Just Friends

Chapter 35

It had been two weeks since Maria got back home to Dublin. She had only seen Colm once in that time and he seemed distant. She was upset at first, she thought they had sorted things out between them and they were good again but he obviously changed his mind. 

She looked at herself in the mirror, she had gotten a light tan from the few nice days they had and it really showed against her white shirt. She had her hair pulled up into a neat high ponytail and her black trousers were a really flattering fit. She looked professional but nice. She took a deep breath and prayed that she would have a good day in her new job. 

She had done online interviews when she was in Cork and then one of the managers went there to meet her in person when she got through to the final few hopefuls. She would be an intern of course but she was excited. The company had contacted her through the college, they had heard good things about her. She was one of the lucky ones. 

Her eyes roamed across the photos that she had stuck to her board beside the mirror. She came across the one of her and Colm in the museum. She sighed, took it down and put it into her desk drawer. As much as she liked the photo she didn't need a reminder of him every day. She grabbed her bag and went downstairs.

"Oooh look at you...little miss professional." Her dad gave her a kiss on the cheek "You look great, love. Have a good day at work" 

She smiled and thanked him then said her goodbyes. 

"You not having something to eat?" Her dad looked concerned

"Da I was up at 6, I had breakfast and a coffee already." 

He looked towards the sink for the evidence, Maria noticed and laughed. 

"I washed them and put them away already. I learned a few things since I moved out" 

Her dad laughed and said goodbye. As she left the house she heard a voice calling her from behind. Turning she saw Keith walking towards her. 

"Hey, how have you been? You look amazing" 

Maria smiled at him "Thank's, I'm good how about you?" 

They walked towards the bus stop chatting, when they were at the stop a few minutes Maria checked her watch for the time. She really hoped the bus wouldn't be late or she'd miss her second bus and she'd have to run to work. It wouldn't be good to turn up late and sweaty on her first day. 

"Are you in a hurry?" Keith was looking at her.

"Yeah...well sort of. I need to get two buses, if this one is late I'll miss my second one. I don't want to be late on my first day. "

"Um well if you want..I'm not doing anything. I can give you a lift...."

She was unsure if she should accept a lift...but she really didn't want to be late.

"I don't want to put you out..." 

Keith shook his head "You wouldn't be, honestly. I'm not doing anything today so it would be my pleasure. Let me do this favour for you please...as a friend" 

She smiled and looked down the road. Still no sign of the bus "um ok then...thank you" 

They walked to his house, his car was parked outside on the road. He opened the door for Maria then ran around to the driver side and got in. They chatted as he drove her to work. 

"You know, I was really surprised when Colm apologised to me" 

Maria quickly turned to look at him "He what? when?"

Keith looked at her a little surprised. "He didn't tell you? He came up to me on the street one day and apologised for everything. I honestly thought he was going to smack me again when he first walked up to me but nope. Things are good between us now." 

Maria let out the breath she was holding "Well...that's good to know I suppose" 

"I'm surprised he didn't tell you, I thought he would have used it to get some brownie points" 

Maria chewed on the inside of her cheek for a minute. She wasn't sure what to say. If Keith knew they weren't together would he ask for another chance again?

"Uh we haven't really seen much of each other for a while." She knew she sounded sad but she couldn't help it. 

"Oh sorry, I thought you guys were together." 

"No, after you saw...well I mean after what happened in Cork we spent Christmas together but just as friends. I thought maybe we could take a while to get over everything and try again but iI don't think he wants that. He seems to be avoiding me."

Keith glanced across at her as he stopped at the traffic lights. 

"Well he's an even bigger idiot than I first thought. It's his loss"

She smiled shyly at him. "Thanks Keith" 

"Uh Maria....I need to ask you something.." 

Oh crap. Here it comes. She shouldn't have said anything but she didn't want to lie. She turned her head towards Keith.

"Yeah?"

"Well...when we were together...was there anything between you and Colm?"

"Oh god no" She burst out laughing, she was relived that he hadn't asked for another chance. 

"Sorry, but no. Definitely not. The day you saw us in Cork...that was the first day we kissed." 

She looked down at her hands, she was getting sad just thinking about it. She wished that they had more time to explore their relationship but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. 

"Oh shit...sorry. I thought maybe...well actually no I know that he has liked you for quite a while. He just didn't act on it, that night in the cinema with my cousin...well we could see how he looked at you."

"Oh she was your cousin, I thought she was your date." 

Now it was Keith turn to laugh "God no, she only agreed to go with me because I begged her to and I paid for everything. She even called me a loser after we had been talking in the queue. She said it was obvious that you two were together and that I didn't stand a chance"

Maria giggled "I heard her saying loser...I thought she was talking about me" 

Keith pulled up outside the building of Maria's new office. 

"Why would she call you a loser? she didn't even know you." 

Maria shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know, I guess after years of Sinead and Kelly calling me a loser I just expected it. Anyway...thank you so much for the lift, I really appreciate it." 

Keith laughed "No problem, if you ever need a lift again just let me know" 

Maria looked down at her feet "Um well I would but...I deleted your number"

Keith burst out laughing and took his phone out. He unlocked it and done something then seconds later Maria heard a beep coming from her bag. Laughing she took her phone out

Here you go, Sorry I know I was supposed to delete it but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Forgive me?

She looked up at Keith "You're forgiven. RIght, I really need to go. Thanks again."

Maria got out of the car and went inside to begin her first day as an intern.