.

Elisabeth nodded. “Yup- meat, pasta, veggies, fruit, drink- the lot.”

“Fab!” Becky muttered sarcastically. “Wish you were there to wheel the trolley!”

Elisabeth laughed. “I’m sorry Becky! Next week, I’ll do it all myself.”

“Don’t be silly!” Becky replied. “I’ll manage, alright. Now- take any aspirin for that bad head of yours, ok? Ahhh- aspirin. Need some more of that.” She noted it down on the list.

“Ok, will do,” Elisabeth said.

“You know, it’s all that reading you do, I’m sure it is,” Becky thought aloud. “It’s not good for you. You should be out there clubbing, and dating, and…” She lowered her voice. “Shagging lots of guys.”

Elisabeth laughed. “What- and become you?!”

“Yeah!” Becky laughed. “Ooooh, especially when you get to sleep with guys like Steve. He was-“

“It was a bit early, don’tcha think?” Elisabeth interrupted the details. She hated hearing the details. Hated thinking how good it must be to be that intimate with a guy.

God, Becky knows everything!

I am so naïve and stupid, she thought.

“What was early?” Becky asked.

“Sleeping with Steve,” Elisabeth spoke in a hushed tone, aware he was next door in the kitchen.

“Oh Liz, quit being such a celibate old woman!” Becky laughed, making Elisabeth frown.

She didn’t CHOOSE to be celibate.

She just was.

“I’m having fun!” Becky added, laughing. “AND being careful, at the same time, if that’s what you’re thinking. That I wasn’t careful.”

“I don’t see how you can go through so many boys,” Elisabeth said, struggling to find any logic.

Steve was Becky’s 6th boyfriend this year, and it was only May.

And she’d slept with all of them.

Elisabeth never wanted that to happen to her. Not that she thought Becky was a slut or anything, if that’s what she wanted, then fine. But Elisabeth wanted it to be that “special someone” she spent her first night with!

If he was out there. If she found him.

She hadn’t yet.

“Ohhhhhh sweetie,” Becky said, feeling sympathy for her best friend. “All you need is one boyfriend, and soon you’ll get a taster for it, too. And it is so bloody addictive- you won’t be able to stop then!” Becky laughed. “And sex with the same guy over and over is just boring.”

“Have you got enough money?” Elisabeth spoke up, changing the subject.

She hated these conversations with Becky- she just ended up feeling out of her depth and jealous.

“Yup, got plenty,” Becky said, checking her purse. “Now get some rest. Don’t let that sex machine in there bother you!!” Becky said, raising her voice at the end.

“You girls talking about me?” Steve called from the kitchen.

Becky laughed in delight, but Elisabeth just cringed.

“Bye babe!” She called.

He came running in from the kitchen, and went up to her and plastered her in a huge kiss. “Ba-bye… remember to get the…?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Becky grinned, reaching up for another kiss, leaving Elisabeth standing there awkward.

“See ya later,” Becky said, and she grabbed the keys from the side, and went out the door, and was gone- leaving Elisabeth alone with Steve.

She still felt awkward, mainly because Steve was so gorgeous.

God, what must it be like to kiss him? She wondered.

I wonder what it’s like to kiss!

Oh, you are such a sad case, she thought ashamedly to herself, and turned away from Steve and went into the kitchen to make herself a coffee. It was better than staying there, mumbling away to Steve.

She went over to the side and put the kettle on. It had already been used that morning, and the water inside was probably still warm.

It was, and soon boiled.

As she poured it into the cup full of coffee grounds, much to her surprise and disbelief, she felt Steve’s arms slip around her waist.

She nearly dropped the boiling hot water, she was so shocked. Her hand began to shake, and she had to put the kettle down, the cup half full.

“Great, we’re alone,” Steve whispered into her ear, making all the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

What the hell…?

“Erm… uh… Steve…”

“Wow, you’re pretty Liz,” he said, ignoring her and she felt him toying with the side of her face with his face.

She just froze. She didn’t know what was happening.

New feelings… new reactions…

Steve slowly turned her around so she was facing him- she was looking right at the most gorgeous face she had ever seen!

She suddenly got an image of Paul. From somewhere, it just broke her concentration.

But then Paul’s eyes disappeared, and all she could see was black as she closed her eyes and felt Steve begin to kiss her.