Chapter 3

I put my carrier bags down at my feet and then opened my shoulder bag to search for my door key. I was on the step just outside my apartment, having walked the two blocks to there from the bus stop. It hadn’t been too bad really, walking with 4 carrier bags, although I had to admit, they were getting pretty annoying.

I had to nearly empty the whole contents of my bag out before I found the key. I was beginning to think I’d be locked out. I was pretty relieved when I did find it. I put the key in the lock and opened the red door into my pretty lacklustre home.

The door as always opened into the biggest room of three in this apartment. This was the dining room/lounge/kitchen all rolled into one. I would have preferred it to be divided into three, but what can you do?

The whole right area of the room was the kitchen area. It contained all the cupboards, kitchen sink, cabinets and fridge/freezer, oven, washing machine and tumble drier. And that’s about it. No microwave, no dishwasher, and so on. Only the basics- pretty pathetic, really. Everything was white around that area, which was quite welcoming at times ‘cos the rest of the flat was pretty much dark and dreary.

The middle of the room was the dining room area. But it wasn’t very much; in fact, it only consisted of a table! And not a very big table at that! Long, rectangle and room for about 6 people. The good thing about it was that it was made of a really good strong wood- possibly oak or mahogany. That was pretty good! Oh, and if you possibly want to ‘up’ it even more, it did have a vase of flowers on- but they were only pink carnations! I like having flowers in the house though; that’s why they were there- ‘cos they brighten up the home.

The left area was “my” area. The lounge bit- it has possibly all my fave things in it (other than my bed!)- the red sofa (which was sooooo comfy!), the red armchair (which was also really comfy!), the TV and video, the CD hi-fi, my bookcase, the phone… everything, everything that I used and loved the most was in that area. And I had had to make it the way it was! ‘Cos it certainly wasn’t that homey when I first moved in. but the whole dominant colour for that area was crimson and red basically, and that’s what made it so dark, especially in the evenings. The curtains at each window on either side of the room were also crimson, as was the carpet.

I went over to the table and put down my shoulder bag and then I went over to the red sofa and threw the carrier bags down onto it, before I collapsed onto it myself.

I ran my hands over my face and took a deep breath.

Ok, ok, time to think. Recall, think, and explain what the hell just happened right now!!!!

Ok- so I was on the bus. Nothing weird and different- just a bus.

A normal, public bus.

On the way home. From shopping.

What’s so unusual about that? Nothing. Except I didn’t have my car with me. But that was pretty dead at the minute. And I’m bored. I’m really bored on the bus. It’s hot, I’m tired, I hate buses and I’m miserable. I now have no car over the weekend, and now have to endure a whole hour on a bus with loads of grannies. My Saturday is turning out to be a total waste- a loser.

And then?

He just appears.

It’s like magic or something. Like he’s come to brighten up my day- or perhaps, my whole life…

And he sees me. And then he smiles, and then he comes over…

And he is soooo gorgeous! I don’t think I could even describe how it made me feel then, when he came over. I felt my heart was going to explode it was beating so hard!

And the way he leaned over and asked, “Is anyone sitting here?” In that gorgeous Norwegian voice, and his blond hair fell over his face…

Ohhh! He was so cute.

And so friendly. He just starts up a conversation, and he introduces himself in the most polite way, shaking my hand, “hi, I’m Christian “ and then he tells me he likes my name and he just knows exactly what to say. And he laughs at nearly everything. And he keeps grinning and smiling, and his lovely green eyes crinkle up as he does so… and he’s just amazing!

And he’s just so open and chatty. He talks about his flat, and how annoying Ben is, and a1, and travelling and music and he wants to know all about me… and we just talk and talk and talk about everything for a whole hour.

I don’t even notice the bus filling up with more and more people; I’m just so absorbed in the conversation. He just took away all the nervousness I felt in the first few minutes. It was so relaxing being around him. He didn’t seem famous and from a1 at all. He just seemed like a normal, regular guy on the bus.

And then it all happened so fast. It’s like, I’m still reeling from it all. I just can’t believe it happened- I can’t believe he kissed me!

I mean, I wasn’t flirting, was I? And I didn’t think there had been anything like that between us.

Ok- as soon as I saw him, I really fancied him. He was gorgeous! And when we were talking, he was so friendly and warm. I really did like him, but I’d never expected the feeling to be mutual. Anyway- I looked a total state! There’s no way that could have happened- it’s just impossible. How can Christian a1 possibly fancy someone like me?

Fancy, which I’m sure he did. After we’d kissed, he’d said that “he’d wanted to do that for ages”- what, so the whole time we’d been talking, he’d been thinking about kissing me?

Oh my God! This is so incredible!

And boy- is that guy a good kisser! I am going to be replaying that fantastic kiss in my head over and over and over for… the rest of my life!

And then- he wants to see me again!

