The School Reunion  
1: The Invitation

The sound of the letterbox flapping was enough to rouse Matt from his
slumber on the cold January morning. He'd been out on the town with his
mates from work the previous night, but had drawn the short straw and
been nominated to drive. He spent the evening sipping sickly sweet, fruit
juice drinks and watching his so-called friends fumble about in a drunken
stupor, and he had barely slept.

To make matters worse, Joey from accounts had ruined any chance that Matt
had had of kopping off with the blonde he'd been chatting up. Matt knew
from bitter experience that girls didn't react well when their expensive
new dress was puked on.

Wearily, Matt forced himself out of bed, and took a shower. After
towelling himself dry, he pulled on his robe and a pair of underpants and
traipsed downstairs. He picked up the mail off the floor and carried it
into the kitchen. He tossed it on the table, where it sat while he
prepared breakfast. Finally, buttered toast and hot, sweet coffee in
front of him, he set about opening the multitude of letters that had been
delivered by the once trusty Royal Mail.

"Dear homeowner, have you ever considered consolidating all your
debts..." he tore the first piece of junk mail in two.

Two more loan ads, and an offer of a free quote for double-glazing went
the same way. He nearly choked when he saw the size of his mobile phone
bill. The last of the bundle had a real stamp, instead of a franking
machine mark. The address was handwritten in elegant, and he suspected
female, script.

Taking great care, he peeled open the envelope. Inside was an invitation
card. The opening lines read...

"Westhampton Comprehensive School - Class of '94 Grand Ten Year Reunion"
The rest of the card gave the details of when and where.

"Fuck me," Matt said, "Ten Fucking Years!"

He wasn't surprised to see it had been signed by Laura Blackwood, she
always was a busy-body and just the type to organise a stupid reunion.
The card gave RSVP details: her address, telephone number and e-mail. At
least he wouldn't have to speak to her to tell her where to stick her
reunion.

His first reaction was to fire up the computer and e-mail her some
abusive response. Why would he want to meet up with that bunch of tossers
again? School years are meant to be the best of your life, but not for
Matt. Now if it had been a University reunion, he'd have been there like
a shot. Hell, he'd have even helped out. The chance to meet up with all
the girls that made him into the man he was today, that was tempting. The
chance to meet up with spotty half-wits who'd never had any ambition
other than getting five stars on their Burger King badge, that wasn't
quite so tempting.

*****

On Monday morning, during his ten o'clock coffee break, Matt told his
fellow solicitor and best friend, Jerry, about the invitation.

"I don't see what your problem is," Jerry said.

"I didn't like them all that much," Matt replied, "how's that for
starters?"

"What, none of them? I'm sorry Matt, but I find that hard to believe."

"Okay, maybe not all of them," Matt said, "but most of the lads at my
school were complete wankers."

"And what about the girls?"

"Most of them were slappers. And I somehow I was still a virgin when I
left school."
"You never told me that."

"I thought it might spoil my image. Still, it wouldn't surprise me if all
the tarts from my school have married, divorced, had several kids,
probably with different men, and are now the size of small houses," Matt
spat with undisguised contempt.

"It can't have been that bad," Jerry said.

"Jerry you keep forgetting. I didn't go to some posh-arse private school
like you. My school was a shitty city comp. It was nearly closed by the
government twice."

Matt sipped from his mug then said, "In my year, I was one of only twelve
boys to pass our exams, and only slightly more girls. From a year group
of nearly two hundred. We were consistently the worst school in town.
Hell, mine was a good year; the previous year the school only scored five
percent passes."

Matt took another sip of coffee then continued, "I've worked too long and
too hard to get out of that world. I couldn't go back."

"But if it was me, I'd want to go back just to show them all how
successful I was. Imagine the looks on their faces when you pull up in
your TT."

"You are joking. I wouldn't take my car back there. You know the
stereotype scallys from Liverpool, the blokes who nick the wheels from
your car if you leave it in one place for too long? Well in Westhampton
that actually happens."

"Now you're taking the piss," Jerry said.

"I am not, I know people who used to do just that to get money to buy
crack," Matt replied.

"So hire a limo," said Jerry, "It's not like you can't afford it. And I'm
sure there's someone who you could take that would really rub their noses
in it. What about Annie from accounts? She's hotter than a hot cross bun
that's fresh out of really hot oven, and then left out in the sun on a
really hot day," said Jerry.

Matt looked at his fiend and shook his head, "Fucking extended similes
again. You watch too much Blackadder."

"I know. What about asking Annie out?"

"Fuck off," Matt smirked, "She's old enough to be my mom."

"Still hot though."

"In your bizarre world, maybe. Okay, I'll give it some more thought. I'll
call Rob. I've been meaning to catch up with him anyway."

"That's more like it," Jerry said.

True to his word, Matt phoned his friend Rob that night after work. They
caught up on how work was, and how bad their favourite football team had
been playing, before Matt approached the subject of the reunion.

