A Different Class - 5

Chapter 5

In the kitchen Rebecca started a pot of coffee, it was the most staple part of her day, she’d never been a huge breakfast eater. While the machine percolated, she pulled a sweater and jeans over her pyjamas and headed to the bakery at the end of the road. The croissants were still warm as she poured two mugs of coffee and climbed the stairs with a loaded tray. She paused at the door, there was Nate still face down on the bed, his breathing the deep rhythmical pattern told her he was asleep again.

Smiling she put the tray on the dressing table, and slid on to the bed next to him.

“Hey sleepy!” she whispered as she kissed his cheek, “don’t you want breakfast?”

He grunted a response before throwing a heavy arm across her pinning her to the bed. She chuckled, “you are terrible!!! I’ve got coffee, and croissants…are you sure I can’t tempt you?”

His answer was a mumble under his breath, so she slid out from next to him and took the breakfast back downstairs. With the radio on Bec started on a mountain of work she’d brought home, and was heavily engrossed in her laptop. She was into her third cup of coffee when a voice startled her.

“Why didn’t you wake me?”

Wide eyed Bec smiled up at him, “wake you? I DID try! I even tried to tempt you with coffee!” She shook her head, “you just weren’t interested.”

Blushing he covered his face with his hands, an endearing sight, “what sort of a house guest am I?”

“A hungry one?” she offered jumping up to warm his croissants.

He accepted a mug of coffee as she put the pastries in the oven. “So are you still free to spend some time with me today?”

She nodded, “I’ve done all my homework, so we could do something.”

A smile preceded his words, “I told you we would. Would you like that picnic? I can go home and change, pick up some food, then meet you?”

She shrugged, “that sounds ok…”

“Good!” he drained his coffee and she refilled his mug as he started on the food like a starving man.

He left shortly after, declining her offer to go with him, as he wanted to organise the food. But he promised to see her in an hour and a half at a tube station near Primrose Hill. 

Rebecca refused to dwell on the way he’d run out on her, after all he’d stayed the night, and was arranging to come back to see her, she seemed to hunt rejection in every opportunity and knew it was her downfall. But since the untimely death of her mother, so soon after her father’s, she’d spent her life alone, relying only on herself. Now that Nat had smashed that line of defence, she felt more vulnerable than ever, his father disliking her so much only made things so much more apparent. She knew this would go nowhere, that it would all end in tears...her tears, but she didn't seem to have the power to pull away.

She ended up running late. So she was rushing through the station trying to keep the picnic blanket and drinks within her bag when she finally spotted him. Nate was lounging against some railings deep in conversation on his mobile, looking fresh and relaxed compared to the other people milling around, bedraggled from the humidity of the summer afternoon. He was wearing a polo shirt, some combat shorts and pair of leather designer flip flops. She’d never seen him in anything other than a suit and this new relaxed Nate took her breath away.  She suddenly realised he was smiling at her, and so made a nervous wave before dodging the crowd to cross the pavement to him. He pocketed the phone, then swept her into his arms and gave her a theatrical kiss.

“Has it only been ninety minutes?”

She nodded as he lifted a large bag from the floor and led her up into the park. They settled in a shady spot between a couple of trees, and laid out the blanket. In typical outdoor man mode, Nat took over opening the bottle of wine, and spreading out the food.

“God you’ve been busy!” she exclaimed as she found a small pot of olives and slid an oily green one into her mouth.

He looked at her for a moment and then smirked, “Me?” her chuckled, “I phoned Harrods and then picked this up! That's why I needed the time!”

She shook her head, “God I gave you far more credit than you deserve!” With a grin that was priceless, he delved back into the picnic hamper. The picnic was extensive from individual quiches, salads, chicken strips and small boiled new potatoes, to silver cutlery and real linen napkins.

Eventually she collapsed back onto the blanket, “I'm done! But that was VERY good!”

He lounged back down next to her, propping himself on one elbow. “And was only improved because of the company!” He kissed her nose, “I enjoy being with you Bec!”

