Chapter 9

“Kate?”

Oh my god. There he is. It’s him.

“Kate!”

He’s there with Rachel, his girlfriend, and there’s his best mate Rich, and…

“Kate!!”

“Huh?” I looked at Karen.

“There she goes again!” Emm said triumphantly. “She keeps getting distracted by Josh.”

“I don’t,” I snapped at her.

“Well, where were you a minute ago?” Asked Karen.

“It was something else. It doesn’t matter,” I said.

Oh God- he was in this room. I suddenly felt really on edge.

As if on queue, Tim and his mates walked past our table to the counter.

“Oh God,” muttered Abbie.

“Oh look!” Cried Robbie. “If it isn’t Mr “Arraggghhh! It’s an empty roundabout, I need to break!” Palmer!”

“Robbie, shut up,” I muttered.

“I thought you were over that prick,” Robbie said to me.

“I am! Why does everyone think I still like him?” I demanded.

Oh God, I wish he’d go away…

“Kate, you go weird whenever he’s around. See- you’ve gone red, now,” Rosanna piped up.

I felt myself go even redder. “No, I haven’t,” I mumbled.

“Yeah, you have!” Karen said. “I can’t believe you still like him. After all he’s done to you! Is that why you won’t ask Josh out? ‘Cos a Tim?”

“Nooooooo!” I cried.

“Kate- nothing is ever gonna happen between you and Tim! And even if he did come crawling to you for a date, you’d be best to kick him where it hurts,” Karen advised.

“Hah! He hasn’t got anywhere TO hurt!” Said Abbie.

“I don’t STILL like him!” I insisted. “It’s just- whenever he’s around- I’m like- really, really wary, or something.”

They were getting their lunch now. Tim was putting on his “Hey- I’m happy and cool, you’re sad and pathetic!” act, by laughing and grinning away at everything Rachel said.

God, I could fucking kill him, I really could!

“What- ever since the Easter party?” Asked Rosanna.

I shuddered. Oh God- please don’t remind me of that. That had been the worst night of my life.

“Can we just stop talking about him now?” I pleaded.

“Yeah,” agreed Noel. I think he was getting quite bored. “Did anyone see the Man U match yesterday? What a goal by Gigsy!” He cried.

“Is Josh here?” Karen suddenly asked, looking around the canteen.

“Karen- stop it, ok! I don’t wanna go out with Josh!” I pleaded.

For Gods sake- I had Christian!

“Kate- of course you do! You’ve fancied him for weeks! I can’t blame you either, he is pretty cute,” Karen remarked.

“Well, then YOU go out with him!” I retorted.

“Kate! I have a boyfriend,” Karen said. “But you haven’t! And now’s your chance to get a date! Don’t you want a boyfriend?”

“Not yet, no!” I said, trying to get her to shut up.

“You’re not turning into a lesbian, are ya Kate?” Noel asked.

I gave him a look. “Noooooo!” I almost laughed, although it wasn’t funny. “Why can’t you leave me alone?!!”

“Yeah guys, leave her alone,” Abbie said, helping me out. “She’ll meet someone eventually. Probably in a really weird place,” she grinned.

I knew what she meant and grinned back.

“What- like a dating agency?” Noel put in.

“Shut up Noel!” Abbie snapped.

“Giggs’s goal was crap, mate,” Danny suddenly said, helpfully changing the conversation. “Now if you wanna goal, did you see Gary McAllister’s against Everton on Saturday? I mean- wa-hoo!”

Abbie and I, the only other Liverpool fans at the table all started cheering.

Robbie, a sore Everton fan, looked unhappy. “Yeah, yeah, don’t rub it in,” he said.

“You were soooooo crap, mate!” Danny laughed.

“So were so lucky!” Robbie said back. “It wasn’t even a free kick!”

“Football’s borrr-ing,” Rosanna complained loudly.

“Except for David Beckham. He’s quite nice,” Emm grinned.

“Oooh yeah, and Michael Owen!” Karen suddenly became interested too!

The rest of the conversation then became about footballers and what the offside rule actually was.

Tim and his mates sat down at a table across the room from us, and because there were so many tables and people in-between us, I couldn’t see him, which was great. And what with being swept into conversation with my friends, I ended up totally forgetting about him even being there.

At the end of lunch, I left with Emm to go off to my final class (the teacher planning, with Mrs Roberts) until 4pm.

