They met via the university stand forum. Izzy had been searching for something. Something to make her feel alive again-happy, a distraction would do. And a distraction from writing the latest assignment would be fun but not necessarily a good idea.
So she searched through the chat topics online. Everyone seemed to have something, their lives seemed so much better, more full, and she felt a bit lost, a bit stuck.
She could just look, maybe just a short chat, it wasn't a bad thing was it? It probably wasn't quite right, but her boyfriend was busy living his life, meeting friends, lots of things. He was always out and when he wasn't he'd be in the adjacent room in their house share fiddling with his turntable things. She didn't have the same energy.
Izzy found someone to talk to, Matt. Late each night her mind and screen lit up, showing her the many messages they'd shared.
She liked his sense of humour, and the matching melancholy, yet wonder at the world. A flood of ideas and topics tumbled through her usually clouded mind. It helped, it was escapism-she knew what it was-but it consumed her thoughts.
They wrote often, mostly late at night, their interests flowing, their hopes and worries and the stress of assignments, presentations and deadlines. It turned tentatively to a more personal connection, compliments and passion began to build, a sexual tension she didn't know was possible just by typed conversations with someone she hadn't met. It was ridiculous really, possibly even dangerous, he could be anyone, well not exactly as he was on the student forum, and it felt right.
He surprised her one night by asking to meet her somewhere, asking her to choose a place she liked.
She suggested a favourite pub, and looked forwards to it, but with a clenching feeling in her stomach. It's one thing to message a person, another thing entirely to meet them.
But he was thoughtful and steady and keen only to see she was okay with it. So she agreed. What was the worst thing that could happen? Well there were quite a few, but not in a public and well populated area.
She dressed in a tight fitting black top which showed a hint of cleavage, skinny jeans, matching silk and lace underwear, gold and purple heels, and gold accessories. A hint of perfume dabbed onto her thighs, cleavage and wrists, a small matching leather bag and she was ready. She sat on the bus staring out the window wondering if she was going crazy, if perhaps she should get off right now as it pulled into a bus stop walking distance away, and walk home. But something made her stay.
She was to look for a middle aged medium build man with dark hair . She smiled, after all that time and she hadn't even thought to ask. He must be a mature student. A man stood at the bar slightly facing the door as she came in. He smiled at her and stepped forwards, she was wearing the pink scarf she'd stated she would. He had an honest looking face and searching dark brown eyes. He was wearing dark jeans, a light grey sweater and worn looking boots. He had short thinning dark hair cut in the recent retro fashion.
Dark stubble dusted his cheeks, chin and jawline, flecked with grey. He moved like he owned the place, back straight and pace even and measured, his drink held in a strong looking hand with dark hair on the arms and wrists.
They found a quiet table to the back of the old pub, the fireplace had been lit, and the old dark wooden benches gleamed richly in the low light.
He took off his thick jumper showing a glimpse of a delicate trail of dark hair towards his belly button, and a familiar design looked at her from his green tee-shirt. She'd had that same tee-shirt as a twenty something from an old shop near the Wall. She warmed to him immediately and couldn't help wanting to lean forwards and move the bit of fluff from his jumper that had stuck on his stubble.