She blushed, “thanks Nate that’s a really nice thing to say. I like you too!" 

Another gentle but promising kiss dissolved all conversation, and it was a while until they were back to talking.

They spread out on the blanket basking in the warm sun, with their contentedly full stomachs. Bec lifted her head every now and again to sip at her wine, but otherwise they lay side by side in comfortable silence, watching children flying kites, families kicking footballs. 

"What do you want to do now?" he asked finally sitting up, and starting to store the items back into the picnic box.

She rolled onto her belly to watch him, her hand blocking the sun from her eyes, "I don't mind. What do you think?" Her friends were all out together but she had a real fear about these two worlds colliding at the moment. Nate and her mates were worlds apart and she dreaded the two clashing, after all she didn't want to think about having to choose. She was enjoying being with Nate, but her friends were her lifeline. 

Nate shrugged, "across in Regent's Park is the zoo?"

So as the sun started to lower in the sky they found themselves wandering around the small zoo. Strolling through the aquarium, past kangaroos, and when they reached the penguin enclosure, it was feeding time.  

Rebecca had always loved animals, though she had mixed thoughts on the whole zoo thing. But to watch the penguins fight and play to be rewarded with fish was hilarious. She was still smiling as they made their way out of the zoo with fingers linked. 

They stopped in a small coffee shop a few blocks down the road and drank cappuccinos on small ornate wire seats artistically placed on the pavement. Bec felt her shoulders starting to smart, they'd been in the sun all day and it was a long time since she'd applied sunscreen. 

"What are you doing tomorrow?" Nate asked as he nibbled on the complimentary biscuit.

"Meeting the guys for Sunday lunch. It's kind of one of our many traditions. Takeaway Tuesday, Sunday lunch...how sad are our lives?"

Nate laughed, "beats my plans of preparing work for Monday! I'm working til at least eight on Monday. Then you've got Takeaway Tuesday...how's Wednesday?" 

Too far away! She thought, but instead she nodded, then reaching across the table, she laid a hand over his arm, "thanks for today, I've really enjoyed it!"

Placing his hand over hers he grinned, "me too! You are a real breath of fresh air to my life."

Like the gentleman that he was, Nate hailed a cab and crossed the City to her home.  Dumping his bags on the roadside, he walked her up to her front door. With her key poised in her hand, she turned to smile at him. It wasn't late, but it was starting to get dark. Through the day they'd shared a few chaste kisses, but as she looked into his eyes, she knew that one of his special kisses was coming. 

Nate's lips touched hers in a possessive way, his arms now free of bags wrapped around her holding her tightly against him. She struggled to deal with the myriad of sensations that were swamping her. Life a drowning man she clung to him, desperate for her lips to stay joined to his. Pulling back he looked down at her.

For all her intentions, Bec was melting in his arms, she knew her gaze was an open invite to Nate, an offer for anything he was willing to share with her. He groaned, a painful sounding sound.

"I so want..."

"Me too." She breathed. 

She could tell Nate was torn, but the gentleman in him won out. Kissing her again, he savoured every moment before pulling back and resting his thumb across her lips. 

"It's too soon Rebecca, you might regret it tomorrow. I want things to be perfect." 

It was such a selfless gesture, she was pliant in his arms, offering, open to him, but he was thinking of the bigger picture. If this was a long term thing, they needed to take their time.

Nodding, Bec stepped back then watched Nate move away down the street. he paused twice, turning back and she realised how close he was to going against all he believed in.

Sunday dinner in the Royal Oak was legendary. Even on a warm summer's day the thought of the perfect roast beef, yorkshire pudding adn minimum five vegetables was so great that the pub was packed with queues for tables. 

Johnny, however, was dating one of the barmaids. There'd been much discussion as to whether he really liked her, or if this was a convenient relationship to ease their Sunday meal! As usual their favourite table in the window was reserved, and she was the first one there. 

