Unlikely Places (9 page)

I felt the heat rise on my neck at her touch. “No problem”.
Handing her a cup of tea. “Lunch is served follow me”. Leading her into the
dining room where I had already placed our lunch baguettes.

“Is this where you do your work?”

“Yeah...it’s pretty boring stuff really”.

“Why don’t you do something else?.....Do you still do
photography?”

“No...Not much...I’m not very inspired at the moment”.

Eating our sandwiches we talk about her meeting on Monday,
our college days and the tutors we had, she revealed how understanding her
tutors were when her friend died compared to her mother. How she has had a very
strained relationship with her since her parents got divorced, giving her
little to no support when she needed her most. It left me struggling to
understand how her mother could abandon her to live on the streets for several
months, she seems almost blasé about it resolved to the fact that they would
never have a relationship.

Realising the time is almost five in the afternoon, Sam made
her excuses to leave as she had plans to help Jo dye her hair in preparation
for a job interview next week. She agreed to my offer of a lift to save her
legs, as we are about to leave Sam gave me a hug kissing me on the cheek making
us both blush. On the way back we discussed the next book I have to produce a
layout for by the end of next week.

After Sam’s departure I decided to take a long bath to
relax, trying to focus on the work I need to make a start on, but Sam keeps
entering my thoughts I really enjoyed her company which left me feeling
invigorated and looking forward to meeting up again soon. She had kissed my
cheek twice in the same day, I could only dream of how this could escalate. I
tried to relax for the rest of the evening, eventually drifting off watching
‘The Returned’.  

Sunday

A well-rested night allowed me to make an early start on the
new book I had to lay out. Taking a break for a late lunch I stood with the
fridge open eating roast chicken topped with salad cream, a terrible habit. I
barely hear my phone vibrating from the other room over my chomping, picking it
up Sam’s name flashes on the screen.

‘I’m in so much pain today and it’s all your fault’

‘Ops sorry about that – did a hot shower not help’

‘No’

“Well in that case feel free to use my bath if you want -
can’t have you crippled for you meeting tomorrow’.

‘Aren’t you working today?’

‘Yes but not in the tub’

‘Ok thanks I promise I won’t disturb you – see you soon’

Once again I am unable to concentrate on the job in hand
knowing Sam will be naked in my bath very soon, I got up and make sure the hot
water is on before returning to work. An hour later a knock on front door draws
me from my work, opening it expecting to see Sam I hide my surprise at seeing
Nat and Lucy. Shit I had totally forgotten about Lucy coming over.

“Did you forget?” Nat immediately looks at her watch.
“You’re not even dressed yet it’s almost one O’clock”.

“No I didn’t forget...I just lost track of time.....I’ve been
working since eight”.

Giving me a look of disgust, although I think it’s mostly
jealousy as she would love to be able to lounge around on a Sunday. “Come on
midget”. I said reaching for Lucy’s hand.

“You’re a midget...you’re smaller than mummy and daddy”.

“I’m still bigger than you”.

“I’m five and half”. 

Out whited by my nice once again I catch Nat trying to
surpass a smirk. “Right she’s got stuff in her back pack....I’ll pick her up
about 7ish ok?”

“Sure no problem....see you later...have a good time”.

Shutting the door I bend down to help Lucy remove her back
pack and coat. “So...what do you want to do first?”

We were interrupted by another knock at the door, I
straightened up to open the door again this time to a smiling Sam.

“Hey...are you sure this is okay?”

“Who’s that?” Lucy asks poking her head around the door,
much to Sam’s surprise.

“Ahh...hello what’s your name?” Sam inquired a little
shocked.

“Lucy...I am five and a half....how old are you?”

“Hello Lucy my name is Sam and I’m twenty four and a half”.

Opening the door fully to beckon Sam in. “This is my
nice....I’m chaperoning her till this evening....cup of tea?” Closing the door
I headed for the kitchen as Lucy disappeared into the sitting room back pack in
hand.

“Thanks”.

Hearing footsteps behind me, I flicked on the kettle before
turning to look at Sam hoping my smile would smooth over any shock of Lucy’s
presence.

