Pop Tarts, Brand, and Her

Chapter 13: Date Night

Chapter 13: Date Night

Noel beamed happily to himself as he wandered through Freddie’s gardens. Shannon had said yes! He’d asked her to dinner, and she’d said yes! God she’s a sweet little thing! Noel’s thoughts were interrupted though when he was pulled behind the hedgerow he’d just walked past. He turned around, a sinking feeling in his stomach. Yep, it was Russell.

“What?” Noel asked, rolling his eyes in exasperation.

“You know what.” Russell narrowed his eyes. “I liked her! I mean really liked her, Noel! She was good for me!”

“But you weren’t good for her!” Noel snapped back. He sighed and held up his hands, palms out. “I’m sorry. We both threw ourselves in at the deep end here…and both ended up falling for the same girl…”

“Yes, well, unfortunately for you, she does actually harbour feelings for me.” Russell smiled vindictively. “Meaning the wager is still on. Whoever sleeps with her first, gets her.”

Noel watched Russell prance away, leaving him to think…alone…

***

Shannon gazed out across the pond, throwing bread hap-hazardly at the ducks as they swam and quaked their way into oblivion. Noel and Russell didn’t know she’d heard their little squabble yesterday…and it’d damn well stay that way too. She felt used…and she had that date tonight with Noel…

She jumped as her phone went off loudly beside her and winced ever so slightly as she read the caller ID… Noel. Hesitantly, she answered.

“Hello?”

“Shan! It’s Noel… am I still picking you up tonight?” he sounded excited.

Shannon chewed on her bottom lip anxiously. “Actually, I can’t tonight… my mate Patrick needs to work and I said I’d take the three kids tonight…”

“He can’t get someone else?” she could hear the genuine disappointment in his voice.

“Single dads have few friends…and even fewer willing to look after three kids under the age of ten… I’m sorry Noel…it’ll have to be another time.” She hesitated. “You could come round and hang with me and the kids though…if you’d like… they’re Boosh fans…”

When he replied she heard the smile in his voice, and it made her heart melt. “Yeah, sure, okay…when?”

“Round eight? They’ll have eaten by then…it’ll be movie time.” Shannon smiled herself. “Remember the address?”

“How could I forget?” Noel purred through the phone and Shannon shook her head, laughing quietly.

“Okay…” she smirked.

“It’s a date!” Noel chuckled. “Bye!”

Shannon heard the click of him hanging up, let her head fall into her hands and groaned. ‘Piss off hormones! I don’t need you right now!’

***

The doorbell rang and the kids all turned to look at Shannon quickly, looks on their tiny faces asking: ‘Who else is coming?’

Shannon smiled, held a finger to her lips to quiet them and winked playfully. Quiet giggles erupted behind her as she opened the front door.

“Eight, bang on the dot!” Shannon exclaimed jokingly. “Mr. Fielding, I’m impressed!”

“You ain’t seen nothing yet, darlin’.” Noel winked at her and she blushed.

Several shocked gasps followed by incriminating giggles were unsuccessfully quieted behind Shannon and she grinned. “Noel,” she began stepping back to let him in. “Say hello to, I believe, your youngest fans.”

Noel bowed his head towards the three youngsters. “Hello…”

The little girl walked up to him and cocked her head to the side curiously. “You’re from in the telly…”

Noel laughed quietly as Shannon lifted the little girl into her arms. “Noel, this is Harriet.” She nodded to the two boys, “And this is James of the blue pyjamas, and Joel of the red pyjamas.”

Noel smiled, “Nice to meet you.”

“Do you like woolly mammoths?” young Joel asked him with a yawn.

Noel looked sideways at Shannon who nodded. “Yes, I do…why?”

“Because we’re watching Ice Age two!” replied James excitedly. “And there’re lots of them!”

“Come on then you lot,” Noel watched as Shannon herded them into her living room. “Let’s watch Ice Age!”

Noel laughed out loud as all three kids shouted in unison and scrambled for the best seats. Perhaps this was a better date after all…