Post by lagunagander on Jul 3, 2007 0:25:34 GMT 1
Friends and Lovers.
Part 3 of ‘When George met Ronnie.’
George pulled up her coat collar and shivered as she rang the doorbell. She was freezing cold and hoped Helen answered the door quickly. She peered through the letterbox.
“Hiya, it’s only me! Hurry up. Let me in, it’s freezing out here.” she called.
“Come in,” shouted Helen. “The door isn’t locked. I won’t be a minute. Make yourself at home.”
George entered Helen’s flat and walked into the lounge. She removed her coat and scarf and sat on the sofa. She heard Helen moving things around in the kitchen so she picked up a magazine and started flicking idly through it. She looked up when Helen entered and immediately noticed there was something wrong. She was pale and drawn, had no make up on and looked as if she hadn’t had much sleep.
“What’s up?” she asked. “You look awful.”
“Thanks a lot. That makes me feel a whole lot better,” said Helen dryly, sitting on the window ledge. “Well…” she paused. “It’s Ronnie. We’ve finished!”
George’s heart started beating loudly. She swallowed hard. “What happened?” she asked.
“Well- it was kind of mutual I suppose, because things haven’t been right for a while and I was half expecting it,” said Helen glumly. “He’s been off-hand for weeks.”
“I’m sorry,” said George sympathetically. “What reason did he give?”
“Oh, that we weren’t going anywhere and he didn’t feel the same about me anymore. He realized that when we were together, we were more like brother and sister and I knew what he meant, it is true. Oh and you know- the usual, he still wants us to be friends.”
“How do you feel?”
“Crushed. Really upset at first, but I’d rather it be over now than go out with him for years and find out then, when I’m even more involved. I’ve felt there was something wrong recently, as if I was the one always trying to see him- making the arrangements and what-not. But he’s a lovely guy and I just want him to be happy.”
There was a long silence. George took a deep breath and pulled a face. “Well, I don’t really know what I can say to make things better.” She paused. “If you don’t want to be on your own tonight, you could always come out with me and Mike. But we’re just going to the pub.”
“Mike?” queried Helen, raising her eyebrows.
“Not Mike as in someone special Mike, just Mike the mate from that course I went on.”
“Oh him!” exclaimed Helen, showing interest. “He’s gorgeous!”
“Yes he is a dish,” smiled George. “He reminds me of that guy you like in that programme you watch some afternoons.”
“Families? Yeah, I suppose he is the same type, just a younger version. Actually, they call him Mike as well, in the programme. He’s really handsome. Is your Mike at med. school?” asked Helen. “I haven’t seen him around.”
“Yes, he’s in the year above. He’s really bright, I think. His Mum’s an anaesthetist and his Dad’s a surgeon. He is just a friend though.”
“And you expect me to believe that, do you?”
“ Honestly, I’ve only been out with him once and there were loads of others there and he’s asking other friends again tonight,” protested George. “I’ve told you, you come along as well, he won’t mind.”
“No, it’s ok thanks,” said Helen, looking despondent again. “I’m honestly not in the mood. I fancy a nice quiet night in watching telly and wallowing in misery.”
“Well if you change your mind…” said George. “There maybe a gang of us and it could cheer you up. If I don’t see you though, don’t forget about the sculpture exhibition on Monday night - that is if you still feel like it.”
“Ok,” replied Helen. “And I’ll let you know later about tonight.”
************************
The pub was crowded. Mike and George struggled to find a place to stand and Mike went to the bar. He came back with two pints. “How’ve you been since I last saw you?” he said, handing her one.
“O.K. thanks,” she replied. “Actually I’ve had some good news - I’ve just been accepted at the General to do a year in casualty!”
“Wow! That’s amazing! That will be a challenge.”
“Yeah, well I thought I may as well be thrown in at the deep end. I’m looking forward to it though.” She looked all around the pub. “Are the others coming?”
“No. I asked them, but Gerry was already going out, Sam’s gone home for the weekend and Joe has a date. He’s been trying to get fixed up with this girl for weeks and he finally cracked it last night.” George laughed.