I’d quite forgotten about Christian over lunch, so remembering about him during class and that we had a date on Friday night made me all warm inside and get a stupid grin on my face for the rest of the afternoon!

God, I wished I could tell the rest of the guys. All this talk about dating Josh, and I KNEW I couldn’t go out with him. I wanted to tell them I’d already met someone, someone really nice- but I couldn’t.

They all thought I was being silly, but little did they know, little did they know that I, Kate, have a date!

As soon as Uni finished, I had to rush off to pick up my car. I was soooo pleased to be getting it back. Turns out I hadn’t missed it too much, but I really could do with having it back. I had to catch the bus into London and then walk to the garage to pick it up. It was a small price to pay though for getting my car back.

Besides, I quite liked buses now…!

Being back on a bus brought all the memories of Saturday back to me. Of us sitting on the back seat, cuddled-up together, kissing…

Well, ok- we hadn’t been cuddled-up together. He’d just kind of moved in and started kissing me, just like that. I mean, I had been so shocked at first that I hadn’t even responded! I’d just kinda sat there thinking- what the hell’s going on?

But wow! Talk about good.

That guy is seriously, unbelievably sensational when it comes to snogging! If he was as good in other areas, then wahoo!

We’re gonna get on fiiiiiiiine!

This was the bumpiest bus I’d ever been on in my life. It was such a rough journey into London. I wasn’t sitting at the back today, I was sitting in the middle somewhere.

I missed Christian. It was weird being on a bus without him! I wished the bus would stop at a station and he’d get on again…

I was being thrown around something awful on this bus! And of course, it had no seatbelts. I just had to grip the seat in front of me really tightly.

I wondered what Christian was doing right now. He said he was gonna be at the studio today, hadn’t he? He must still be in there, with the other guys, recording songs for the third album.

God, he was busy, poor guy. I really hope this date would go ahead and he didn’t have to cancel again. Still, he couldn’t be working on a Friday night with a1, could he?!!

Could… he…?…

The bus finally stopped and I got off and made my way walking to the garage.

They’d said about 4pm to come and pick up my car, and it was now half past, so it should be ready.

I saw my car straight away. It had been given a wash! It looked brand spanking new and beautiful, just like it had the day I’d received it from my parents. I hoped it was as good inside as it was on the outside.

I found the guy, and he made me check it before I paid him.

It started on the first go! You have no idea how good the engine revving perfectly felt!

The price wasn’t too bad, I paid by card, and then I drove home.

Oh God, it was good to be behind the wheel again. I could go at the speed I liked in my own company.

I was home for half past 5, and I made myself a micro waved meal for dinner. I had a lot of work to do actually. I had 2 essays to plan that had to be given to us today.

Great!

Still, my reward would come at the end of the week…

I’d just got started into my essay drafting, when the phone rang.

Annoyed, I went over to answer it.

“Hello?”

“Kate- hi! Guess what!” Karen called down the phone.

I sighed. I wasn’t really in the mood to gossip. “What?”

“Guess who I met as I was leaving Uni today!”

I sighed. “I don’t know. Michael Owen?”

“Nooooo!” She cried, laughing. “Someone very, very nice…”

I could tell by the tone of her voice who she was talking about. My eyes widened in apprehension.

“Josh?!!”

“Yep! Josh! I was getting my car, and there he was, walking to the dorm,” she said, and I could see that satisfied smile of hers.

Oh God, what had she done?…

“So, I thought- I know! I’ll go talk to him!”

“Oh no! Oh no- Karen!” I cried in horror.

She laughed. “What?!! I was doing you a favour, wasn’t I?”

“What the hell did you tell him?” I demanded.

Oh this was a nightmare!

“I just told him you really liked him,” Karen said.

“Karen!!!”

“Well- aren’t you pleased?” She asked. “He wasn’t funny about it. I think he was quite shy.”

“Karen- you know what happened the last time you guys told a guy I liked him!” I cried.

“But Kate! Josh is nothing like Tim! Josh is a decent bloke. You’d be really good together,” Karen insisted.

“But Karen! Why did you do that?” I cried. I was absolutely horrified.

“Well, I just saw him and I thought, “go for it”. I mean, c’mon Kate, if something comes of this, you’ll be really grateful to me!” Karen said.