The full length windows had been pulled open and a fresh breeze blew in, perfumed by the window boxes of flowers. It was idyllic, a much needed balance to the gentle sun, that shone down on them. 

She had just sipped her first mouthful of beer when a voice cracked across the room. 

"Only got you own drink?"

Lyle! 

Johnny and Lyle were the perfect double act. Johnny was the real idiot, up for anything and always cracking jokes, Lyle was a little more serious, yet when HE did anything it was a true case of no holds barred. Wild.

Now he was stood at the busy bar, the question in his eyes. Bec laughed.

"I've bought a round, left it behind the bar! Ask Gemma!" At the end of the sentence she stuck out her tongue and blew a raspberry. Lyle shaking his head in a knowing way chuckled and turned back to Gemma, the beautiful acquaintance of his best mate!

Within fifteen minutes, Johnny had arrived, as well as Tara and Jase, and they were all chatting like they hadn't in ages. 

"So have you seen anything more of Little Lord Fauntleroy?" Tara asked sipping her pint, and Rebecca could tell from her expression that she expected a negative answer.

"Yes. A few times. He's nice!" Tara's shock attracted the attention of the rest of the table, and Bec was a little stunned. "He really is a nice guy, I can assure you of that!"

The three friends were silenced by the sharpness of her response and Rebecca maintained the awkward silence for a while. But after a few more drinks, they'd all forgotten their differences. 

Monday at work was hell, but a phone call from Nate made things worthwhile, and in a devoted fashion, he called her every five hours to update her on his day. She was counting down the time til she saw him again, but until then they had to abide by the rule of their commitments.

Takeaway Tuesday saw her pile into Tara and Jase's new flat with the boys and scoff pizzas and beer as was par for the course of the night. But it felt like something was missing, she hated the way she kept checking her phone, responding to Nate's texts with a grin of pleasure, she knew her friends were silently noting her behaviour. She was desperate to see him the following day. In fact it couldn't come quick enough.

They met straight from work. Nate's instruction had been 'best dress' so after work she found herself stood in front of her wardrobe stressed. How best was best? For her it was wedding or Sunday best, for him it could be black tie! She had a long dress, she'd worn it to a Ball the previous year, but she also had a couple of shorter cocktail dresses. 

In the end she went for middle ground, her trusted little black dress, spaghetti straps, mid thigh, clinging to her curves. She'd piled her hair up into a loose French pleat, and accessorised with her favourite chunky silver jewellery. With a tulle wrap around her shoulders and her favourite black heels, she was applying lip gloss when the buzzer sounded. 

Rather than inviting him up, she skipped down the stairs to greet Nate. Pulling open the door she paused for a second. He was wearing a suit, as he often did, but this one whilst equally expensive and well cut was decidedly more casual. A dark blue colour, it brought out the shade of his eyes, his shirt was open at the neck and tie less. There was something exotic about the way he dressed down, and Rebecca murmured appreciatively.

"You look delectable Miss Taylor, I have to say!"

She gave a twirl, "not my usual Wednesday attire, but then you're not my usual type of Wednesday date!"

Laughing he offered her his arm, and as he led her to his car, a black soft-top SAAB, he glanced at her with a smile, "so you have different dates EVERY Wednesday?"

She shook her head in humour as he pulled away from the kerb.

Opera! it was a concept she'd never imagined colliding with her world. But here she was, clinging to Nate's arm as he confidently led her through the foyer of the Royal Opera House. All around her couples milled in various levels of 'best clothing', she was far from underdressed, but it was such a foreign environment to her that she felt anything but comfortable. 

Earlier over supper Nate had explained he had a box at the Opera House. He loaned it to family or friends, but it was a passion of his. He'd guessed that it may not be Rebecca's forte, but he wanted her to experience it, taste his passion.

He'd picked a fairly easy show, Carmen by Bizet was an expressive show that told a clear story without having to interpret the songs. It was exciting and definitely visual, and he knew that she'd love it.

The box contained four seats, and the other two were empty, so the two relaxed to watch the show.