The pub became busier and more crowded. George liked Mike and the conversation flowed freely, but she did feel unsettled. They talked for a while and then George joined the throng of people waiting to be served. She glanced casually around the crowded bar and her heart almost missed a beat when she saw Ronnie with a group of friends. Immediately she began to feel hot and flustered.
She picked up the two pints and struggled back through the crowd to Mike. He continued making small talk and although George was making an effort to listen, she was now barely taking in anything he said. She was getting hotter and more uncomfortable by the minute. She had a short fitted jacket on, frilled at the waist with a stand up collar. It was cream chenille and had a pattern of tiny sprigs of flowers in green and pink. She had a sleeveless top on underneath and longed to remove the jacket as she was so hot, but it was fastened by about thirty tiny covered buttons with loop fastenings running down the front and she knew it would have taken her ages. She kept stealing glances at Ronnie who was standing at the other side of the bar, but he still hadn’t seen her.
For the next ten minutes she appeared to listen to Mike, nodding in all the right places and making appropriate facial expressions.
“Sorry, what was that?” she asked suddenly, knowing Mike had asked her something.
“I said what are you doing next weekend? Are you going to see that play I was telling you about?”
“I er”…... she began, when Ronnie suddenly appeared with a friend.
“Hello,” he said to her gravely, half bowing his head. For a ridiculous moment George was reminded of Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. She felt like proffering her hand for him to kiss. She gathered her composure and introduced him to Mike.
Ronnie addressed them both and indicated his friend. “This is Tom, Tom Bannerman.” He turned to Tom. “Tom –this is Georgina Hasland, my friend.” They talked together for a short time, but George was barely listening. She took the opportunity of studying Ronnie. The curl just above his left eye fascinated her. She remembered twisting it round her finger the first time they’d spent time together and she longed to do it again.
Tom and Mike began discussing football and Ronnie looked at George. He smiled at her so she smiled back. They didn’t speak at first and whereas George thought it was probably obvious to not only him, but also to the rest of the world that she wanted to fling her arms round him and swear undying love, Ronnie appeared to her to be very composed. He talked briefly about Helen and she gathered that the break up had been difficult for him as well as Helen, but she also sensed his relief at it being over. She felt really guilty that she had such strong feelings for him so soon after he and Helen had finished, but she couldn’t help it. They talked for a short time longer and then Ronnie and Tom returned to their friends.
George struggled through the next hour having two more pints. She felt tired and drunk and weird thoughts were swirling round her head. She wanted to hold out her arms to Ronnie and scream his name. She wanted Mike to stop talking and leave her to think. She felt like weeping and rocking backwards and forwards. She wanted to lie down and curl up and drag Ronnie into the rest of her life. She looked over at him for the hundredth time. There were several more people around and they all seemed to be having a great time. It was very noisy. Everyone was laughing and she wished she was with them. It was then she realized that there was no reason why she and Mike couldn’t join them. She was about to suggest it to him when a tall girl with long blonde hair appeared and draped her arms round Ronnie’s neck. He was smiling broadly and appeared to be enjoying himself. The girl was gazing up at him lovingly, inches away from his face. George watched her stroke the back of his head and then pull him towards her.
She felt like she’d been hit with a sledge hammer. Her heart seemed to be beating loudly. She could hear it in her head and everything around her seemed to be in slow motion. It was like a dream she was having -a bad dream. She looked at Mike miserably. “I think I’d like to go now,” she said.
She put the remainder of her drink down unsteadily on a nearby table and picked up her bag. As they were leaving, she glanced over at Ronnie for the last time and he caught her eye. He immediately got hold of the girl’s hands from behind his head and tried to extricate himself. George in a muddled haze, her head spinning, wondered if she’d imagined his last expression –a kind of anguish, but she couldn’t be sure. She turned away and left the pub.
**************
Monday 7.45pm Civic Centre, Sculpture Exhibition
George studied the bronze seagull perched on a post. She took a step backwards to view it further away and sensed someone behind her. She was about to turn round when a quiet voice sang…
‘I said to myself when we’re old-.
