Baggage & Buttons (5 page)

Mia. There’s one for every day since I first laid eyes
on you and just knew. All my love and apologies Gabe x

‘What does it say?’ I handed the card to her and
looked at the roses again confused.

‘Lexi he says one for each day since he first saw me,
but there are loads here.’

‘So I’ll count them for you.’ After a while she
announced that there were 18 of them. Now I was definitely confused.

‘But I only meet him a week last Monday. That’s 11
days, not 18.’

‘Well 18 days would be the Monday before that. Are you
sure you didn’t meet him in freshers’ week?’

‘I think I would’ve remembered if I had, given my
reaction to him in English that first day and every time I see him now.’

‘Well we were out every night at loads of parties and
you were pretty wasted Mia.’

‘Don’t remind me,’ I shuddered. ‘I think I was sick
four days out of seven.’

‘You must’ve met him then and you just don’t remember,
well anyway he’s smooth. What’s that on your bed?’ she asked as she turned
around. I looked and saw a hand written note propped up on the pillow and
jumped up on the bed to retrieve it. Lexi sat at the foot of the bed waiting patiently
while I read it to myself. I felt a few tears well up in my eyes and roll down
my cheeks. ‘What, what does it say? Come on the suspense is killing me,’ she moaned,
so I read it to her.

‘It says, “
To my dearest Mia, I want to apologise
again for what I put you through yesterday. My chest still hurts when I
remember that look of pain in your eyes, that I put there. I never want to be
the cause for your tears ever again and I fully intend on making it up to you
at our one week anniversary dinner tonight. Saying I love you doesn’t seem
enough to express how I feel for you. I ache when I’m not with you, I’m drifting
in an endless ocean when I’m not with you and only your touch anchors me. If
one day you can love me, half as much as I love you, I’ll die I happy man
”’
I had to stop reading to blow my nose before I carried on. ‘“
I know in you
I’ve met my soul mate and I intend to spend the rest of my life showing you
what you mean to me. I’ll treasure you always. I love you Mia. Your Gabriel
”
and then he’s put a load of kisses on it too,’ I said as I sighed.

‘O for god’s sake, now I’m crying as well,’ sniffed
Lexi and I passed her a tissue giggling. Lexi really didn’t do emotions, it
must be her pregnancy affecting her. ‘He has it so bad for you Mia. I want a
Gabe, though without all this
bloody
drama,’ she muttered, waving her
hand around in the air. ‘How’s it your one week anniversary?’

‘It was Thursday night when I agreed to the date with
him, technically Friday’s our one week anniversary. I don’t get why I’m all
emotional over flowers and a letter. I’ve had plenty before without crying.’

‘You’re such a dumb ass,’ she grinned and thumped my leg.

‘Owwww. What do you mean?’

‘I’ve told you Mia, you’re in love with him, that’s
why you’re getting all emosh.’

‘Don’t be so ridiculous Lexi. Lust yes, love no.’

‘Right keep telling yourself that, you’re way beyond
lust. I’m going to get coffee before I vomit all over you. All this sickly romance
is too much for me,’ she said before winking at me and leaving.

I read the note again and felt all warm inside and my
stomach fluttered. Love? Lexi was being ridiculous,
wasn’t she
? Was what
I felt for Gabe love? It was definitely more than I’d ever felt for anyone
else, if you didn’t count how I felt about mum and Lexi, those were very different
feelings. I did get excited every time I was about to see him and he was on my
mind all the time. Was that why I’d forgiven him for last night? Lexi was
right, if any other boyfriend had behaved in that way I’d have kicked them to
the curb. I frowned, feeling confused again and hurried through to the bathroom
to have my bath and clean up. Once dried, I changed into a fresh pair of
knickers and jeans then donned my jumper again.

‘Are you out yet?’ yelled Lexi.

‘Yes, why?’

‘I need you to come in the kitchen.’

‘Coming.’ I walked across the hall and she was
standing in the doorway with a big stupid grin on her face. ‘What’s going on?’
I asked.

