Straightening Ali (26 page)

“
Ali, it’s me,” Steve said.

“
Where the heck are you, Steve? My flight landed at four. I’ve been hanging around waiting for ages,” Ali said angrily. “Why aren’t you here to pick me up?”

“
I’m really sorry, Ali. I’ve had to make some arrangements for your stay, and I lost track of the time. If I give you my address will you get a taxi?”

“
Is it expensive? I don’t have that much money,” Ali said, not wanting the few euros he had to dwindle away.

“
It shouldn’t be more than thirty to forty euros,” Steve assured him. “You did remember to bring some euros didn’t you?”

“
Yes, I’ve got about ninety,” Ali said, having earlier counted the euros that Haseena had given him.

“
That’s not very much. Did you bring your credit card with you?” Steve asked.

“
Yes I have, but I don’t think I’ve got much credit left on it,” Ali said.

“
Oh, Ali, that’s terrible. What are you going to do for money?” Steve asked glumly.

“
I’ll find a job,” Ali said trying to sound positive. Part of him wanted Steve to offer to look after him, but that did not seem likely.

“
I guess we’ll have to sort something out. Have you got a pen and paper, so I can give you the address?” Steve asked.

“
Give me a second,” Ali said. He made a writing gesture with his hand to the receptionist who understood and gave him a pen and a sheet of paper. Steve gave Ali the address spelling out all the difficult words.

“
Have you moved?” Ali asked curiously noticing the address was different.

“
Yes. I’ll explain things when you get here,” Steve said.

“
Can’t you explain now? I don’t like surprises,” Ali said wondering what was going on.

“
It can wait, Ali. We have lots to discuss when you get here,” Steve said.

“
What do you mean ‘we have lots to discuss’?” Ali asked anxiously.

“
A few things have changed, Ali, but we can discuss that when you get here. I don’t want to get into it on the phone,” Steve replied.

“
Okay,” Ali said almost petulantly and trying not to sound cross with Steve.

“
I’ll see you in a bit then,” Steve said hanging up abruptly.

Ali handed the phone back to the receptionist and made his way to the taxi rank. “Whatever he tells me, at least I’ll get some answers when I get there,” he thought.

Ali pressed the buzzer on the intercom system for the fourth time. There was still no answer. He’d made sure that the taxi driver had dropped him off at the address given to him by Steve before he’d let him leave.

Worried that he might have made a mistake, Ali walked to the end of the street and double checked that the street name on the sign matched the address he’d jotted down. They were identical.

“
What’s going on?” Ali asked himself. “I should go home. Steve obviously doesn’t care about me. What am I still doing here?”

Ali walked back to the doorway of the tall apartment block to try one last time. However, just as he was about to press the buzzer, the door swung open and a young, dark haired French man stepped out. Ali tried to walk past him to get into the building, but the man grabbed him by the wrist.

“
Ali?” he asked.

“
Yes,” Ali said. “Who are you?” he asked feeling confused, and pulling his wrist out from the man’s strong grasp.

The French man didn’t reply and instead looked Ali up and down as if evaluating him, then finally gave him a look of disappointment as though Ali had failed to measure up.

“
He’s waiting for you in the apartment. It’s on the fourth floor,” he said giving Ali a filthy look before hurrying off into the street.

Feeling completely baffled by the man’s strange behavior, Ali walked into the apartment building to find himself in a beautifully decorated lobby with a marble floor and a large crystal chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling. The lobby opened into a private courtyard that contained a small fountain. A glass door elevator was situated in one corner of the lobby and next to this was a wide staircase with a red carpet leading to the apartments above.

Ali took the elevator and got out at the fourth floor. There was only one apartment on the floor. Ali knocked on the door and waited. The door was shortly opened by Steve. Forgetting all his worries and insecurities, Ali rushed into Steve’s arms giving him a hug, but something was wrong. Ali looked up at him expecting to be kissed, but Steve held back, appearing cold and reserved.

“
Is everything okay?” Ali asked, feeling worried. Steve did not reply. “Aren’t you at least a little pleased to see me?”

“
Sit down, Ali. We’ve got lots to discuss. Let me just bring your suitcase inside.” Steve picked up Ali’s suitcase and pulled it into the apartment, shutting the door behind him.

Steve’s home was a luxurious, loft apartment. It had high ceilings and a large lounge diner. The floors were real wood, and the walls were decorated in fashionable neutral colors. “How can you afford this apartment?” Ali asked, bewildered.

“
It’s a long story. Sit down and I’ll explain,” Steve said inviting Ali to sit on the cream sofa.

“
What’s going on, Steve?” Ali asked trying hard to hide the panic he was feeling.

“
Would you like a drink?” Steve asked, ignoring the question.

“
I’m not in the mood to drink anything. I just want to know what’s going on. I’ve not come all this way to be ignored,” Ali said, his face contorted angrily with emotion.

“
I didn’t expect you to leave your wife, Ali. I didn’t expect you to come to Strasbourg,” Steve said.

“
Just tell me what’s going on, Steve. Why have you gone cold on me? What’s changed?” Ali asked.

“
Ali, the day that you got married I thought I’d lost you forever. Your life had been neatly sorted out, and I’d just become part of your past. I was hurting so much, and I needed to make a break with my past, too. I needed to move on,” Steve explained.

“
You needed to move on? But you told me that you’d wait for me. You said you’d wait a whole year, Steve. Why did you lie to me?” Ali asked.

