A/N – I'm sorry, forgive me please? I will try my best to update more frequently with decent chapters, but all I have to say is.. damn you GCSE's, damn you! Hope you enjoy. I love all your comments x

"What do you mean you don't like chocolate?" He asks, astounded.

"I just don't like it that much..."

"You must like dark chocolate. Oh come on... no? Really?"

"Really."

With a disheartened sigh I hold the phone closer to my ear, already missing him.

"You have no idea what you're missing out on."

I hear him laugh on the other end of the line, imagining his smile.

"I tell you what," he starts, "I'll make you one of my chocolate cakes, and if you don't like it then I'll make you whatever you want."

"Well that sounds like a plan."

"Yeah?"

"Definitely."

There's a short silence in which we both know what's coming. God knows how long we've been on the phone for, but I know it's been longer than an hour.

"I should probably go," he says on a sigh, "got lot's to prepare for."

"Yeah... okay." I don't want him to. We've spent the past hour talking about anything and everything, all his likes, dislikes, all of mine. "Just remember what I told you and you'll be fine."

Laughing again he thinks back to the advice I gave him; whenever someone talks to you flash them a smile, that'll get them weak at the knees.

"Keep calm and carry on?"

"Always."

"I'll see you soon, yeah?"

"Promise. I'll phone you. Good luck."

"Thanks."

"See ya later."

"Bye.."

And with that, Syed's gone, the dull tone of a dead line left in his place.

...

"Christian!"

Out of nowhere arms have pulled me into a rather dramatic hug.

"Hello you." I pat Dave on the back in welcome.

"We wondered where you were!" Pulling back from me Dave gives me a welcoming smile flashing his green eyes, calling over his shoulder to Alex. "Darling, Christian's here!"

Making his way over with two beers Alex puts them on the table and wraps his arms around Dave from behind, both smiling like love sick puppies. God, I'd forgotten how sickening these two could be.

"Alright, Christian."

I smile at them.

"So how are you two? It's been a while!"

Wrong question. They smile at each other, Alex giving Dave a kiss. A bloody long kiss.

"Alright, alright. Enough of that you two."

"Sorry, babe." Dave hands me my drink. "Here, sit down and tell us everything that's been going on. What fittys have you pulled since we last met?"

I sit down at the table, them on the opposite side only just passing the 'acceptable positions to sit with your boyfriend in public' rule.

"Well..." I stare at my glass, not sure if I really want to tell them. I bloody well know they're gonna rip the piss out of me. Gritting my teeth I prepare myself for the onslaught. "There's this bloke."

"Oh yeah? What's he like?"

"How does he rate on the 'Christian Clarke bed standards'?"

Oh god. Here I go.

"I haven't slept with him yet." I say casually, my glass finds its way into my hand and I take a sip, ignoring their stares. It's only when they've been silent for a painfully long time my eyes rest on them.

"You what?"

I shrug, not wanting them to make a big deal out of this.

"Is there something wrong with him?"

"Oh is he like... mental?" Alex pipes in.

I laugh, I can't not. God they're bloody ridiculous sometimes!

"No, you idiots! There's nothing wrong with him. The complete opposite, in fact." Smiling, I picture his face as we lay on his bed, the way he stroked delicate fingers softly over my arm as I kissed him...

"Fuck."

The image disappears and I look up.

"What?"

They look at each other, a look I find rather irritating. "What? Guys tell me, what is it!"

"We wondered when this was going to happen." Dave says, eyes... excited?

"What's his name?" Alex asks, both blatantly ignoring my question.

"Syed."

"How old?"

"24."

"Looks?"

What is this, a bloody interview?

"Dark brown hair, a bit smaller than me - but not short, gorgeous brown eyes." I smile in spite of myself. Dammit.

"Christian's in love!"

"Shut up, D." Glaring at him, Alex gives him a thump.

"I'm not in love. Don't be bloody ridiculous!"

That came out more aggressive then I meant...

"...Chill, Chris."

"Sorry. But I don't do love, you know me."

