Have you ever found yourself looking at a face you really didn't expect to see in a place that you entirely expected another one? Been so certain that you will see a particular person, so you find yourself grinning like a mad person, then had that grin wiped away at the sight of a stranger? Found yourself completely speechless and clueless just because what you thought would happen didn't actually take place?
Of course you haven't. You're a book. My book, nonetheless. So it wouldn't have surprised me if you had been in that situation. At least, second hand, anyway. I've been in so many situations that I'm sure you've lived through plenty.
But I know from experience that you, nor I, have ever experienced this feeling. It's completely brand new information. And, I have to tell you, I managed the whole few seconds very ungracefully.
Let me explain the situation. Danny had asked me to come around for the evening. I had told him that I was busy because, honestly, I was. I was supposed to go see Leanne for the evening because she'd broken up with Tom and was quite devastated. Chicks before dicks, after all. So I had to tell him that I would make it another night.
Turns out that an hour before I was meant to head over, Leanne text me to say that Tom had come to his senses. Turned up on her doorstep with a bunch of flowers and a giant fluffy, begging for her forgiveness. And like the sucker that Leanne is for that man, she took him back immediately. I'll never understand her, you know? I'm pretty sure that it wasn't Tom that initiated the break up. She's just one of those people that need constant reassurance in her relationship, otherwise she abandons ship. Tom had probably just forgotten to put an 'x' at the end of the text. That's my only explanation. I love the girl to bits, but she's so insecure. And Tom is a brilliant guy. Best guy she'd been with. And they love each other.
But hey-ho. They're together again now. Happy clappy, smiley and sexing. Oh yeah. Don't think she didn't tell me that much. Her text was directly after a 'make-up' session. Charming, isn't it? But 100% Leanne. So it came as no surprise to me.
And to be honest, I was really quite pleased about the turn of events. I didn't have to go and comfort the ridiculous decision my best friend had made. I had the night to myself again. But that, I thought, was to be remedied.
I'd cancelled plans with Danny. And I was pretty certain that he would still be free. Of course he would. He made plans with me in the first place. And since I had only cancelled yesterday, there was definitely no way he would have other plans that quick.
So off I went to surprise him. Feeling clever about myself and beaming from ear to ear as I navigated my way to his place. I was going to be his favourite person in the entire world. Saving him from a boring night alone. Yep. Clever, Clara. That was my thinking.
So when I knocked on the door, I expected to see his face. Smiling down in pleasant surprise at the face he didn't expect to see on his doorstep that particular day. Brought into a hug that I've come to imagine when I'm feeling down. And possibly even be treated to another mind blowing kiss...
Footsteps approached. Lock unlocked. Door handle down. Pulled open. There he was...
'Not Danny'.
The man in front of me was most definitely not my Train Boy. A good few inches shorter than the man that I've become used to seeing in this doorway. Short ginger hair on his head, almost non-existent in fact, compared to the perfectly styled dark hair of Dan. And even though he has dark eyes, they aren't Danny's eyes. Everything about him was a stranger, and not what I expected to see.
The sound that came out of me was humiliating. I was trying to say something along the lines of 'hello' or 'is Danny in?' or even something witty like 'have I got the right house?'. But nope. That's not what I said. I think my mind merged them all together and I just made a gargled mesh of noises, followed by a grunt to try and stop the noises. Brilliant, huh? You'd have loved it, Diary.
