Just Friends

Chapter 26

College was finished for the Christmas holidays and it was Maria's birthday in two days. She lay with her head against the headboard of her bed as she finished off a paper for college. It wasn't due in until January but she wanted to get it over and done with so she could relax over the holiday. She was supposed to be heading to Dublin for the holidays but her parents had gone to visit her brother in Scotland and got snowed in. Her dad tried to clear the driveway and fell, breaking his leg in a few places. He had to have an operation to set the bone and put some screws in so for now...they were stuck in Scotland.

She was sad of course and Vicky said she could spend Christmas in her Nana's with her and Gary but she wasn't sure if she wanted to intrude. It was the first meeting between Gary and Vickys parents, she didn't want to get in the way. Her phone rang interrupting her moment of self pity.

"Well....are you going to let me in or what?" It was Colm

It took her a second to register what he had said, when she did she jumped up and ran to the window. 

"Are you joking?" She pulled the curtain back and sure enough, there he was standing on the steps. She squealed and ran to the intercom, pressing the button to open the front door for him. She opened her front door and stood waiting for him to come up the stairs. As soon as he had cleared the top step and turned to her door she ran at him and hugged him.

"What on earth are you doing here?" She let go of him and they walked back into the apartment together.

Neither of them could keep the grins off their faces.

"So you really didn't have any idea? Seriously?" 

Maria laughed, "I had no idea at all, I was just sat in here feeling sorry for myself. I can't believe you're really here" 

"I'm glad that it was a nice surprise, your Da was convinced that you knew...he even had me convinced."

She got a bit sad at the mention of her dad but she was so excited at the same time. 

"So my parents knew? I can't believe you lot planned this. I'm so glad you're here." 

She reached towards him again and pulled him into a hug, he laughed.

"Jeez if I had known you would be this happy to see me I'd have come last week..." 

When she looked at him in question he gave a half smile 

"Ah just a bad day at work and really needed a pick me up" he looked down slightly embarrassed. 

She put her hand on his arm "You could have called me you know, even text if you didn't feel like chatting" 

He smiled "Thanks Brat, really appreciate that....so what are we doing for the rest of the day?"

"Welllll I really need to do some shopping, so we could do that and grab some lunch if you want"

"I was going to say no thanks until I heard the lunch part. Let's go" 

They went for lunch in a cute little cafe that Maria found the first week she was there. It was a lovely relaxing spot, she went there often especially when she had an assignment to do. She would sit in the corner for hours working away with no interruptions. The owner got to know her really well and would just refill her cup every so often. Sometimes she would bring some new muffins or pastries that she wanted Maria's opinion on. Maria liked everything so far. 

After lunch they went shopping. She wanted to get a few things before the shops got too busy, she also needed some food and drinks. It was her birthday in 2 days, she hadn't planned on doing anything to celebrate it after her parents told her they were stuck in Scotland but now that Colm is here she might invite Vicky and Gary over for a drink and some food.

She watched as Colm stood looking at the frozen pizza's, he couldn't decide which one he wanted. She really was glad he was here, it wouldn't be the worst birthday after all. She would have to call her parents later and thank them for keeping the surprise from her. 

After the finished shopping they stopped off at the little corner shop and bought an ice cream to eat on the way home. It was 2degrees and they were walking along eating ice cream, they got a few funny stares but they ignored them. 

Back at the apartment Colm put the kettle on and Maria started packing the shopping away. She had put some of the bags with some presents into her wardrobe, she would wrap them later. Once the tea was made Colm helped her pack away the last remaining things then they sat on the sofa watching tv for a while, drinking their tea. There was complete silence apart from the tv but it wasn't awkward, it was nice. 

Later that night they played a game of chess, Maria had to teach Colm how to play, she won. He insisted she was cheating and they had a playful argument about it. 

"I'm wrecked, I think I'm going to go to bed soon....I'll get you some pillows and a blanket." 

Maria got up to get the blanket and pillows as Colm pulled out the sofabed. She hadn't realised it was a sofabed until about month after she moved in. She pulled the sofa out to hoover behind it and the base moved, she thought she had broken it at first and panicked until she pulled it a bit more and realised it was a bed. As Colm made up his bed she went into the bathroom to change into her pj's. 

They said goodnight and she switched off the lamp. She could see the flicker of the tv from her bed but Colm had the sound down low so he wouldn't disturb her. She lay for about an hour thinking about the day before sleep enveloped her.