"Going?" Rob said, "I've been bloody well roped into organising it. Laura
has been on at me for fucking ages. In the end, I agreed to help out just
to shut her up. Still, at least I got a shag out of it. I just hope her
husband never finds out. Hey, you better turn up mate. All Laura wanted
me for was your address. You're her star attraction. A kid from our side
of the tracks turned high-powered lawyer."

"I don't know about 'High-Powered'. I do mostly conveyance and probate
work," Matt said.

"I thought you were on the fast track to partnership," replied Rob.

"It's hardly a fast track, but I might get to be a partner in about five
years if I play my cards right."

"There you go then. Look, don't let me down mate; you've got to come.
Besides, I know for a fact that Kelly's looking forward to seeing you.
She told me so herself at the last committee meeting."

*****

"So who's this Kelly," Jerry asked the next day.

"Just a girl," Matt replied.

Jerry laughed, "Yeah, right."

"She was one of a group of kids whose parents had bought a house on a new
development close to the school," Matt explained, "I don't think they new
what the area was like. Or how bad the school was."

"And you fancied her?"

"I hated those kids. They thought they were better than us. They had more
money, but that didn't make them any better. The teachers always let them
get away with shit that if I'd tried..."

"I get the idea. But you still fancied her?"

Matt looked at Jerry. He sipped his coffee and said, "Just a little bit."

*****

Matt sat in the corner of the club and watched the packed dance floor. It
wasn't really a nightclub, just the upstairs room of a local pub that the
sixth form committee had hired for the night.

Most of the kids from the two sixth-form years were there, Laura
Blackwood had seen to that. That was her job as committee chair. Kelly
Larson was the vice-chair, and the booking of the room, DJ and bar had
been down to her.

Kelly was sitting with Laura on the far side of the room. Matt tried not
to look at her, but it was difficult. She looked fantastic. Her golden
hair hung in ringlets around her face, framing her features perfectly.
She wore a pair of black, suede-effect trousers, which clung to her
curves before flaring out from the knee, making her legs look even more
divine than they did in her short school skirt. To contrast with the
trousers, she had plumped for a sheer, white chiffon shirt. Her black
bra, filled with her tempting breasts, was visible.

Rob plopped himself down in the empty chair next to Matt.

"What's the story?" he asked.

"Morning fucking glory," Matt replied.

"What the fucks up face-ache?"

"Fuck all." Matt took a big swig of his pint.

"Fucking great night, 'init," Rob said.

"If you say so."

"Oh for fucks sake, cheer up. You're like a fucking wet weekend."

"I could of asked her Rob. I was there. She was there. And I fucking
bottled it."

"Oh you're not still on about that? You didn't ask her out, 'cause you're
too fucking quick to listen fuckwits who say she's too fucking good for
you."

"But they're fucking well right," Matt replied.

"Like fuck they are. Look at her with Laura. Who'd have thought that
Laura Blackwood, Dad who had ran off with a tart and left his wife and
kids penniless; and Kelly Larson, stuck-up bitch from posh estate who had
her head so far up her own arse she could lick her tonsils; would wind up
as best friends. It don't matter where you're from, it's who you are that
counts."

"Too fucking late now. Nettles is planning to ask her out."

"How'd you know?"

"He told me. He's doing it just to fucking spite me."

Rob stood and returned to the dance floor, where his girlfriend greeted
him. Matt watched as they danced and kissed. He walked over to the bar,
passing Kelly and Laura on the way. He smiled at her. They were friends,
but nothing more.
"Hey, Matthew. I reckon you owe me a drink."

"Why?" he said, a little more aggressively than he meant to.

Kelly placed her hands on one knee, fluttered her eyes and said, "Because
I'm just so gorgeous." She and Laura burst into a fit of giggles.

Before he could ask her what she wanted John Nettles approached Kelly,
catching Matt's eye as he did. He smiled evilly at him. Matt was close
enough to hear the conversation.

"It's time to dance, Kelly," Nettles said.

"Really," Kelly answered, looking around, "who with?" She and Laura
started laughing again.

Nettles gave her his 'look', which he was convinced made all the girls he
gave it to go weak inside.

"Oh, I see." Kelly stood, brushing some imaginary dust from her legs.
"There's about as much chance of me dancing with you. As there is of John
Major turning out to be a sex god."

Kelly walked in the direction of the dance floor. Matt was sure he saw
her smile at him as she passed. Matt loved the way she smiled. It lit up
her face like the Oxford Street Christmas lights. Laura followed her,
shaking her head and laughing.

Nettles waited until Kelly was out of earshot and then called to Matt,
"See what I mean. Stuck-up tart. If she's turning me down, what fucking
chance have you got? You're a fucking loser, Marsden. And it don't matter
if you go to Oxford, or Cambridge, or fucking Blackpool. You'll always be
a loser."

*****

"That was just before Christmas '93," Matt told Jerry, "but it could have
been any party from the previous three years."

