The deafening silence was broken by the scream of the oven timer. Adele leapt to her feet and quickly switched it off. “Ok, you’ve gotta wash it off now.”

“Right,” Aidan said blankly. “Where?”

Adele rolled her eyes and led him over to the sink. She gently removed the cling film and disposed of it. “Stick your head over the sink.”

“Right,” Aidan replied and leant over the sink. Adele turned the faucet on and adjusted the water to a non-scalding temperature. “This’d be relaxing if it wasn’t for the stainless steel digging into my chest,” he remarked as she ran her fingers through his hair, washing out the excess dye. She abandoned him a moment and fetched a plastic jug.

“This’ll make things easier,” she promised and filled the jug.

“Fantastic,” he enthused, muffled slightly by the water. He felt the water hit his scalp and let out a shriek. It was ice cold. “Oh Jesus fuck!” he gasped, standing bolt upright.

“Was that cold?” she asked innocently.

“Uh huh,” he nodded and narrowed his eyes at her.

“My bad,” Adele chided. “ Bend over again, I’ve gotta put the conditioner through it now.”

“I don’t know if I trust you now,” Aidan grumbled but bent over anyway. she quickly massaged the conditioner through his hair and then grabbed the jug again. he relaxed when she poured warm water over his head. “You’re good at this.”

“Well you did say I was genetically programmed to dye hair,” Adele remarked as she poured another jug of freezing cold water over Aidan’s head.

“Hey!” he squealed, standing up bolt upright again.

“You’re dripping on my floor,” she declared, putting her hands on her hips.

“I’ll give you dripping,” he countered and snatched up the jug.

“Oh nononono,” she shrieked, her arms flailing as she tried to ward him off. “I’ve blow dried today!”

“Fine,” he huffed, relenting only long enough to rub his sopping hair in her face.

“Ew,” she yelped, trying to push him away. He stepped back giggling as she grabbed a dishcloth to dry her face. “You’re lucky you smell pretty from the conditioner, that’s all I can say.”

“You’ve got…” Aidan paused to giggled again and moved closer to her. “You’ve got dye on your nose.” He added and used his thumb to wipe the dye off. Adele flinched a little when he touched her.

“Thanks,” she muttered, using the dishcloth to wipe her nose again. “You could’ve just pointed it out. I’m capable of cleaning myself.”

“Or you could just chill,” he mused, using the towel from around his shoulders to dry his hair. When he stopped it stood up at all odd angles like he’d been in a tumble drier.

“Easier said than done,” Adele shrugged. “Anyway, I’m clearly not the only one with issues.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, Mr Psychoanalysis, what’s with those bloody jumpers, huh?”

He looked taken aback. “I like my jumpers, they’re comfortable.”

“They’re ugly,” she remarked. “I mean, I’m sure you’ve got a body under that horrendous wool creation. Why not show it off a bit. And honey, I know you’re one of those arty types but you don’t need paint on every pair of jeans.”

He looked down at himself. “I’m comfortable dressing like this.”

“How long have you been dressing like that?” she asked, stepping forward and crossing her arms.

“Well…”

“Honestly now?” Adele prompted, cocking her head to the side.

“My appearance has nothing to do with your issues which is what we’re talking about here.”

“Don’t change the subject,” she frowned. “Is it just some need to be different, arty thing? Because really, you can do that and not look like a frickin’ homeless person.”

Aidan stood silently for a moment and Adele thought he actually looked a little hurt. “It’s my comfort thing, y’know.”

“A comfort thing?”

“People can be cruel,” he shrugged and stepped away. He ran his fingers through his freshly coloured hair. “I’ve spent pretty much my whole life being an outcast, and I guess I wear clothes that cover me, hoping maybe that instead of being the centre of ridicule I just won’t be seen.”

“You so don’t need to,” she soothed and surprised herself by giving his arm a squeeze.

“So, was that so awful?” Ben asked as he and Joaquin walked toward the bus stop eating ice cream.

“I got to pat a kangaroo and feed a sea lion,” Joaquin mused. “Add to that the horror my parents will experience when I tell them I went to a zoo, and I’m generally having a pretty good day.”

“Does this mean you forgive me for last night’s indiscretion?”

“I don’t know why you even did that, actually.”

“I thought it was what you wanted.”

“Are you insane?” she gasped, stopping in her tracks.

“Well, no, but you did kinda flirt with me,” he shrugged.

“I do not flirt!”

“Yeah ya do.”

“In what way do I flirt?”

“You were all touchy feely and laughed at all my jokes.”

“I’d had a couple of drinks, and oddly enough I found you funny, but that doesn’t mean I wanted you to grope me.”

