Ain't That Just The Way Life Goes...

Without turning on the lights he entered the room. He didn't need
any illumination to guide his way, he knew every inch of the room even
in the confusion of darkness. Before he even took off his jacket, he
went to the bottle of Jack Daniels standing on the desk by the window
and poured himself a drink. He always needed to prepare before he went
in there, she made him nervous but he wasn't telling her that. Walking
into his bedroom, he shucked off his jacket and hung it over the chair.
Wearing a suit to sit around the house was uncomfortable, so he crossed
to the small wardrobe and removed a pair of plaid pyjama bottoms and an
old grey T-shirt. Within minutes he was back in the living room and
turning the computer on. It had become sort of a ritual for the two of
them to meet every night at 11. He had found himself rushing home more
and more to make sure he was there to talk to her.

Anticipation flared in his stomach along side the alcohol, as he
watched the little green characters flash onto the screen. As usual she
had gotten there before him, a broad grin appeared on his face as he
waited to see how she greeted him tonight. A grin also flashed on her
face, revealing even white teeth. She rushed over to him and hugged him
tight before planting a kiss onto his forehead.

Michelle: "I didn't think you'd make it tonight. When I read the mail
and you told me that you had to go for a drink with the boss after
work, I feared the worse."

Rick: "I wouldn't miss our meeting, where else would I find some
ego-fodder."

Michelle: "Hmmmm, maybe you should have stayed later with the boss,
your ego's way too big as it is."

Rick: "You know you love it." He said as he flashed her one of what he
hoped were his most charming smiles.

She'd always loved the way his ego seemed to take up the whole room, in
usual situations he would have just sat in the corner and watched
everyone else take centre stage but being with Michelle just seemed to
bring out his charming side. She was a natural flirt and always seemed
to be happy to see him. She greeted him so warmly, not like any of the
women in his office, they were catty little women that just looked for
men with big wallets and even bigger cars. All they cared about was
status, something which Rick didn't have alot of, but he wasn't
bothered, there was only one woman for him. It didn't matter if they'd
never been able to really touch each other, or that he had never even
seen a photo of her, he was in love with the mystery and raw beauty
that he read on screen every night. This was a realm where he could
bring out the side of him that no one usually got to see, his shyness
acted like a barrier around it, preventing him from opening up to
anyone, but Michelle had managed to break down that barrier within
minutes of them meeting.

Michelle: "So, how was your boss tonight?"

Rick: "As usual, he drank too much and went on about how his wife had
been cheating on him again. I take pity on him, when a woman's with a
man and loved him enough to marry him in the first place then she
should be faithful to him. Otherwise she's not being fair to either of
them."

Michelle: "It sounds like you're talking from bitter experience
tonight."

He looked out of the window, should he tell her about his past
relationship, the only serious relationship he'd ever had, the one that
ended with his heart and soul torn to shreds by a woman he'd given his
life to. No, it'd be safer to keep his mouth shut for now, maybe in the
future, when he was in a less melancholy mood, he would give her all
the gory details but tonight the pain was too close to the surface, too
likely to make the bitter, acid tears prick the back of his eyes. He
wouldn't cry to her, he was too strong for that now and he wouldn't let
any else shoulder his problems.

Rick: "No, thats just the drink talking, women have always fallen for
me hard. I'd never hurt any of them though, women are too precious for
that, treat them nice and you end up with friends for life, that hold a
shoulder for you to cry on. Trash them out and it'll only end up with
pain for you, normally via the fists of their new strong arm
lovers."

She found herself smiling at the screen again. Rick was always a
perfect gentleman, the other men that she'd met online had only been
interestes in one thing but that was something she saved for a real
life man who treated her with the care and affection she
deserved.

Michelle: "Charming as hell, hey Rick, just like usual. You know a girl
could fall for you when you talk like that."

He raked his fingers through his hair. If only she would tell him that
in real life, then he would be truly happy for eternity. Rick had spent
many nights, staring at the ceiling in the early hours after one of
their chats, thinking about one day asking to meet her, just for a
coffee, nothing serious, but so far he hadn't had the courage to do
it.

From below her window, she heard a bike pulling up, someone in her
building had ordered take out again. She bit her lip and wondered who.
Nearly every night some form of take-out arrived at her apartment
building, always for the same person who occupied the apartment just to
the left of hers. She heard the doorbell ring, the mumble of voices,
the main door slam and the bike roar off before the silence again
invaded the empty stair wells and hallways.

Rick: "Well I better go, dinner's sitting on the side waiting to be
eaten."

Michelle: "Same time tomorrow night I take it?"

Rick: "Same time, same place, same beautiful enigmatic woman."

Even though Michelle was alone in her apartment, she blushed at the
screen, compliments like that always embarassed her but he was a real
sweety.

Michelle: "I'll be waiting for you. Take care at work tomorrow and
watch out for your boss."

She gave him a quick hug and a peck on the lips, before leaving the
room and switching off the machine.

For a few seconds after the little green characters informed him that
she'd gone, he just sat and starred at the screen but then he pulled
himself together, switched his own PC off, leaned back in the leather
swing chair and took a bite out of the carton of chow mein that the
delivery boy had just dropped off. One day they'd meet, one day he'd be
able to deliver that compliment in person. From the flat next door he
heard the soft strains of the blues being played by the young lady that
lived there. A few times he'd noticed her in the lobby, checking the
mail in the pigeon holes and was breath taken at her beauty but he was
way too shy to pluck up the courage to talk to a woman like that.
Sighing he switched on the TV and sat down. Tomorrow night, he'd see
the woman he'd fallen for again and the other woman would just be a
pleasant memory.