"Yeah, just like I didn't 'do' love before I met this lump!" Dave says.

"Hey! I'm not a lump."

"A gorgeous lump. Better?"

"Much."

Smiling, Alex presses a kiss to Dave's neck.

"All I'm saying is... don't knock it before you try it, 'kay?"

"Whatever." The beer mat on the table suddenly becomes very entertaining to me as I trace my fingers over the lettering, refusing to meet their gaze.

"So have you been on a date or what?"

"Sort of two dates, yeah."

"And?"

"And nothing! We talked, got chips, kissed..."

"Aw that's ridiculously cute!"

I glare at Dave - deadly, apparently, as Alex tightens his grip round his waist as if to say 'don't you dare lay a hand on him'.

"Sorry..." he says.

Watching them now, I realise just how good they are together. I never really saw it before, mostly because I was so... Jealous? I don't know. But whatever it was, it's not there so much today. They're not the most irritating people on the planet, they don't make me want to reach for the bucket so much. I swear though, I'd never be that sickly sweet with my boyfriend in public. Or maybe with Syed I would... he's just so damn adorable, if I had my way I'd kiss him all day every day. He's a damn good kisser, too, I won't be forgetting that one in a while. Who'd have thought you could spend hours kissing someone without it leading to sex? I'd do it again though, in a heartbeat. I miss him. I wonder what he's doing right now? Well it's 5:15 now, so he might be finished at work? I could call him...

"Can I ask something?" Dave puts his hand on my shoulder, bringing me back to my surroundings.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Well, I don't mean to be nosy, but how come you haven't slept with him yet? Ow...! Don't pinch me, Al, I was just asking!"

I roll my eyes at them.

"It's kind of complicated." I tell them. "He wasn't treated right the first time, and he says he wants it to mean something rather than have a one night stand type-of-thing."

"So... the complete opposite to you, then?"

"Well no, actually. I'm fed up of having these meaningless nights with blokes who I never see again, and it feels like the right time to change all that, ya know? Start afresh and all that."

"Oh, my Christian's all grown up..." he holds his hands to his heart, pretending to wipe away a tear.

"Oi shut up, I'm opening up here!"

I kick him under the table, kicking Alex by mistake. "Oops... sorry!"

Dave starts laughing while Alex rubs his leg.

"Aw darling, want me to kiss it better?"

"Maybe later."

"Got it."

"Sorry, Al.." I say, holding back a laugh.

"It's alright, 'cos of you I'm now getting some action tonight." Winking at me, he laughs at Dave's face.

"Not anymore you ain't."

"Oh now how do I know that's a lie..?"

My eyes flick between the two of them.

"Right.. well, I'm gonna leave you two love birds to it." Standing up I sip the remnants of my beer before setting it down on the table and grabbing my jacket.

"You leaving so soon?"

"Well I wanted to call Syed, we're meeting later..."

"Can't you just stay and have one more drink with us? Please please please? We promise after that we'll let you get back to your lover." Dave bats his lashes, making me laugh.

"Oh alright, you. One more drink. But then I'm going!"

They both grin at me as I go up to the bar to order us some more drinks.

...

Walking down the road my brain can't help but think back to what the boys were saying. Did they really think it was that much of a big deal that I was now officially in a relationship with someone? Admittedly I can't even remember the last time I had a boyfriend, but that's different now. I've got Syed, who might actually be the most attractive man on the planet.

Looking up my eyes rest on floppy brown hair, and a face that's scrunched up in concentration as he tries to text and walk simultaneously. He's probably texting me back, asking where we should meet... I stop walking and let him approach, almost bumping into me before I wrap my arms around his waist and capture his lips with mine, taking him by total surprise.

I know I shouldn't do this to him in public, but I literally can't resist.

Fingers weaving into thick locks I tilt his head back slightly, parting his lips with my own. He releases a satisfied sigh for my ears only, and I pull away before we both get too lost in the moment and forget where we are.

"Good day?" I ask with a smirk, releasing my grip from around his waist and taking his hand in mine, chuckling at his stunned silence.