My Favourite Stranger

What is his name?!

Kelsey got back to the large building at 4:50, leaving herself enough time to try and figure out the basics about the handsome stranger she met that morning. She stood outside and read the huge sign above the glass doorway. ‘Riverside Studios’. Familiar. But didn’t quite ring a bell loud enough. Kelsey walked inside and sat on the edge of one of the many colourful sofas that were perched in the corner of the foyer. She looked around the room trying to find something indicating to the identity of the familiar stranger who was about to buy her a hot drink. Kelsey felt she had to at least know his name, as he did know hers but whether he would remember it or not was another story.

Her eyes were jumping all around the room, until. Jackpot. Her eyes met with a large poster of a man with short, scruffy blonde hair and blue eyes. Despite his charming looks being distorted a little by a crumpled face and a green tinge to the photo, Kelsey knew it was him. “Russell Howard’s Good News”. Russell Howard. Wait what?! Kelsey Hicklin is being bought a drink by Russell Howard?! Kelsey’s bottom jaw thumped down onto the clean floor and her minty fresh breath filled the room and made her eyes water. She looked at her phone to see she still had 7 minutes until Russell was due to arrive. Kelsey leaped up onto her feet and walked to the toilet to perfect her appearance as much as she could.

She got back just as it was getting to 5 o’clock. She imagined Russell would be late, what with all that paper work they carried earlier that morning. Kelsey strolled around the large, blue carpet in the foyer and looked at all the other posters that were hug up high and proud on the cream painted walls. She stopped to look at the one of Russell Howard.

‘Like that do you?’ Said a masculine voice into her ear, making Kelsey jump a little.

‘Hahaa, yeah’ her fingers gestured at the poster, ‘It’s very…green’ She replied smiling, making the man laugh.

‘I guess you’re waiting for me to buy you that tea huh?’ He asked.

‘Yes please’ The handsome stranger that Kelsey had met that morning lead her out of the studios and over the road to Café Plum.

While they were waiting for their drinks to be made, the handsome stranger turned to face Kelsey.

‘Sorry, I haven’t properly introduced myself have I?’ Kelsey looked down and shook her head slightly. He put his hand out and told her his name, ‘Russell Howard.’ Kelsey took a hold of his hand,

‘Kelsey Hicklin.’ They smiled at each other as they began to get lost into each other’s shiny blue eyes. Kelsey blushed and giggled to try and cover up the redness of her cheeks, making Russell smile.

‘Two teas no sugars and milk?’ Called a woman with flaming red hair and a purple apron, holding two paper cups with one in each hand.

‘Yeah!’ Russell said, releasing Kelsey’s hand and raising it in the air for the waitress to see. He handed Kelsey her drink and they walked out side and went for a stroll together while they drank their cups of tea.

‘So erm, what do you do?’ Russell asked.

‘Oh i- i’m a teacher down at St Paul’s Primary.’ Kelsey replied, swallowing a mouthful of warm tea.

‘Oh wow!, You live near here then?’

‘Yeah, just down St James Street’ She smiled.

‘Ahh, that’s a lot of saints’ Russell giggled.

‘Yeah it is’ They giggled and then an awkward silence occurred. They continued walking up and down the road talking, even when they’d both binned their empty paper cups. Kelsey had never really watched Russell’s show but she knew from watching it once or twice before that Russell was funny. She never met anyone who could make her smile like Russell did. They got along so well. They lost track of time until Russell’s phone rang, with one of his friends on the other side, talking rather loudly.

‘Oh shit!’ He said hanging up the phone, ‘Sorry Kelsey i’m really late getting back.’

‘Oh crap!’ She remembered, ‘Okay you go, I understand.’ Russell started jogging back to the studios. Jogging backwards he asked Kelsey,

‘Will you be alright if I leave you?’

‘Yeah i’ll be fine!’ She smiled, Russell faced forwards again after flashing a smile back to her. She watched him turn the corner before spinning on her heels and strolling down her road, wishing that Russell didn’t have to leave so suddenly.