“Ok, so I read the signals wrong,” Ben exclaimed and started walking again. “But you’ve only got yourself to blame. Being all cute and sleepy…”

“What?” she said under her breath and then hurried to catch up with him. “Does this mean every time I feel a bit tired you’re going to feel me up?”

“It was compliment, Jo,” he sighed. “Accept it and move on.”

“No, I need to know whether I should be worried on not?” she persisted. “Are you going to try and bed me every time we hang out?”

“Yes Jo, yes I am,” he huffed, throwing his hands in the air and stopping dead in his tracks. “In fact, the second we reach the bus stop I’m going to molest you in the shelter!”

Joaquin stood there speechless a moment. “You know, you didn’t have to be rude.”

Ben let out a frustrated cry. “Could you possibly be any more fucking neurotic? Seriously Jo, you’re gonna give yourself an ulcer.”

“I had an ulcer in junior high,” she pouted. “I blame my parents’ Feng Shui obsession. Everyday my bedroom was rearranged to better focus my energies. Unfortunately this meant I was only allowed green pens, pink paper and no math supplies.”

“Any normal person would think you were insane,” he sighed. “Unfortunately I’m not normal and I sympathise.”

“Your parents were into the Feng Shui thing too?”

“No, they were more of the belief that objects were superfluous unless they increased the positive energy in the room,” he explained as they reached the bus stop. “So, for example, our living room consisted of nothing but wicker mats, orange candles and a blue vase.”

“We had a television,” she sighed, leaning against him, her head on his shoulder. “But it was never on, it was merely there to show us how our minds could be corrupted.”

“Do you think it’s possible for us to just divorce our families?”

“We’d still need years of therapy.”

“Lots and lots of therapy,” he agreed and draped his arm around her. “You do realise you’re doing that flirty thing again.”

“Well you did say you were going to molest me at the bus stop,” she chided and then straightened up. “Seriously though, as much a I like you, Ben, you’re so not my type.”

He gave a short laugh. “Jo, believe me, the feeling is mutual.”

“I mean you’re a jock and I’m an artist,” she laughed with a little nervousness.

“You’re so neurotic I’d probably throttle you,” he nodded. They eyed each other off a moment without saying a word. “When’s the bus due?”

“I’ve no idea,” Joaquin replied, crossing her arms. She could have walked the metre to the timetable but decided to sulk instead. Yes, she wasn’t the least bit interested in Ben but she liked the idea that he was attracted to her and now the big jerk was saying he wasn’t. Sure, she knew she wasn’t a supermodel, but she didn’t think she was grotesque; she had boobs, what more did he want?

A Couple of Days Later…

“Have you seen my charcoal pencils?” Joaquin asked as she flew into the living room and began to hunt under the magazines on the coffee table.

“Why would I have seen your pencils?” Adele replied as she lifted her glass of juice before it was tipped over in Joaquin’s mad rush.

“Bathroom,” Joaquin suddenly declared and raced up the hall. “Found ‘em!”

“In the bathroom?” Adele mumbled to herself. Joaquin reappeared shoving her pencil into her bag.

“You’ll pick me up, right?”

“Yeah,” Adele nodded, more interested in the current affairs programme on television than her friend. “By the way, are you wearing make-up?”

“I was looking washed out,” Joaquin frowned. “I don’t want to look like a zombie.”

“Oh, so you’re not going out of your way to impress Aidan, then?”

“Don’t be so immature,” Joaquin huffed and marched out of the apartment.

“This from a woman who just did an Oscar winning strop,” Adele mused as she got herself comfortable on the couch.

Joaquin got to her art class, surprised to find that Aidan hadn’t arrived yet. She found her favourite spot and began organising her things as the other students arrived and did the same.

“Sorry I’m late, people,” Aidan declared as he hurried into the room. “My usual mode of transport is temporarily unavailable and I had to catch the bus, which was, of course, late.”

Joaquin looked up and did a double take. Instead of looking disheveled in paint-stained jeans, sneakers and his trusty green jumper, Aidan was sporting a pair of faded jeans, a funky shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a cool pair of Colorado boots. He looked like he’d be kidnapped by Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and the result wasn’t bad.

“Jo,” Aidan mused, waving a hand in her direction. “Are you gonna pay attention or just look dazed?”

“Sorry.” She blushed, trying to ignore how downright sexy he looked out of his baggy green jumper.

“Ok, so tonight we’re going to take a closer look at…”

“Sorry I’m late,” yelped a chubby blonde girl who raced to the front of the class to take her spot. Fiona not only had the biggest ego problem Joaquin had ever seen, but her attempts to flirt with Aidan were downright embarrassing.