"You fancied that girl for that long, and did nothing about it. That
doesn't sound like you."

"I was someone else then. But can you see why I can't go to this
reunion."

"Sorry, but no. I still think you should go."

"I suppose it's just an emotional block. What if they still think I'm a
loser."

"I still can't believe that you did nothing about this girl you liked,"
Jerry said, shaking his head.

"You haven't heard the worst of it."

*****

The Diva nightclub was packed out, as usual. Matt and Rob entered and
stood overlooking the dance floor. Rob had told Matt that they were going
to meet some of the kids from school, and they were all planning to give
him a grand send off. He was Westhampton Comp's big success story.

Matt hadn't spoken to anyone from school since the 'last night of exams'
party, apart from Rob of course, and he wasn't sure how many of his
'friends' were going to show up.

"There they are," Rob said, pointing to the far side of the room,
"They've got us a table. Go on over and say 'Hi' and I'll get you a pint.
What d'you want, the usual?"

"Sure, just don't fucking spike it, I've gotta be up early."

"As if I would," Rob said, overstressing the innocence in his voice.

Matt worked his way through the throng of people, finally managing to
reach his destination.

"Hey, Hey, Hey," said Laura, getting up from her chair and coming over to
hug Matt and kiss his cheek. "Here he is. I was beginning to think you'd
chickened out. Maybe our soon-to-be big man on campus is too good for us
now."

"Don't be daft, Laura," Matt said. "I'll never forget you lot, how could
I? Always remember where you're from, my Nana says, that way you can
appreciate where you're going."

"Your Nana sounds like a bit of a philosopher," said another voice.

Matt turned around to greet Kelly. His heart stopped momentarily as she
also hugged him and kissed his cheek.

"Congratulations, college boy," she said, her voice soft and sensual.

Rob arrived and thrust a drink into Matt's hand, "Knock it back quick,"
he said, "we've wasted enough time. We need to get out there and bust
some moves."

"The way you dance Rob, you'll probably bust some bones," Kelly said.

For the next two hours, Matt danced in a group with the twelve others
that had come to see him off. Just after midnight, Rob requested a song
for Matt, getting the DJ to announce his acceptance to Oxford. In
celebration, the club management offered the group a free bottle of
Champagne, which Matt and the others sat down to enjoy as soon as their
song had finished.

Matt found himself genuinely enjoying the company of the others, which
was unusual. Normally, he found them all a bit puerile. When the
Champagne was gone, they started dancing again. The DJ was playing slow
songs as the club approached closing time.

Matt danced first with Laura, and then Julie. He wanted to dance with
Kelly, but even now he couldn't bring himself to ask her. His song with
Julie came to a swift end, and since there were no other girls for him to
dance with, he started to walk back to the group's table.

"Hey you," Kelly said, "Where's my dance? I only came out tonight so I
could get a dance with a proper student."

Matt smiled at her. Not his usual, friendly smile. He was suddenly unable
to hide his feelings. She smiled back and offered him her hand. He took
it and led her to the centre of the dance floor. They began in an almost
formal stance, his right hand on Kelly's hip and his left holding her
hand.

"You're not dancing with your mother, Matt," Kelly quipped. She let go of
his hand and pulled him close. "That's much better."

Their bodies touched; only the material of their clothes separated them
as they swayed gently to the power ballad that was playing. Kelly looked
up at Matt, and he lost himself in her glittering blue eyes. He no longer
knew where he was, what time it was, or how long they had been dancing.

He only knew that he didn't want the moment to end. He had no
recollection of how it started, but he found himself kissing Kelly. A
passionate kiss, filled with four years of pent-up emotion. She pressed
up against him as they kissed, and Matt's anatomy came to life.

Kelly broke off the kiss. "Mmm, now that feels nice," she said, grinding
against him, "and big too. It's a shame you're leaving town, we could
have been good together."

It took a few seconds for the enormity of what Kelly was saying to sink
in. "You know, don't you?" Matt said. "Who told you? Rob? Julie? Laura?"

"I've always known," she replied, "I'd have been blind or stupid not to.
I just couldn't work out why you didn't do anything about it."

Matt smiled weakly at her. All this time, she had known. All this time,
he'd done nothing, and she had known. He felt foolish.

"I've wasted a great opportunity," he said.

"We better make the most of tonight then. What's left of it."

They danced for another two songs, after which the DJ packed up, and the
club closed for the night. Outside the group went their separate ways,
but Kelly and Matt held each other tight as they walked home. They kissed
passionately again when they got to her door.

"Like I said earlier," she said as she left him to walk up her garden
path, "it's such a shame you're leaving tomorrow and have to be up early,
otherwise I might have asked you in for 'coffee'."

The way she said that last word of the sentence made it clear that coffee
was the last thing on offer. She blew him a kiss as she closed the door.
Matt turned away and began the long walk back to his own house.

