The Ten Year First Date

Countdown To Date One

I spent an hour with Cassie, laughing, joking and generally just feeling wonderful. Being around Cassie was the most natural thing in the world. Leaving her was painful, but I knew that she would be just around the corner like she said. I closed the door to the pub, which by the sounds of things, would soon be hers. Cassie had told me at The Trafalgar that she would love to own the pub. She had a million and one ideas of how to turn the place from the little local into a thriving gastropub. And with her determination, she would probably pull it off. I wished her luck and told her that I would see her on Sunday following my date with Jeannie. She wanted all the gossip and even offered to let me have the best table in the place as a precursor. I declined. I didn't want Cassie dragged through any more of my problems. She was still a friend and a beautiful person.

I sighed once again as I zipped up my coat before beginning to walk away from the pub. It was cold, and there was another threat of rain in the air, so my pace wasn't exactly slow. I had only got about a hundred yards down the road when I heard my mobile ringing. When the not-so-dulcet tones of Justin Bieber flew through the air, I knew there and then that Josh had an ulterior motive for wanting to play Angry Birds on my phone last night! I answered quickly, for fear of embarrassment, without even looking to see who was on the other end.

'Hello...' I said, hoping that my suspicions weren't correct.

'Well...' Oh God, I was right. It was the Devil Woman.

'Well, what?' I asked, slightly annoyed.

'Have you made your decision?' Jeannie answered, her voice not disguising the fact that she was almost certainly rolling her eyes.

'Yes, I've made my decision.' I sighed, heavily. 'And I hope you're bloody happy.'

'Ah, so I see you picked my way of thinking then,' I could almost sense the smirk on her face.

'If that's what you call it.' I said, now rolling my eyes. 'So, now what do I have to do?'

'What I said.' Jeannie replied. 'Make me fall in love with you again.'

'And how do you propose I do that?' Honestly, this conversation was exhausting!

'Well, that bit is up to you?' Jeannie explained. I could see her sitting at her desk, feet up, grinning from ear to ear completely power crazed.

, 'I see.' I sighed again, rubbing the bridge of my nose. Stress was beginning to get to me. 'Well, I will see you Saturday then.'

'So, that is date number one then?' Jeannie asked.

'If you want to, I mean, you're calling the shots here.' I answered.

'Very true.' Jeannie said, clicking her tongue. 'But as this is the first date, then I will go with whatever you are planning.'

'Fine. I'll ring you Friday night to let you know.'

'Alright, speak to you Friday.' And with that, Jeannie's phone went down, and my fate was well and indeed sealed.

I never thought I would say it, but I actually welcomed the thought of going back to work. I ran down to the financial district, as the rain had started and I, in my wisdom, didn't think of bringing an umbrella with me. That was the trouble with winter. So unpredictable, cold and mostly wet - as was I. I dripped dried in the foyer before entering the office. Ben, as standard, was perched behind his desk, head down buried in numbers. He didn't bother to even acknowledge my arrival.

'Hi.' I said, draping my coat over the radiator in the vain hope that it would actually be working.

'Mmm...' was mumbled in reply. I sat down and pursed my lips. This was an unusual development. Ben was never quiet. He always had a tale to tell, usually about Ebony. But today, so far there was nothing. I tapped my fingers my fingers on the desk and took a few deep breaths before finally not being able to hold it back any longer.