I Think I'm Being Followed: Chapter 2
Jane:
Well, today was interesting. I saw Matt again, after 3 years, it was totally unexpected, but really nice, and as it turns out, the cute guy that has been staring at me every time he comes in, is actually his younger bother, small world I guess. Although I have to admit, id have preferred if he'd have asked me out, not had his older bother do it for him but I'll take what I can get.
As of this moment, im walking home, it's just after 5 and I have less than 3 hours to get ready, not that I have any idea of what im doing this evening. I probably should have asked, but never mind.
As I walk up the stairs to the flat I'm sharing with Sarah, the closest thing I have to a 'best friend', I try to ignore the crumbling walls and faded wallpaper that lines the hallway of the somewhat-rundown building, hoping that when the boys turn up later they'll do the same, even though I know they wouldn't judge.
I reach the door only to find it wide open, a sudden wave of panic hits me, only to subside seconds later when I see Sarah walking towards me, still half asleep. I don't even want to know what she was doing last night, and probably most of today as well. I guess I should be more worried about her, but I've always said that what she does is her choice, far be it for me to stand in her way. She may be my best friend but she does have a mind of her own, and even though I don't exactly approve of what she's doing, hard to ignore even now when any hint of alcohol or drugs has disappeared. But, she's been a great friend to me, especially after what happened last year with Justin.
Anyway, I try to snap Sarah out of her daze by telling her what happened this morning and how she now has plans for tonight, it doesn't really seem to help so I lead her in the direction of the bathroom, with firm instructions to 'Be in and out of that shower in 20 minutes' she grunts in reply, which I choose to take as a 'I'd love to Jane' whilst thinking, 'Good luck Matt'.
After dealing with Sarah I realise that maybe I should have showered first, but no matter, the show goes on, I always say, whilst rifling through my wardrobe for something halfway decent to wear, carefully avoiding the middle drawer, my mind wanders to thoughts of Jack, I cant help thinking that maybe this wasn't such a great idea, I mean I know he's related to Matt and everything - meaning he should be a pretty nice guy if he's anything like his brother, but honestly, he didn't really seem that eager, and I don't want to be with someone who doesn't really want me, even if it is just one date, who knows where these things can lead. Then there's the small matter of ex-boyfriends. I don't want to get anyone involved in anything.
As the bathroom door opens and a now-completely-awake Sarah emerges, I realise that I have just wasted half an hour worrying over practically nothing. Without a word I grab some clothes off the pile on my bed and take to the shower.
Letting the warm water run down my face and back I gently rinse my hair and then using my favourite shampoo and conditioner, wash my hair repeatedly, till I feel as if im completely clean.
Stepping out of the shower, I rub my face dry using a towel, and pausing to catch my reflection in the mirror, I wonder what anyone could ever see in me.
I stare at my face, my plain face, plain brown hair, and plain green eyes. Nothing special.
Snapping out of the daze, I go on to towel dry my hair, as if I hadn't just let my insecurities get the better of me. Im not really paying attention to what im doing, so it would come as no surprise to say that im now wearing a lime green dress with luminous pink leggings. Not a good choice, I laugh off my fashion mistakes and return to my room to find Sarah sitting on my bed. Not an uncommon sight, I point to my chosen ensemble and we find ourselves laughing almost uncontrollably, I then decide on a completely new outfit and now find myself wearing a deep red evening gown. Maybe slightly too formal but im sure the boys will appreciate it. I glance at Sarah she's busy straightening her long blonde hair, having just finished applying her make up, she looks amazing, and I cant help letting my self-doubts creep into my thoughts, 'I could never compare to her'.
Although I always think this, im not jealous of Sarah, she never brags about anything, which is what I like about her, it's the reason we became friends in the first place, when we were both 17 and asked to go on some sort of school trip, we had to share a room them and even though I knew everything she owned was a hundred times better than anything I could ever wish for she never made me feel inferior, im not sure if she herself was that happy about it, having so much great stuff I mean. Well, during that trip we stayed up half the nights just talking and soon became friends, even after we went back to school, we stayed close, then when we both left school, it was a snap decision for us to live together, but it works, and we've been like it ever since.
I think that Sarah could tell I was doubtful about tonight, my feeling were so easily mirrored on my face. She asked me 'Are you sure you want to do this, I mean you've barely said 3 words to this guy right?'
After considering her words I merely said 'Yeah, it'll be fine, I mean got to get over my fears sometime' whilst adding a nervous laugh, attempting to soothe my nerves.
'Fears?' she asked, confusion in her voice.
'Uhh yeah...y'know the whole is-he-a-psycho thing' I said, hoping my voice sounded more natural and calm than I felt. This reply seemed to satisfy her though, She knows how paranoid I can get, I worry too much she always says but this time she adds nothing more on the subject.
She does however ask me why she has to keep Matt entertained, I hastily told her, that she wasn't to keep him entertained, merely to keep him company, as with Jack out of the house, he would have nothing to do for the evening. Sarah just shrugged, 'Well I don't mind, if he's as fit as you say he is' she added with a wink in my direction. I laughed, a real laugh this time, and went on to reassure her that although I may not have seen Matt in 3 years, there would not be anything between us, something she had casually asked about earlier, when I was telling her about our plans for the evening. I had been right, Sarah was willing to spend time with Matt, even more so after I told her about his Sex-God reputation.
As I sat in front of my mirror, trying to think of something to do with my hair, Sarah launched into a recollection of old boyfriends as had become her custom whenever we she was getting ready to meet a guy.
'D'you remember that one guy, who refused to wear anything but orange?'
'Yeah' I answered with a laugh
'He was such an idiot!'
'Yeah he was'
'Then there was that guy who refused to call me by my name, it was always "babe" or "darlin'", I almost started to think he didn't even know my name'
'Oh yeah, I never liked him' I said, merely trying to sound interested.
'Oh same, I have no idea why I stayed with im for a week, let alone 2 months!' she added completely oblivious to my vague answers.
Finally after another half hour of comparing Brad The Boring to Dave The Dumbass, and vice-versa, there was a knock at the door, and despite being startled, I practically ran to answer it, anxious to escape my best friends endless rant, I mean I love the girl but she has a way of carrying on the conversation without a response from you, I blame her parents, who only ever showed a mild interest into what was going on with her life.
I was surprised to find Jack holding flowers, and I think I actually blushed when he handed them to me; it was such a nice thing to do. I found myself looking him up and down, I immediately liked what I saw, his eyes found mine and I think we had one of those wordless conversations, where it seems as if the other person can see some much more than there is on the surface, it was a connection, to say the least.
I didn't even notice Sarah come up behind me and nod approvingly at Matt, who, I then noticed, couldn't keep his eyes off her. I felt jealous, but put it down to an echo of old feelings.
Attempting to let these go, I asked Jack what he had planned for the evening, expecting a long-winded description of what he saw as the perfect date, I was surprised when he said, 'Oh, it's a surprise' and noticing the shy smile on his lips, I decided not to press the matter. I found it difficult to contain my new-found-excitement, and when he offered his arm to escort me downstairs, I happily took it, throwing one last glance at Matt and Sarah, still hovering in the doorway, yet slowly moving in the direction of the sofa, I may have imagined the mischievous look Sarah threw me, before the door to our flat closed behind them.