“Sorry I forgot about Lucy coming round....I’ve been a bit
preoccupied of late”. Mainly thinking about kissing the person stood in front
of me.

“I should lea-”.

I cut her off putting my hand on her arm. “No its fine
really...besides I might need some help entertaining the beast”.

“She looks so sweet”.

“So does Stewie from Family Guy”.

Sam’s giggle was interrupted as Lucy walking in yogurt in
hand. “Can I have a spoon please...and a drink?”

“Fruit shoot?”

I pulled a fruit shoot from the fridge as Lucy handed Sam
her yoghurt. “Can you take the top off please?”

“Sure”. I watched as Sam stiffly bent down to open her
yoghurt offering her the lid to lick.  

“What are we doing first?” I asked Lucy.

“Mario”.

“Okay...Sam’s going to have a bath while we play as her
bathrooms broken at the moment”.

Lucy eyed Sam wrinkling her nose. “Are you smelly?”

I hid a snigger while making tea, as Sam tried to explain
why it’s my fault she needs a hot bath.

Handing Sam her cup of tea, I turn to Lucy. “Right Luce you
finish your yoghurt while I sort Sam out with the bath then we’ll play Mario”.

Taking Sam’s hand I lead her upstairs to the bathroom –
again, not sure I fully understood it myself yet. Settling on the side of the
bath I started running the water waiting for it to get hot before putting the
plug in, reaching for the bottle of bubble bath I hesitated.

“Bubbles?” I asked.

“Yes please”.

Putting in a generous amount of radox, I replaced it on the
shelf.

“She’s lovely.....just like you”.

I felt myself blush as looked over to see her sparking green
eyes, as she leaned against the wall I wanted to kiss her but I couldn’t quite
read her expression. Her lips started to curve up slightly I took it as a good
sign, getting up I closed the distance between us. Cupping her face with both
hands I felt her soft skin, she made no move to escape as I pulled her down for
a soft slow kiss, feeling a tingle deep inside as our lips touched. Wallowing
in the softness of her lips I felt her kiss me back as her hands moved around
my waist, pulling our bodies together deepening the kiss. I felt her tongue
slowly push its way in, my whole body tingled at her touch, I’d never felt this
way before.

I pulled away only to fall in to her green eyes. “I...I’ve
wanted to do that for a while”. I whispered. Great more stuttering she always
makes me stutter, get a grip. I could see she was smiling before I looked down
at her enticing lips again. I moved my hands in unison to push hair behind her
ears before letting them softly caress her neck, I felt her gasp slightly at my
touch.

“What took you so long?”

“I....always feel.....I mean...I wasn’t sure you wanted me
to?” I felt her hands tighten slightly around my waist. God could I be anymore
tongue tied, I saw a faint smile creep across her face.

“Well......now you know”.

“Al it’s ready”. Lucy yelled from the hall.

I pulled out of her arms as we both laughed with
embarrassment at being caught.

“Al?” Sam inquired.

“My sister Nat calls me Al......enjoy your soak”. I said
backing out the bathroom. “Take as long as you like”.

As I made my way to the stairs I heard Sam call after me, I
turned to see her stood in the bathroom doorway.

“Are you still in your pj’s?”

Looking down I smiled. “Yeah”.

“It’s a probably good job you have a chaperone”.

I laughed as I made my way down to the sitting room to get
totally thrashed at Mario by Lucy. Sam joined us as we were making super hero
eye masks out of a cereal box and elastic. I caught her wide smile as she sat
on the sofa next to my chaperone, Lucy turned offering Sam a green and yellow
eye mask.

“I made this one for you”.

“Thank you Lucy it’s lovely can I wear it now?”

I look at her sporting my own red version with yellow stars.
“I think so.....don’t you Luce?” 

“Yeah”.

The conversation was easy as we make small talk about doing
crafts as children, Lucy continued drawing her masterpiece handing Sam a
picture of her taking a bath. I looked at the picture with slightly raised
eyebrows as she seemed slightly anatomically incorrect I hope she didn’t really
look like that naked. In an effort to keep Lucy entertained I asked her to
choose a film to watch, returning with ‘Bolt’ she informed us that we all have
to wear our eye masks while we watch it. Leaving Sam to entertain Lucy I
slipped out to the kitchen to make egg sandwiches for tea before we watched the
film.

