Jane was on her way to the coffee shop. Too late she noticed her ex-boyfriend coming the other way. They almost bumped into each other as they tried to avoid each other. They exchanged a glance and moved on. Neither was pleased to see the other but nothing was said.
They had first met in the coffee shop. Jane had been fumbling for her purse and Rob had paid for her. They had had a pleasant conversation and Jane had returned the favour by buying him another coffee,
This had led to them going out together. They had got on well and found each other good company. Jane spent more and more time at Rob’s flat.
One evening she was at his flat waiting for Rob but he stayed out all evening and come back drunk. Jane went back to her flat. The next day Rob came round to apologise. He had been out with his friend Dave and they had a few drinks.
Much the same happened a few weeks later. It was just what he did with Dave. When he spent an evening with him they always ended up drunk whether they meant to or not. It was just how it was.
Other evenings Jane and Rob would go out together or perhaps stay in together and have a good time, so the relationship seemed to be progressing well despite Dave.
Then Dave started going out with a German barmaid called Nicole . He had fancied her for a while and finally got round to asking her out. The fact that she was German seemed to make her more exotic but the main appeal to Dave was that she had large breasts. He was a man of simple tastes.
It was decided that one Friday evening that the two couples would go out together. It was the first time that Jane had met Nicole. It was soon apparent that Nicole was very lively and she was very amusing. She found the English people so strange.
It was getting late when to amuse the men Nicole kissed Jane. The longer the kiss went on the more it pleased the men. Jane went along with the kiss so as not to spoil the fun. However after the kiss Nicole suggested that since they had enjoyed watching the women kiss so much the two men should kiss. Rob and Dave made their excuses. They had known each other for so long. They would never kiss each other as it was not that sort of relationship.
Nicole threatened to go unless they stopped being so boring and they should kiss each other. To encourage them she kissed them each in turn, first Dave and then an initially reluctant Rob. However they still would not kiss each other. So Nicole got up to leave. And she invited Jane to leave with her. Jane was not sure how things would work out but she decided to go with Nicole to teach the men a lesson.
Nicole and Jane went to a bar nearby and had a drink together. Nicole said she was bored with Dave and she was going to stop seeing him. Afterwards Jane went back to her own flat alone.
The next day Rob came round to talk things over. Dave was upset over Nicole leaving him. Rob thought that Dave had been badly treated. Jane thought that Dave had got what he deserved. It led to an argument between them. Rob thought Jane should be more sympathetic to Dave. Jane did not think much of Dave. Rob took the criticism of his friend badly and decided to end his relationship with Jane. Jane was glad when Rob left.
Jane went to collect her things from Rob’s flat. It was a difficult end to the relationship. They had had good times. The main problem had been Rob’s friendship with Dave. In the end it became a choice for Rob between his relationship with Dave and his relationship with Jane. As far as Rob was concerned it was an easy choice. He could not be disloyal to Dave, so it was goodbye to Jane. Jane understood this so little needed to be said. They both felt that the other should have been more understanding.
Thus it was that Jane felt awkward bumping into Rob again. She went to the coffee shop and sat down alone with a coffee at a table. As she looked out the window she saw Rob with his new girlfriend. Rob was carrying several shopping bags and looked flustered. It was clear that the girlfriend was in charge of the situation. Somehow this made Jane feel much better.
The End
©Conor Cotter
The End
©Conor Cotter