“Doesn’t matter,” Aidan sighed, trying to hold back from rolling his eyes. As a teacher he was supposed to support his students, but generally he wanted to throttle Fiona. She seemed to think she was so wonderfully talented and regaled him with stories about how much people loved her pieces. The truth was she was the least talented in the class and never, ever followed any of his advice. “So, anyway, as I was saying…”

“Jo…Jo…” Fiona whispered, leaning toward Joaquin.

“What?” Joaquin breathed, trying to listen to Aidan.

“How hot does Mr Murdoch look?”

“Is there something you want to share?” Aidan asked, crossing his arms and looking from Fiona and Joaquin and back again.

“She thinks you look hot,” Joaquin mused and Aidan shot her a wry smile.

“While I’m flattered you think so Fiona, I’d really appreciate it if you concentrated on what I’m trying to tell you instead, yeah?” Aidan chided.

“Yes Sir,” Fiona blushed as Joaquin stifled a giggle.

Adele hurried through the rain that had decided to fall as she left her apartment and nearly slid into a wall as she entered the school. She paused to catch her breath and then made her way to Joaquin’s art class, arriving in time to see the students pouring out. Waiting until the majority had left, Adele wandered into the room to see Joaquin packing her things up, and Aidan red-faced and trying to explain to a blonde girl as nicely as he could that her shading was no better than a five-year-old’s.

“Hey,” she mused, sidling up to Joaquin.

“Hey,” Joaquin sighed. “What’re you doing here?”

“It’s raining, so I thought I better bring you an umbrella and something to protect the art.”

“You’re so thoughtful,” Joaquin chided but was touched Adele cared so much.

“Come here,” Aidan scorned and escorted Fiona over to where Joaquin and Adele were. “You see how Jo has used shading to define the shape of the fruit, that’s how it’s supposed to be done, ok?”

“But that’s no different to mine,” Fiona protested.

“Yes it is,” Aidan said with obvious frustration.

“Well all my friends…”

“I don’t give a monkey’s what your friends say, Fiona,” Aidan scorned. “I’m an artist and your teacher, and I’m telling you that what you’re doing is of a poor standard.”

“And Jo’s is better?”

“Jo’s is so much better she shouldn’t be in this class and should be selling her work to be hung in law firms around the world,” Aidan exclaimed.

Fiona fought back tears and she packed up her things and stormed from the room muttering, “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

Aidan let out a frustrated scream. “No wonder I drink.”

“That girl is totally deluded,” Adele remarked. “Can’t we have her put out of her misery?”

“Or just put me out of mine,” Aidan countered.

“You really think I’m that good?” Joaquin said blankly.

“Oh please, you know you’re good,” Aidan smiled and Joaquin blushed.

“Well actually — oh crap…” Joaquin squeaked as she accidentally knocked an abandoned paint pallet over and ended up smeared in paint.

“You should probably wash that off,” Adele winced. “Because I’m not letting you into my car like that.”

“I won’t lock up until you get back,” Aidan promised.

“This is my favourite top,” Joaquin groused as she marched out of the room.

“Only Jo could defile herself,” Adele mused and turned to Aidan.

“It’s kinda expected, really,” he agreed.

“So, has Carson got to you or what?”

“Hey?”

“Well this,” Adele motioned to his clothes, “didn’t happen on its own.”

Aidan gave an embarrassed giggle. “I thought about what you said the other day and decided you were right.”

“Yeah, I usually am,” Adele teased.

“And I figured if I could change, so could you,” Aidan smiled wryly.

“I think only intense psychotherapy could save me,” Adele laughed but Aidan didn’t laugh. “What? How am I gonna change?”

“By rediscovering the beauty of human interaction,” Aidan enthused.

“That’s the lamest chat up line I’ve ever heard, hon,” Adele mused.

Aidan shook his head and cocked it to the side. “I’m not wearing my jumpers which is what you wanted, right?”

“It was suggestion, Ade.”

“So, will you do something for me?”

She threw her hands in the air. “Fine, what?”

“Give me hug,” he said softly and opened his arms. She looked at him uncertain and totally uncomfortable with the idea. “I don’t bite.”

“I’m not a huggy person,” she winced. “I’m usually the hugee, not the hugger.”

“Come on Del, I’ve had a shitty day and I want a hug,” he chided.

Adele;s breath caught in her throat. She stepped forward and hesitated a moment before she allowed herself to wrap her arms around his neck. Aidan’s arms instinctively encircled her and the sensation was amazing. It had been so long since Adele had hugged or been hugged by anyone — she tried to avoid it at all costs. So to suddenly be engulfed in Aidan’s arms was bliss, despite her heart beating so fast she thought it was going to explode out of her chest. He smelt wonderful and she felt so immensely safe that she could have stayed like that forever.