‘Look,’ she stood aside and I saw a bouquet of pure
white lilies, gypsophila and palm leaves in the middle of the kitchen table. I
looked at her surprised. ‘They’re for me, from your boyfriend.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes, shall I read the card that came with them?’

‘You don’t have to Lex, not if it’s personal.’

‘Well I’m going to. It reads, “
Dear Lexi. Thank you
for being the best friend to his girlfriend that a guy could ever hope for. If
there’s ever anything I can do for you, please don’t hesitate to ask. Thank you
again, Gabe”
I like him again,’ she smiled.

‘Wow he’s going all out on the apology front.’ I was
pleased he’d made the effort, especially acknowledging Lexi.

‘He is,’ she beamed. ‘I’ve never had flowers delivered
before, unlike you. You know we’ve missed the bus don’t you?’

‘Shit have we?’ I asked looking at my watch, to see
she was right.

‘Yes, English starts in fifteen minutes so we’re going
to be late. We either have a 40 minute wait for the next bus, and we’ll get
there about an hour late, or it’s a ten minute taxi ride.’

‘Will you call for a taxi then? I’ll go and get my
books together and text Gabe a thank you from us both.’

I gathered up my texts and notes and shoved them
quickly in my bag.

‘Fifteen minutes downstairs,’ yelled Lexi.

‘Ok.’ My phone was fully charged and I turned it on
and sat at the dressing table smelling my roses as I waited for the signal to
kick in. I was really touched that he’d thought of organising some flowers for
Lexi too, in the space of 24 hours he’d won us both around from last night’s drama.
I glanced down and saw I had a text from him.

I hope you both got on ok this morning? Thinking about
you, as ever and looking forward to seeing you this afternoon Gabe xx

I’m looking forward to seeing you too. Thank you, my
roses are so beautiful and the words in your letter were very sweet. Lexi’s
absolutely thrilled, you have a new best friend :-) We got on fine this
morning, talk to you about it later. We’re running behind. See you soon!

The taxi was waiting for us when we got down the
stairs and we made it to campus and stood outside the doors to English, staring
at them, twenty minutes late.

‘You go first Lex,’ I said, turning to face her.

‘No, it’s your fault we’re late, with flowers and bloody
soppy letters and leaking lube, you go first,’ she replied as she faced me, hands
on her hips.

‘I can’t, Jenkins already hates me, please, do you it,’
I begged.

‘No.’

‘
Please
Lexi.’

‘NO!’

‘
LEXI!
’

‘Jenkins is one scary dude, you go first.’

‘Scary dude? You said dude Lexi. O you’re
so
into Doug. You’ve already picked up his expressions,’ I giggled.

‘I’m not bloody into Doug alright,’ she scowled, going
crimson. I gasped, that wasn’t a look I saw on Lexi very often. Crying
and
blushing in one day was unprecedented.

‘You
so
are, why won’t you admit it? He’s good
looking, he’s dark haired, tall with a
very
good body …’

‘Well why don’t you have a bloody threesome with him
and Gabe if you like him so much,’ she interrupted, all huffily.

‘I don’t like him like
that
Lexi, I’m all about
Gabe,
trust me
. I just know Doug’s so your type and he’s already asked
you out. I can’t understand why you’re being so bloody obstinate about it.’

‘Ok, so maybe I do like him, but I’m one night stand
Lexi, I fuck around. I’ve never done dating and relationships and I don’t want
to screw things up for you by screwing your boyfriend’s best mate and it all
turning pear shaped.’

‘Excuse me for interrupting.’ I felt my heart stop as
I heard the well to do voice and turned, horrified to see that the door to
English was being held open by none other than Mr Jenkins himself, fixing me
with one of his disapproving glares. I looked back at Lexi who looked equally
mortified. ‘I’m trying to impart my wisdom to those that are actually here to
learn, so if you’ve both quite finished, kindly either step inside and join us,
or take your talk of threesomes and one night stands somewhere that’s
not
outside of my door,’ he said firmly, as he gestured inside.

