Two is better than one, stronger than the sum of our individual parts, an unbreakable bond. These sayings never used to mean much to me. Until that is I met SJ.
Where to start? Well let's begin with a little bit about me. I'm Kelly. I'm 22 and after finishing college I did what many recently graduated students do. I panicked!
What was I going to do now? I had a business degree but no real ambition to get into business or anything else in particular if I'm honest. Living back home with my parents after, barring visits, three years away was hard. I missed the independence, the ability to come and go without anyone asking what I'd be doing or when I'd be back.
I knew they meant well but it was all too stifling and I needed to get out. So I applied for just about every job available in the area and, after a few failed interviews, I landed a position as office assistant at a company making furniture.
Not the most glamorous field I admit but it paid well enough for me to get out from under my parent's roof although I couldn't afford a place on my own and ended up looking for house shares.
Trouble was that wasn't as easy as I hoped. At university it'd been easy to find people to share with. But in my hometown it was a lot more difficult.
I searched online and in the local newspaper and had several viewings at places but nothing felt right. In fact some just felt plain wrong but I won't go into that!
Anyway I was getting despondent by the time I walked up the small path leading to SJ's house. Standing outside the front door, little did I know not only was I literally on the doorstep of my new home but I was also about to meet the woman who would change my life and ignite a passion I never knew I had.
Rather half-heartedly I knocked on the door expecting to be greeted by another weirdo or to walk into a house filled with dozens of cats or even worse still it'd be piled up with garbage.
'Here we go again,' I said to myself as I heard footsteps approaching from inside.
'Hi there,' said the woman who opened the door, 'you must be Kelly. I'm Sarah-Jayne but everyone calls me SJ so I guess you can too since we'll be living together. Come on in.'
Taken aback by the enthusiastic welcome and the assumption that I'd be moving in, I mumbled 'Thanks. Hi errr yes I'm Kelly. Nice to meet you.'
SJ smiled broadly and grabbed me by the hand almost yanking me through the doorway. The house seemed clean from first look and no sign of any cats or their waste products.
'So are you from around here or moving to the area?' said SJ still holding my hand and pulling me along the hallway, 'I've been here a couple of weeks but it's boring on my own so I'm so excited to have a housemate.'
Not waiting for me to reply she led me into the kitchen where she finally released her grip on my hand in order to fling open several cupboards to demonstrate the storage space.
'Great kitchen eh?' she asked 'landlord had it fitted a month ago apparently. The whole place has been refurbed. You'll love it here. I do.'
'Yeah seems nice,' I replied at last getting a word in as SJ paused for breath.
'Sorry if I'm a bit full on,' she said perhaps picking up on my slightly dazed demeanour, 'I'm a real chatterbox especially when I'm excited.'
I gave a small chuckle and said: 'It's ok. At least you're not a sweaty old guy staring at my ass like at the last house I visited.'
SJ giggled. 'Nope I'm not a sweaty old guy but if your ass is worth checking out then maybe you should lead us up the stairs so I can get a look?' she said with a mischievous grin.
Normally that sort of comment would have led me to quickly rush round the house, make my excuses and leave as fast as possible. But for some reason I didn't mind it coming from her. She was so endearing and there was just something about her.
Anyway we toured the rest of the house which was all as clean and fresh as the kitchen. The bedroom I'd be having if I moved in was bigger than the one I had at my parent's home and it even had a small ensuite bathroom.
SJ continued to chatter along happily as she took me from room to room and I was feeling good about the place.
'Final stop. My room!' she said.
'Oh you don't need to show me your private space,' I answered, 'I won't need to see that but thanks,'
'No problem,' she said, 'maybe you'll want to visit me or...who knows? Come take a look.'
I shrugged and nodded not really sure what she meant by who knows but I figured I'd be polite and go in since she insisted.
The room was smaller than the one I'd be taking but it had a king-size bed cluttered with clothes. Posters of various female singers and actresses adorned the walls and SJ obviously liked teddy bears as she had a row of them lined up on her dresser.
'Nice,' I said.
'Apologies for the mess,' she said, 'I was out late last night and didn't get chance to tidy up. But I'm not a messy girl so don't worry about the house becoming a pigsty.'
I laughed. 'No worries,' I said 'it's your room so it's none of my business how it is.'
For the first time since she'd greeted me at the front door like a happy bouncing bunny, SJ looked slightly sad.
'Really I'm not normally so untidy,' she said, 'I hope I haven't put you off moving in?'
Strangely having only met this girl 20 minutes ago I felt a desperate need to not see her upset. 'No, no, not at all,' I said, 'I'm gonna speak to the landlord tonight and sort out the paperwork. It's a great house and I'm sure we'll get along.'