“IF anything comes of this, Karen!” I said. “Now I’m gonna be really embarrassed every time I see him! Thanks a lot! Now I have to watch out for two guys!”

“Kate- I think he was interested! I really do!” Karen persisted.

“But Karen- I don’t wanna go out with Josh!” I cried.

Why had she done this?!!

Not only was it totally embarrassing, but I didn’t want Josh knowing I was interested in him when I had a date with Christian on Friday! Ok, so Christian wasn’t exactly my ‘boyfriend’ yet, but I was still going on a date with him! I really didn’t want any complications.

“Why don’t you?” She demanded. “Why, all of a sudden, have you gone cold on him? C’mon Kate, you don’t usually lose your crushes so easily.”

I couldn’t say that I didn’t fancy Josh anymore- he was cute! He had really nice brown hair, soft brown eyes and he was soooo shy it was sweet!

But now Christian was in my life, all my crushes had to take a step back. Christian was, and it sounds weird, reality, and my crushes were just crushes. Christian was the most important right now. But I couldn’t tell Karen about Christian- I just couldn’t.

Not yet.

I knew what Karen was like- it’d be all over Uni in a second that I was dating Christian a1. And then if things didn’t work out between Christian and I- I’d look really stupid.

“Look- I do like Josh,” I sighed. “It’s just- I don’t wanna date right now.”

“Don’t let Tim win, Kate. Please don’t,” Karen pleaded. “You’ve gotta show him that you’ve moved on.”

“Karen! This has nothing to do with Tim. Nothing at all,” I told her firmly. “This is all to do with me.”

“Look- I haven’t told Josh to go and propose to you or anything!” She said, seeming annoyed. “I just told him you liked him a lot.”

“Well, I wish you hadn’t,” I sighed.

“Look Kate- there’s not much I can do about it now,” Karen said. “And I don’t even know if Josh will say anything. Just think it over, ok? Going out with Josh might be fab for you!”

“Karen- I know you’re only trying to do the best for me, and I really appreciate it,” I said truthfully. “But from now on, can you stop match- making me and let me deal with my own love-life?”

“But Kate- you don’t do anything! You just wait around for guys to approach you! You’re not gonna get dates like that. And for Gods sake, you don’t even go out with us anymore! How are you ever gonna meet somebody?” She said.

I sighed. I have met somebody. And he’s lovely. But I just couldn’t tell her that.

“Let me do it my way, ok Karen? I’ll be alright,” I told her.

“Ok- have it your way. I just thought you liked to be in relationships, that’s all. You’re always complaining that you don’t have a boyfriend. Where did this love of being single suddenly come from?”

“I guess I’ve got used to it,” I said, playing along. Not that I did like being single. I hated it. I felt alone, ugly and boring.

“Well, you can stop that! Guys are amazing. You can’t live without them!” She cooed.

“You mean, you can’t live without sex,” I corrected her.

“Yep, that’s what I mean!” She laughed. “God-“ She suddenly said, becoming serious, “when was the last time you had sex?”

Oh God, I felt myself getting really embarrassed. It had been too long to tell Karen!

“You have slept with someone since Matt, haven’t you?” She said.

God, I felt myself cringing inside. I knew I hadn’t.

Matt had been my last serious boyfriend. And we’d gone out for a year or so in the first year of Uni, but we’d had a bit of a messy break up just before the summer of my teacher training. I just didn’t want the same things as he did, and he didn’t understand. He got angry, we rowed and we broke up. I wasn’t upset, just sad. I had hoped he’d take it better.

We hadn’t spoken since. I do occasionally see him around Uni, he’s training to be an engineer like Robbie, so I see him a few times, but we just kind of blank each other.

It’s such a shame. We’d had such a great relationship until that point. But I hadn’t been in love with him and I wasn’t about to be either, so I decided to call it a day now, before it got too difficult later on.

So yeah, that had been 2 years ago. 2 years!

“Oh Kate!” Karen gasped, taken my silence as a “no, I haven’t slept with anyone since Matt”. “Poor you! I just assumed you had slept with someone!” Karen said. “Didn’t you sleep with Jamie?”

“Karen- we went out for a month, if that!” I laughed.

“Yeah, but you still didn’t sleep with him?” Karen asked.

“No- I’m not a slut like you!” I joked.

“Sorry! It’s just I give it 3 or 4 weeks, then I do it,” she explained.