We’ll go dancing in the dark,
Walking through the park and reminiscing’…
“Ronnie!”
She turned. Ronnie’s hair was wet with the rain and curlier than ever. He looked like he hadn’t shaved and he was wearing a battered old leather jacket and jeans. He held both of his hands out towards her and she put her hands in his.
“Hello you.”
“How did you know I’d be here?”
“Helen came to collect her stuff today and said she wasn’t in the mood for the exhibition, but I hoped you’d still turn up.”
They walked outside. It was still raining. He put his arm round her and they walked slowly.
“What about Helen?” she asked.
“It’s over. Don’t worry. Things haven’t been right between us for a while and she knew that.”
“How do you know that song -Reminiscing?” She turned sideways and looked up at him.
“I bought it just after you told me about it and I’ve been playing it ever since.” He stopped and turned towards her. The rain trickled down their faces and he pulled her towards him.
George looked up at him, pressing her lips together and spoke anxiously, “I have to ask…that blonde girl on Saturday night- who was she?”
Ronnie smiled ruefully. “It was Tom’s sister Emma. She and her friend were both really drunk.” He shook his head. “I saw you looking over and as soon as I got rid of her I looked for you, but you’d gone. I was gutted.” He wound a piece of her stray hair back in to the pin and straightened the collar of her jacket. “What about Mike?” He pulled her into a shop doorway out of the rain.
“I met him on a course a few months ago and we go out occasionally. He’s a nice guy, a friend. There was supposed to be a group of us on Saturday night, but no-one else turned up.”
They looked into each others eyes.
“George…” He paused and touched her face tenderly, wiping away the rain. “I haven’t been able to think of anyone or anything else since I met you in the library that day.”
George bit her lip. A warm feeling enveloped her. “Me too,” she said simply, kissing him.
************************
George and Ronnie walked off into the sunset - or rather in this case rain, to the tune of 'Reminiscing' by The Little River Band and lived happily (most days) ever after.
Part 3 of ‘When George met Ronnie.’
George pulled up her coat collar and shivered as she rang the doorbell. She was freezing cold and hoped Helen answered the door quickly. She peered through the letterbox.
“Hiya, it’s only me! Hurry up. Let me in, it’s freezing out here.” she called.
“Come in,” shouted Helen. “The door isn’t locked. I won’t be a minute. Make yourself at home.”
George entered Helen’s flat and walked into the lounge. She removed her coat and scarf and sat on the sofa. She heard Helen moving things around in the kitchen so she picked up a magazine and started flicking idly through it. She looked up when Helen entered and immediately noticed there was something wrong. She was pale and drawn, had no make up on and looked as if she hadn’t had much sleep.
“What’s up?” she asked. “You look awful.”
“Thanks a lot. That makes me feel a whole lot better,” said Helen dryly, sitting on the window ledge. “Well…” she paused. “It’s Ronnie. We’ve finished!”
George’s heart started beating loudly. She swallowed hard. “What happened?” she asked.
“Well- it was kind of mutual I suppose, because things haven’t been right for a while and I was half expecting it,” said Helen glumly. “He’s been off-hand for weeks.”
“I’m sorry,” said George sympathetically. “What reason did he give?”
“Oh, that we weren’t going anywhere and he didn’t feel the same about me anymore. He realized that when we were together, we were more like brother and sister and I knew what he meant, it is true. Oh and you know- the usual, he still wants us to be friends.”
“How do you feel?”
“Crushed. Really upset at first, but I’d rather it be over now than go out with him for years and find out then, when I’m even more involved. I’ve felt there was something wrong recently, as if I was the one always trying to see him- making the arrangements and what-not. But he’s a lovely guy and I just want him to be happy.”
There was a long silence. George took a deep breath and pulled a face. “Well, I don’t really know what I can say to make things better.” She paused. “If you don’t want to be on your own tonight, you could always come out with me and Mike. But we’re just going to the pub.”
