Burchester Tales 15: Double Date

Stan has a secret to tell in the latest episode of Burchester Tales.

Burchester Tales: Episode 15

Double Date by H. Lewis-Foster

Lee gazed through the window of Stan’s café, as people hurried past in the autumn drizzle. “Are you sure he said 6 o’clock?”

“That’s what Davy said.” Gus lightly stroked Lee’s thigh as he spoke. “We’re going to have a bite to eat here, then head into town if things go well.”

Lee wondered what the chances were of two exes and their new partners getting on like the proverbial burning building the first time they all met. In spite of Davy’s beauty and wealth, Lee liked him a great deal, but he hadn’t a clue what Sol was like. Even Gus had only seen him for a few seconds, but Sol had been in his underwear, so Gus at least had a pretty thorough idea of what he looked like.

Stan wandered towards them with a handful of menus and his usual inquisitive smile. “And what can I get you two gents this fine evening?”

“Just a couple of cokes please, Stan.” Gus smiled as he caressed Lee’s hand under the table. “Davy and his new man will be here in a minute. We’ll order some food then.”

“A new man, eh? Anyone I know?”

“Maybe.” Gus grabbed the menu Stan offered him. “His name’s Sol. A PhD student. Physics.”

Lee could see the wheels whirring round in Stan’s mind, as he flicked through his mental database of names.

“I think I know who you mean. Tall, slim, gold ring through his lip?”

“That’s the one.” Gus didn’t seem in the slightest surprised that Stan was acquainted with Sol, but then Stan did know practically everyone in Burchester. “So is there anything Davy should know?”

“About Sol?” Stan narrowed his blue eyes thoughtfully. “Well, I did hear—”

The door chimed open, and they all turned to see Davy and Sol hurrying into the café. As the new arrivals approached, Stan was obviously disappointed not to share his juicy bit of gossip.

Davy looked gorgeous, naturally, but there was a hint of nervousness about his expression that Lee had never seen before. He introduced Sol, who smiled amiably and sat down opposite Gus. Lee already knew roughly what he looked like, from Gus’s description, but Sol wasn’t quite what he’d been expecting.

He supposed he was rather old-fashioned, but Lee saw men with piercings as rebellious, maybe even dangerous. Sol, however, seemed to be neither of these. He seemed genuine, if perhaps a little shy, as he looked over the menu Stan gave him. Lee guessed Sol was twenty-three or twenty-four if he was doing his PhD, but he somehow looked younger than Davy. This was probably more to do with Davy than Sol, as Davy had an ageless air and could as easily have passed for a sixth-former as a company CEO.

They placed their orders, and Lee had to disguise his laugh with a cough when Davy requested a

fish finger sandwich. He couldn’t believe anyone as loaded as Davy would know what fish fingers were, let alone eat them slapped between two slices of thick, white bread with a dollop of tomato sauce. Lee imagined Davy would always be something of a mystery to him. He certainly seemed to have cast a spell over Sol, who was utterly rapt by Davy’s amusing account of a fellow student telling their tutor exactly what he thought of Montaigne’s tedious essays.

When he arrived with their meals—two fish finger sandwiches for Davy and Gus, veggie burger for Sol and mushroom omelette for Lee—Stan couldn’t have looked more curious if he’d tried. Lee understood why an insatiable gossip like Stan would be fascinated by someone like Davy, and why Gus would be of interest too, as his ex. Sol seemed like a nice bloke and a good laugh too, but Stan obviously knew something more about him, and Lee wondered if he himself was now on the Burchester social radar. Did people talk about him—in a good way, he hoped—because he was going out with Gus and apparently friends with Davy?

Lee couldn’t help feeling a glow of pride that he might be a source of student chatter so early in his academic career, but it also gave him a sense of foreboding that any future embarrassing moments might become the talk of the campus. Lee tried to put such thoughts out of his mind, as he polished off the last of his chips and washed them down with a gulp of coke.

As they fished coins and notes out of wallets and pockets to settle the bill, everyone was getting on well and unanimously agreed to continue their evening in town. Gus squeezed past Lee to head for the loo, giving his shoulder an affectionate squeeze as he passed. When he turned into the narrow corridor to the single and surprising salubrious toilet, Gus was collared by Stan, who whispered something into his ear.

With each word, Gus’s eyes grew wider and a silent expletive emerged from his mouth. A particularly tasty morsel of news had clearly been imparted. As they all ambled outside, Lee couldn’t wait to find out what Stan had confided in Gus. Davy walked ahead, his arm draped around Sol’s shoulder, and Lee stopped on the pretext of tying his shoelace. Gus waited for him, then as they continued, Lee began his speedy interrogation.

“What did Stan say? Tell me now.”

“Two things.” Gus spoke quickly and quietly. “Professor Watkins turned up at Stan’s last week, like I suggested. I never thought he’d actually—”

“And what’s the other thing?” They were rapidly catching up with the others and had no time to waste.

“It’s about Sol. You won't believe it. He—” Davy suddenly turned round, calling for them to hurry up, and Gus grinned at Lee. “Just wait till we get home tonight. I'll tell you everything.”

© H. Lewis-Foster 2015. All rights reserved.