Ardent

If she hadn’t overslept that morning, and Pete hadn’t been a complete twat and decided to argue with her the night before, maybe Keira would have made her lecture that day. It turned out however she ended up in Starbucks, sucking on a Caramel mocha and cursing everything that had happened in the last 48 hours. Since she knew she wasn’t attending her film lecture, she was absorbed in her textbooks trying to learn everything she was currently missing out on. Glancing up she stared around the small coffee shop, every seemed to be doing something important. Men on mobile phones, woman in suits plugged into laptops. Old ladies sat discussing the weather and how it was far too cold for their fragile bones. If not the weather they discussed how bad students were for a community environment, tarring them all with the same brush while sucking on their cigarettes with gnarled hands. Rolling her eyes, Keira lowered them back to her book and began making notes on Microelements in ‘La Haine’.
A rough voice reached her ears and she looked up to see a man ordering coffee, at the same time he was on the telephone, barking something about deadlines and schedules. Keira stared at his back; he was too old to be a student surely? Flicking her eyes from side to side she noted all the tables were taken and groaned, praying his loud voice wouldn’t decide to invade her space. Truth be told she was settled and comfortable, and couldn’t deal with false conversation.
”Do you mind if I sit here?”
Keira looked up and inwardly groaned as the same man motioned to the chair beside her.
”Sure, go right ahead” she smiled sweetly, pulling a face at him as he turned to continue his loud conversation on the telephone. Eventually he hung up and rubbed his face, turning to his coffee he sipped it daringly, but from the face he pulled she guessed it was too hot. Keira looked at him closer, anything to avoid work. The outline of a cigarette packet in his pocket, she was delighted Starbucks was no smoking. He had a beautiful face, behind the stubble anyway, his eyes appeared Green and his hair was longish but just short enough to be acceptable. It had that messy, just-got-out of bed look, that looked perfect. Keira tried to imagine having hair that looked perfect twenty four seven, but her hair seemed to have a plot against her, it curled at the first hint of humidity, and went limp in dire heat. Today she couldn’t be bothered and he crammed in under a beanie hat. Scribbling notes down, she felt eyes on her and stared up to meet him.
”Are you a student?” he asked. Keira just stared at him, a sarcastic reply dripping from her tongue, but since she didn’t know him she decided to hold back.
”Certainly am” she smiled.
”You’re studying around this area?”
”Yep” she grinned, closing her book, it was evident she wasn’t going to be left in peace.
”I’m sorry I don’t mean to disturb you, I just hate sitting in silence”
”Evidently” she whispered under her breath, remembering how his voice and caused jumps from everyone in the shop.
”What’s your name?” she asked, extending her hand, “I’m Keira”
”I’m James” he smiled, shaking her hand, “I’m not a student, I’m an actor, well I say I’m an actor, I’m in and out of jobs right now”
”So your unemployed?” she opted. Relived as a huge grin broke out over his face.
”I’m waiting on a contract to be signed for a film”
”Oh” she laughed, “Which film? I study films you know.”
”Now that would be telling, you will have to wait and see”
Keira warmed to him slightly, until her mobile shrieked out from the table, jumping to answer it she watched the old ladies in the corner turn to stare at her. Keira pulled a face and turned away from them. It was Nick, after she called him a ‘fuckwit’ she hung up and glared at her phone, throwing it into her bag she turned back to her work and saw his face.
”Boyfriend?” he asked, his eyebrows hitting his hairline.
”Ex” she growled, “Idiot, ex idiot. An idiot” she raged.
”Do you want to talk about it?” he smiled, “Always good to find a stranger that will listen”
”No thank you, don’t think me rude but I had better be leaving. I’ve already missed one lecture and I need to catch up”
James smiled and stood as she grabbed her bags, “Do you come here often?”
”Yeah, fairly frequently, even though I’m a student, I allow myself a nice treat now and then”
”Will you be here tomorrow?” he asked, Keira looked at him and smiled.
”Maybe. Goodbye James”
Keira jumped out of the coffee shop with a new spring in her step, maybe today wouldn’t seem so bad after all, even though she wasn’t particularly attracted to him, it was nice to meet a gentlemen for once. Invading and loud as he was.