Bellies full Lucy cuddled up between us as the film started,
falling asleep half way through. Causally looking over at Sam’s profile I was
unsure if she was also asleep as her eye mask covered her eyes, now I see why
super heroes wear them. Sam turned to me smiling making me blush the same
colour as my eye mask, busted. Nat arrived just before seven to pick up Lucy, I
let her in forgetting I was still sporting my eye mask.

“Nice”. She said perhaps they weren’t such a good disguise
after all. “Still not dressed yet?”    

“Nah...there’s no point now is there.....did you have a good
time?” I inquired moving to let her in.

“Yeah not bad....I can see what you’ve been up to”.

Shutting the door Nat followed me into the sitting room
while I packed Lucy’s bag, looking over I could see she was still in disguise
crashed out on the sofa cuddled up next to Sam.

“Sorry I didn’t realise you had company”. She almost
panicked at the sight of Sam.

Embarrassed Sam whipped off her eye mask as I introduced
her.

“It’s nice to meet you....I don’t get to meet many of Al’s
friends”. 

I throw her a look as she bent down to scoop up Lucy,
rushing her out of the room I followed her to the front door with Lucy’s back
pack.

“Thanks for looking after her”.

“No problem....any time”.

Taking the back pack off me as I open the front door, she shouts
past me. “Bye Sam nice to meet you”.

A muffled ‘Bye’ follows from behind me as Nat raises her
eyebrows.

“I’ll call you tomorrow”. She flicked her eyebrows before
heading to her car.

Shut the door knowing I’ll get the third degree about Sam
tomorrow, should I tell her she’s from the hostel? Heading back to the sitting
room I found Sam tidying the remnants of Lucy’s handy work.

“I’d better go too I’ve got that meeting tomorrow”.

“I’ll drive you....save them legs....I’ll just put some
clothes on”. I said quickly leaving the room preventing Sam from declining my
offer.

Driving to the YMCA I’m aware our friendship has changed,
but I’m not sure how to approach it. Deciding to ask about her meeting, I am
surprised by her confidence and hope it is not bravado, pulling up in the car
park of the hostel Sam offers to let me know how it goes. Getting out of the
land rover she turned to me.

“I had a really good time today....thanks...I’ll see you
soon”. With a wink she is gone.

Watching her walk to the back door I see the tip of her
green eye mask sticking out of her back pocket, bringing a smile to my face and
warm feeling inside.

Monday

I was woken from daydreaming staring at the TV by my phone
vibrating across the coffee table, picking it up I could see it was Sam.

“Hey...How’d it go today?”

“Good...great actually I met with two of my old tutors they
were very helpful gave me some work to catch up on and reading to do”.

“That’s good I’m glad it went okay”.

“Me too....so what’ve you been up to today?”

“Not much....chilling out a bit of work....thinking about
you”. Did I really say that out loud god I’ve got to get a handle on this
before I make a total idiot of myself.

“Umm me too”. She replied I could see her smile in my mind
as she spoke.

Thank god she reciprocated, I could hear loud voices in the
back ground. “I’d better go....I’ll guess I’ll see you tomorrow?” She asked.

“Definitely”. I hung up with a goofy smile on my face
drifting off into another Sam filled daydream.

April

Tuesday

After Jill has filled me in on the various happenings over
the weekend most of which I am already aware of due to my mole on the inside, I
ventured up to the large common room to distribute the weekly jobs paper in the
wall rack. As I prepared to recycle the old copies, Sam appeared in my line of
vision beaming from ear to ear, hoping it’s me that has bought out this
reaction I smiled as she stopped just in front of me.

“Hey...have you heard?” 

Obviously it wasn’t my magnetism after all, I tried to hide
my wounded pride. “No....what’s going on?”

“Mike is letting Jo and Josh move in one apartment which
means I can move into the other one”.

“That’s great”. I wanted to hug her of give some kind of
affectionate response but I am all too aware of our location. “...so when are
you moving in?”

“As soon as Jo moves out”.

“Yeah...that’s really good it’s a step forward...more
space...more freedom”.  

