When I woke up, I was still smiling. I took out my phone and ran through my inbox to re-read our whole conversation. So cool! I swung my legs over the bed and bounced out of bed. My foot got caught on the leg of my jeans that had wrapped itself around my desk chair. I fell face first on to my receipt-littered desktop sending a loud BANG against the wall my sister and I shared.
‘OI!’ Vivian threw something against the wall in retaliation.
I looked around my room. Shiza, time to clean up. I opened up the window for some breeze to chase out the sleepiness of the room. I made my bed, sorted out the clothes from dirty to decent to clean. The dustbin had already been emptied and washed out. With each improvement to my room, I felt lighter. It felt good.
On the way to work (I hadn’t yet resigned. I still needed the money) I laid back, let my eyes glaze over and entered my LaLa Land. As I explored its dreamy terrain of memories, hopes, and imagination, I unexpectedly stumbled across my Ex. LaLa Deb scratched her head in confusion. What are you doing here? She asked. This was my head space of fantasy, serenity and forgivable quirks. Everything he stood against. LaLa Deb beat him away with a rolled up newspaper. He was a big part of my life for three and a half years. I was probably just being nostalgic. I resumed my mental exploration, but at every corner, he would bloody pop up again. The train finally pulled up to Melbourne Central and I exited the station. And there he was. The Ex in the flesh. Did my sixth sense just forewarn me? I stared at the back of his head for a moment. Should I? Shouldn’t I? I could have easily not. He hadn’t seen me and there were heaps of people around, so disappearing wouldn’t be a problem. But my curiosity got the better of me. I took a deep breath and approached him. I touched his elbow and meekly called his name. He turned, and then looked away quickly. There was recognition in his eyes, but no desire to acknowledge me. He shrugged his bulging backpack higher on to his back and popped his gum. He must be on his way to Uni. He looked exactly the same. He had the same style, same clothes, same hair. It was like time stood still for him.
I smiled unsurely, ‘How are you?’
‘Yeah. Okay.’ He curtly replied, looking away. Pop.
‘How’s school?’
He closed his eyes and exhaled with impatience. ‘Yeah. Okay.’
‘Are-‘
‘Aren’t you meant to be teaching now?’ he interrupted.
‘I… I’m meant to be having fun’ I mumbled softly. I don’t think he heard me but he didn’t care enough to ask again. An outsider would not have picked that we were once upon a time crazy in love. His tram came and he boarded it. He regarded me over the shoulder with a raised hand of farewell. No wave. I broke his heart and he resented me for it. Fair enough. Our relationship was broken off clean and we had nothing to do with each other since- a whole year and four months ago. ‘Stop calling me. If you call again, I will ignore you’ were my parting words. I didn’t believe in being ‘friends with the ex’. I was quite resentful by the end of that relationship. He held me stagnant throughout my Uni years; kept me from making any new friends or doing anything I wanted. I sighed. I think with relief.
When I got to work, I was deflated to see that Knight wasn’t rostered on. I shrugged. It didn’t matter. It was going to be a good day. I went through the motions of the day with ease. Conversations with customers flowed. The quiet lulls were filled with rearranging chocolates whilst having happy chats with workmates. It was nearly the end of my shift when I noticed a pair of pants stride into the shop. White with mustard pinstripes. I wasn’t one for fashion but those were definitely statement pants. The pants glided right up to me. It was Knight!
‘Hey! Are you in for the late shift?’
‘Nah, just dropped by for a hot chocolate.’
I followed him with a glass of water to a table. I couldn’t help but notice how flattering those pants were…from behind. ‘You sure you want a hot chocolate? Might spill on your uh…interesting pants.’
‘Interesting? Interesting: good or bad?’
‘Interesting: brave.’ Knight laughed as he pulled out a thick hard-cover book from his vintage leather backpack. It was an autobiography of Richard Branson. I was impressed.
‘How long till you’re off work?’ Knight asked.
‘About 15 minutes’
‘You want to join me when you clock off then?’ My eyebrow twitched and my heart bounced.
‘Sure. Join you in a bit.’ Smooth. I turned and stepped right into a dollop of chocolate mousse, let out an alarmed squeak and fell into an awkward split. My left leg anchored to the floor behind me, my right leg flew straight out in front and my hand shot above my head holding the tray. Stifled giggles surrounded me with the exception of a booming laugh. Real smooth. Red in the face, I hopped off to the bathroom on my non-moussed foot. When I came back with a towel to clean up the rest it had already been done. Gee, thanks guys, could’ve cleaned it up BEFORE. I glanced over at Knight. He was already looking at me and tapped his watch. My shift was over!
After a quick change out of uniform and a refreshing splash of water, I slipped into the seat across from Knight.
‘So, have you had a good think about it?’
‘Yeap. I’m positive. I want to get out of here by the end of next month- September.’
‘Sounds good. Why a month?’
‘Get things organized…give my parents a chance to realize how serious I am… and get to know you better. I don’t want to travel with a complete stranger!’
‘You’re right. You free tomorrow? We’ll start planning then. You pick a place to meet and I’ll be there. How exciting.’ He got up to leave. He explained he had a dinner date with his housemate.
‘Just so you know, the pressure’s on; clothes are important to me so I’ll be checking out your sense of dress.’ He gave me a cheeky grin.
‘Dude, I’m waiting for the day we all wear silver jumpsuits.’
Knight threw his head back in laughter. ‘That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. Seeya tomorrow!’
I was left at the table alone with a slack jaw. Let’s see, today I bumped into the Ex. He was someone who represented my old way of life and hindered me from everything I wanted to do. Later, a newly made friend comes in and pushes me forward into… fun? I guess? I scratched my eyebrow. Was this a classic case of out with old and in with the new? It just seemed too…literal! I smiled and shook my head. As unreal as it all was, it was happening. Why question a good thing? Now, where’s a good place for a first ‘date’?