*****

"That was the last time I saw her," Matt told Jerry. "After that night, I
decided that the next time I even remotely fancied a girl, I'd go for
it."

"Fucking well works for you too," Jerry said, "You've had the gift of the
gab as long as I've known you. I couldn't even count the number of times
I've scored, thanks to your patter."

"Thanks, I think. Although, sometimes I do get tired of an endless stream
of meaningless one night stands."

"You are joking," said Jerry.

"You've known me for ten years," Matt said, "We started Oxford together,
we went through Law School together and then trained here together. In
all that time, how many long term relationships do you remember me
having?"

"Let me think," Jerry mused, "There was Vicky whats-her-name, from
college."

"That lasted three months," Matt said.

"What about that Temp a couple of years ago, what was her name? Leanne.
That's it Leanne."

"She was exactly that, Temporary."

Jerry smiled, "I know. Sonia Wentworth. You two were together for ages."

"Two and a half years," Matt said, "And it was all about sex. She saw
other guys, I saw other girls, and if we were both on our own, we'd get
together and fuck each other senseless. It was all about sex, no
emotional attachment at all."

"That's why you were in tears when she left to work at Franklins."

Matt smiled at his friend but made no comment.

"So you're definitely going then?" Jerry said eventually, "Carry on where
you left off?"

"It's definitely worth a try," Matt replied, a sly grin creeping across
his face, "Definitely worth a try."

*******
Part 2 - The Reunion

The weekend of the reunion came all too quickly for Matt.  He enjoyed his
work and one week seemed to blend into another.  Six months didn't seem
as long as it did when he was younger.  Matt booked himself into the best
hotel that Westhampton had to offer, and travelled north after work on
Friday.  On Saturday, he took his sister and his mother out for lunch,
and his dad to watch Westhampton Wanderers last game of the season.  Then
back at the hotel, he prepared for the big night.

Matt left his TT in the gated car park at the hotel.  He took a taxi
instead, which at least meant that he didn't have to worry about driving
home after a few drinks.  And as far as he was concerned, he would need
more than a few drinks to get through the night and keep his sanity.

The taxi dropped him outside the school reception and Matt tipped the
driver generously.  Before he went in, he checked that he had a supply of
his business cards with him, just in case he drum up a bit of business.
Just inside the door a tall, slim girl with long blonde hair stood behind
a school desk.  Some school prospectuses lay on the desk, along with a
supply of blank name tags, and to Matt's horror, copies of his school
yearbook.  Laura smiled as she saw him, she clearly recognised him, but
she looked different to how he remembered her.

"Matthew Marsden," she beamed, coming from behind the table to greet him,
"I was beginning to think you weren't coming."  She shook his hand
vigorously.

"Fashionably late, I only ever turn up on time for meetings with clients
and the boss."

They both chuckled, "You look good," she added, "You weren't this filled
out ten years ago."

"That's what gym membership does for you," he replied, "gym, swim, sauna,
three times a week.  You look good yourself."

"What were you expecting?" she asked, "Did you think I'd have put on five
stone just because I've got kids?"

"Well..."

"That's okay," she said, "I know this must be hard for you, coming back
here.  But I for one really appreciate it.  Do you remember what you told
us your Nana used to say?"

Matt thought for a moment, "Something about remembering where you're
from."

"That's right, so that you appreciate where you're going.  You must
really appreciate where you're going."

"Thanks."

"Rob's in the bar, he'll be glad to see you.  But help yourself to a name
tag first."

Matt scribbled his name on one of the labels and then attached it to the
breast pocket of his suit.  Laura was already greeting another arrival.
Matt hurried into the bar to find his friend before she could force him
into a meeting.  Rob was sitting with a group of men near the bar's
entrance, and called to Matt to get his attention.

"Matty!  Go get a bevy, then come and park yourself here for a few.  The
ents don't start for a bit anyway."

Matt did as Rob suggested, thankful for not having to enter the main
hall, where the majority of the ex-pupils had gathered.

"Nice threads man," Rob said as Matt sat down, "How much did they knock
you back?"

"It's Armani," Matt replied, "I brought it when I qualified and it's the
best suit I own, so if you spill anything on it you'll get the dry-
cleaning bill."

"But how much?"  Rob persisted.

"Two and half," Matt said reluctantly.

"Two hundred and fifty!  I thought you were loaded," said one of the men
at the table, who Matt instantly recognised as John Nettles.  "Fucking
hell, even I've got a suit that cost that."

"No," said Matt calmly, "Two and a half thousand.  It's hand made from
Italian fabric.  The shirt was more than your suit, and the shoes...
Well, let's just forget it shall we.  We're not here to argue."

Matt was already beginning to sense that this whole thing might be a
mistake.

***

Things got better as the drinks flowed, and the first little exchange was
forgotten.  Matt listened eagerly to the questionable exploits of those
around the table.  John Nettles was a small time businessman; a legend in
his own mind.  He wasn't specific about what he did, but kept referring
to business.  Also around the table were two car mechanics; a few lads
who worked at the same car plant as Matt's dad and two unemployed, and
Matt suspected, unemployable men.  Matt recalled that they had never been
too bright.  Then there was Keith.

