Vanishing would make him think of me straight away, she muttered, halflaughing, halfscowling. So, do us a favour disappear nicely, or else whats that youre pointing at?
What does any girl expect from a night out at the pictures with a bloke?
Well, it really hinges on how far shes willing to push the boundaries. Some girls are ready, not just to be invited back after the film, but to jump straight into aloud, handsonthebackoftheseat kind of adventure in the dark. Others are a touch more modest, preferring the classic route: watch the movie, hold hands, and end the date with a polite doorstep kiss.
Either way, the fact that youve accepted his invitation to the cinema tells him youre, at least for the evening, his girl. And that the slot was empty before you arrived. Which means you shouldnt end up in a scenario like the one that befell Poppy a few weeks back, when, in the lobby, a stranger swooped in, grabbed the guys arm and, with a voice laced in jealous fury, demanded:
Max, whos that? And why are you holding her hand? Ive been losing sleep, worrying youve vanished, and you?
Any sensible lady would at least blush and back off, maybe bolt with a dramatic Oh, you two are seeing each other now? while flinging the freshlyreceived bouquet of flowers at her former beau and clicking her heels as she vanished into the sunset.
Poppy belonged to the first, more adventurous camp, but she didnt have time to react. Max, brows knit into a scowl, snarled at the newcomer:
I told you to scram. If you think were over, stop chasing me. Poppy, lets go.
Whos chasing who, you Poppys retort was cut short when Max seized her arm and whisked her toward the right auditorium.
She took it as a clean finish. No more drama. Max wasnt dating the other girl. Shed dumped him, apparently. At least, thats what Max wanted her to believe. The real story? That was for later.
Poppy decided to postpone any confrontation until after the film no point airing grievances in front of the whole cinema. Max had already bought the tickets, after all, so they might as well enjoy the show rather than interrogate him about mysterious other girls in his orbit.
When the credits rolled and they stepped out onto the street, a soft glow from the lamps leading toward the park beside Poppys flat, the topic slipped in naturally.
Hope you didnt read too much into it, Max said apologetically. I dont collect lunatics; my friends and family are all normal. This one just slipped in.
The subject of odd acquaintances was a sore spot for Poppy. Her previous boyfriend had broken up with her because his sister and mother never approved. So Max, eager to reassure, went on:
What actually happened? Poppy asked, genuinely curious.
We were dating at least I thought so, Max replied. What do you call a relationship where we stroll handinhand, kiss, and when were with friends she sits on my lap and calls me sweetheart and kitten?
Sounds logical, Poppy admitted.
And you know whats also logical? When a girl invites you over to fix a computer, says her brother took it to the countryside yesterday, and then offers you a DVD to watch on the sofa.
Someone still uses DVDs? Poppy laughed. She caught herself, then answered: If a girl summons you under a flimsy pretext and then offers a chance to linger in an empty flat, Id assume she wants a cup of tea and a movie.
Add a sheer robe, fishnet stockings, heartshaped candles about ten of them a bottle of wine with some nibbles, and a film rated 18+, Max continued, elaborating on the scene.
Looks like a trip to the pharmacy for condoms and straight into the process, Poppy said, catching the drift.
Exactly my thought, Max said. I plopped down on the couch, set the film, the vibe was right, she swoops in, I hug her, start kissing I reach for her hand under the robe, and she whacks me across the face. She screams, What are you doing? Im not that!
In that case Id just bolt, Poppy muttered.
So I did. I slipped on my shoes, heard her say its over, and walked out.
The next day Max texted her. She called like nothing happened, asked why I hadnt written, said Id forgotten her, but we were fine, right?
And you? Poppy replied.
I ignored her. Why would I chase madcaps? There was never a reason to stick around, unlike some who cling hoping for a better option. Im not into that game.
Right. And now shes stalking you, hoping for what?
From her tirade I gathered she expects me to chase after her, shower her with gifts, wait for the king to descend. Max sighed. Im not a beast. In todays world, relentless pursuit is practically illegal any yes can be revoked at any moment, and a no is a solid no.
Poppy and Max both agreed: no extracurricular stuff would happen, and if they said yes, it meant yes; if they said no, it meant no no need for any twisted compromises.
The exgirlfriend, in Maxs version, was simply a nutcase, a bad dream that would fade if it had been a oneoff encounter.
Just then, a familiar voice called out as Poppy left the university and headed home.
Hey, Poppy, right? the girl called. It was Claire, a former classmate who, honestly, Poppy never liked much.
Hold up, we need to talk. You did a right thing, didnt you? The bloke was taken, and you snatched him away.
Max told me hes single, Claire. And Ive told you a dozen times to go walk yourself out of my life.
Whos saying what now? Max intervened with a grin, flashing his police captains badge on his fathers uniform. Thats the cheapest way to shoo away a persistent stalker, really.
They could have proved endlessly that Max wasnt interested, that Poppys presence wouldnt affect his relationship with Claire, or even started a fight. But that would have left Poppy bruised and would never have won any points with a trainer.
What Claire did, however, was spot on. She barely looked at the photo of Maxs dad, muttered a few choice curses about hard men, and vanished. Max stopped getting messages from random accounts, and he happily reported the quiet to Poppy a week later.
Claire admitted shed pulled the stunt just so Max would know what shed done, but she faced no judgment for it.
Some people just dont get it, Max said. If Id known, I wouldnt have bothered, but here we are she seemed normal enough at first.
Poppy agreed. Claire might have been a bit cracked, but it didnt matter now. The main thing was that shed disappeared from Poppy and Maxs lives, hopefully for good.
Maybe shed found a proper chaser or perhaps Poppy herself had finally landed a decent bloke maybe a kitchenwhizztype narcissist. After all, every creature needs a partner to keep the peace, doesnt it?
