Gravity

Chapter 5 - April 2019

Lunch arrived and Stacy and I were sat in the office, eating together. Cool or not, I had my packed lunch, and so did she.

It was such a surreal experience for this to be happening now after all of these years. It obviously wasn't a date or anything but still! These types of things just don't happen. Not to me anyway.

"So what brings you to work here?" I finally asked, breaking the silence that was probably only awkward to me. "I mean, I'm not complaining or anything but this isn't exactly the most high class job in the world."

"It doesn't need to be, does it? It pays the bills. Hopefully, anyway," She shrugged.

"That's true. I'm just surprised, that's all," I said, instantly realising how strange that may sound coming from someone you don't know. "Sorry, that sounds a bit weird."

"Yeah it does," She said, looking intently at me. "Do I know you or something?"

"No. Not really. I'm uh . . . this is a little embarrassing. We actually went to school together," I said, scratching the uncomfortable itch on the back of my neck.

"Really? Bridge of Don?" She asked, naming the exact suburb we both grew up in.

"Yeah! We didn't have too many classes together but I do remember you," I explained.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't realise," She giggled while resuming her chewing. "What is your name again?"

This was brutal.

"Michael Ashford. We had geog-"

"Geography!" She exclaimed, her memories finally clicking into place. "Holy shit! We went on that trip, didn't we?"

"Yeah! With Mrs. Porter as the teacher, remember?"

"She was a legend."

"Such a legend," I agreed.

"This all actually makes sense now," She sighed with what sounded like relief. "I'm so sorry I didn't recognise you straight away."

"Oh its fine, it's not like we were best mates or anything. I've changed quite a bit too,"

"I can see that!" She smiled. I swear she looked me up and down as well but there's every possibility that I made that up.

"You haven't changed a bit," I observed, lighting her eyes up as she listened. She may even have blushed.

 It was only really then that I noticed how much I actually had changed. For one thing, I was actually able to talk to her, dare I say even flirt with her a little. And not really on purpose either! Old me was clearly a huge step up from young me. It gave me the confidence to press her on something else too.

"Hey, didn't you move to Glasgow or something? I heard something like that a few years ago."

"I did for about a year," She admitted. "But me and my boyfriend broke up so I wanted to come back home. So that's why I took this job. It's the first one I could find until I get something maybe a bit more permanent."

"Oh I'm sorry to hear that," I lied. Her ex was definitely a sucker for letting her go.

"It's fine, he was a dick anyway. I'm just gutted it took me moving away to find out."

"So are you with your parents now or . . .?"

"I'm renting a flat just now but looking to buy. It just costs so much money. What about you?" She asked, sounding genuinely interested.

"I bought a flat a couple of years ago. Still in Bridge of Don, not far from the school. I couldn't live as far away as you did," Ok now I was just kissing ass.