Matt was not surprised to hear that Keith had become something of a hard-
bitten, ruthless landlord.  He owned a string of properties that he let
out, but he was mortgaged to the hilt, and would have trouble meeting the
repayments if they lay empty.  Matt handed one of his business cards to
Keith, telling him that he was sure they could cut a deal on future legal
fees.

The time flew by, and Matt realised that things weren't nearly as bad as
he had expected them to be.  The people he shared his school years with
were still lacking in ambition, but they seemed happy with their lot, and
at least they were less spotty.  There weren't nearly as many divorces or
estranged fathers as he had expected.  As the ladies wandered into the
bar to get a drink, most came over to say hallo.  They were not nearly as
tarty as they used to be, neither were they the size of small houses.
There were still one or two slappers in the crowd though.  One girl,
Pauline, even slipped him her 'Business' card; the kind of card usually
found in telephone boxes.

Just before ten, Rob looked at his watch and told the assembled that the
band would be starting their set, and that they ought to move into the
main hall.  Matt indicted his empty glass, and asked if any one else
would like theirs refilled.  Rob, Keith and John took him up on the
offer.  Keith and John followed the others into the hall while Rob
accompanied Matt to the bar.

"It's not all that bad after all, is it?"  Rob asked.

"No," Matt said, "I'm quite enjoying myself."

Matt ordered four bottled beers and then asked his friend, "Don't suppose
you know what line of business Nettles is in?"

"Sales I think, but I reckon most of his stock comes of the back of
lorries," Rob replied.

"Thought as much."

The barman brought the drinks, and Matt paid him.  He picked up one of
the bottles of beer, and Rob took two of the others.  As he waited for
his change, a voice that Matt recognised spoke from behind him.

"Is that the illustrious Matthew Marsden standing at the bar?  Because if
it is, I believe he still owes me a drink from his leaving party all
those years ago."

"I always knew that you'd collect on that debt," Matt said, "one day."

"Better get me a Bailey's then."

Matt nodded to the barman, who asked if Kelly would like ice with her
drink.
"Of course," she said.

Her voice was different from how Matt remembered it.  He had tried hard
to lose his thick Westhampton accent, thinking he would sound more
professional without it.  Kelly, it seemed, had tried to do the same, but
with less success.  This left her with a softer, version of the accent,
retaining the melodic tempo that Westhamptonians were famous for.
Coupled with the rich tone of her voice, it made Matt go weak at the
knees.

Rob took the final bottle of beer from in front of Matt. "I'll take these
through and leave you to it."

As Rob left, Matt turned to look on the object of his teenage.  Her long
golden locks had disappeared, replaced with crop of rich brown hair
folded up on the back of her head.  Two thick strands fell either side of
her face, framing it.  Her facial features had changed slightly; no
longer those of a fresh, young girl, but matured into those of a woman in
her prime.  She wore an elegant, long black dress, which clung to her
pleasing hourglass figure.

"Well?" she said, clearly expecting him to comment on her outfit.

"I'm lost for words," he replied.

"I thought lawyers were never lost for words," she teased.

"There's a first time for everything," Matt said.  He paused and then
added, "That night, as you blew me a kiss from your doorstep, I took a
mental picture that I've carried around with me for the past ten years.
I can see it now."  He closed his eyes.  "Your curly blonde hair, that
magnificent mini-dress.  Long, long legs and those ridiculously high
heeled shoes.  It was the best I'd ever seen you look.  Amazing really
given you always looked better than anyone else in this dump.  But now."
He snapped his eyes open.  "You look substantially more elegant,
immeasurably more divine, and infinitely more beautiful."

Kelly's make-up failed to hide her blushes as she reacted to Matt's
compliment, "Thank you," she said meekly.

She walked across to him and placing a manicured hand on the lapel of his
suit, she reached up and kissed his cheek.  She picked up her drink from
the bar, and Matt gestured towards the door.  She led the way and he
followed her into the main hall, where the band had just started to play.

***

For the next hour, Kelly took Matt around the room to speak to his old
schoolmates.  The band was loud, which suited Matt because it was
impossible to hold a conversation.  Instead, he shook a lot of hands,
kissed a lot of cheeks and handed out business cards left and right; even
in Westhampton, people were keen to cash in on the housing boom.  Having
worked his way around the entire room, Matt felt like Tony Blair at the
Labour party conference.  He was relieved when Kelly suggested they get
another drink.

In the corner of the bar sat a group of his old teachers.  After politely
saying hello and handing out still more of his business cards, Matt
joined Kelly at the bar, where she had ordered them both a drink.

"So is it as awful as you thought it would be?"  Kelly asked.

"What makes you think I'd think that?"  Matt replied.