ARAAGHHHH!!!!!

ME!

He was interested in ME!

I’d thought I was a total loss! Tim certainly hadn’t been interested, but who was Timothy Palmer compared to Christian a1?

A complete no one- that’s who!

Oh, I soooo hope Christian heard my phone number!

I hope he calls.

And I hope we go out.

God, I could go out with this guy forever! He is so wonderful!

Ok, ok, I’m still on a complete high. I’m still in wonderland. I need to celebrate! Well, no, perhaps not that- I need to share. I just can’t keep this to myself- I just snogged Christian from a1 for Godsake!

And it was bloody brilliant!

And this has been the best Saturday in my LIFE.

I reached over to the small table near the sofa with the lamp on it, and picked up the phone.

There was only one person I wanted to call- who I needed to call.

I rang the number and waited. After 4 rings, it picked up.

“Hello?”

I tried to hide the imminent excitement in my voice. Play it cool Kate, I said to myself. Act like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Hey Abbie, it’s me,” I said.

“Oh, hi Kate! What’s up?” Abbie, my best friend, said on the other end.

“Ok- something really big’s happened,” I said. “This afternoon.”

Abbie gasped. “Tim asked you out!”

I made a face she couldn’t see. “No!” I said rather pointedly.

“Ok, ok, then,” she said. “Let me guess. Er… Tim dumped his girlfriend!”

“Noooo! This has nothing to do with Tim!” I said (God, I must go on about him all the time!).

“Ok then… is it…”

“Will you please let me talk?” I laughed. “Look- I was in London today to go shopping-“

“Don’t tell me! ALL the shops were closed!” Abbie cried.

“Noooo! Will you shut up?!! I went shopping and had my lunch and then when I got back to the car-“

“It had been broken into?” Abbie interrupted again.

“No! It looked fine, but when I tried to start it, it wouldn’t work, so I had to call the garage…”

Abbie started laughing. “Ha! Ha! Hurrah! Your perfect car finally breaks down! Justice is done!”

“Oh shut up!” I said, but I’d been expecting this.

“So- I guess you’re ringing to ask if I could give you a lift into Uni on Monday, then?” She said.

“No- but hey, thanks for the offer! Anyway, that’s not what I’m phoning about,” I said. “So, anyway, I had to go home on the bus…”

“Ohhh! Lucky you,” Abbie said, sarcastically. Abbie also shared my enthusiasm for buses!

“Yeah, anyway, I’m on this bus for about 10 minutes, bored to death, and guess who walks onto the bus…”

“Tim!” Abbie cried. Then she paused. “Oh wait- it’s not about him, is it? Ok then… erm, I dunno. That guy you fancy in the canteen. What’s his name? Josh?”

I made another face. “What are you on about?!!” I said. “No- not him.”

Abbie sighed on the other end. “Oh, I dunno. Ben a1!” She laughed.

So did I. Pretty convenient.

“You’ve got the right band,” I said, waiting or her reaction. I could just see her expression now: her jaw dropping open…

“What?!!” She cried. “Someone from a1 was on the bus?!!!”

I laughed as a yes.

“Oh my God!!! Who was it?? It wasn’t Ben was it?”

“No- I told you it wasn’t.”

“Paul?”

“Nope.”

“Mark?!”

“No- the other one.”

She paused. Then,

“Christian from a1 was on the bus?!!!”

I laughed and laughed. She was so shocked! Pretty much how I’d been!

“So- so- oh my God…”

“So- he saw me and then he came and sat next to me,” I said as casually as I could. “And we chatted the whole way.”

“Oh my God! This is impossible! Kate, are you making this up?!!” She was almost screaming.

I laughed. “No! no, it was definitely him. He’s great- really friendly.”

“Oooh! You get all the best luck!” She grumbled.

“Well, I haven’t told you the best bit yet,” I told her, excitement building up inside of me.

“What now? You snogged him?” She asked innocently.

Hey, this girl’s pretty good.

“How d’ya know?” I grinned.

There was a very long pause before she said, “you are joking!”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “He kissed me. And he wanted to see me again, so I gave him my phone number,” I said calmly.

More silence, before, “Arragghhhh!!!!!!!!! I can’t believe this!!!! You snogged Christian from a1 and he asked you for your phone number?!!!”

“Will you calm down?!!” I laughed. “You better be on your own in that house!”

“I am, I am, don’t worry,” she said. “I just can’t believe this! How did you do it?!”

“I don’t know! It just happened. It was all so quick,” I said to her.

Just then, I heard a bang on her end of the phone and voices.

“Hang on,” she said to me, and I could vaguely hear her talking to someone. I thought she said she’s been alone? I didn’t want the whole world knowing this!

Abbie came back on. “Listen- Debbie’s gotta make an important phone call, so I gotta go. But don’t think you’re getting away with this!! I’ll phone you later and I want every single little last detail, do you hear me?”