“Well, that’s about how long we lasted for! He wasn’t my type, Karen,” I said.

“Still! We’ve gotta do something about your barren love-life!” She said firmly. “You can’t remain celibate forever!”

I laughed, despite the fact I felt like slapping her. She could be so blunt and open sometimes! But I suppose that’s what I loved about her.

“I’ll speak to you later, Karen,” I smiled.

“Ok! Ok! Get rid of me!” She laughed. “I’m sorry about Josh, ok? I was just trying to help.”

“That’s ok, I’m sure it’ll be alright,” I told her.

I hope it will, I begged inside.

“See you tomorrow Kate,” she said.

“Bye!” I said. I hung up shaking my head.

I can’t believe her! I still couldn’t believe she’d told Josh I liked him!

It was soooo embarrassing. This was just what I didn’t need! I go for ages without any guy action, and then what happens as soon as I go and meet Christian? This thing with Josh comes up!

Talk about waiting for a bus and then after waiting for ages, 2 come along at once!

But of course- Christian was most important.

Sure, now Josh knew I liked him it might be a bit difficult, especially when I saw him again, but nothing could happen.

I wanted to concentrate on everything with Christian. I really did feel if things got going between us, this could be the start of something really fantastic!

It was weird actually not speaking to him today. It hadn’t been that long since I’d spoken to him, but because I had twice on Saturday, and then again yesterday, I missed him.

I actually really wanted to kiss him again. It had been such a great kiss- I hadn’t been that close to someone for ages and ages. And I missed that. Waiting for Friday was going to be hard in more ways than one!

I so hoped it would go well and he asked me to see him again. And then again and again and again until…

Oooh, was he going to be my third, I wonder? Be pretty impressive listing Christian a1 as one of the guys I’ve slept with!

But no rushing ok, Kate?

Just- let’s see what happens, how things develop. You should feel grateful that you even kissed him, and not want more! But if what I felt from just kissing him was good, imagine what sleeping with him would be like…

Oooh, Kate stop it! I warned myself. I was getting much too over-excited!

I forced myself to concentrate on my work again.

But again, I was interrupted by the phone after a while.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Kate, hi! I think I’ve got something for you!” It was Abbie.

“Hey Abbie, what’s up?” I said.

“I’ve just been thinking,” she said. “If you’re gonna go out with a member of a1, you’ve gotta know some stuff about them. And you don’t really like them, do ya?”

This was strange! From talking about Josh one minute with Karen, to talking about Christian with Abbie the next!

“Erm… no- but do I really need to know about a1?” I asked worriedly.

“Kate! a1 are Christian’s life! If he’s talking about it over dinner on Friday night, and you don’t have a clue what he’s on about, you’ll be really o.o.y.d.”

“But he already knows I’m not really clued up on a1,” I said reassuringly. “I’m sure he won’t mind.”

“Well, I thought you’d like these anyway- for a bit,” Abbie said.

“What?” I asked.

“Both the a1 albums!” She announced. “Wouldn’t it help to listen to them?”

“Er… Abbie…” I was running out of excuses. I really didn’t care about a1. I only cared about Christian! Although, weren’t they the same thing?

“I don’t really listen to a1…” I began.

“But Kate! you’ve got to start getting into your boyfriend’s band!” Abbie persevered.

“He’s not my boyfriend, Abbie.”

“Kate- it’s only a matter of time!” She said excitedly. “I’ll bring them in tomorrow, and you can borrow them for a bit. And I’ll also find out some other stuff for you.”

“Abbie!”

“What?!!”

I started laughing. “You’re really excited about this, aren’t you? This whole date. I’m not getting married y’know!”

“But Kate- c’mon!! it’s Christian a1!! It’s like fab, fab, fab!!! I mean, how did you stop yourself from telling everyone today?” She asked. “I just wanted to suddenly shout when Karen was going on about Josh, “but she’s going out with Christian a1!!””

I laughed. “It was hard. I want to tell everyone too- but I can’t.”

“But they all want you to ask Josh out!” Abbie complained.

“Oh- it’s worse than that,” I said, bringing the ‘Josh knows’ thing into the conversation.

“What?” Asked Abbie.

“Karen’s gone and told Josh I fancy him!” I said.

“Nooo!” Abbie cried, astonished. “She didn’t! When?!!!”