“I know”. She smiled winking at me quickly. “So?....Do you
want to have a look around my new abode?”  

I really wanted to, but I knew the rules about being alone
in a room with a resident but I couldn’t resist her smile. “Sure....are Jo and
Josh up there?”

Sam edged closer almost whispering as she dips her head
nearer towards me. “Worried about being alone with me?”

I look her straight in the eye as she leans back away from
me. “A little”. I suppress the urge to try and wink fearful of her reaction.

Making our way up the stairs to the dorms on the top floor,
we’re alone apart from the din of the building, residents talking and laughing
on the middle floors, I didn’t ever want to get used to this racket. As we
moved higher up the building the noise fades I’m alarmingly aware of our
isolation, feeling awkward in her presence as we reach the top floor. Opening the
door to the hallway I’m relieved to hear Josh’s voice coming from one of the
rooms visibly puffing out a sigh of relief, hoping Sam will think it is brought
on by the activity of the stairs.

Heading towards Jo’s apartment, the door is already ajar, Sam
turned to look at me as she knocks, I couldn’t read her eyes darkened by the
dim light of the hallway. No answer, pushing the door open revealing a bright
cream coloured room with large windows on the exterior walls with little left
in it except for a pine dresser, and two cardboard boxes. As the door widens
the far corner reveals a wooden chair and table with metal legs. I peer in
unsure if I should enter, turning to Sam with a smile on my face. “Isn’t there
something missing?”

“Ahh so you spotted that then?” She grabbed at my hand
pulling me inside.

I hastily looked in the hall way as I’m yanked inside to
make sure no-one can see us, quickly pushing the door too giving us more
privacy and me more worry. More hand holding was she like this with everyone, I
knew I wasn’t normally although I’m not complaining as she starts to rub the
back of my hand with her thumb the warmth rushes up my arm.

“Jo took the bed with her?.......What are you going to do?”
I asked.

“Mike thinks there might be one in storage at another
building.....he’s going to find out for me?”

“Is he coming back up?” I looked down realising we are still
holding hands, making me ultra-conscious of every movement of her fingers as
they rub against mine.

Looking up I caught her grin at my recognition of our
intimacy. “Don’t panic...he’s off tonight”.

Breathing another sigh of relief, I started to relax looking
around the room. It’s spacious with a sink unit and cupboards on the wall
behind the door, with another door facing us.

“What’s in there?” I asked wondering if it’s an en
suite. 

“It’s a small bathroom with a shower”.

“Really.....that’s good....no more sharing with Rex.....this
will be great now your back studying, loads of space to work in....peace and
quiet....lots of natural light”.

“I know”. She smiled showing those dimples again, we really
shouldn’t be alone it just makes it harder to break eye contact. I watched her
eyes start to sparkle, she was driving me crazy just being in the same
room.   

“I think I should go”. I whispered.

Moving closer still smiling. “Why?...Don’t you trust me or
yourself?”

Looking down to see her moving her free hand to my waist,
making me catch my breath. “Both”. I barely whisper holding her smouldering
dark green eyes.

“One kiss and you can go”. She responded in a soft calm
voice.

I felt trapped but in a pleasurable way as we are locked in
our positions. Moving her head slowly towards me I felt frozen unable to move,
closing my eyes as she gently places a soft kiss on my trembling lips, followed
by another and another. Feeling her pull away, I opened my eyes to see her now
dark green eyes inches from mine. A gentle throb moves through my body as I
bring my hand up to the side of her warm neck pulling her closer kissing her
softly at first then I gently open my mouth wider, she responds allowing our
tongues to meet. They gently mingle for what feels like hours, but was
franticly cut short by heavy footsteps in the hallway heading in our direction.
Breaking free I headed for the window pretending to admire the view of the car
park as the door was flung open by a startled Jo. As I turned to greet her I
saw Sam’s rosy cheeked grin, a wicked glint in her eye as she turned to Jo.

“Hey....sorry I didn’t realise you’d moved in”. She said
eyeing me suspiciously. 

“Just taking a look round”. Sam replied full of confidence.