I laughed, knowing I wanted to tell her! She’d be soooo jealous!

“Ok, ok, ring me later,” I said.

“Bye,” she said.

“Bye!” I said and I put the phone down. I had a huge grin on my face, I knew it. But I couldn’t help it- I was in the best mood ever!

I jumped off the sofa, ‘cos I had too much excitement inside of me to just sit around, went to put some music on really loud, and then I just danced around like a lunatic!

Today was now officially, the best day of my life!

I’d met the perfect guy (who just happened to be interested in me and be totally good looking and famous) and all my friends would be soooo jealous!

I spent the next 45 minutes jumping around, packing all my shopping away- my new clothes, books, CD’s, magazines, make up and everything else. Then I got started on making the tea- waiting excitedly for the phone to ring so I could tell Abbie everything about me and Christian!

I wasn’t going to splash out on tea- just have something simple like boiled eggs or beans on toast- I can actually cook, but I wasn’t in the mood today.

I was still buzzing. Every now and again, I could feel him kissing me and it just gave me such a rush!

God- that had been the best kiss ever. Full stop.

I decided to settle for the beans on toast and was halfway through making it, when the phone rang.

A voice in my head screamed “Christian!” But I shook my head.

Don’t be stupid!

I answered it and it turned out to be the garage.

“We’ve looked at your car and it needs some other fixes, as well as a new battery,” the guy said.

“When will I be able to pick it up?” I asked.

“Probably about 4-5 on Monday afternoon,” the guy replied. “Is that ok for you? You can pay then as well.”

Ugghhh, I’d completely forgotten that the car would need paying for.

“Yeah, that’s fine,” I said. “Thank you.”

“No probs. Bye!”

“Bye,” I said and then out the phone down. Oh, I hope the bill didn’t turn out to be too much. I’d already done my balance a bit of harm today with that shopping spree. I couldn’t afford to keep doing that!

“Can’t wait ‘til I get a job,” I mumbled to myself. I remembered what Christian had said about not being very rich, and it made me laugh.

I finished making my tea, and I went to eat it on the sofa and put the TV on.

I caught the football scores, and saw that Liverpool had beaten Everton away in the Mersey derby 3-2!

Cool!

Apparently, Gary McAllister had scored in the final minute of injury time from a 40-yard free kick (nb. This is old, guys!!)! Pretty darn cool. It’s always cool when we kick the butts of our Merseyside rivals!

It was turning out to be a great day.

I finished the beans on toast (pretty good, considering I’d whipped it up quick) and I left the TV on and watched that for a bit.

But you know how it is when a new guy comes into your life- I just couldn’t concentrate on the TV. I kept thinking about Christian. It was no good. There was no way I’d be able to concentrate on anything for a while.

I was gonna be hopeless at Uni on Monday!

I managed to keep watching TV for a bit longer, but at around half past 6, I realised there was nothing else on, so I turned the TV off. I decided that I needed to do something that wouldn’t require a lot of attention, so I took my magazine off the coffee table in front of the sofa, and decided to read that for a bit.

I was actually hoping Abbie would phone again soon, anyway. And then of course, I could tell her all about the wonderful afternoon with Christian!

But one thing that I was slowly dreading was that I wanted to keep this thing with Christian a little bit quiet. I mean, I could feel the need to tell the whole world that I had had a pretty special moment with Christian from a1- but I just knew I couldn’t.

I mean, I didn’t want to think about it, but what if Christian hadn’t got my phone number? Or what if he never called?

I’d look pretty stupid. But I just couldn’t keep it to myself either, so I decided that now that Abbie knew, I wasn’t going to tell anyone else about it.

Not… yet.

But if things could possibly get any better, then I would tell a few others…

Maybe.

I really didn’t know yet. It was still too soon. It wasn’t as if me and Christian were a couple or anything!

We’d just had a kiss, that’s all…

I was actually reading an interview in my magazine with Westlife (it was a music magazine, and the Westlife interview was pretty much why I’d bought it). When I finished reading that, I turned the page and there, on this double page spread was – a1!

And it just kind of jolted me, ‘cos there was Christian, suddenly, staring back at me. And he looked exactly the same (other than he had different clothes on!)- but the situation was so different.

He was posing with the rest of the guys- Paul, Ben and Mark- and I suddenly realised how totally different we were.

Seeing him there brought a load of nice memories of this afternoon back to me, but seeing him there, in a magazine, part of something so successful and famous… and then there was me, and I was just so separate from it.

Totally on the outside.

When the phone rang, it made me jump, ‘cos the a1 interview had really freaked me out.

It must be Abbie though, I thought, and I leaned over and picked up the receiver. “Hello?”

And then I heard that now familiar Norwegian voice…

“Hi, it’s Christian.”