”You stupid bollocks” Keira screamed, throwing a book in the oven and closing the door. Kayleigh stared at her and shook her head.
”You are going to want that aren’t you?”
”Yes” Keira cried, ripping to back from the oven and putting it on her chair before sitting on it.
”What has this book done today then?” Kayleigh asked, munching on a piece of toast, and staring at today’s headlines.
”Well for one, it isn’t the book I need. Plus it makes less sense to me than a book of Braille”
”Where’s your other book?”
”I don’t bloody know” Keira cried, slamming her head on the desk in front of her. “I had it yesterday in Starbucks but now it has deserted me, just like Pete, just like my scarf, just like my…toast. Hey where’s my toast gone. Oi bitch”
Kayleigh swallowed the toast and grinned opening her mouth to show it was open, “Maybe you left it in Starbucks”
”Yeah, I will go and check today after seminar. I hate life,” she groaned, flinging her head back down on the table.

Keira trotted into Starbucks repeating the price of her textbook over and over in her head, not to mention all the notes and references she had written in there over the last year. After asking the lady behind the desk, who hadn’t found her book she ordered a coffee and sat down. Thinking hard about the last place she could remember being with her book.
”Well hello Keira” James voice made her jump, loud as ever.
”God do you ever talk quietly” she whined.
”Well if your not going to be nice you cant have this” he shouted, holding her film book out in front of him.
”Ohhh” she teased, “ a thief in our midst”
James laughed and placed the book down in front of her, “So how’s the fuckwit?”
”Still a fuckwit” she laughed, “Thank you for the book, you’re a star.”
”Not yet, maybe one day” he smiled, “Did you order?”
”Sure did, its on its way”
James stood and walked to the counter, ordering himself a coffee and sitting back down beside her.
”So tell me about you. We didn’t really talk yesterday”
”That’s because I don’t know you, and you randomly invaded my space. Same rules still apply” she grinned, “God I’ve been tearing the house apart all day looking for this bloody book and you had it all along”
”I could have chased you and returned it, but I figured this way I get to see you again”
”Do you always harass women in coffee shops?”
”Only if they look like they need a good time.”
Keira glared at him, “Well, goodbye James. I must leave”
”You haven’t even finished your coffee,” he spluttered, “Look I was kidding you don’t look desperate, I just liked you ok? Can I like you?”
”Ok, I’m not up for one-night stands, nor am I ready for a relationship, neither do I make a habit of talking to weird men in coffee shops. Even if they do look better when they have brushed their hair”
James grinned, “Who said I wanted any of that? Yeah I washed it this morning” he laughed, rubbing his head, messing his hair up again. “Look I don’t want anything from you, I just thought you looked cute, and you are clearly smart, and you like coffee I thought we could talk”
Keira closed her eyes and sat back down, “Ok, I’m sorry, I’m very stressed right now. I don’t mean to snap, hardly a first impression is it?”
”Not really” James smiled. Sitting back and watching her.
”Stop staring at me” she laughed, smiling at the waitress who placed his coffee beside her.
”So tell me about yourself?”
”Ok, Well my name is Keira Evans, I’m a northern bird, but thought I would try my luck out down south. I’m studying film and Japanese, and I hope to work in films when I get my degree. Your turn”
”Names James Aston, I’m Scottish obviously. I passed a few exams and now I’m here trying to be an actor”
”Are you going to tell me which film you are to star in?” she asked, sipping her coffee and smiling.
”Nope” he grinned, looking at his watch, “Right sorry chick I have to go now. Can I meet you tomorrow? Will you be here?”
”Sorry I have a morning lecture tomorrow”
”Afternoon?”
”I’m studying all day I’m afraid”
”Ok dinner?”
Keira stared at him sceptically.
”Look two friends, or almost friends having dinner what’s the problem? I’ll collect you myself!”
”Hmm ok then” she smiled, scribbling her address down on a scrap of paper, “What time”
”Eight, don’t be late” he smiled, winking at her as he walked off. Keira watched him leave and stared down at her book, hugging it to herself she wondered what she was doing, then headed home.