“Today, after Uni. She saw him as she was leaving and thought she’d go and tell him,” I said.

“And what did he say?” Abbie asked curiously.

“I think he was really embarrassed!” I laughed. “Apparently, he was really shy about it.”

“Well, at least it was better than Tim’s reaction,” Abbie remarked.

“Yeah, well…” I shrugged. Ughhh, don’t remind me! “I’m not really interested in Josh anymore…”

“I bet you’re not!” She laughed. “Who would be when they’ve just snogged Christian from a1?! Have you spoken to him tonight?”

“No,” I said, shaking my head.

“He’s probably busy,” Abbie said.

“I know,” I sighed. “He was in the studio today. But I miss him, Abbie. I really do. I wish it was Thursday now!”

She laughed. “No, you don’t! You haven’t even bought your outfit yet for the date! Are you going shopping for one?”

“I… hadn’t really thought about it,” I admitted.

“Kate! you’ve gotta get something!” Abbie cried. “I’m not saying nothing of yours’d do, it’s just like this is a major event! It has to go well!”

I laughed again. “You really want me to go out with him, don’t you?” I said.

“Yeah! Duh!” She laughed. “I would love to say my best friend dates a member of a1! Ok- I’d like to date a member of a1 preferably- Ben… mmm…- but having someone who does as a mate is still good!”

“You think I should get a new outfit?” I asked.

“Yeah! And I’m coming with you!” She decided. “I want as much to do with this date as possible!”

“Do you wanna go instead of me?” I joked.

“Ok!” she laughed. “As long as Christian morphasises into Ben Adams!”

“Shall we go shopping on Wednesday then?” I asked. “After lunch?”

On Wednesdays, we had no classes after lunch which was brilliant! Abbie and I sometimes took the opportunity to go shopping then.

And this could turn into a really important shopping trip!

“Yeah, that’s good. Ok, then. I’ll see you tomorrow, Kate- with the a1 albums!” She said.

“Ok then,” I laughed. “Are they good?”

“They’re fab! You’ll love them, I know it!” Abbie seemed really sure.

“See you tomorrow then,” I said.

“Bye!”

“Bye!”

I finally put the phone down and then tried to get back to my work. But I kept thinking about Christian.

I really missed him. would it look desperate if I phoned him now? Too clingy?

But I didn’t know if he was at home. What if he was staying at the ARMI house tonight? I didn’t have their phone number!!

Kate, calm down. Everything’s ok. you don’t need to speak to him.

But I do!!! I was thinking.

If I could just hear his voice for a minute…

Maybe those a1 albums would come in useful, after all!

*****************************

The next morning, I was up early to go to Uni as usual. It was better this morning, ‘cos I was driving there, so no pick-ups to think about. I’d somehow managed to get some more work done last night, and refrain from making contact with Christian.

Although it had been hard.

I’d never felt like that before.

Never missed someone as much as I’d missed him yesterday.

It had been one day, for Gods sake! It wasn’t long. But for me, it seemed like an age.

It was actually really draining. When he’s on my mind 24/7 and then I don’t get to even speak to him, it was really hard. Like an ache, as weird as it seems.

I bet he wasn’t this bad

Just me! Typical.

I had a quick breakfast, and grabbed my bag before I left the apartment.

I drove slowly to Uni, no need to rush ‘cos lessons don’t start ‘til 9.30am today either. I was meeting up with Abbie for a coffee first thing.

I wondered what a1 info she had to tell me!

As I drove, I thought about what I’d want to know about Christian.

Well, I knew his name- kind of… I guess I’d like to know a bit more about where he’d grown up, and where he’d lived.

Oooh! And his age!

I suddenly realised I had no idea how old he was. He didn’t look, or appear very old.

What was he- 23? 24 max, definitely.

I was sure he was older then me, but I just hoped it wasn’t by that much. He was in a very young boy band though, so no, he couldn’t be very old.

I knew Ben was 22. Abbie was always going on about how near to her age he was and how perfect they would be together! And from the way he talked about him, I’m pretty sure Christian was older than Ben. So yeah, probably 23, 24.

We’d see though.

I finally got to Uni just before 9, and I parked into the student car park. I made my way to the canteen, and when I got in, Abbie was already there.

She waved me over. “I got you a coffee!” She called.

