Chapter 12

I had to fight the urge not to phone Abbie that night. There was so much I wanted to tell her. I wanted to tell her about hearing Paul and Ben- BEN! - speak, and about Ben saying “Hi” and all sorts- but I especially wanted to tell her that Christian looked at me as his girlfriend!

I still couldn’t believe it.

I couldn’t believe how serious he seemed about me. Like this was the start of a long and meaningful relationship, or something!

And in a way that was really scary, but in another, it was such a fantastic feeling. Because I really wanted it to be the start of a long and meaningful relationship, too! I just couldn’t believe my luck at the minute. Christian was interested; really, really interested in me, and that was something I hadn’t experienced in a long time.

I’d actually been friends first with my previous boyfriends, and it had been weird once we’d started dating. And it took ages to get to the stage Christian and I were now at. It was like we’d skipped a couple of months in the last 3 days and we’d been going out ages.

It was also really hard to find a guy who was so open about his feelings. Guys just aren’t like that.

But Christian was so different. He was a like a breath of fresh air. He was so open and honest about how he felt about us, already, that I knew I was never gonna have problems trusting him in the future.

If he had any problems with our relationship, he’d come right out and say it, I knew he would. But he seemed to want quite a bit back. If he was gonna call me his girlfriend, he wanted me to call him my boyfriend.

And sure I was happy to do that… but not yet.

Things were already moving very fast. I don’t think I had time to sit down and think about things properly, extensively, since Saturday.

It’s like you’re on this roller-coaster ride, giving you such a buzz, and you just can’t stop, not even for a minute, or the ride’ll be spoiled.

I should stop thinking and worrying about the ways things were going. I was enjoying myself, wasn’t I? I was- so something must be right.

Maybe this was just what I needed at the minute to perk me up a little bit. I’d been a bit down lately, so maybe a bit of excitement is just what the doctor ordered!

It’s just that I liked Christian so much, if anything did go wrong, I think I’d be devastated.

I really wanted to phone Abbie and to tell her how I was feeling, and all of it- but it was quite late now and I knew I had to finish this essay or I was going to be in soooooo much trouble.

So, I had to force myself to work. It was really hard as well, as I kept hearing Christian’s voice, and I was dying to play those CD’s, and look at my magazine again, but I resisted temptation.

The next day was Wednesday. Only two days to go until I went out with Christian. I thought it was time I ought to go and see what was playing at the ODEON on Friday night.

Christian wanted to see a horror movie- so that was what he was going to get! A good horror flick that wouldn’t leave him too scared. I had to be careful though, I mean, “Final Destination” had scared the hell outta him, for God sake!!

The ODEON had 5 screens- and what was playing was: “Bridget Jones’s Diary” (which I’d already seen), “All The Pretty Horses” (the fact that it had cowboys in really put me off), “Anti-trust” (well it did have Ryan Phillipe in it, but I was there for Christian!! Some thriller), “The Wedding Planner” (romantic comedy- had Jennifer Lopez in for him, but he was there for me!) and “The Gift”.

And I found out that “The Gift” was a spooky thriller about a girl who disappears and her fiancé turns to a psychic- who’s supposed to be a witch- to help in finding her. It didn’t sound particularly horror-slash flick-y, but it was supposed to be really spooky and good… a bit like “The Sixth Sense” then, which is a really good film.

So, something that Christian wouldn’t be too scared at (hopefully!) and one that wouldn’t be too bad to look at either.

So that was it- “The Gift” it was.

I had an early start to Uni that day, so I had to be there early. I was dying to tell Abbie about Christian, but I had to shoot off straight to classes. I had to hand in one of my essays today, which I’d just managed to finish last night after Christian had called. I hoped it was good- I had been a little distracted last night…

I managed to catch up with the gang at break, but I couldn’t very well tell Abbie there, could I?!

Not in front of everyone!!

Although it did go through my mind what Christian had said last night. About calling him my boyfriend now and telling all my friends.

But I knew I had to wait- just a little while, before I told them the news. I wondered how they’d react to me going out with Christian a1…

Haha!

