Blue Eyes (Elton John)
Edinburgh University
Adam simply couldn’t wait until Friday. It was all he had thought about since…well…Monday. It was the light at the end of the weeklong tunnel where he would get to spend the evening with the stunning Eve. And hopefully, if he had the guts, he would kiss her.
He’d seen her on a couple of occasions during the week but only to wave or say a quick hello in passing. She had smiled shyly and tucked her hair behind her ear in that cute way she had, but he hadn’t even had a chance to check that their date was still on. Shit, what if she doesn’t show up? Nah, he was picking her up so that was fine. What if I call on her and she turns me down? Nah, she didn’t seem the type to do that.
He would just have to wait.
He was sure he’d driven Lily completely mad talking about Eve. He had asked her advice on all sorts of stuff…her being a girl and all. For the most part, she’d been really great. But she had been very moody. Mind you, she did mention women’s stuff, so that would explain a lot.
Sitting at the table at lunch on Thursday, he was too nervous to eat. He had been waffling on at Lily for ages. So much so that she appeared to have glazed over and drifted off.
That is until she suddenly interrupted his latest round of Oooh isn’t Eve pretty by blurting out, “I’ve met someone.” The interjection pissed him off a little.
Adam huffed. “Have you? That’s great. Who is he? Need me to vet him for you?” He smirked with enthusiasm. He enjoyed intimidating Lily’s conquests.
She snorted. “Adam, we aren’t at school now.”
He felt a little stab of hurt at her tone and the fact that she seemed to be calling him Adam a lot lately. “Oookay…so who is he then?”
She sat up straight. “His name’s Elliot Longthorne and he’s studying music. He’s in his final year. He looks a bit like Chris Cornell, and he likes Soundgarden and all the other music I love.” She smiled enthusiastically.
“Oh…great. When do I get to meet him?” Adam was trying not to smirk, thinking that Elliott’s name sounded like a cross between a Harry Potter character and something out of Lord of the Rings.
“Dunno. He’s taking me out Friday. So you’re not the only one with a date. We’re off into Edinburgh. Think we’re going to a party after at his mate’s house.”
Warning bells sounded in Adam’s mind. “Well, just be careful, okay? You hardly know him and going to a house party might not be a great idea.”
She rolled her eyes. “God, you sound like my dad.” She huffed, folding her arms in a teenager type strop.
Adam pointed a finger at her. “Yeah, well. Your dad trusts me to look after you whilst we’re here, remember?”
She sighed as she leaned toward him narrowing her eyes. “Adam, how many times do I need to remind you that I’m an adult and I can watch out for myself?” She stood and stormed off.
He followed her with his eyes as she made her way over to a group of long-haired grunge types. She locked mouths with the one he now presumed to be Chris Cornell or Pippy Longstocking or whatever the fuck he was called. What did he care anyway? He had Friday night to look forward to with Eve. Aaaah…Eve…
♥♥♥
After asking Lily’s advice about what to wear, Adam had settled for dark jeans, a plain white T-shirt, and a pale blue shirt open over the top. He pulled on his brown suede jacket and his boots and set off. Lily told him there was no point taking her flowers because she wouldn’t have brought a vase to uni. And a basket of flowers was something you bought for your Gran. Chocolates were a no-no simply because if Eve was like most women she would be weight-conscious, and it was far too early for jewellery. So he knocked on her door on time, but empty handed and feeling rather uncomfortable with the fact.
When Eve opened the door, he couldn’t help but inhale sharply. She stood there in a long flowing multi-coloured skirt, a fitted white T-shirt, and a cropped denim jacket. Her golden locks fell just over her shoulders, and he had to fight the overpowering urge to take the shimmering strands into his fingers to feel their softness. She was utterly mesmerising. She smiled widely and blushed.
Realising he had stared open-mouthed at her—again—he felt his cheeks heat. “Wow…you…you look…beautiful.”
Eve bit her lip. “And hello to you too, Adam.” Her warm smile melted his heart. He had to stifle a groan and cleared his throat.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, I just need to grab my scarf and bag. She stepped over to her bed and did just that. “Ready now,” she chimed, closing her door behind her. He held out his elbow and she linked arms with him.
After a walk filled with conversation, they arrived at the Jekyll and Hyde with its black paintwork and poster-laden windows. Dim lighting in the interior created an eerie, Halloween-esque atmosphere, which was enhanced by black chandeliers, dark gothic seating, and carved woodwork. The ambience was spooky but with an element of fun, too. There was a lively buzz of chatter, as it appeared that much of the student population had descended on the place at the same time. The bar staff weaved around each other with ease, and Adam and Eve chatted as best they could whilst they waited to be served. With drinks in hand, they went through to a quieter, separate little area off to the left and grabbed the last remaining table.
A shy silence descended on the couple.
After a few uncomfortable moments, they both began to speak simultaneously.
“So, what music—”
“Have you made any—”
They laughed and then both gestured “You first.” It was enough to break the ice and they both relaxed.
Eve took a breath. “Okay…I was just going to ask what type of music you like.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. He loved how she did that. So very cute.
“Well, I have quite eclectic taste really… I love rock and Indie stuff. I’ve just bought Pearl Jam’s latest CD.”