”Dinner?” Kayleigh screeched, “What about Pete?”
”What about Pete the prick, and it’s a friendly dinner, nothing more!”
”Yeah whatever, what does he look like again?”
”Tall, dark, brooding. Nice eyes, his stubble is cute I suppose, otherwise charming and probably after a shag.”
”Age?”
”I never asked, will do though, I guess him to be late twenties”
Kayleigh stared at her friend and shook her head, “You know Pete will come home any time soon don’t you.”
”Yeah and when he does, god knows what will happen. It was a stupid fight but it was just the perfect excuse to really fight, we’ve built resentment up these last few months, I think we are over”
”Yeah but 3 years. Aren’t you upset?”
”I was. I certainly was. But now it feels relaxed, I’m relieved, its sounds awful but we both knew it was coming”
”Well you said this last time”
”I’m not getting back with him”

Half Eight came around and Keira was almost ready to change into her Pyjamas and watch ‘EastEnders’, until he ran up the path. Kayleigh answered the door and laughed as he dropped to his knees out of breath.
”Dearest Keira, accept my humble apologies, I got held up”
”Get off the floor” Keira laughed, “Your lucky my friend, I was nearly seduced by a soap opera, come on I’m starving”
James smiled, “Ok. Lets go” he waved her toward the car.
”Wow” she was impressed, “Is this yours?”
”Nope, I just stole it tonight, just to take you out my dear”
Keira rolled her eyes at him, “Living in a dream world boy”
”I borrowed it ok? Otherwise I would have to get my horse and carriage and I don’t think you would approve of that”
”Certainly not” Keira laughed, “Plus I see you as more of a donkey owner than a stallion”
”How dare you” He growled, revving the engine he started the car.

James seated Keira and pushed her into the table before seating himself.
”Up on our manners are we?” Keira laughed.
”Mum told me what to do” he smiled, throwing a menu to her. “What would you like? This is all on me”
”Oh and on your poor meagre wage as an actor as well, right I’ll have some wine. Expensive wine, wine from the bottom of the list” she laughed.
”Water then?” he laughed, “No go on we shall share a bottle of red?”
”Oh tempting, go ahead,” she smiled, perusing over the menu.

As the meal went on they found out more about each other. Keira discovered James irrational fear of fish. James discovered Keira was actually terrified of spiders.
”All women are scared of spiders” James had scoffed.
”Yeah, at least I can say I’m normal unlike you fish boy”
Laughing their way through 2 more courses, they swapped anecdotes, family stories, mobile numbers and chips.
”Will you eat your own” Keira roared, grabbing a chip from his plate.
”Sod off, yours taste nicer”
The conversation turned a little sour when James asked about Pete and their problems. The problems being that one minute he was loving and wonderful, the next he was angry and abusive.
”Has he ever hit you?” James demanded.
”No never, I’m a fool James but I’m not stupid”
James stared at her sad face and looked about, picking some steak from his teeth. “Ok, did I ever tell you about the time I went to Greece and got lost in the sea?”
Keira laughed uncontrollably.
”Fish, fucking everywhere, all around me” he shouted. Pleased his idiocy could bring her laughter back.


“I will never love you” James screamed.
”I will never want you to love me” Keira screamed, running to his arms they mock kissed and turned to take a bow. Kayleigh laughed loud, clapping her hands. “Wonderful” she laughed. Keira dived back on her beanbag and pulled her textbook upon her lap. James seated himself behind her on the easy chair and peeked over her shoulder.
”Is it making any more sense?”
Keira flung the book across the room and headed to make some coffee.
”I’ll take that as a no then” Kayleigh laughed, “Yeah me and James would love a coffee thanks for asking. Honest to god you think you know a girl” Kayleigh laughed jumping to her feet and running to the kitchen. James smiled; it was another film night in with the girls. They were slobbed about in their Pyjamas, and he was casual and relaxed his shoes lay on the other side of the room, his jumper over the banister. Getting to know Keira had been easy she was so loveable and fun to be with. When he had first spotted her he wanted her, he wanted to fuck her and let that be done. But it turned out he now valued her friendship, which was unusual but he liked it. Hearing the door turn he looked behind him and caught his first glance of Pete. James disliked him immediately, he had a face only a mother could love, and didn’t see the attraction. How this brute had claimed Keira as his own he would never know. Regardless he stood and introduced himself and shook his hand.
”Yeah, you like spending time with my girl don’t you” Pete grunted.
James stared at him, “Yes, she’s a great fun”
”Only in the bedroom mate” Pete laughed hysterically at his own joke, and punched James in the arm. James just stared, if he ever needed a reason to hit anyone it was now. Luckily Keira skipped back in and Pete stopped his foul laughing. James then spent the rest of the evening in Pete’s company and made a note never to be in the same room as him again. Keira was to good for him.