“Thanks,” I said, as I pulled out a chair and sat down. “You haven’t been waiting long, have you?”

She shook her head. “Nah- just got here. Oooooh! Got some a1 stuff for you!”

I think I blushed a little. “Don’t make it too obvious, remember?” I said.

“You’re not embarrassed about going out with Christian, are you?” Abbie grinned, reaching into her bag.

“No!” I denied. “It’s just I don’t want everyone to know. It’s YOU that should be embarrassed! How many 21 year olds listen to a1?” (I am sooooo sorry Chloe/Emma/Sarah, ne1 else reading this!!!! U kno u hav gr8 taste!)

“Leave me alone!” Cried Abbie. “You listen to Steps!”

“I suppose that’s true,” I grinned.

“Anyway,” Abbie said, “here you go!” And she pulled 2 CD’s out of her bag and put them on the table in front of me.

I stared down, and a1 stared back.

It was the 2nd album which I saw first. It was called the “A-List”- and there they all were, looking back at me.

Christian looked gorge! He hadn’t changed very much at all. Perhaps his hair had grown a little bit, but that was all. He was sandwiched between Ben and Paul- sporting a blond mohican- on the cover. Mark was on the end, next to Ben.

“Oh my God!” I cried, picking it up.

“Isn’t Ben cute?” Abbie remarked.

But I wasn’t really looking at Ben!

I’d never seen any of the albums before. I barely knew their songs. I turned the case over and there they were again on the back! Along with a 15 track song list.

Christian looked soooo cute!

“Oh God! It’s so weird to see him like this!” I exclaimed.

“Well, look at the other one, then!” Abbie laughed. “That’ll make you even more freaked out!”

I looked down at the other CD- and Oh God! She was right!

It was called “Here We Come” and it was obviously their first album- and the order was now Paul, Mark, Ben and Christian on the end.

But God! Christian looked sooooo young!

His hair was completely different!

He had a side-parting!!!

He didn’t look very attractive at all!!

“Oh God- look at him!” I cried.

Abbie saw my shock and laughed. “Yeah I know! Changed slightly, hasn’t he?”

I nodded quickly. “Yeah! God! He looks…”

“Ugly?” Abbie put in.

“Noooo!” I said hastily. “Just… so, so different.” I edgily turned the CD over to the back.

Arraghhhh! It was worse! That hair-do was awful. Really, really bad. All the other guys looked cute, but Christian- ughhh!

They were doing a ‘band’ shot. Ben was on the piano, Mark was on the drums, Christian was on the guitar, and Paul had the mic.

“He looks so fresh-faced and young there!” I gasped.

Abbie nodded. “Would you have fancied him then?” She asked.

I shook my head. “No way!” I decided. “He has sooo changed for the better! I probably would have fancied Paul there, actually!”

Abbie took a sip of her coffee, and kept looking at me, bemused.

“Does Christian play the guitar, then?” I asked her. I couldn’t stop staring at the young pic of him!

Abbie nodded. “And the piano and the keyboard.”

“Wow,” I breathed. God, he really was musically talented! The only thing I could play was the violin- and not very well! And the beginning of “Colours of Day” on the keyboard!!

“And the other guys? They can all…?”

“Mark plays the piano, drums and keyboard; Ben plays piano, keyboard, violin and oboe, and Paul… well…” she thought. “Paul can play the tambourine!”

“Awwww!” I laughed, still looking at Christian.

God, he was so different there! He really had grown up!

Wondering that, how old was he?…

I was about to ask Abbie, when something suddenly caught my eye.

I couldn’t believe it!

Nooooooooo! No, no, no, no, NO!

This was very, very bad.

Josh walked up to our table.

Abbie saw him too and gave me a little “uh-oh” look.

I think I had a horrified stare on my face when he came over! I just kind of froze.

Oh God, this was going to be soooo awkward.

He stopped and gave me a shy grin. “Hi,” he said.

“Er… hi!” I said, desperately trying to hide the a1 CD’s by crossing my arms over them. I hoped I looked ok. I certainly didn’t feel it!

“Are you Kate?” He asked, still with that shy grin. It was quite sweet, actually.

But…

I nodded, as I daren’t speak!

I was just dreading what he was about to say. I just didn’t know what to do, what to say…

“Erm… I was, er, wondering,” he said, shyly, “if you’d… er… like to go out with me?”