"Oh, come on Matthew."  He normally hated his full name, but somehow it
sounded right coming from Kelly's lips.  "You spent every day for seven
years with these people.  But in the ten years since you left, the only
person you've spoken to is Rob.  I bet your first reaction when you got
the invite was to throw it out with the rest of the junk mail."

Matt smiled, "Actually, my first reaction was to send Laura an e-mail
telling her where to stick her invitation."  They both laughed, then he
continued.  "But no, it's not as bad as I expected.  Mainly because
you're here."

Kelly again blushed at Matt's comment.  While they stood at the bar
sipping, Laura and Julie walked in.  Julie came straight up to the bar
and ordered drinks, leaving Laura to check on the teachers before joining
them.

"Hi Matt," Julie said, "I must say you look good.  Your new life must
suit you."

"Thanks," he replied, "you look good yourself."

"Apart from the three extra stone that I'm carrying these days."

"Can't see it myself.  Here let me get those," he said, paying the
barman.

"Thanks," Julie said.

Laura took her drink and indicated her thanks.  She sipped it and then
said to Matt, "I wanted to thank you for coming tonight.  Again."

"You're welcome.  Actually I've enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I
would."

"And you two seem to be getting on well.  Making up for lost time all
those years ago, I'll bet."

Matt raised his eyebrows conspiratorially, and Kelly blushed yet again.

"What time do you have this place 'till," Matt asked.

"The bar has a licence extension until one," Laura told him, "so we ought
to be out by half past.  But the caretaker is here himself, so I don't
think it's going to be too much of an issue."

"Oh, right," said Matt.

"But don't feel obliged to stay," Laura continued, "It's just good that
you came tonight.  Everyone was looking forward to seeing you.  But
you've got a long drive home in the morning.  Nobody will think anything
of it if you left early."

"Even if," said Julie, "it was to go somewhere a little more private so
that you could catch up with someone in particular."

"Subtly never was your strong point was it Jules," said Laura.

***

Twenty minutes later, Matt and Kelly were in a taxi heading away from
Westhampton Comp.
"Where to then mate?" the driver asked over his shoulder.

"Do you know anywhere that we can get a good meal?"  Matt quizzed.

"Molly's All-night Café is not far from here, she does a cracking all-day
breakfast.  It's huge," the driver patted his stomach contentedly.

"I was thinking of somewhere with a little more class than a truck-stop,"
Matt said.

"What about 'Steak-by-Night'?"  suggested the driver, "They stay open to
catch the clubbers at kicking out time, which ain't for another couple of
hours."

"So they'll be fairly quiet?"

"Yep.  It's not exactly posh-nosh, but it's about the best around here
this time 'a night."

"Good, we'll go there."

Matt smiled at Kelly, who smiled back, but they didn't say anything until
the driver pulled up outside the restaurant.

"Well that's convenient," said Matt, "for me at least.  It's next door to
my hotel."

"You're staying at the Grand?"

"Where else,"  Matt said, "Old ma Riley's B&B?"

Kelly giggled and agreed that there weren't many quality hotels in
Westhampton.
"There's not anything of much quality around here," she said.

"Oh, I don't know, some of the girls aren't too bad."

They went into the restaurant and were seated immediately.  They ordered
food and wine.  Throughout their starters, they continued to make small
talk, avoiding the topic they really wanted to discuss.  Kelly was the
one to broach it after making the first cut into her steak.

"Matt," she said, tentatively, "in the all the time that we were at
school, why did you never ask me out?"

"Why?" he said, taking a mouthful of his meal.

"Why?  I mean.  It's not as if you tried to hide how you felt.  Everyone
knew."

"I know.  And maybe that's the reason why.  I was insecure, like a lot of
people at that age I suppose.  And for an insecure young fool it's better
to have a crush that everyone knows about and do nothing about it, than
get rejected and have everyone know about that instead."

"But I wouldn't have rejected you."

"I realise that now," he said, "but you were the most popular girl in
school."

"I don't know about that, there were more popular girls than me.  Look at
Pauline Roberts."

"That's because everyone knew that for the cost of a cinema ticket and a
pizza you would get a blow-job.  Two pizzas and she'd go all the way."

They both laughed.

"But seriously, you could have had your pick of boys because you looked
better, and were smarter than anyone else.  Why would you have wanted
me?"

"For a start you were the smartest boy in school.  I could have gotten
all my homework done,"

"I thought your Dad did all your homework," Matt said.

"Yeah, but you would have got it right."  They laughed again.

"Homework boyfriend, wonderful," said Matt.

"Plus, you could hold a conversation on topics other than football, and
still manage to know what you were talking about."  Matt smiled at her
comment.

"And..."  Kelly paused.

"Go on," Matt said.

"And I suppose you were sort of cute, in your own way."  A wide grin
spread across her face.

