Twenty-Seven

Ray was feeling nervous, this was not a normal emotion. He stood at the bottom the stairs to Alison’s building, hesitating about which language to use. He muttered the possibilities to himself. `Please come with me.’ `Go on, you know you want to really.’ `Okay. You’ve got no choice - I’ll lie down on the suidewalk and moan and shout until either you or the police come get me.’ People stared at him as they walked past. He smiled hopefully at them. Perhaps I should have brought flowers…Metaphorically girding his loins he climbed the steps and pressed her buzzer.

She was waiting for him when he reached her apartment. She leant round the open door and smiled at his approach.`Hey guy, what are you doing here?’ She stepped back and pulled the door wider, letting him in.

He managed a quick `Hi’ as he walked in and stood near the coffee table. Her apartment was spacious and nearly devoid of furniture. A beautiful Persian rug covered the floorboards and a chaise longue was placed to the side, a pile of papers near the head indicating where she normally sat. Apart from the oak coffee table, on which there was an ethnic carving of a wild cat and nothing else, the room had a lamp, some stereo equipment and a heavily covered armchair - and that was it. Light poured in from the Bay window, the muslin drape fluttered inwards on th breeze.

She watched him fidget with his hands. She wondered what was up; he was normally so cocksure.

`Um, Alison.’ He faltered.

`Yes?’ she began to be amused, the little boy seemed so close to the surface in him.

`I’d like to ask you to a play,’ he paused, `tonight.’ he added.

Damn. She thought to herself. Outwardly she kept a receptive smile on her face. `Oh. I don’t know, Ray. I’m-‘

He cut her off. It’s The Master Builder - I don’t know much about the theatre, but the guy at the paper said it was great. I thought you might enjoy it.’ He finished lamely. Actually, the theaitre critic had laughed when he gave the freebies to him, he’d found Ray’s first date plans fairly amusing and hadn’t needed the tickets.

Alison was touched by his efforts but she had to nip this as near to the bud as was possible.

`Ray, I’m really flattered that you thought of me but I’m afraid I’ve made plans.’ She sat on the edge of the armchair.

Ray’s back immediately went up. `But these are only for tonight - I had to pull strings’ he lied. `couldn’t you change your plans? We’ll have a great time, I promise. And after, I’ll buy you dinner - your choice.’ He hunkered down before her and put a hand on the chair arm.

Alison stood abruptly and moved around him into the middle of the room. `I really am sorry, Ray - perhaps you should have called. If I’d known perhaps I could have tried to arrange something but really, I think-‘ She stopped when she saw he had grabbed the leopard from the table and stood up, running his hands over the figure. He studied it in silence, just rubbing it.

`Ray, lets go for a walk.’ She took the animal from his hands and placed gently on the table.
`We’ll have coffee and talk - it’s beautiful outside. She ushered him to and through the door and locked it behind them.

Despite the heat, the streets were full of people. They thronged the paths and stood looking in shop windows carrying bags of different colours and sizes. Ray and Alison weaved through to the next quiet street and started to walk across town to the Hudson. Ray walked moodily, hands in the pockets of his black Gap jeans, head thrust down and forward, waiting for Alison to speak. She kept quiet and they walked for twenty minutes in silence, hardly noticing the traffic on the busy avenues. Eventually they left the last of the buildings and stood looking across, between the tourist ships moored at the jetties, to the slow moving waters and the Jersey shore.

`We’ll try Divers.’ Alison turned towards a theme bar situated near one of the ticket offices for a cruise ship. Ray followed with no argument.

Once seated, she started gently, `Ray, I think this situation is about to get out of hand.’ He shifted uncomfortably and looked out of the window. Their table was on of what seemed to be hundreds crammed into the little dining room. With lunch over, most of them were empty with just a few early afternoon tea takers spaced around the window tables. The seats on both sides of theirs were empty and allowed some privacy.

`I was genuinely flattered when you started asking me out,’ she continued, `but what I said then stands now. At this time of my life I just don’t want what you have to offer - I want something else.’ Noticing his brow crease angrily, she hurried on - `That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with who you are, or what you are offering. It’s just that you’re’ she thought for the right words,`a certain type of man, representing a certain lifestyle. And that’s a lifestyle I don’t want to have at the moment. I need less excitement and passion right now. You’d be too much for me. I’m looking for calm and a slow pace and we’d just hate each other, very soon, if we got it together.

`Boring.’ Muttered Ray, still studying the river through the window.

`Yeah, that’s right.’ She laughed self-consciously.`I want boring, Ray, it’s solid.’

`Well,’he turned to her, `you’re going with the right guy for that. A laugh a month, that asshole is.’ He looked down at the table. The red and white check really annoyed him.

`Hey - let’s not get nasty, mister.’ She took a sip from her cup. `I was just worried that you were beginning to get obsessional about us and I justwant to make sure that you realise that I’m not worth it. There must loads of girls who’d love to be with you…’

`Look.’ He spoke over her. ` You can say no to me and that’s fine but you can’t just switch me off. I won’t hassle you but I won’t stop wanting. I’d not be able to if I tried. And sure,’ a little of his cockiness returned,` there are girls who like me, but that don’t mean nuthin’. I’ll see you on Monday.’ He pushed back the chair did up the studs on his leather - even though the temperature outside was in the eighties.` Make sure you have a good time tonight.’ He got up and strutted out of the bar, his shoulders hunched to get the jacket straight,his head high.

Alison looked after him, picking up the cup absentmindedly. His tone had been sarcastic and that she’d expected but his choice of words made her wary. She ran her hands through her hair and breathed in deeply. Turning to look at the view he’d been watching she recognised a familiar feeling steal up her legs and down her neck, raising hairs on the way. It settled in the pit of her stomach and emanated up to her breast and down between her legs.

Standing, she left money on the table for the waitress and left, savouring the acceptance of danger.