“Mike?” queried Helen, raising her eyebrows.
“Not Mike as in someone special Mike, just Mike the mate from that course I went on.”
“Oh him!” exclaimed Helen, showing interest. “He’s gorgeous!”
“Yes he is a dish,” smiled George. “He reminds me of that guy you like in that programme you watch some afternoons.”
“Families? Yeah, I suppose he is the same type, just a younger version. Actually, they call him Mike as well, in the programme. He’s really handsome. Is your Mike at med. school?” asked Helen. “I haven’t seen him around.”
“Yes, he’s in the year above. He’s really bright, I think. His Mum’s an anaesthetist and his Dad’s a surgeon. He is just a friend though.”
“And you expect me to believe that, do you?”
“ Honestly, I’ve only been out with him once and there were loads of others there and he’s asking other friends again tonight,” protested George. “I’ve told you, you come along as well, he won’t mind.”
“No, it’s ok thanks,” said Helen, looking despondent again. “I’m honestly not in the mood. I fancy a nice quiet night in watching telly and wallowing in misery.”
“Well if you change your mind…” said George. “There maybe a gang of us and it could cheer you up. If I don’t see you though, don’t forget about the sculpture exhibition on Monday night - that is if you still feel like it.”
“Ok,” replied Helen. “And I’ll let you know later about tonight.”
************************
The pub was crowded. Mike and George struggled to find a place to stand and Mike went to the bar. He came back with two pints. “How’ve you been since I last saw you?” he said, handing her one.
“O.K. thanks,” she replied. “Actually I’ve had some good news - I’ve just been accepted at the General to do a year in casualty!”
“Wow! That’s amazing! That will be a challenge.”
“Yeah, well I thought I may as well be thrown in at the deep end. I’m looking forward to it though.” She looked all around the pub. “Are the others coming?”
“No. I asked them, but Gerry was already going out, Sam’s gone home for the weekend and Joe has a date. He’s been trying to get fixed up with this girl for weeks and he finally cracked it last night.” George laughed.
The pub became busier and more crowded. George liked Mike and the conversation flowed freely, but she did feel unsettled. They talked for a while and then George joined the throng of people waiting to be served. She glanced casually around the crowded bar and her heart almost missed a beat when she saw Ronnie with a group of friends. Immediately she began to feel hot and flustered.
She picked up the two pints and struggled back through the crowd to Mike. He continued making small talk and although George was making an effort to listen, she was now barely taking in anything he said. She was getting hotter and more uncomfortable by the minute. She had a short fitted jacket on, frilled at the waist with a stand up collar. It was cream chenille and had a pattern of tiny sprigs of flowers in green and pink. She had a sleeveless top on underneath and longed to remove the jacket as she was so hot, but it was fastened by about thirty tiny covered buttons with loop fastenings running down the front and she knew it would have taken her ages. She kept stealing glances at Ronnie who was standing at the other side of the bar, but he still hadn’t seen her.
For the next ten minutes she appeared to listen to Mike, nodding in all the right places and making appropriate facial expressions.
“Sorry, what was that?” she asked suddenly, knowing Mike had asked her something.
“I said what are you doing next weekend? Are you going to see that play I was telling you about?”
“I er”…... she began, when Ronnie suddenly appeared with a friend.
“Hello,” he said to her gravely, half bowing his head. For a ridiculous moment George was reminded of Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. She felt like proffering her hand for him to kiss. She gathered her composure and introduced him to Mike.
Ronnie addressed them both and indicated his friend. “This is Tom, Tom Bannerman.” He turned to Tom. “Tom –this is Georgina Hasland, my friend.” They talked together for a short time, but George was barely listening. She took the opportunity of studying Ronnie. The curl just above his left eye fascinated her. She remembered twisting it round her finger the first time they’d spent time together and she longed to do it again.
