“Georgie, you look great! That’s a gorgeous dress,” Matt greeted me as he kissed my cheek. It amazed me how much he’d matured over the years. For one, he’d improved his vocabulary. When we were going out his favourite compliment was ‘You look really nice’. It got pretty old. And he looked so good looking that night, dressed in well-fitting jeans and a red tee shirt with a retro print on the front. We headed inside to the Freeze bar.
“Uh, what are you doing?” Matt asked, pushing my purse away when I went to get money out.
“Buying you a drink,” I replied smugly.
“No way. I’m buying.”
“Matthew,” I retorted. “I am buying the first round!” I added firmly, allowing a laugh to escape my lips. We held each others’ gaze for a moment until he shrugged, conceding defeat. My friend Andy served us, and he flashed me a perfect smile.
“Hey Georgie girl, what can I get you?”
“A JD and coke for Matt,” I said, glancing at Matt, who nodded, “and a lychee mojito for me, thanks Andy.”
When I had paid and we stepped out onto the deck, Matt shook his head.
“What?” I asked, sipping on one of my favourite cocktails.
“I can’t believe you remember what I drink,” he replied. I shrugged.
“Well, I’m surprised that you still drink it.”
We spent time catching up on the goss, and what our jobs were like. Matt told me about life in Sydney.
“It was just too big for me. Too many people, too many cars… I liked the city and it opened my eyes but I couldn’t feel at home. So I went and taught in this smaller place about two hours from Sydney for a year and a half but I got over it. When this opportunity came up I said yes immediately. And it’s the best decision I’ve made in a long time.”
“So… this is a permanent move for you then?” I dared to ask.
“Yeah… I think so. Until they move me again, I suppose. But that’s probably not for a couple of years yet. And I love it back here. So much has changed, but probably for the better!” Matt’s eyes shone with content. Oh, how wrong he could be.
Another round of drinks and we got talking about what our classmates got up to after graduation.
“Did you hear about Melanie Hoffer?” I asked as I sipped another cocktail, my nerves already slightly loosened. I’d have to pace myself tonight.
“Of course - she was every senior guy’s dream… Perfect in every way,” Matt said, staring into space. I narrowed my eyes at him and he laughed.
“I’m just kidding!” he cried in defense, making me grin. “You were wonderful, too. But yes, I remember her. How are she and her extremely long legs?”
In reply, I simply cast a look over Matt’s shoulder to a girl with mousey brown hair, who was slightly chubby and carrying a mop and bucket. Matt turned and his jaw practically hit the ground.
“No way,” he breathed.
“It’s true,” I replied with a shrug. “She dated Tyrone Keats for a year, before he cheated on her with Julianne Stebbings, you know, her former best friend, and she resorted to a life of dodgy jobs and boyfriends to match. Now she’s a cleaner here.”
“That is unbelievable,” Matt said, clearly still in shock. “She was supposed to become this model with an agent in Melbourne or something.”
“Clearly, that dream died along with her perfect body. And you know Adrian Lowe? He’s playing football for the Cougars now.”
Matt nodded. “Yeah, actually I bumped into him over New Years. He was looking good. He got married too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. And they’re having a baby soon.”
Ah. So I wasn’t the only one from school having kids.
“What about that Jenna Patroni? Are you still friends?” asked Matt.
“Yeah, we’re as close as ever,” I told him. “She’s married now, too – she’s Jenna Brooks. Her husband Pete is an accountant and they have two kids.”
“Wow,” Matt said. “Sounds good. And what about you? No husband… no boyfriend?”
Ugh… the question that could lead to the entire night being a shambles.
“Uh, no. Not at the moment. There hasn’t been much room for that sort of thing in my life lately,” I answered, not wanting to meet Matt’s gaze.
“Really?” he asked, intrigued. He leant a little closer across the table and said, “So, care to elaborate?”
The words seemed to catch in my throat. I had no idea what would happen if they decided to untangle themselves… I didn’t know what to say.