“Whatcha thinking?” Aidan asked after a few seconds and no movement from Adele.

“That you’re a bad man,” she sighed, a small smile on her lips. She suddenly pulled away when she heard movement from the corridor. “Jo’s coming!”

“So?” he shrugged, looking vaguely annoyed.

Adele said nothing and feigned a smile as Joaquin returned looking rather damp and unhappy. “It wouldn’t wash all out. I’ll have to attack it with turpentine when we get home.”

“And then burn it,” Adele suggested.

“What? No,” Joaquin scorned and collected all her things. “Sorry for making you wait,” she added sweetly to Aidan.

“No worries,” Aidan enthused as he headed for the door. Joaquin and Adele followed and soon the trio was standing on the front steps of the school looking at the heavy rain.

“Wish I’d remembered my jacket,” Aidan groused looking miserably at the rain.

“We’ll give you a lift,” Joaquin piped up, surprising herself. “Won’t we, Del?”

“What?” Adele said blankly.

“Jo says you’ll drive me home,” Aidan mused, raising an eyebrow. “Is that ok?”

“Sure,” Adele nodded. “Let’s leave before we need a boat and not a car,” she added and they sprinted across the quadrangle and out to the carpark. Adele pressed the button on her key ring as they neared the car and the clicking of the internal locks rang out through the rain. They hurriedly clambered into Adele’s waiting car and sat breathless for a moment.

“I’m even wetter now,” Joaquin whined.

“Who would have thought that possible,” Adele chided as she kickstarted the engine.

“What?” Joaquin said blankly as Aidan sniggered in the back seat.

They drove in relative silence, with only a tune warbling out the radio stopping the whole situation from feeling totally uncomfortable. Eventually, Adele pulled the car to a stop outside Aidan’s block of flats.

“Thank you ladies for the ride,” he said warmly as he leant between the two front seats. “This actually reminds me that I owe you two dinner. Are you busy Friday night?”

“We’re both going to a book launch,” Adele said without looking back at Aidan. “I edited it and Jo’s company designed the cover.”

“Ah well,” Aidan sighed. “Another time.”

“Unless you want to come,” Joaquin smiled. “I mean only if you want to, we’re allowed to invite guests.”

“Oh hey, I wouldn’t want to impose or anything,” Aidan said surprised. “I mean it’s a work thing…”

“He’d like it, wouldn’t he Del,” Joaquin continued and nudged Adele.

“I don’t know,” Adele shrugged. “It’s not really very interesting.”

Joaquin shot Adele daggers. “Well anyway, if you want to come.”

“I’ll think about it,” Aidan promised before he clambered out of the car and jogged toward the stairs of his flat.

“What is wrong with you?” Joaquin scorned. “It’s the perfect situation for me to make stilted, uncomfortable conversation with him.”

“Oh there’s something to look forward too,” Adele chided as she studied the road ahead. The last thing she wanted was any more time with Aidan. It was bad enough she was starting to like the guy. This thought in itself angered her more than ever. Joaquin, her dear friend was besotted with Aidan and Adele had no right to even have one romantic thought about him. She was already going to scold herself later for letting herself be seduced into hugging him, and as for the warm fuzzy feeling that’d started to grow in her belly, well, that just wasn’t on.

Joaquin, annoyed that her friend wasn’t sharing the same enthusiasm for luring Aidan out, looked out of the window and watched the rain splatter. On the upside, she decided that Ben would be at the launch and she could attempt to set him and Adele up. They were an ideal couple really; they could have soulless sex until the cows came home and happily avoid commitment. Sure, they appeared to hate each other but he had kidnapped her when Adele asked him to. So he must like her a little bit at least, and if they were distracted with each other it would give her plenty of time to scull a couple of glasses of champagne and woo Aidan.

“Did you see how Aidan was dressed?” Joaquin sighed.

“Not really,” Adele lied. “Did he look more dreamy than usual?”

“He was scorching,” Joaquin smiled. “Whoever stopped him wearing those jumpers must be applauded.”

“Why should he be congratulated for wearing clean clothes?”

“Do you have to be so cynical?” Joaquin scorned. “I thought you liked Ade.”

“He’s a very nice person Jo,” Adele mused. “But I don’t see the attraction, sorry.”

“You’re crazy, right?” Joaquin gasped, not believing anyone could bypass how gorgeous Aidan was.

“Or you just have appalling taste in men,” Adele teased and then fell silent. Crazy, I’m frickin’ insane! she thought, trying her hardest to focus on the road through the pelting rain.