Tom and Mike began discussing football and Ronnie looked at George. He smiled at her so she smiled back. They didn’t speak at first and whereas George thought it was probably obvious to not only him, but also to the rest of the world that she wanted to fling her arms round him and swear undying love, Ronnie appeared to her to be very composed. He talked briefly about Helen and she gathered that the break up had been difficult for him as well as Helen, but she also sensed his relief at it being over. She felt really guilty that she had such strong feelings for him so soon after he and Helen had finished, but she couldn’t help it. They talked for a short time longer and then Ronnie and Tom returned to their friends.
George struggled through the next hour having two more pints. She felt tired and drunk and weird thoughts were swirling round her head. She wanted to hold out her arms to Ronnie and scream his name. She wanted Mike to stop talking and leave her to think. She felt like weeping and rocking backwards and forwards. She wanted to lie down and curl up and drag Ronnie into the rest of her life. She looked over at him for the hundredth time. There were several more people around and they all seemed to be having a great time. It was very noisy. Everyone was laughing and she wished she was with them. It was then she realized that there was no reason why she and Mike couldn’t join them. She was about to suggest it to him when a tall girl with long blonde hair appeared and draped her arms round Ronnie’s neck. He was smiling broadly and appeared to be enjoying himself. The girl was gazing up at him lovingly, inches away from his face. George watched her stroke the back of his head and then pull him towards her.
She felt like she’d been hit with a sledge hammer. Her heart seemed to be beating loudly. She could hear it in her head and everything around her seemed to be in slow motion. It was like a dream she was having -a bad dream. She looked at Mike miserably. “I think I’d like to go now,” she said.
She put the remainder of her drink down unsteadily on a nearby table and picked up her bag. As they were leaving, she glanced over at Ronnie for the last time and he caught her eye. He immediately got hold of the girl’s hands from behind his head and tried to extricate himself. George in a muddled haze, her head spinning, wondered if she’d imagined his last expression –a kind of anguish, but she couldn’t be sure. She turned away and left the pub.
**************
Monday 7.45pm Civic Centre, Sculpture Exhibition
George studied the bronze seagull perched on a post. She took a step backwards to view it further away and sensed someone behind her. She was about to turn round when a quiet voice sang…
‘I said to myself when we’re old-.
We’ll go dancing in the dark,
Walking through the park and reminiscing’…
“Ronnie!”
She turned. Ronnie’s hair was wet with the rain and curlier than ever. He looked like he hadn’t shaved and he was wearing a battered old leather jacket and jeans. He held both of his hands out towards her and she put her hands in his.
“Hello you.”
“How did you know I’d be here?”
“Helen came to collect her stuff today and said she wasn’t in the mood for the exhibition, but I hoped you’d still turn up.”
They walked outside. It was still raining. He put his arm round her and they walked slowly.
“What about Helen?” she asked.
“It’s over. Don’t worry. Things haven’t been right between us for a while and she knew that.”
“How do you know that song -Reminiscing?” She turned sideways and looked up at him.
“I bought it just after you told me about it and I’ve been playing it ever since.” He stopped and turned towards her. The rain trickled down their faces and he pulled her towards him.
George looked up at him, pressing her lips together and spoke anxiously, “I have to ask…that blonde girl on Saturday night- who was she?”
Ronnie smiled ruefully. “It was Tom’s sister Emma. She and her friend were both really drunk.” He shook his head. “I saw you looking over and as soon as I got rid of her I looked for you, but you’d gone. I was gutted.” He wound a piece of her stray hair back in to the pin and straightened the collar of her jacket. “What about Mike?” He pulled her into a shop doorway out of the rain.
“I met him on a course a few months ago and we go out occasionally. He’s a nice guy, a friend. There was supposed to be a group of us on Saturday night, but no-one else turned up.”
They looked into each others eyes.
“George…” He paused and touched her face tenderly, wiping away the rain. “I haven’t been able to think of anyone or anything else since I met you in the library that day.”
George bit her lip. A warm feeling enveloped her. “Me too,” she said simply, kissing him.
************************
George and Ronnie walked off into the sunset - or rather in this case rain, to the tune of 'Reminiscing' by The Little River Band and lived happily (most days) ever after.