“Oh, you know,” I finally managed to say, although my voice sounded tinny and foreign. “The right person hasn’t come around. I don’t go out that often, and I’m usually helping my sister look after her kids…”
Matt’s eyes still carried that same twinkle. “Sounds like a cop out to me. Why don’t you get out there?”
I raised an eyebrow. “You know, I can survive without a guy around.”
“I know. But I also know how cosy you are, Georgie. I figured you’d be settled with a man, a house and a kid, or at least a dog, by now. Forgive me if I seem a little surprised, or pushy,” Matt said, sensing my tension. I exhaled, and told myself to chill out. I was getting defensive for no reason. Well, no reason that Matt could figure out, anyway.
“No, I’m fine. Um, would you like another drink?”
The night went on without any more dramas. It turned out that Matt lived on his own in a small house in the suburb of Autumn Hill, about ten minutes from where I lived.
“It’s a pretty area, but I might have to look at getting a housemate or a pet… something like that. It gets pretty lonely and quiet…”
“Oh yeah… we have a fish. He’s not very exciting,” I told him, thinking about Mia’s pet fighting fish Duke Ellington the Second.
“We?” Matt asked, raising an eyebrow. “Do you have a roommate?”
Shit. “Er, did I say we? I meant I have a fish. Yeah. I’m pretty much on my own, although my friend Rachael is over so often she practically lives there too,” I said. This was getting messy. The alcohol was beginning to take effect as well, with its comfortable warm glow settling over my body. I had to really watch what I said.
We ordered a plate of assorted breads and a salt and pepper calamari to share. The food did us the world of good. I began feeling more in control of my actions and more importantly, what I said. Matt began telling me some stories of his career and his family, and before we knew it, it was eight o’clock. I was feeling quite merry, and I could tell Matt was the same. It was too long since I had done this whole socializing/ drinking thing… and I was enjoying myself but it was probably time to get up and do something.
“Shall we go dancing?” I asked, standing up suddenly. Matt gazed up at me, amused.
“Dancing… It’s just after eight. Nowhere will be open for dancing.”
It was true. There was nowhere to go for a good dancefloor until at least nine thirty. As I thought and stared into Matt’s ice blue eyes, the strains of Ben Harper’s ‘Steal My Kisses’ floated through the outdoor area. Extending my hand, I grinned.
“Come on. Let’s dance here.”
“What?”
“Yes. Dance with me, Matthew!”
With a look that plainly said, ‘You’re crazy’, Matt stood as well, and we headed to a clearing on the deck. I grinned devilishly and began rocking my hips and moving my arms over my head. To my surprise, a group of young girls also got up and danced nearby.
“See?” I exclaimed triumphantly. “Dancing is the thing to do!”
Matt smiled uncertainly, then finally took my hand and allowed me to move him around the floor. “You’re crazy,” he said, and tried dancing like Usher or Justin Timberlake. I laughed.
“You still dance the same way you did all those years ago,” was all I replied. The song ended and was replaced by Paris Hilton’s song ‘Nothing in This World’. Matt immediately stopped dancing.
“Ohhh… no… not this song…”
“You aren’t sitting this out,” I announced smugly as I took his hands once more and laughed as Matt tried – and failed – to stay still while I forced him to dance. I had to admit, I thought the song was catchy and began to sing along to the words:
“Do you know
what it's like
when it's wrong
but it feels so right?
Nothing in this world can stop us tonight
I can do what she can do so much better
Nothing in this world can turn out the light
I'm gonna make you feel all right tonight.”
Suddenly I became aware of Matt’s firm grasp around my waist and his head bent a little closely to mine, his eyes fixed on my lips as I quietly sang. Stifling a gasp, I pulled away and adjusted my dress nervously.
“Well, I think I might get another drink,” I began, but as I turned around Matt pulled my arm back.
“It’s still kind of there, isn’t it?” he asked, although it sounded like a matter-of-fact statement. I turned slowly to face him and knew exactly what he was talking about. There was so much unfinished between us, it was practically on fire. I nodded, feeling slightly defeated, because I knew that this was only going to be ruined by the world’s biggest secret.
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