SJ's infectious smile was back and she almost leapt towards me and grabbed me in a huge hug. 'Oh that's fantastic,' she said 'we're going to have so much fun!'
When she let go of me we headed back downstairs and, after saying our goodbyes, I left. As I headed back along the pathway from the house I reflected on what a nice place it was but more I thought about SJ. She was a tad odd but in a good way and, I couldn't put my finger on it, but there was something about the way she made me feel.
I resolved to do as I said and contact the landlord. He was easy going and well organised. We got the paperwork done and four days later I was sitting in my new bedroom.
The first few days at my new home were spent unpacking, familiarising myself with where everything was and a healthy dose of chatter from SJ.
It was Saturday so I was off work and with no particular plans I stayed in bed late. There was a knock on my door and before I could say anything in came SJ carrying a tray with a bowl of cereal, some melon slices and a cup of hot coffee on it.
'Breakfast in bed!' she said with a grin before plonking the tray down beside me.
'Oh wow. Thanks,' I replied, 'you didn't need to. I mean thanks an all but...'
SJ cut me off mid-sentence. 'No problem,' she said, 'budge across and make room.'
With that she motioned for me to shuffle over and then jumped into the bed next to me giving me a playful nudge as she landed.
'So do you wanna go out tonight?' she asked.
As had become a habit it seemed I was a little stunned by the actions of this girl who I'd only met a week or so ago but was now sitting in my bed having made me breakfast.
But, also once again, while I'd normally be perturbed by my personal space being invaded in such a way, with her I didn't mind. In fact I actually kind of liked it.
'Sure. Ok. Where we going?' I asked.
SJ turned to face me as I munched on a melon slice. Her eyes were twinkling and she seemed even more excited than normal.
'I have this hobby I guess you'd call it,' she said, 'and I'd love you to give it a try.'
'I'm intrigued,' I replied.
SJ giggled. 'Do you know what an exhibitionist is?' she enquired.
'Someone who goes to conventions?' I asked, 'I'm not really into costumes and that kinda stuff.'
SJ broke into a full on laugh and almost fell out of the bed. 'No. Not conventions and as for costumes. Actually quite the opposite. You won't need any special clothing. In fact you won't need any clothing if you don't want.'
Puzzled and a little shocked I stopped eating and said 'what?'
'Google exhibitionist' she said, 'but please don't judge.'
I picked up my phone from the table beside the bed and did as instructed.
'Woo!' I gasped after the search results popped up.
'I said please don't judge,' replied SJ with that sad look she'd had in her room on the day I'd looked round.
'No. Sorry. I'm not judging. I'm just surprised that's all,' I said as I again felt the urge to get happy bunny SJ back.
She smiled sheepishly but then couldn't contain her enthusiasm and pulled me into one of her massive hugs.
'Oh great,' she said, 'then we're on. You'll give it a go. I knew you would. You're so gorgeous I know you'll get a lot of attention. This will be the best night,'
'Hold on!' I exclaimed, 'I said I wouldn't judge. I didn't say I'd do it.'
SJ looked sad again and that made me feel bad so, despite my reservations, I said: 'Ok. How about we go out and I watch you. Then if I like it I'll give it a go. No promises though right?'
Smile returned, SJ pulled me back into an embrace and said 'Right! Thanks Kelly.'
We sat in my bed and chatted while I finished breakfast then SJ left to take a shower. I have to confess my head was spinning. 'What had I agreed to?' I said to myself feeling nervous, 'It was ok. I was just going to watch her do her thing. It might be fun. No it would be fun. I considered myself straight but SJ was a good looking girl and she obviously knew what she was doing. It'd be alright I'm sure.'
I spent the next few hours researching exhibitionism and truth be told it did excite me more than a little. I was still planning on just observing SJ show herself to strangers but I was feeling more comfortable with the whole concept and by the time the evening came around I had an unfamiliar but very pleasant flutter of anticipation in my stomach.
It was 8pm and SJ, who had been unusually absent from my company throughout the day, was sitting on the couch waiting for me when I came downstairs.
'How do I look?' I asked as I gave her a little twirl showing off my outfit which consisted of a pink sweater, jeans and a pair of sneakers.
'Perfect if we were going to the mall but not really ideal for tonight,' SJ responded.
'I didn't have a clue what to wear so...' I said. It was true. This was entirely new to me. I didn't even know what the venue would be or how we'd get there.
'Not a problem,' said SJ springing to her feet, 'we're pretty much the same size so let's go pick something from my wardrobe.'
With that she grabbed my hand and we headed upstairs to her room. This time it was much tidier. SJ, who was wearing a short black dress with obviously no bra underneath and a pair of five inch heels, flung open her wardrobe doors.