We met the next day for coffee. I’d mentioned to him when I’d called him back that there was post that had been piling up at his parents’ place that I could bring to him in case it was important. He immediately took the bait. He asked me to check to see if anything official looking had come for his parents that might be related to a driving offence. He explained that he thought he’d been caught speeding in his parents’ car when he’d used it a couple of weeks back to take some more stuff to the new girl's place and wanted to intercept the post and get the fine paid before they noticed. I brought anything that might fit the bill, happy to be his accomplice. As it turned out, there were a few, one speeding and two parking fines. I watched him as he went through each envelope, grimacing at the contents. I could see that he was becoming agitated, so I asked him what the problem was

 

“Fucking speeding ticket. Do you know how much it is? It’s a fucking joke! Got less than a week to pay or it doubles!”

 

Sensing an opportunity to win favour with him, to help him in his hour of need, I agreed with how unfair the fines were and asked him if I could help. 

 

“I could always lend you the money?” 

 

I glanced at his eyes and saw a look I knew well. Within seconds, he was all over the idea, explaining how much he stood to make this week and next from his extra shifts at the restaurant, and that he would have the lot paid back within a month tops!

 

It was more money than I could really afford, but I felt it was worth it if it kept us close. We finished our coffees and walked straight to the cashpoint so I could withdraw the money for him. We then headed to the tube together and before we said goodbye, he casually asked me to say hello to his parents and to tell them that he would call tomorrow. I explained that I would but that I might not see them before that as I was going out with a small group of people from work and that we’d probably be out until late. 

 

“Who are you going out with?”

 

I reeled off a list of names, four female, two male. Immediately he was interested. 

 

“Where are you going?”

 

I explained that we were going for dinner at Alex’s house and then going on to a bar-club place that opened till late. 

 

“Who is Alexandra?” he asked, lengthening the name to its female version. 

 

“Alexandre,” I corrected, “he works in sales, just moved here. He’s invited us all round for dinner at his place before we go out to a bar as it’s close. We’re just getting takeaway there then heading on to this bar where Isabella knows the manager.”

 

I could see that he was agitated. Was he jealous? I hadn’t banked on this, but I’ll take it, I thought!

 

His goodbye was curt and he walked off at pace while I made my way to the barriers. By the time I got to my stop, I had four missed calls from him and three messages. He wanted to see me. Tonight if possible. I told him, reluctantly, that I couldn’t as tonight was already planned and I’d promised Isabella, who had been so good to me these last few weeks trying to keep my spirits up, that I would be there without fail. I didn’t want to let her down, but I could see him tomorrow if he wanted, I told him. I had no plans. He agreed that we would meet the following day.

 

That evening, he called and messaged non-stop. I couldn’t sit for more than a few minutes without my phone going off either with a message notification or ringing to the point where the others were getting frustrated. I hadn’t long had the phone (in fact I hadn’t long had a mobile phone) so was still finding my way around it and was unsure how to silence it. Eventually, to avoid any further interruptions while we were eating, I switched the phone off.

 

My mind was completely distracted as we ate and I was unable to participate properly in conversation and this was obvious to all there. When we were finished eating and began walking to a local bar, Isabella collared me to ask what was going on and I explained that I had met Richard earlier to deliver his post, that we’d had a nice time together and that ever since he’d been messaging and calling me. I didn’t mention the money.

 

“Oh, so is that back on then?”

 

We stopped for a few moments in the street so that the others could pass and get ahead slightly.

 

“I don’t know, I mean I don’t think so, it’s all a bit confusing, but I don’t think so. I think it might be the fact that we’re all out tonight and he was hoping that we could catch up properly. I’ve told him we can tomorrow.”

 

“So, leave it at that then. Come on! You need to enjoy yourself tonight. You can see how the land lies tomorrow when you see him, but tonight you’re ours, not his, OK?

 

That one comment not only made me smile, but overwhelmed me so much that tears came to my eyes and I began crying.

 

“Thank you!” I said to Isabella, stopping, turning to her and hugging her tightly. She laughed.

 

“Come on, let’s have some fun!”

 

“OK, let me just check my phone before we go in”

 

Isabella cocked her head to one side and raised her eyebrows and made plain her thoughts from just her look.

 

“Look, just let me send a message to say I’ll call tomorrow and then it goes off, please!”

 

“OK” she said with joking anger and stood while I fished the phone out from among the debris in my handbag. I fumbled with it for a second as I tried to remember which button I had to press to switch it on, but eventually got there. The screen lit up and the phone slowly came to life, buzzing incessantly with incoming messages. It was embarrassing. I could feel Isabella’s stare on me and knew I had to make a call to appease him. We were very close to the bar, so I explained to Isabella that I would nip round the corner and make a quick call and join them inside, but before I could, the phone rang. It was Richard, of course. I answered, looked at Isabella and before I could say another word, Isabella snatched the phone from my hand

 

“Hi Richard! It’s Isabella, Mariella’s friend from work. You OK?”

 

I watched and listened, initially with horror, but then with amusement as Isabella worked her magic, turning on the charm, telling him that we were all out having a nice time, that she had insisted on me switching my phone off because the calls were interrupting our lovely meal. There was a pause as he spoke and clearly, from the smile she shot my way, he was reciprocating the charm. She told him I was fine, so there was no need to worry about me and the she would look after me and get me home safely, but we were going into a bar now which was going to be loud and busy so she would pass me back on so he could say goodbye, but that my full attention was needed, so we were all going to switch our phones off until the end of the evening.

 

It was a masterclass from Isabella. She handed me the phone back and I asked him if he was OK and he sounded cheery enough.

 

“Make sure you call when you’re on the way back. I just want to make sure you’re OK”

 

Isabella grabbed my hand and jerked me towards the bar entrance. I said that I would call him once home and, as I was saying goodbye, Isabella snatched the phone from my hand once more, offered an extremely enthusiastic goodbye to Richard, ended the call, switched my phone off and put it in her bag, explaining with just her eyes that I was not getting it back for the duration.

 

And with that, we went inside and partied hard.