They finished their meal and ordered an outrageous dessert, which was
quickly polished off.  They stood outside the restaurant after Matt had
settled the bill, both unsure what to do next.  The late night revellers
were starting to spill onto the streets.  Kelly was a little intimidated
at the prospect of walking to the taxi rank.

"I'll come with you to find a cab," Matt said, "Unless you want that
coffee that we couldn't have ten years ago."

"Thanks," Kelly replied, "Actually, I've always wanted to see what the
rooms in the Grand look like."

Matt smiled again, "Come on then, we'll raid the mini-bar and watch pay-
per-view."

***

Kelly stood back while Matt fumbled with the key-card.  When finally the
LED switched from red to green, he pushed the door open and allowed Kelly
to enter first.  He followed her in, switching on the lights and closing
the door behind him.

"Wow," she said, "It's lovely."

"I've stayed in worse places," Matt said, "They tell me it's the second
best room in the hotel."

"Second best?"

"The bridal suite was booked."

Kelly walked over to the window and looked out over the town.  The lights
had gone out now, and instead of a vibrant city, she was greeted with
dingy rooftops.

"Not much of a view," she said.

"There is from where I'm standing."

He walked up behind Kelly, placed his hands on her hips, and kissed the
back of her neck.  She sighed and tipped her head back, her eyes closed.
She turned around to face him, and for what seemed like forever, they
stared into each other's eyes.  The spell was broken when she spoke.

"You've certainly done well for yourself Matthew."  She straightened the
lapels of his jacket and wiped some imaginary dust from them.

"Any woman would be privileged to call you her own."  She took his hands
in hers.

"We should have done this a long time ago."  She leaned into him and
brought her lips to his.

Unlike the kiss they had shared ten years ago, this wasn't lustful and
passionate.  Instead, it was tender and gentle, the kiss of a couple
still in love after a lifetime together.  Yet they were a couple fate had
kept apart for a decade.  They allowed the kiss to linger, each savouring
the taste of the other.

When Matt finally broke off, he looked as if he had something he wanted
to say.  Kelly was terrified.  He was probably about to offer her another
of the compliments that he'd showered her with all evening, but something
deep down, built upon a lifetime of bad experience, prepared her for the
worst.  She held her breath.

"I've had my fair share of women since I left Westhampton, but none of
those encounters felt as perfect, as this does right now.  For two years,
I loved you and never told anyone.  For two more years, I loved you, and
while everyone knew, I did nothing.  Then I found out how stupid I'd
been, but fate ripped us apart before we were even together.  When I
first kissed you, it was as if the whole world suddenly made sense, as if
it was meant to happen.  This might sound corny, but I think that I've
been waiting for this night for ten years."

Once more, he placed his hands on her hips, this time pulling her to him.
Since they were no longer holding hands, she reached up and wrapped her
arms around his neck.  He traced the line of her figure from the curve of
her hips up to the glorious swell of her beasts and back down again.  Her
hands were on the back of his head, ruffling his hair.  Suddenly she
moved them.  Driven by desire she pushed his jacket back off his
shoulders.  He took the hint, and let his arms fall by his side so the
expensive garment could tumble to the floor.  She began work on his tie,
loosening it, but was hampered by his button-down collar.  She made short
work of the buttons, and then quickly finished the job on the tie,
undoing the knot but leaving it to hang limply around his neck.  Next
were the buttons of his shirt.  She fumbled with the collar button, but
ripped open the rest with practised ease.  On reaching the last one, she
pulled the shirttails out of his trousers.  She slipped her hands under
the open shirt, running them over his gym-sculptured body.  All the time
they were kissing, but she moaned her approval of what her fingers felt.

He pulled her closer to him, forcing her to wrap her arms around his
back.  He could feel the soft material of her dress against his skin, but
he wanted more.  He slid his hands up her back, searching out the zip
that held her in the dress.  He eased it down, slowly exposing more of
her smooth skin and ultimately the tiny piece of material at the rear of
the thong panties.  Next, he slipped the straps of the dress off her
shoulders.  They fell to her elbows, prevented from falling further
because her arms were still wrapped around him.  Braking from the lengthy
kiss, Matt stepped back, careful not tread on his jacket.  Kelly stood
before him, her arms bent upwards to prevent the dress from falling, she
wanted to reveal herself to him only when she knew she had his full
attention.  Matt picked up his jacket from the floor and threw it onto a
nearby chair.

"Dim the lights," she said softly.

"But then I won't be able to see you," Matt replied.

"Yes you will," Kelly said, "I asked you to dim them, not turn them off."

The main lights in the room wouldn't dim, so Matt switched them off and
turned on the less powerful bedside lamp.  He took his place in front of
Kelly once more.  Satisfied that she had drawn it out long enough, and
that Matt was indeed the gentleman that she thought he was, (why else
would he have done as she asked) she let her arms fall to her side.  The
dress followed, tumbling downwards.  It stopped at her waist, but she
extricated her self from the straps, and pushed the garment over the
curve of her hips, letting it fall, finally, to the floor.  For a moment,
Matt was speechless.  He stood and drank in her beauty, bathed in the
soft light from the distant lamp.  She was indeed a woman in her prime.