A month later

“James legs up” Keira yelled, slapping him out of her way. Flumping on the sofa next to him, he put his legs over her and continued watching TV.
”James do you have you own place?” Kayleigh laughed, throwing a cushion at his face.
”I do, but I prefer to sit here and eat your stuff” he laughed, grabbing half of Keira’s sandwich and grinning wildly. Keira shook her head, and smiled. However when she heard the key turn in the door she knocked James to the floor and dived to her feet.
Kayleigh met James eyes and they both frowned as Keira ran to Pete.
”Hey baby” she smiled. Pete stared around the room and glared at James.
”Here again?” he growled. James stood to his feet, and glared back, “Well yeah, I happen to enjoy the company in this house, or I did until now. See you Keira. I’ll call you later, bye Kay” Grabbing his jacket he left the room. Keira watched him walk out and turned back to face Pete, “I know you don’t like him, but you could be more polite”
”I don’t like the prick” Pete shouted, eating the rest of Keiras sandwich and flumping on the sofa, “Its un natural, him hanging around here, he either wants to fuck you or Kay and if he goes near you I will break his back”
Kay met Keiras eyes and pulled a face, standing to her feet she walked upstairs to her room and slammed the door. Keira stared at the pathetic figure on the sofa and wondered why she was still with him. Walking out she slammed the door behind her, and ran out into the street to see if she could still see James walking down the street. Unable to find him she trudged to Starbucks and grabbed a coffee, sitting in the café, she heard a crash of thunder and watched the rain hit the window. Where her life had gone wrong she would never know. Pete was wonderful, when they were alone he was fantastic, but a Jekyll and Hyde he was, in front of other people he was horrid. Ironic really, she laughed, grabbing a paper from the side and reading the headlines to fond something to make her problems seem ridiculous. The truth was she was stuck living with a guy she was loathing more by the day. Her best friends both hated him. Best friend, she repeated to herself. It was funny to think James was now a best friend. She had only known him a month, but they got on wonderfully, he was always there for her to spill her tears about Pete, it was always him urging her to leave him, as did Kay, but she couldn’t. Leaving him, although she would feel better for it, would mean her rent increasing if they kicked him out, getting him to leave would be even harder. The door swung open, letting a draft encircle the room, Keira looked up and laughed at James. He was soaked from head to toe and glaring at her, “Learn to answer your phone woman. I just hiked to yours to face a moody arse, and then I called and you ignored. I figure this is the only place you would be”
The waitress smiled at him, touching him on the shoulder she leant over and whispered something in his ear. James looked uncomfortable and grinned at her, and then she went to fetch his usual. Keira eyed her blushing cheeks and his fidgeting hands, as he tore some paper up. When she came back, he clasped the cup and smiled politely again.
”Ok what’s going on?” Keira whispered, leaning in.
”Ok, see the girl standing over there” James pointed at the waitress.
”Yeah”
”Well last night I had her lying here,” he pointed to his crotch and Keira snorted with laughter.
”What is the matter with you, your such a whore”
”I am not a whore, would you call s fine wine taster an alcoholic? He likes his wine, I like my woman” he smiled and blushed, swigging his coffee. “She was fucking good though” he cackled. “How’s your sex life then?”
”Har har”
”when will you just bin him? Please do it? I’ll happily kick him out, in fact I will throw him out with my bare hands.”
Keira smiled, “Thanks James, I’ll fix it. I’ll talk to him”
”You promise?”
”I promise”
James downed his coffee and held out his hand, “Come on twinkle, lets go and get drunk”
”Oh yeah” Keira laughed, jumping to her feet, “Fuck him”