Unexpected Encounters [B.H.M.]

48

How I met Brian... That was a bit of an odd story. Definitely not the normal way to meet a good friend. "We haven't actually known each other for very long, just about a couple of months now," I told Sam, getting the reaction I expected.

"Only two months? Wow, it sounded like he's known you for much longer. You two are very close for such a short time.."

That was true. "We are," I confirmed. "It's just how things worked out. We've been there for each other for some tough times recently, I don't want to go into much detail, but that made a difference."

Sam nodded, like he understood what I meant. "That's wonderful. Not that you had some tough times, but that you could help each other. It's important to have friends like that."

He was right about that, it was important. "I know I'm lucky to have him in my life that way. It has taken a lot of interesting turns since I met him." I smiled at him, hoping he knew he was one of those interesting turns.

He seemed to, because he chuckled. "Oh yes, it doesn't get boring with him. I can't believe he really didn't tell you a thing about tonight."

"He didn't," I confirmed. "I'm sorry if you thought I was rude earlier, it wasn't my intention to be rude but I didn't expect that at all."

"It's okay," Sam assured me, smiling. "You still haven't told me how you met him," he reminded me.

"Oh yes, I'm sorry, I got sidetracked. Uhm, how we met, right. It's a pretty long story actually, but one day, a couple of months ago I went to buy dinner after work, and in the shop someone found a notebook and thought it was mine. It wasn't, but I found an address in the front, so I thought I could just go drop it off there and -"

"It was Brian's notebook?" Sam interrupted me.

"Yes," I confirmed. "It was. But wait," I said. "That's not all." Sam looked at me, seemingly very interested in my story. He was very sweet. "So with my dinner in a paper bag, and the notebook in my handbag I left the shop to walk back to my car, but I didn't get far because when I walked around a corner, I literally bumped into Brian."

"You bumped into Brian?" Sam asked, chuckling.

I nodded. "Yes, exactly. Before I realised what had happened, my food was on the ground because the bag broke."

"Oh no, I don't think I've ever run into someone quite as literally," he said amused.

"Me neither, before. Brian was really apologetic, and insisted on getting me a bag that he had in his car. He signed it for me, and then we went separate ways again."

"But, obviously that wasn't everything, right?" Sam asked. He was leaning forward, he seemed to be enjoying listening to my story.

I shook my head. "No, that wasn't everything. No. Of course not. I had the notebook, but I went home first to drop off my shopping before I drove to the address that I found on the first page and when the door opened, once again, it was Brian who stood in front of me."

"That must have been quite a surprise," Sam stated the obvious.

I nodded. "Oh yes. Brian thought I had been creepily following him, so I had to explain the situation to him, and then he was very kind. He invited me in for a cup of tea, which I thought was amazing so of course I accepted. I hadn't been normal for me to spend time with a rock star, you know?"

"I can imagine, yes. But do you still see him that way? A rock star?" Sam asked.

I shrugged. "Yes, because he is. Isn't he? But also... no. I don't see him primarily as that anymore. To be honest, I usually forget how famous he is, because he's so... human. If that doesn't sound weird."