Both of us rushed forwards at the same time and got
wedged in the door way, so Lexi scowled and elbowed me out of the way and
marched in first. I followed quickly behind, my cheeks flaming and glanced up
at Gabe and he smiled, shaking his head. The entire room were giggling again and
when I spotted Milo, he gave me the double thumbs up, nodding his head. I
pulled my tongue out at him and sat down.

‘How long was he standing there with the door open?’
groaned Lexi.

‘I’ve no idea, I was looking at you. I feel so
humiliated,’ I whispered.

‘
You do?!
I apparently just announced to the
whole lecture hall that I do one night stands and like to fuck around.’

‘Well on the bright side it’ll make it easier for you
to get offers, no fake disclaimers and all that,’ I smiled. She frowned at me
and pulled out her notebook as Jenkins recommenced his lecture, with another of
his stern over the rim of his glasses looks at us. As I emptied my bag, I felt
my phone vibrate and saw it was a text from Gabe.

Nice entrance you two! Good to know that you don’t fancy
Doug. I’m glad that you both liked your flowers. I can’t wait to see you naked
tonight. I’m hard now just imagining it x

I shot him a glance and he winked at me and I saw his
hand clutch himself under the desk. He was so virile, it was intoxicating.

Well I figured we may as well continue in the vein in
which we started, embarrassing ourselves. Good to know I can turn you on so
easily and I’m very happy to hear we’re getting naked tonight. I can’t wait to
see you naked either big boy ;-) I’m puzzled with my flowers though. I only saw
you for the first time 11 days ago and you sent me 18 roses. Why?

No it was 18 days ago. You’re not seriously telling me
you’ve forgotten?

I’ve no idea what you’re talking about Gabe!

Then I’ll have to show you later, though I’m hurt that
you don’t remember :-(

Then I’ll be intrigued to find out. Now stop bothering
me, it’s your fault we were late, wooing us with flowers and sentimental notes.
I came to Westhampton to study you know :-)

I’m studying you Mia Page, very carefully. I’m going
to get a first class honours, a Masters and a Post Doctorate in you xx

I smiled over at him and he pursed his lips and blew
me a kiss making me blush.

‘Whipped,’ muttered Lexi under her breath.

As the lecture ended I made my way to the door with
Lexi and Gabe and saw Milo approaching and I quickly looked up at Gabe.

‘Try and be a bit nicer to Milo this time will you?
And remember I
haven’t
slept with him and have no intention of ever
doing so.’

‘Fine,’ he sighed and I turned and smiled at Milo.

‘Hey, I’m not sure if you’ve officially met my best
friend Lexi. Lexi Milo, Milo Lexi.’

‘Hi good to meet you Lexi.’ Milo gave her one of his
amazing smiles.

‘You too Milo, we ought to go out for a drink one
night, the four of us.’

‘That’d be great. Hi again Gabe, nasty looking bruise
on your cheek.’

‘Hmmm, small disagreement with someone,’ Gabe mumbled,
embarrassed. ‘Did I hear you say you shoot pool Milo?’

‘Yes, though I wouldn’t say I was that good at it.’

‘Do you want to join my friend Doug and I for a game
on Tuesday? Mia and Lexi have movie plans.’

‘Thanks Gabe that’d be great.’

‘Shall we walk and discuss a plan of action then? I’m
heading this way,’ Gabe nodded down the corridor.

‘Sure,’ Milo replied and flashed me a confused glance.
I just shrugged looking equally perplexed. I’d meant be friendly as in “hello
how are you?” not going out for the night plans.

‘Ok give me a second to say goodbye to Mia.’ Gabe
turned to me and I mouthed ‘
Thank you’
at him and he gave me a very
quick short smile, leaving me in no doubt that he was being nice under duress.
‘Give me your phone and I’ll put my address into it. Are you ok to make your
way to mine? I’ve got a few things I need to do first, but I’ll pay for your
taxi,’ he said as he typed it in.

‘Yes that’s fine, what time?’

‘Seven thirty.’

‘Great, I’ll see you later and thanks again for the
lovely roses and letter.’

‘Yes thanks Gabe,’ said Lexi.