We sat on the bench in silence for about 5 minutes until I finally said something. “Is there any rules against co-workers dating?” Russell looked up to me and smiled.
“No, I don’t think so. Why?” He looked to his hands and back to me.
“Just wondering.” I didn’t know what else to say without sounding full on. “What are we doing? I mean twice we’ve kissed. We’ve only just met. This is silly.” I could feel my eyes starting to fill with tears.
“Well, don’t you believe in love at first sight?” Russell looked at me, his lovely blue eyes wide, he grabbed my hands, and he was worrying he had said something silly. “Not that I love you, I mean one day but… forget it. I’m fucking useless.” It was so cute the way he was acting, I just wanted to kiss him and not stop. His cuteness began to make me giggle.
“I know what you’re trying to say.” I did because I felt the same. “I really like you Russell but I think we need to get to know each other more.., as friends.” I felt so much happier, we were actually talking. I just wanted to stay there for ever and talk. It was about 6:30pm when we went back in. We’d been talking the whole time. We decided we should get to know each other more. I couldn’t wait.
1 year later – 19th August
I’d be working at ‘Good News’ for just over a year and I loved it. I had made so many great friends and one very special friend. We were doing great; we were almost like ‘best friends’. Today was my 28th birthday, mum and my brother ‘Connor’ had text me, and so had Marie as well as other friends. I was sat in the break room on my own, it was completely empty. After about 20 minutes of silence everyone jumped in, singing happy birthday. I shit myself. Everyone cheered as I blew the candles out on the little cake that Madeline had bought for me. We had become really close, she was lovely and such a good laugh. They all took turns saying happy birthday to me and giving me hugs.
“Hey birthday girl.” Russell came up to me and gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. We pulled away smiling, ear to ear. “Come with me, I have something for you.” We snuck out of the room and onto the stage where Russell does his show.
“What is it?” I was really curious; I wanted to know, now.
“One minute, stand here.” He stood me right where he stands every week. “Close your eyes.” Doing as I was told I closed them. I was excited, I was expecting something silly but I didn’t, I got something lovely. “Right, open them.” Stood in front of me was the most handsome and caring man ever with a gigantic bunch of pink lilies, ‘my favourite’ and a little blue box, Russell had the biggest and cutest smile ever. “I rang your mum and asked her. Here you are.” He gave me them and they smelled wonderful, I didn’t know what to say, he then passed me the box and took the lilies and put them on a seat in the front row.
“Oh Russell, you really didn’t have.., too.” Opening the box I felt my heart flutter and a tear roll down my face. In the box was a silver locket, in the locket there was a picture of us two, Madeline, Dan, Steve and Karl, I had come really good friends with them all. It was taken back in March, three days before Russell’s birthday. “Russell, this is just brilliant, thank you.” I couldn’t stop smiling.
"Here, let me put it on you.” Russell took it from me smiling and put it around my neck from the front, he smelt amazing. After clipping the necklace together Russell traced my neck and my collar bone with his finger, I just shivered. He stood in front of me with his face just a few centimetres away from mine. “God, you’re so beautiful.” He closed the gap by kissing me, it was amazing. It seemed to last hours but it was only a few minutes.
“WOW!” I was speechless; nothing would come out of my mouth. “What was that for?” I was still breathless from the kiss. I didn’t care what it was for, I just wanted him to do it again. Russell began to talk and I just bit my lip, I just wanted to kiss him all over.
“Because.., I want us to give us a try. The past year I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. All I’ve wanted to do is kiss you and.., hold you.” He held my hands and carried on. “Lauren, I just want us to try, that night outside on the bench I should of just…” Russell just wouldn’t stop talking. I grabbed him by the back of the head and kissed him he put his hands around my waist and pulled me closer.
We both pulled away from the kiss smiling. “Yes, I think we should. Russell, I haven’t stopped thinking about you either.” We kissed again, smiling and laughing to each other. The rest of the day was brilliant, after work I just wanted to go home but Madeline and some of the girls had arrange for us all to go out to the pub. We met with Russell, Karl, Dan and Steve. Steve had just come back to work a few months ago; his partner just had a baby.
“Hey you.” Russell came over to me and hugged me again. “Listen, we don’t have to tell anyone just yet, we can wait. I think we should.” I agreed with him and he got me a drink. All night people were buying me drinks. The girls had got me a stupid hat and a birthday sash thingy.
About 10:45pm I decided it was time for me to go home. I went to find Russell to say good night. “Hey Russell.” I found him stood at the bar getting a drink.
“Oh, hey, what’s wrong? Want a drink?” He pointed towards the bar man. I shook my head.
“No, I’m fine. Err, I’m gonna go now. It’s getting late and we’ve got work tomorrow. Night.” I gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked out the door saying bye to others on my way. I decided I’d walk home; it wasn’t really dark since it was August and it was warm. Half way down the road I could hear someone shouting.
“Lauren! Lauren! Wait.”
I turned to find Russell running up to me. “What’s wrong?”
“You didn’t think you were leaving without giving me a kiss?” He grabbed me by the waist and gave me a kiss. I loved it. “Plus, I’ll walk you home. You are my girlfriend, are you not?” He giggled and we kissed again.
‘Yes I am’ I thought to myself, in my head I was having my own little party. I couldn’t believe it.