They’d be more than surprised.

I was still a bit iffy with Karen this morning. We were talking, but I was still annoyed at her for the whole Josh thing. And I also think she knew there was something else going on with me, and that Abbie knew, and I think she was unhappy that she didn’t.

I couldn’t really help that though- I’d needed to tell Abbie. I’d needed to tell somebody! But after her, I couldn’t tell anyone else. Not even my family.

I wondered how they’d react to me going out with a pop star. I’m sure they’d be delighted and excited for me, but wary as well.

After all, Christian’s not your average, everyday boyfriend, is he?

I would tell my parents though, before I told the rest of my friends. That was a certainty.

But they’d have to wait; they’d all have to. It was for the best.

I didn’t really see Josh around that morning- thank God. I was dreading seeing him again after yesterday. It was gonna be really difficult. I was so sure he hated me after I’d messed him around. He was right though, I had messed him around. But not intentionally! If Karen hadn’t told him I liked him, we never would’ve got into this mess. But like Abbie said, there wasn’t a lot I could do about it now, was there? And I shouldn’t let it effect me, ‘cos I had Christian. I really did have Christian!

But it upset me.

I hadn’t seen Tim since Monday, so that was another good thing.

I hated avoiding all these guys! I felt awful.

Not that I’d done anything terribly wrong to either of them. Especially not Tim! He was just a total tosser, anyway. I saw that now. But I’d upset Josh’s feelings, and that’s so not me.

I was finally glad when the lunchtime hour came, ‘cos I was going shopping with Abbie then. We were going to get an outfit for Friday night, and of course, I could tell her about Christian- so I was really looking forward to it.

We met up after our last class at half past twelve, and headed off into the car park. It was a lucky coincidence that both Abbie and I didn’t have afternoon lessons on a Wednesday. In fact, our timetables were more or less the same, other than the fact we had different classes!

When you didn’t have any afternoon/morning classes, you didn’t actually have to be at Uni. If it was just a single period free, then you could just waste it in like, the canteen or somewhere, before going onto class. But when you had no classes at all, then you could come and go when you pleased, like Abbie and I were doing right now.

We’d decided to go out for lunch as well.

“You can’t beat a Maccy D’s!” Abbie grinned. “I know it’s technically not a proper meal, but it’s still good food!”

“It’s Abbie-food I suppose,” I said.

“Yep- Abbie food!” She nodded. “So, who’s car are we taking?”

We stopped in the car park, and she’d just asked me something, I knew she had, but something had caught my attention. Something was happening near the car park, just on campus, near the gardens. I couldn’t quite see what was going on.

I could see Josh, and that was it. And that’s what had caught my attention. He was talking to someone- but who…?

“Kate? Kate!!” Abbie was calling from somewhere next to me.

Who the hell was he talking to?

Why did I care?

I didn’t really know… I’d just like to know.

“Kate! What are you looking at?” Abbie asked.

I finally clicked her. “Huh? What?” I said, turning to her.

She laughed. “Watcha lookin’ at?” She asked.

“Oh…” I turned back to Josh, where he was still in deep conversation with someone. There were these stupid bushes and a hedge in the way and I couldn’t see who it was. It was really annoying!

I don’t know why- I think it was just paranoia or something- but I just got this feeling Josh was talking about me. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s just me being paranoid or something, but I just got the impression he was.

“Kate?”

“It’s Josh,” I said quickly. “He’s over there.”

“So?” Said Abbie puzzled. “Do we care?”

“I’d just… I…I wonder who he’s talking to…” I muttered, eyes fixed on Josh.

“Kate! Does it matter?!” Laughed Abbie. “You don’t regret saying no to Josh, do you?”

“I-“

“What about Christian?” Abbie said.

“No! It’s just… never mind,” I said, sighing. “Let’s take your car. Mine’s still recovering from Saturday,” I continued.

“Ohhhhhkay,” Abbie said slowly, still not convinced. “We’ll take my car.”

We both began walking over to the Focus and I resisted the urge to look up at Josh again.