She frowned. “Binaural? That’s been out ages.”
Adam cringed. “Yeah…never got around to buying it when it first came out.”
A wistful look washed over her face. “Yield is my favourite. I just love Given to Fly. It sends shivers down my spine.”
He smiled widely. “Hey, that’s my favourite too.” He took a sip of his beer. “It’s funny, I never would have taken you for a grunge rocker.”
She tilted her head to one side. “Ah well, they do say never judge a book by its cover.”
He grinned. “They certainly do. So what else do you like?”
“I have a huge soft spot for Jeff Buckley. His music is just…well…transcendent.”
“Yeah, he was a talented guy. I was shocked when I heard he’d died. Such a waste.”
“I cried for days when I heard about it. Grace is one of my all-time favourite albums. Listening to Hallelujah still makes me cry now.” She cleared her throat as if the emotions were bubbling to the surface.
He leaned forward, filled with enthusiasm that this beautiful girl seemed to be the whole package: stunning, intelligent, and with brilliant taste in music. He couldn’t believe his luck. “The guy had an amazing voice, didn’t he?”
“Oh yes, his vocal range was astounding.” A glass collector came and removed some empties left by the table’s previous occupants.
Once he had gone, Eve turned to Adam. “What were you going to ask me? When we both started talking at the same time, I mean.”
He gazed into her eyes. They were the most vivid blue he had ever seen. He was taken aback for a moment. She scrunched her eyebrows but smiled. Clearly, she was wondering why he was staring.
Ugh, I really need to get a bloody handle on myself.
He cleared his throat and shook his head. “Sorry, sorry… Oh God, I keep staring, don’t I? I was just going to ask if you’d made any more friends since the other day. You’d only met Lil and me at that point.”
“Oh right. Yes, yes I’ve made a few more friends now… Do you mind if I ask you something?”
Adam swallowed a mouthful of his beer and his eyes watered as some tried to descend his windpipe.
He coughed a little and with a croaky voice he said, “Not at all…fire away.”
Eve tilted her head again and narrowed her eyes. “You and Lily…is there a…you know…a history there at all?”
Adam almost choked again. The question was unexpected.
He cleared his throat and laughed. “Me and Lily? Oh lots of history…nothing but bloody history. We go way back. We’ve been best friends forever. Inseparable since primary school.” He leaned back in his chair to consider it further. “We’ve just never seen each other that way. Why do you ask?”
Eve shook her head. “Oh no reason really…it’s just… Well, she’s so pretty and highly intelligent… I suppose I’m just surprised that you and she never…”
“No. We were always needled about it by others at school, but it never bothered either of us. We just never had the attraction thing. We’re just best friends.”
She nodded, seeming to accept the explanation he had given. It was the truth after all. He’d told it how it was.
They had another couple of drinks whilst they talked about family, home-life, music, and cinema. They left the pub, stepping into the chilled autumnal evening air.
As they walked back to campus, they passed revellers whose night was just beginning. He tentatively reached out and took her hand in his. He knitted his fingers with hers and wondered if she would pull away. When she didn’t, his smile widened. He looked over to her and discovered that she was smiling too and they continued their walk in silence until they reached her dorm room.
She was the first to speak as they arrived at her door. “I hope you didn’t think I was being nosey.”
He scrunched his face and looked upwards, trying to decipher what she meant. “Nosey? About what?”
“You and Lily.”
“Oh that? No, it’s totally fine. We’re just friends. She’s very important to me and she’s usually the first one I tell about…well…you know…” He gestured between them. “This kind of stuff…but if that’s weird—”
She shook her head. “Oh no, not at all… No, I think it’s sweet that you have such a good relationship… It’s just that I had to ask. I didn’t want to be stepping on her toes.”
Adam smirked. How did people really see his relationship with Lily? “Well yes, it must have looked a bit odd.”
She stepped a little closer. “No, you don’t understand… I had to check.”
She was so close, he could smell the wonderful rose fragrance she wore, and he closed his eyes briefly as he breathed her scent deep into his lungs. “Check what?” he whispered.
“Check if you were an item…because if you were…I wouldn’t have done this.” Placing her hands on his chest, she reached up and kissed him gently on the lips. He inhaled sharply and stepped closer, his hands moving up her arms and into her hair. Her lips were soft and warm, and she made a little contented sound that just about melted his heart. Her hands gripped the lapels of his jacket.
When the kiss came to its natural end, Adam fluttered his eyelids open and looked down at the beautiful girl in front of him. She smiled up at him in return.
He blew out a puff of air and it clouded between them. “Wow.”
Eve giggled at his reaction and then her face became serious. “Oh heck…look, I don’t go throwing myself at men. That’s the first time I’ve ever done anything like that. I don’t want you to think I’m—”
He stopped her mouth with another heart-melting kiss. When he opened his eyes this time he rested his forehead on hers. “I think nothing of the sort. I think that’s the best first kiss I’ve ever experienced in my life.” He brushed his thumbs gently over her cheeks. “Please say you’ll let me see you again.” His voice was a whisper.
“Adam, I would love to see you again. I was hoping you’d ask.”