"Wow," he said, "magnificent."

She was wearing matching underwear, black lace with tiny pink flowers.
Matt recognised it because his favourite pop princess modelled it.  It
was by a famous designer and very expensive.  He briefly wondered if she
had brought it especially for the reunion.

He stepped forward, removing his shirt and tossing it onto the chair
along with his jacket.  Kelly stepped forward to meet him and they
resumed their embrace, each taking the opportunity to feel the bare skin
of the other.  For the first time Matt's hands searched out her breasts,
gently cupping and squeezing them, first through the material of her bra,
then he slipped his hand up underneath to the soft flesh within.  Her
hands found the clasp and first button of his trousers.  She slid the zip
open too, but the trousers remained in place, held up by the button on
the inside.  Kelly tried to open it, but the position made it too
awkward.  Matt removed his hands from her bra and undid the button for
her.  Breaking the kiss once more, he kicked off his shoes, bent as he
slid his trousers down and stepped out of them.  Then removed his socks.
Kelly quickly reached up and removed her bra while he wasn't looking.

On his way back up, Matt slid his hand up Kelly's naked leg, tracing her
calves, the bend of her knee and her slender thighs.  His hand reached
the juncture of her legs and her torso, and in one smooth movement, he
pushed the gusset of her panties to the side and ran a finger along the
length of her pussy.  She gasped, in both surprise and pleasure.
Encouraged by her reaction, Matt adjusted his position, falling to his
knees, and concentrated of the worship of her womanhood.  He ran his
other hand up her leg until it joined the first.  With one hand holding
her panties out of the way, he continued to run a finger along her lips.
He leaned forward, bringing his head in close, and snaked out his tongue
to taste her.  Kelly gasped again, this time moving her hands to his head
to hold him in place, just in case he decided to stop.  Her breathing
became heavy, and even more so when Matt slipped a finger inside her.

"Oh Matthew," she said, "Oh."

She continued to repeat his name as he slowly inserted a second finger,
and then began to move them back and forth, making love to her with his
hand.  He kept this up, gradually increasing the pace, and as he did, she
continued to repeat his name in time with his hand.  His tongue searched
out her clitoris, and when he found it, the pattern of her vocalisations
changed.

"Ohmygod," she said, following the garbled words with a gasp and a moan,
"Ohmygod, ohmygod, Oh Matthew, Oh Matthew."

Now he was attacking her on two fronts, his tongue flicking against her
clit and his fingers moving inside her.  She left words behind, replacing
them with incomprehensible sounds as her orgasm approached.  When finally
it hit, she pushed Matt's head into her body, holding it there, using it
to hold her self up, as wave after wave of pleasure racked her body.
Held in place, Matt stopped moving his fingers as the muscles in her cunt
clamped down on them and the whole of her body tensed.  Once he felt her
relax, he removed his fingers and stood up, pausing to kiss her exposed
nipples on the way.

Her breathing was returning to normal and she said, "My god.  That was
nice." She sighed. "Very, Very nice.  Is that what they taught you at
Oxford?"

"Amongst other things, but I'm only just getting started," he replied.

He scooped her up in his arms and carried her the short distance to the
bed, kissing her again as he did.  He dropped her on the bed, and she
quickly pulled her knickers off and threw them on the floor.  His undies
disappeared just as quickly, and then he clambered up on the bed with
her.

"I need you," she said, "I need you now."

Matt smiled and reached over to the bedside table.  Kelly knew what he
was looking for; he really was a gentleman.

"Don't," she said, "there's no need.  Besides, I want to feel you, not
some piece of rubber."

"Are you sure," he asked.

She answered by kissing him and pulling him on top of her.  This was it.
Fourteen years after he first realised that he fancied her, Matt slid
into Kelly.  He moved inside her slowly, and as he had done with his
fingers, he slowly picked up the pace.  She responded by humping back
against his thrusts, keeping pace with him, until they were slamming
against each other with unearthly force.  The noises that Kelly began to
make indicated to Matt that her second orgasm was on its way, which was
good because he knew that his own wasn't far off.  With a roar of mutual
pleasure, they came together, Matt pumping his seed inside his lover.

They were on a high together, and they came down together.  When they had
recovered their senses, Matt slipped out and rolled off Kelly.  He lay on
his back and she cuddled up beside him, her arm draped over his chest.
He placed his hand on her arm, rubbing it.

"Thank you," she said, "Thank you."

Matt thought, 'She's thanking me.  Shouldn't it be the other way around?'

Instead, he muttered something that Kelly didn't make out, as if the
words had somehow gotten mangled on the way from his brain to his lips.

Matt reached up to the lamp switch just above his head, turned it off,
and then he continued to rub her arm.  In no time at all, comforted by
each other's presence, they both drifted in to a deep, satisfied sleep.