Autumn in Kensington

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It was a Friday evening. We were sittin’ at my kitchen table splitting a bottle of Riesling and havin’ some cheese. I was having’ a cigarette while we talked. It had been a long day for me at the art gallery and I was so happy to be done. The week itself had been very busy. There had been a paper due in my developmental psychology class, my portfolio was to have been submitted on Wednesday which I had done; I had two tests and an abstract sculpture due, and lastly I had to pick two pieces for framing in the on-campus art gallery. I had chosen an up close sketch of Roger’s eyes that I had done with pencil and then finished in watercolor and an acrylic painting of a shoreline I had completed.

 Despite how busy it had been, Roger stayed at my flat on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. He had taken the liberty of havin’ dinner ready for me all three evenins’. It was truly the most romantic thing ever…and I wasn’t one used to any kind of romance. I was at his flat on Thursday for a while when his mum called and I had answered the phone. Much to my shock…she knew me by name. I wasn’t prepared for this at all and a million things were goin’ through my mind as to what not to this lovely lady. ‘Lydia, avoid any sentence that involves the words touch, look or feel and you should be fine’ I coached myself. I kept it classy…I talked to her briefly and handed the phone over to Roger before I could blurt out something stupid like ‘No! No! I’ve NEVER kissed your son! This past week, Roger had introduced me to some people he knew as his girlfriend. I felt badly because he hadn’t met any of my friends and only a couple of them even knew that I was seein’ Roger. I had introduced him to no one as my boyfriend and please trust me when I say…I was dyin’ to.

 Now, here we were. Just us girls on a Friday night. I continued working on my cigarette and filled the empty glass across the table. "I don't know...about tonight." She said to me, with that look of indecision on her face. She also had that 'I really want to back out of this but I know you will kill me if I do' look on her face. I sat the bottle on the table.

 "You're goin’! I've been talkin' you up all week!" I reminded her, placing my hands firmly on the table. "Do you have any idea how much convincin' this took!?"

 "You know I don't like fix ups." She answered.

 "This isn't a fix up! You're comin' to the show and all I'm askin' is for you to go out with us after the show so you can meet him.” I explained, taking a sip of my wine. She eyed me skeptically and sighed. “Chrissie…” I started, giving her a stern look in return. “…I really think you will like him.”

 “It’s going to have that awkward tension, Lydia! I’m gonna’ feel obligated to like him or somethin’ and I won’t know anyone! These are your friends.” she accused me, taking another drink of wine. I exhaled a puff a smoke before me.

 “You will like Veronica a lot. She’s a very nice person. And I’m tellin’ you…you’re gonna’ like Brian.”

 “What if we have nothin’ to talk about and you abandon me all night!?” she asked taking a drink. I rolled my eyes, thinking this was the most ridiculous conversation I’d ever had. I shook my head.

 “Chrissie…you are bein’ absurd! We’re goin’ to a pub that’s near the bar. We’re gonna’ play pool and stuff…it will be great. You will have a terrific time. And if all else fails just get really hammered and fuck him on the pool table.” I raised my glass to her.

 “Lydia!” she half screamed at me through her laughter and her horror. “You’ve set up an expectation haven’t you!? Don’t take this the wrong way but I’m not like you, Lydia! I can’t just put it all out there the way you can!” I loved it. I had her completely disheveled.

 “Calm ya’ self, Chrissie…Look, in the time you and I have known each other, how many guys have I wanted you to meet?” I didn’t give her a chance to answer, I was too busy lecturin’. “That’s right…none!” She was quiet for a little while.

 “What’s he like?” she asked me, giving in to me a bit.

 “He’s very smart, speaks eloquently, and he’s not hard to look at.” I paused and took another drink. “For what it’s worth he’s got a nice body.” I waited for her reaction…

 “How do you know that!?” She eyed me with wide eyes. I shook my head.

 “It’s a long story and very much not what you’re thinkin’.” I told her. “By the way, were you plannin’ on unbuttoning some of those buttons on ya’ shirt?” I asked her. She nearly spit her wine out as I reached for a piece of cheese. She looked down and put her hand over the top of her shirt.

 “What!? No! This looks nice.” She insisted.

 “Yes….yes that looks nice…if you’re GOIN’ TO A BOOK READIN’!” I teasingly yelled at her. She laughed wildly.

 “Oh...oh my…hey…what if I’m nervous, tonight?” she asked.

 “You may be a little…but just have a cocktail at the pub. I was a nervous wreck the first time I went out with Roger. I chain-smoked for a half hour before leavin’ to meet him. In fact, I was nervous most of the time we went out at first.” I told her, taking another drink of wine.

 “Wha…you…but…wha…you slept with him within the first month you met him...and you weren’t even…like…datin’ him exclusively then!” she reminded me in her slightly enthusiastic and perplexed voice.

 “Mmm…yeah, that really settled my nerves.” I said flatly, ashing out my cigarette. I loved watching her reaction. Chrissie shook her head at me.

 “Oooh Lydia…I love you…I do.” She said.

 “Okay, so we’re drinkin’ this next glass to you and Brian.” I said refilling our glass with what was left in the bottle. Naturally, that got yet another a response from Chrissie.

 “No! No! Are you mad!? That’s not our toast! Let’s just drink to whatever happens.” She said.

 “That’s a horrible toast.” I said, clanging my wine glass into hers.

 “So, what time are we leavin’ ?” Chrissie asked.

 “They play early. We should probably get there at around 7:00. They’ll start around 7:30. The set is usually about an hour long.” I shared with her. I was getting’ good at this. My long weekend up north had really broken my in. Not to mention, Veronica had been a huge source of knowledge because she was completely used to this kinda’ thing. “They always tear down after their set and so we will probably meet up with everyone at the pub. You, me and Veronica can walk to the pub. If there is time before the set starts, I’ll introduce you to Brian.” I told her. She had an odd look on her face. “Are you at least lookin’ forward to this a little? You must or you wouldn’t have agreed.” She took a drink of wine.

 “I suppose I am, yes. I just…I don’t know. But listen, I am really excited to finally meet Roger since you’ve talked about him so much and everythin’.” Her eyes sparkled.

 “You’ll like him too. Not the same way you’ll like Brian, but Roger’s very polite. He’s not out to impress anyone…yet he does…all the time…without even knowin’ it.”

 “Were you serious about colorin’ his hair last weekend? God, he must trust you.” She said.

 “I didn’t color it…I highlighted it. It’s absolutely gorgeous.” I paused and looked at her. “You’ll see…” I took another piece of cheese.

 “Tell me about the other two.” Chrissie asked.

 “John is very quiet, he doesn’t say much but he’s kind and sincere. He and Veronica compliment each other very well. They’ve been together for a while now. You’ll see that chemistry instantly. Freddie…oh Freddie. You won’t know how to take him at first, but he’s fabulous. So very funny and absolutely heartfelt.” I did my best describing my newfound friends to her. Chrissie laughed at me. I glanced up at the clock.

 “Finish your wine. We gotta’ go.” I said gulping down the last of my wine and pushing my chair back underneath my table. Chrissie did the same and stood up, letting out a deep, nervous breath. “Oh, and Chrissie…after you meet Brian…you’ll want to put it all out there. Interpret that however you wish.” I winked at her and grabbed my pack of cigarettes and threw them into my purse. She just laughed at me and tugged on her shirt, brushing at the wrinkles in it. I slung my purse on my shoulder and turned around before closing the door behind us.

 “Loosen up those buttons, babe.” I insisted, unbuttoning the top two buttons of Chrissie’s shirt. She fought me. But she gave in.