But it bugged me. I don’t know why.

“Do you still like Josh, Kate?” Abbie asked as we walked.

“No! No- not as much as I did,” I said.

“But, you still like him a bit?” She said.

I sighed. “Yeah, I guess. You know- if this thing with Christian doesn’t work out, I’ll never be able to go out with him.”

“Kate- you’ve gotta look at it like things are gonna work out with Christian! And anyway- you’re leaving here in a few months. You’ll probably never see Josh again,” Abbie said.

I nodded. “You’re right.”

We reached the car, and she went round to the drivers seat and I went round to the passengers.

I couldn’t help it- I had to turn around and see who it was.

I couldn’t help it!!

I turned around and looked for Josh. There he was- and he was talking to… Tim?!!

What the hell??!!!

Oh my God- what was he doing talking to him? They weren’t friends. Not at all. Or same classes. Then what are they discussing?

“Kate!”

Abbie was already in the car, waiting for me.

I opened the door, but tarried for a minute, before finally getting in.

“C’mon- let’s get you as far away from here as possible,” Abbie said, starting up the engine. “And get you focused on Christian!”

We drove out of Uni and headed for London.

I was trying do hard not to think about Josh and Tim talking. But they were like, the two guys who hated me most on campus!! And them talking together… ughhhhh! Made me feel all nervous. Were they talking about me? What about? About what kind of loser bitch I am? Are they gonna like “team up” or something, to make my life even more miserable?

What?

“Where’s Christian today?” Abbie asked, interrupting my thoughts. “Do you know?”

“Oh! Uh- he’s in the studio today,” I said distractedly.

“Shall we drive by Sony to call in and say hi?” She grinned.

I raised my eyebrows at her. “Yeah- you really wanna see Ben.”

“I’d be ok. I could hide behind you. That way when I did see him, you could hide me hyperventilating!”

I laughed. “I think he’d notice,” I said.

She shrugged. “I suppose. So how you feeling about Friday?”

I sighed. “Ok- I guess. I think though by the end of today, all tomorrow and definitely on Friday, I’m gonna be really nervous! I’m not to bad at the moment, though.”

“Well- we have to buy you a really nice outfit today,” Abbie said resolutely. “I’ve been doing my research on Christian!”

“What?!” I cried, laughing. “You’ve what?!”

God, this girl was seriously more into this date than I was!

She blushed a little. “Sad, I know, but I’ve been finding a few things out about him.”

“And?” I said, very interested.

“Welllll… he really likes girls, Kate. I mean, really, really likes girls,” she said seriously.

“Well, that’s kind of good,” I said, not sure.

“It’s kind of bad as well,” Abbie said.

“Why? How many girlfriends has he had?” I asked, curious.

“I don’t know,” Abbie said. “And that’s not because he’s had too many to count! I really don’t know. But he goes out with a lot of girls, just for like… a laugh. What am I trying to say?” She thought aloud. Then she said, turning to me for a second, “he has lots of flings.”

“Flings?” I said warily.

She turned her eyes back to the road ahead. “Yeah. He doesn’t like to have a big relationship, ‘cos he’s always away with a1.”

This was not sounding very good.

Although, what had he said on the phone yesterday? I couldn’t really remember… but he’d definitely said something like he didn’t want to have a fling with me. He wanted me to be his girlfriend, for God sake! He was adamant about that!

“You’re not being very auspicious,” I warned her.

She laughed. “I’m just saying, that’s all. Apparently, he never stops staring at girls. He denies it, but all the guys say he definitely does it. He’s pretty obsessed with the opposite sex, if you ask me.”

“So- you’re saying I should cancel the date- get out of it whilst I still can?” I asked.

“No, no, no, no, no, no, no!” Abbie said. “Why would we be shopping for an outfit if I was? All I’m saying is, if he starts staring at other girls on Friday night, don’t get worried. That’s just him.”

“Oh, ok,” I laughed a little, but that had put a load of doubts into my head about Friday, and about Christian.

He says one thing, Abbie says another. Who to believe?!!