“
I didn’t lie to you. I really meant it. The day of your wedding, I could barely cope. I was feeling so upset, wondering what was happening, how you were getting on with your wife, whether you’d slept with her. I realized that I couldn’t go on feeling like that for a whole year waiting for you,” Steve said.

“
What are you trying to tell me?” Ali asked.

“
I don’t know how else to tell you this, Ali. I’ve moved on with my life. You coming here like this has been a complete shock. It’s not something I expected,” Steve said.

“
You’ve moved on with your life,” Ali said in disbelief. “I’ve left everything behind because of you, and now you’re telling me that you’ve moved on with your life?”

“
You left everything behind because you were unhappy. It wasn’t because of me,” Steve replied. “I never asked you to leave.”

“
Why didn’t you talk to me about this when I was still in England? Why did you wait until I got here?” Ali said angrily, reeling from Steve’s words.

“
I don’t know. I just couldn’t tell you something like this over the phone. I’m sorry,” Steve said.

“
So is it over between us?” Ali asked quietly, wanting to hear Steve say the words.

“
Ali, it was over months ago when I came to Strasbourg. I’ve not seen you for over four months for God’s sake,” Steve said callously.

“
What do you mean it was over months ago? You’ve never told me that it was over. Every time I’ve telephoned, you’ve always told me how much you loved me,” Ali retorted angrily.

“
I do love you. I mean I did love you, but things changed when you got married,” Steve said.

“
You’ve led me on,” Ali said in disbelief. “You don’t fall out of love with someone over night.”

“
Ali, I love you, but I’m not in love with you.” Steve said. “I want to see you happy.”

“
You love me, but you’re not in love with me?” Ali repeated miserably. “See me happy? You’ve made me destroy an innocent girl’s life and ruin my family’s reputation. I left everything behind because of you. How could you do this to me? You bastard!” Ali yelled angrily.

“
Calm down, Ali. Stop getting hysterical, or I won’t talk to you,” Steve said coldly.

“
How do you expect me to behave?” Ali exclaimed.

“
I know it’s a shock for you. I’m really sorry. I didn’t expect you here today. I would have told you eventually,” Steve said.

“
Is that supposed to make me feel better? So are you seeing anyone else?” Ali asked.

“
Yes, I’m sorry,” Steve replied sheepishly.

“
Why didn’t you tell me that yesterday? I would have gone back to my wife if you’d told me sooner, you selfish bastard!” Ali yelled angrily. “How long have you been seeing him?”

“
Not long, a few weeks maybe. He asked me to move in with him, yesterday,” Steve said.

“
So, while I was running away, you were playing happy family with your new boyfriend. Why couldn’t you tell me? Why?” Ali asked furiously. “Why did you pretend for so long?”

“
I was scared. I was worried you’d do something stupid,” Steve said.

“
Oh, so you didn’t tell me out of concern for me,” Ali said sarcastically. “You know, you’re right, I have done something stupid. I’ve left everything behind for a worthless bastard like you!”

“
What did you expect me to do? You were getting married. I tried my best to wait for you,” Steve said.

“
You didn’t even last a day. All I expected from you was some honesty. Was that too much to ask for?” Ali asked angrily.

“
I’m sorry, Ali. I truly am. I want you to know that I’m here for you as a friend,” Steve said. “Fabien says you can stay here until you’ve got yourself sorted out. The spare bedroom is ready, and you won’t have to pay rent.”

“
What planet are you on Steve? Do you really think I’m moving in with you and your new lover? You can piss off! I don’t need your help!” Ali retorted. “I hate you!” All the anger and hurt he felt came boiling out of him. He gave Steve a hard slap on his face, leaving a red welt behind.

“
I deserved that, Ali,” Steve said tearfully. “Go ahead and hit me again. I deserve it.”

“
I’m sorry I did that, but I’m not doing it again. I really don’t want to stoop to the same level as you,” Ali said angrily.

“
I’m really sorry, Ali. I never meant to hurt you. I’m really sorry,” Steve repeated tearfully.

“
It’s too late to say sorry. I need to go,” Ali said.

“
Where are you going to go? You don’t know anyone here. Stay in the spare room until you’ve sorted yourself out,” Steve said.

“
No. I don’t want to stay here. I can book myself into a hotel,” Ali said, wondering how he was going to afford it.

“
Stay here tonight. Please,” Steve pleaded as if to relieve himself of some of the guilt he was feeling for Ali’s situation.

“
I can’t stay,” Ali said. He would love to have stayed, but the thought of seeing someone else with Steve made him feel sick. Ali picked up his suitcase and headed to the door.

“
Let’s talk, Ali. It’s late and dark outside, and you can’t go out in the state you’re in. Just stay tonight,” Steve said grabbing him.

“
Don’t touch me,” Ali said angrily pulling himself out of Steve’s hands. “I’m going. Good bye!” Ali yelled, opening the door and leaving the apartment, banging the door shut loudly behind him.

He headed down the stairs dragging his suitcase behind him on its wheels without bothering to pick it up and let it hit every step on its way down.

It was cold outside. A large part of him felt that he should have swallowed his pride and stayed the night. He wanted to cry. It was as if he’d been punched in the face by the person he’d most trusted in the world.

He’d never thought that Steve would let him down like this. Ali paused to catch his breath. He looked back, but Steve hadn’t even bothered to follow him to try and persuade him to stay. Ali wanted to burst into tears. “No, I’m not going to cry,” he thought taking control of his emotions. “I need to be strong.” Trying to maintain an inner calm, Ali considered his options.