I tried to look relaxed in spite of my summersaulting
stomach and glowing appearance. Filling the silence with an idea I was forming
prior to Sam making her move. “Jo I was thinking.....if you would rather have a
proper double bed I’ve got a futon that’s just gathering dust if you want it”.
I could feel Sam’s eyes on me as I make my offer.

“Really?.....As in you don’t want it at all?....That would
be fucking great...cos I’m not sure the two we’ve got really go together they
seem different heights for some reason”.

“I just need to check with Mike to make sure it’s ok if he
says it’s alright I could drop it off this week”.

“Great....thanks a lot Alex”. 

“No problem.....I’d better get going back down stairs”. I
said hastily moving towards the hallway turning to them both I said my
goodbyes.

Sam moved towards me following me out in to the corridor,
when we get to the stairwell I felt her hand touching mine asking. “Hey!....Why
didn’t I get the offer of the double bed?”

I looked her in the eye briefly as we slowly make our way
down the stairs, I can’t quite tell if she is offended or joking I opt for a
quip. “I did think about it for about a nanosecond but then I realised, if you
had the double bed I’d be worried you’d use it to its full potential”.

“Only if you’re visiting”. She quipped.

“Anyway if Mike says it’s okay you get one of the other beds
which means you can move in ASAP....that’s good isn’t it?”

“I guess......” She gently pulled me back, pining me with
her smouldering eyes again. “So?...You think we might do that again sometime?”

I felt my face redden again at the mere thought of kissing
her again. “Oh yeah I think so”. I grinned at her wanting a repeat performance
right now, but unfortunately this was not the time or place. As we continued
down the stairs, I become aware of the growing noise in the building pulling
her hand to my lips I place a soft kiss on the back of her hand smiling as I
pulled away gently letting her hand drop to her side. Just as a resident I
recognised as Rex appears on the stairwell.

“Sam you’re up on the pool table”.

“Okay thanks who up for a beating?”

“Amy I think”.

The pool shark is back. “I’ll find out about that thing and
get back to you”. I said to try and justify our position on the stairwell.

“Okay thanks”.

Watching her leave through the doors to the common room
behind Rex, I pulled my phone out to indicate I’d call her later, she winked
before disappearing.

I continued down to the ground floor unable to stop thinking
about Sam’s soft lips on mine, dodging a rowdy group of residents I don’t
recognise I headed towards Mike’s office hoping to catch either Mike or Jill to
get their feelings about the bed. To my surprise he answered I felt instant
shock and relief he had not walked in on my kissing encounter with Sam. I put
forward the offer of a double bed for Jo and Josh to which he agreed it would
solve the problem and give them options in the future if they had a double bed
to offer residents, he was sold.

Returning home I called Sam to give her the good news on the
bed front. Dialling the number I felt nervous considering our last encounter
but the thought of spending more time with her was driving me forward.

“Hey....so I have good news on the bed front”.

“That’s great”.

“So are you free tomorrow?.....Do you want to help me bring
the bed over?”

“Now I see why you have that car.....to help out women in
distress”.

“Are you in distress?” I asked.

“I will be soon if you keep kissing me like that”.

“Oh I see, I’d better stop that then...and I think you
kissed me first?”

“I think you’ll find it was a joint effort...I can’t stop
thinking about it? About you?”

I smiled into the phone. “Me to”. I let out a deep breath.
“So are you free or do you have lectures?”

“I believe I’m free.....what time?”

“Umm I’ve got some work to finish in the morning, so what
about after lunch about 2 or 3 O’clock?”

“Great I’ll see you then”.

“Shall I pick you up?”

“Nope...I’m going to jog round to your place, after Sunday I
think I might need to do a bit more outside exercise”.

I smiled at the enthusiasm in her voice. “That’s very
energetic...well don’t wear yourself out there will be a certain amount of
physical activity required when you get here”.

There was silence at the end of the phone. “Are you still
there?” I asked thinking we had been cut off.

“Just”. I heard her breathing down the phone, I could almost
feel it on my neck.

“I’ll see you tomorrow”. I couldn’t escape the warm feeling
Sam brought out in me. I enjoyed her company and the banter we had, I’m not
sure I had laughed so much with anyone before. Not to mention how much I wanted
to kiss her all the time.

“Yes you will....bye”.