“Oh! And on the clothes front, apparently he likes really short tops! Really short ones, liked cropped-tops.”

“I’m not getting one of them!” I said determinedly. “My stoamch’ll show!”

“Ahhh!” Said Abbie. “But that’s exactly what he wants you to do! Show your stomach! It’s his fave part of a woman’s body.”

“Her stomach?” I said, confused and amazed.

She laughed. “He’s Norwegian, Kate! Get used to it!”

“But I’m not getting a cropped-top, Abbie! We’re going out for dinner- not clubbing! And in the cinema, he won’t even be able to see what I’m wearing!”

“Alright- we’ll improvise,” Abbie said. “We’ll find something. Are we going for trousers or a skirt? Or are you wanting to get a dress?”

“Oh God- no!” I cried fiercely. “No, no, no! Definitely trousers!”

Abbie laughed. “Ok, ok! what’s wrong with a dress?”

“Abbie- it’s Christian a1! I am not wearing a dress in front of him!”

“You’re gonna have to wear nothing in front of him eventually, so you might as well wear a dress!” She laughed.

“Oh, shut up!” I said embarrassed. “I’m getting trousers, ok? Trousers and a top. Maybe a jacket too, and shoes. I don’t know.”

“Woah- you got enough money for all of that?” Asked Abbie, as she turned into the car park.

I nodded. “My wonderful credit card! What I’d do without it, I don’t know!”

She laughed. “Ok- Maccy D’s first- then shopping!”

She parked the car quite easily (wow!) in a space, and then we both got out. She had to go and fetch a ticket- a couple of hours should do it.

“Do you wanna get anything?” I asked her as we started walking.

She shook her head. “Only food! I’m starving! This trip is all about finding an outfit for you!”

We eventually got to McDonalds, and I had a chicken nuggets meal and Abbie had a Big Mac. We managed to get a seat in the café itself, near the door, so we sat down to eat our lunch.

I was dying to tell her about Christian yesterday! And now we were finally in the city, I could.

“I spoke to Christian last night on the phone,” I started.

She raised her eyebrows. “Who phoned who?” She asked.

“He phoned me,” I explained.

“Oooooh! What’d he want?” She asked.

“He wanted help- well advice- on what car he should by,” I said, and then laughed. It sounded really stupid now!

Abbie frowned in puzzlement and then laughed. “What?!”

“He needed help! He was so confused, poor guy! He just didn’t know what to get! The guys were all saying different things- he didn’t know what to do, so he phoned me.”

“Wow! He really likes you!” Abbie commented. “So what did Ben want him to get?”

I remembered and then I laughed. “He wanted him to get a Ford Focus,” I grinned.

Abbie’s jaw dropped open. I think she was stunned!

“What? A Ford Focus? Like me?!!” She cried.

I nodded, laughing.

“Oh my God! Wa-hoooo!” She laughed. “Ben likes my car!!”

I laughed again. “Anyway, I think he decided what he wanted in the end.”

“What?” Abbie asked, still reeling from the Ben thing. God, if she was this bad now, how would she react when she found out I’d heard him speak?!!

“Oh- I don’t know. I’ll find out Friday. But he wants a yellow car.”

“Arraghhh! Custard on wheels!!” Abbie cried, almost disgusted.

I laughed. “ I know, I know! But yellow’s his fave colour.”

“At least he’ll be easy to spot,” Abbie pointed out.

“Yeah, I know! Anyway, that’s not really what I wanted to tell you! When we were on the phone, we started talking about our relationship, and he called me his ‘girlfriend’! And when I asked him about it, he said that I was his girlfriend and that he really wanted to be in a relationship with me. It was quite enlightening. He kept saying Friday wasn’t just a ‘date’- and that he definitely wanted to see me again,” I finished.

Abbie had been listening intently. “God- wow!” She breathed. “Really?”

“Yeah, and he wants me to call him my boyfriend,” I said.

“He’s being pretty forward, isn’t he?” Abbie said. “He must really like you! Forget everything I said in the car!”

