Peer Pressure by Chris Watt Page A

embarrassed? In the end, it was easier to let honesty take over.
    “I work for an estate agency.”
    “Really?” said Rob, nodding with an enthusiasm that later that night he would look back on and feel embarrassed about, “That must be interesting.”
    Katy gave a little laugh.
    “Must it? Don’t kid yourself, it’s just a job. I sit behind a desk all day.”
    Rob sensed the boredom in her voice and tried again.
    “Good money though, right?”
    “I get by,” Katy nodded, “Mortgage, bills, frozen peas.”
    Rob hesitated, trying to steer the conversation towards what he was really getting at.
    “And what about fun?”
    Katy thought about this for a good few seconds. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had asked her that, or taken such an interest in her at all for that matter. Any other time, she may have found Rob’s questions suspicious, but as she sat there looking at this man, she found herself actually warming to him a little. That may have been what spurred her on to reply,
    “I sleep.” She half smiled at him, to which Rob smiled back. And with that, the atmosphere had lightened and Katy had some questions of her own.
    “What about you?”
    “I’m a teacher,” he replied.
    “What subject?”
    “English.”
    Katy nodded, a little surprised by his profession, considering he looked about her daughter’s age.
    “How old are you?” she asked.
    “Twenty five. Why?”
    “Oh, I’m not being critical or anything, it’s just, for your age, you know, it’s impressive.”
    “Not really. My dad was a professor, so I kind of fell into it accidentally.”
    “What would you rather be doing?”
    Rob thought on this for a few seconds, before looking her in the eye and giving a small, resigned smile.
    “I couldn’t honestly say.”
    Katy suddenly found herself feeling as though she had found a kindred spirit, somebody else out there who had fallen into their situation, not out of drive or luck, but out of circumstance.
    “I know how you feel. I never knew either.”
    Katy and Rob looked at each other, for the first time that afternoon, feeling that they had made some sort of connection. Katy, of course, was not going to acknowledge this, but Rob, who had the ignorance of youth on his side, charged ahead, regardless.
    “You know, I feel really stupid asking you this, seeing as we’ve been talking for the last twenty minutes, but what’s your name?”
    Katy chuckled quietly, it dawning on her also that they were still strangers.
    “I’m Katy.”
    Rob held out his hand.
    “Rob.”
    She took his hand and they shook gently, both feeling a sudden change in the air as their bodies touched for the first time. True, it was just a hand shake, but already it had made both feel like kids again, feeling the first blush of attraction while not yet possessing the wisdom to do anything about it. Katy was the first to speak.
    “Well, Rob, what do we do now?”
    Rob let go of her hand and looked around, as if searching the café for an answer.
    “Do you fancy another cup of coffee?”
    Katy shook her head, checking her watch.
    “I would but I kind of have to be going soon. But thanks.” She started to get up from her chair. As she did, Rob rose out of his too and tried again.
    “A drink then. You know, a proper drink. To make up for the one I spilled on you.”
    Katy stopped mid-step and looked at Rob, trying to size him up, looking for any sign of hidden agenda. She didn’t mean to come across as too cautious; it was just in her nature.
    “Maybe,” was all she offered him in the end and with that she grabbed her shopping basket and headed out of the café, wondering to herself if Rob would persist.
    “Is that maybe yes or maybe no?” he persisted.
    Katy stopped walking and smiled a flattered smile. She turned to see Rob standing just a few feet away from her.
    “Just maybe,” she said, repeating herself. Rob nodded.
    “I can deal with that. Do you have a number?”
    Katy placed her shopping