Kaleb - Part I

There comes a period in every person’s life where you feel unsatisfied, even though at the time, it seems like everything’s going great.
It was just after my twenty-first birthday when my phase started. And yet at the time, like I said, everything was fine, terrific in fact. Although I was single, I was quite happy, and certainly didn’t feel the need for a guy. I’d just got a job as a PA for some self-employed woman down the road, and was earning myself quite a bit, so I was able to buy a nice flat and a flash bike. My looks weren’t bad, though I could’ve done with toning my legs and stomach up a tad, and so I had no idea why I felt this way. Being single was what my friends blamed it on and tried many times to set me up with several different guys: Barry, the teacher with square glasses; Dave, the fit marine-biologist; Ed, the smart, grey-suited businessman; Ben, the brick-built rugby player…the list was endless! But none of them made me feel content.
Until one evening in the middle of October, when my friend Steph rang me.
“Hey, Lizzie babe! Guess what I’ve found!”
Ever since we were young, Steph had always called me ‘Lizzie’ rather than ‘Elizabeth’: the name that I preferred a lot more. It rather annoyed me. So, to irritate her, I always shortened her full name too.
“I dunno, Effie. My true name?”
“Ha, ha,” she laughed sarcastically, ignoring my first tease, “No, I’ve found the perfect guy for you!”
I sighed. “Steph, you know I’m quite happy as it is.”
“No you’re not,” she replied, “You’re not content and you know it!”
“Ok, that’s true, but…”
She interrupted. “No buts, babe! I’ve found out what your problem is…”
“Hey! It’s not my problem…”
“And it’s the fact you just don’t like normal guys,” she continued, oblivious to my indignant cry.
“That’s not a problem!”
“Not any more it’s not.”
“Steph!” I said exasperated.
“You’re gonna like him, I promise.”
As usual, I admitted defeat rather than trying to get her to see sense. Steph noticed my pause and realised I’d given in: yet again.
“Great! You’re a good girl, babe.” She laughed, imagining my scowl at the comment, “He’s at my house – you wanna pop over?”
I sighed for the second time in the two-minute conversation. “Yeah, I suppose…what’s he doing at your house anyway?”
She laughed again and I could tell I was irritated because the giggle was starting to annoy me. “He’s waiting for you of course!”
“Right, o.k, I’ll be straight over. See you in a moment, Steph.” And I hung up the phone feeling like she wouldn’t even let me rest in peace if I was dead.
Looking around my flat, I spied my mirror in the corner by my dressing table. I walked to it and checked my reflection was reasonable: Hair – dark red, not ginger (my hair had a tendency to look ginger in certain lights and luckily today wasn’t a carrot day), neat waves… o.k. Face - no spots or blemishes, hmm…bags could be hidden but they’re not too bad, no food stuck in teeth… o.k. Clothes – natural, no dirt, no deodorant marks… yep, I’m pretty much sorted…oh, one last thing…I stood on one leg and touched my nose, not even wobbling in the slightest…disappointingly sober…never mind, time enough later…
I grabbed my keys and ran downstairs to my bike.

I got to her house and there were loads of people there.
“Steph!” I cried indignantly, ruffling my hand self-consciously through my hair as I removed my helmet, “You never told me there would be others!”
“How else would I get him here?” she replied, shaking her blonde head – her dark eyes glittering – “Come with me, he’s over here…” and she dragged me through the throng to a corner of the room where three people were standing.
“Kai, this is the one I told you about,” she said and pushed me forwards, “I’ll give you both time to introduce yourselves.” And with that, she walked off.
“Hi, I’m Kai.”
Wow. “Hi, I’m…uh…”
He was gorgeous. Steph was right, just my type. The first thing I noticed, apart from his shoulder length black hair, were his eyes: they were a vivid blue colour and penetrated right through you. He was wearing deep-green jeans and a black t-shirt. He smiled and raised his eyebrows slightly in an oddly familiar gesture.
“Elizabeth?” he suggested, and I realised I hadn’t even been able to say my name. I blushed.
“Sorry,” I apologised, “I…um…oh shit…you must think I’m a right dork. I…uh…I guess I’ll be going now…” I turned and went to walk away, trying to think of somewhere small and dark in which I could crawl into and die.
“Hey…”
He stepped lightly up to me and grabbed my arm.
“I’m sorry, but you’re the best looking dork I’ve ever met.”
I gaped stupidly like a goldfish.
He grimaced, “I just said the worst chat up line in history, didn’t I?”
I recovered and smiled, forgetting about my embarrassment; I was back to my usual self again.
“Nah, I’ve used worse.” I said, holding out my hand, “Hi, I’m Elizabeth. Thanks for the compliment.”
He grinned, shaking my outstretched hand, his palm cool. “Hi, I’m Kai. Thanks for forgiving the crap chat up line.”
I laughed.
“Well, now we know each other’s weaknesses…shall we talk?”