“Oh, I dunno, Abbie. We’ll have to see, as I told him. I told him we needed a few dates first,” I said.

“Well, if Christian a1 wanted to be my boyfriend, and wanted me to call him that after the first week, then I would!” Abbie laughed.

“But it’s so early,” I argued. “Don’t you think he’s being a bit premature?”

Abbie shrugged. “If he really likes you Kate, then I’d really not worry how he’s feeling. Just be pleased he likes you so much and have a good time.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Hey! Guess what! Whilst he was on the phone, he was at the ARMI house, and I heard Paul and Ben in the background!”

She immediately stopped eating and her eyes widened in amazement. Her jaw dropped again. “You h-heard- B- B- Ben?”

I nodded gleefully. “Yep! He’d just come in and he said “who’s Chris on the phone to?” and somebody told him and he shouted, “HI KATHERINE!” and then he said to Christian, “tell her I said Hi””.

“Oh my God!!!! I can’t believe this!!!!” She cried. “You heard Ben! You heard Ben Adams talk!! Oh my God, oh my God!”

Uhoh. I think the hyperventilating had kicked in early!

She really looked flustered! I knew me hearing Ben speak would be a big deal for her, but…

“Abbie-“

“So- oh my God! What does he sound like? Does he sound like he does on TV?” She asked.

I laughed. “I think so!”

“Oh God- I can’t believe he said Hi to you! He spoke to you!!” She cried.

“Not really,” I laughed. “It was all in the background.”

“I don’t care! You heard Ben! It’s soooo not fair! Soon you’ll be meeting him, and like, hanging around with him and stuff-“

“Abbie!” I laughed. “For God sake- calm down!”

“I can’t! So, you heard Paul, too?” she said, calming down a bit, actually! “What did he say?”

“Oh- just a few things. He was talking to Christian a bit on the phone. He’s got a new dog! A cocker Spaniel called Sam.”

“Really?” Said Abbie.

I nodded. “Yeah. It’s a bit of a nuisance, apparently.”

“Did you hear Mark?” Asked Abbie.

I shook my head. “No. He was there, though. They’d- well, him and Ben- had just come back with a video.” I laughed when I remembered about Ben. “Ben bought loads of ice cream!”

“Ice cream?” Remarked Abbie. “Cool! I like ice cream! What kind?”

“I dunno. He likes Häagen Daz apparently,” I said.

“Wahoo! That’s nice!” Abbie commented. “We have loads in common!!”

“Christian had to go after that. They were all getting ready to watch the vid,” I said.

“What they get?” Abbie asked.

I shrugged. “I dunno. I did hear Paul say, “wahoo- it’s not Disney!” though.”

Abbie laughed. “Mark!” She said.

“Mark?”

“He likes Disney,” she informed me. “A lot.”

“Ohhhh,” I said confused slightly. What was a 23 year old doing liking Disney?

Strange!

“Ohhh… I can’t believe you heard them speak!” Abbie grumbled. “You are soooo lucky! Especially Ben. He said “Hi” to you!!!”

“Abbie, I wouldn’t get too jealous,” I smiled.

“Of course I’m jealous! You get to meet Ben! Like, properly. Away from “the fame”! You’ll get to meet him, as like, a normal human being. It’s not fair!” She complained.

“Abbie, I’m not meeting anyone yet, ok? So don’t get so carried away! Look- we better start shopping or we’re gonna run out of time,” I warned her.

“Ok, ok, let me finish my chips,” she said, delving into her French Fries.

“I can’t believe you,” she kept muttering, but I just smiled and ignored her.

To be honest, I was particularly bothered about meeting Ben if I had to. It had been exciting to hear his voice on the phone, but if that’s all I ever heard of him, I wouldn’t be devastated. The only member of a1 I was dying to see was Christian, and that was for obvious reasons.

Awwww! I can’t believe he missed me. I missed him, too! I think we really needed to see each other! I couldn’t wait ‘til Friday, just like him!

We finished our lunch, and then we hit the shops.

I didn’t really know what I was looking for to be honest.

