SWNOVELS Chapter What about Moth? Tuesday 18th July 2017 6 pm
They had finished their coffees and were heading for the bus stop. The next bus back to Clacton would be in 10 minutes.
“Gabriel?” Ginny said.
“Uh?” Gabriel replied.
“I was wondering. Why don’t I come and stay at your place tonight?”
Ginny felt Gabriel tense. He had stopped walking, and his face had gone ashen.
“Oh God, Gabriel. I’m sorry. I didn’t ...”
“It’s just, well ... it’s just that ...,” Gabriel mumbled.
“No, it’s ok ... if you don’t want me to meet your ...”
“No, it’s not that, Ginny. It’s where I live. It’s not as nice as yours. I live with my Mum, and the place is ...”
“Ok. I tell you what, pudding. Come back to mine. But why don’t you go and get your toothbrush and a few clothes. Just in case you want to stay over for a while.”
“What about Moth?” Gabriel asked.
“I think she’ll like you,” said Ginny.
They walked a little further, Gabriel pondering on this new development.
“Gabriel?” Ginny said.
Gabriel turned his face to hers.
“I don’t normally ... well, maybe you think that I ...,” she said.
“What?” Gabriel said.
“I know that I joke a lot ... and say things, and ...”
“What, Ginny?”
“Well, I want you to know that I don’t usually ask boys back to stay at mine. I know we haven’t known each other for very long, and I know that you stayed over last night, so maybe you think that I ...”
“It’s ok, Ginny,” Gabriel interrupted.
“Ok, Ginny?” Ginny echoed, but with a strong element of sarcasm. “Is that all you’ve got to say? You should know that I don’t normally rush into a relationship like this, but something about you, well ...”
She seemed to run out of the words she needed to describe her feelings.
“What I mean is,” she resumed, “is that I was just trying to tell you that you are very special to me.”
Gabriel smiled.
“And when I told you that, all you had to say is ‘ok, Ginny’”, she concluded lamely.
Gabriel stopped and put both of his arms around her. Then he picked her up and swung her around, her long legs flying out behind her.
When he put her back down, he kept his arms wrapped around her.
“I don’t think that I deserve you, Ginny. You are funny and pretty, and really clever, and I don’t really understand you, but I wouldn’t want to be with anyone else.”
Ginny smiled up at him.
“Well, that’s alright, then,” she said.
“I’ll go and get my toothbrush then,” Gabriel said
“I’ll come ’round yours, if you like,” Ginny said, putting her fingers on Gabriel’s mouth, just in case he objected, “but I’ll stay outside while you get your gear; just in case you’ve forgotten where my flat is.”
Gabriel took hold of the hand that she was holding against his mouth, and gently kissed her fingers. “Ok, Ginny,” he said. “Let’s go do that when we get back to Clacton. I can be in and out in five minutes. I don’t have a lot of stuff.”
They set off walking again towards the bus stop. Gabriel clasped Ginny’s hand and reflected on the changes occurring in his life.
“Ginny?” Gabriel said.
“Yes?”
“How long do you think it takes to start falling in love with someone?”
“I don’t know ... why do you ask?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” said Gabriel. “I was just wondering, and I thought, well, you seem to know lots of stuff ... you’re a lot more worldly-wise than I am.”
“I don’t believe in love at first sight and that sort of rubbish,” Ginny said emphatically.
“No, I suppose not,” said Gabriel. “That’s just Walt Disney stuff, isn’t it?”
“But I suppose that people can get very fond of each other in a very short space of time,” she offered, “and maybe that’s how love starts out.”
“Hmm,” Gabriel said.
“So why are you asking, then?” Ginny said.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” Gabriel ended, somewhat lamely.
Ginny smiled to herself and gave Gabriel’s hand a squeeze.