Just a nice pair of trousers, with a jacket to match and then a cute top!

I was having the same dilemma as I’d had on Sunday. Not too casual, not too smart, not too tarty, not too extreme.

We were going to dinner this time, as well as the cinema, so I had to be a little smarter than I had been then.

We trailed through Miss Selfridge and New Look, and even though there were some possibilities there, nothing was right. Nothing I could wear. It had to be perfect.

Every top I picked out just wasn’t flesh revealing enough for Abbie.

“If you’re not gonna show your stomach, you’ve gotta show something!” She tutted. “This is Christian, y’know.”

“What “something” are you implying?” I asked suspiciously.

“Don’t worry! You won’t have a huge cleavage!” She laughed. “Maybe a vest top?”

“Nooo,” I complained. I was really self-conscious about wearing one of those in front of him again! The only thing I wanted to change about Saturday was my top that I’d had on! But what if Christian hadn’t been attracted to me, then?…

Oh Kate, quit it now! I scolded myself.

“Let’s try Next,” Abbie decided, so we went in there.

It seemed we were having no luck in here either, when I found some nice trousers. Really nice trousers. They were gold, and made of a really nice, soft material. They were my length too, and fastened with a button and a zip. Hey- gold was even near Christian’s fave colour, yellow! I couldn’t go wrong!

“Abbie!” I called. “What about these?”

She was busy looking at the jackets, and it was really weird when she came rushing over with a gold jacket, exactly the same shade and material as the trousers I’d picked!

“Kate! Look at this fab jacket!” She cried, rushing over, and then when she saw the trousers, and I saw the jacket, we both burst out laughing.

Ok- we both agreed! I was getting these or otherwise I’d lament it sooo much!

Altogether, they cost about £75- which is like- LOADS!

I’d never spent so much money in my life! And I hadn’t even got a top, yet!!

“Kate- you can afford this, right?” Abbie asked. “I mean- you will wear these again?”

I laughed. “I hope so! Yeah, I’m sure I will. C’mon, we need to find a cheap top from somewhere!”

I think that meant leaving Next!

We tried Tammy, but that was useless, so then we went in Pilot. That’s where Abbie found a really nice black top.

“Look- it covers your stomach, has no cleavage and is flesh showing!” She announced, showing it to me.

“And it’s cheap! £15!” She laughed.

It was quite a nice top, actually. But…

“Abbie, this material’s really fissile,” I said. “I don’t wanna embarrass myself!”

She sighed. “Ok- I’ll keep looking.”

We didn’t find anything else in Pilot. It was getting really frustrating. I couldn’t find anything that was perfect; that matched all the criteria.

It was getting quite late on in the afternoon, and we’d been in clothes shops for well over an hour and a half. I could tell Abbie was getting really annoyed.

“Kate- we’ve gotta find something! One last shop, ok? And if there’s nothing “perfect” there, pick anything!”

The last shop was Top Shop. I was pretty resigned to the fact that I was going to have to buy a second, or even third choice top, when Abbie suddenly said,

“Kate, would you wear a kerchief top?”

“Why?” I asked, coming over.

“Well- Christian likes them! And this one’s really nice,” she said, taking it off the rack and showing it to me.

It was really nice, as well. A kind of creamy colour- it would go really well with the gold. And the material was good.

But I’d never worn a kerchief top before. They looked pretty revealing! But there was no cleavage, it covered my stomach, and it showed off my shoulders, I suppose…

Abbie saw me hesitating and pounced on it. “PLEASE buy it!” She begged. “It’s £20. not too bad- but if I have to go around another clothes shop, I’ll die.”

I laughed. “Ok,” I said. “I’ll take it.”

“Good!” She exclaimed, and directed me straight to the till.

“Y’know, this whole trip was your idea,” I told her.

“I know, lesson learnt,” she said.

“You think this outfit’s ok?” I asked worriedly.

“YES!” She laughed. “For God sake, Kate, it’s fine! I’m sure Christian will really like it! Anyway, this outfit’s not what he’s gonna be interested in, is it? That’s gonna be YOU!”