INfusion 47 ebook - Summer 2012 - NMIT

INfusion 47 Summer Edition ‘12
‘That’s nice.’ I stared at his hand. I looked like crap: hair and make-up,
clothes. Everything about me was saying ‘go away’, and he wanted to say hi?
‘You are …?’
‘So not in the mood to deal with an ignorant male. Thank you very
much.’ His height would usually intimidate me — when he walked through
the carriage he had to duck under the handle bars attached to the roof of the
train — but today it just infuriated me further. Sebastian is the same height.
I hoped he would take the hint. I stared out the train window; we’d
just passed Footscray station. The eyesore of a bridge loomed overhead, its
rounded metallic supports marring the otherwise pleasant view. How is it that
all the druggies get on at St Albans? I thought it would have been Footscray or
Sunshine.
‘Bad break-up?’ He shuffled in the seat to get comfortable. His bag rested
next to mine on the seat between us.
‘Because my life revolves around men?’
‘Well, your statement was pretty misogynistic.’
‘I think you mean misandrist. Misogyny is the hatred of women; misandry
is the hatred of men. And I don’t hate men; I hate one — well, right now,
two. The cheating bastard and the one who won’t take the hint to rack off.’
I just wanted to be miserable in peace. I didn’t need some random guy
to solve my man troubles. Any advice from him would just backfire. Because
Sebastian would think the same way. It would just blow up in my face.
‘Make him jealous.’
Oh ... kay. And how many times has that really worked? ‘No thanks. I will
just sit here and fester for a little while before I have to see him at work with
that office secretary slut. God! Why did I inter-office date? I am so stupid.’
I slammed my hand against the window. I realised afterwards how much it
hurt.
‘You’re right. Relationships between colleagues never work. I find it
easier just to sleep with them. No strings.‘
Right. I should slap him, but he’s making a weird sort of sense.
‘Exactly,’ I said. ‘No strings. No attachments. No feelings.’
God, I must really need sleep if I agree with him.
‘So, why did you let him get to you?’ He turned his knee towards me,
then rummaged in his bag for an apricot yoghurt bar.
‘I am not talking to you about an extinct relationship. I wouldn’t even
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talk to you about an active one. I have no clue who you are.’
‘Well, you know my name is James, and that I can’t tell the difference
between misandry and misogyny, and that I sleep with people I work with.
Anything else?’
Oh, God. Do not smile. Do not smile. Do not smile. Shit. I smiled. I
turned my head to look out the window so he couldn’t see.
‘Where do you work? For all I know it’s at a mental institution. That
would make it weird if you slept around.’
‘I am the proud owner of an electricity company.’
‘Because that really makes panties drop. You sleep with your clients?’ So,
this guy does have half a brain.
‘Surprisingly, yes. It’s like being a pool boy and working for a cougar
housewife.’ He shuffled closer. ‘It’s also great for mending a broken heart.’
‘Well, that wouldn’t help me. I’d need an epic rebound for that to work.’
My phone beeped with an email before we entered the city loop tunnel.
‘He was good?’ James wiggled his eyebrows, making me half giggle.
‘Top Five. But not that … because he knew how to please, I mean
payback.’
‘Fool me once, shame on you?’ He rearranged his bag.
‘Now arriving at Parliament Station,’ the train speakers announced.
‘Well ... my stop ...’ James rose from his seat.
‘Mine, too.’ I took a moment to check my reflection in the window.
‘You look gorgeous.’ He handed me his card and moved towards the
doors. ‘Call me if you need a rebound.’
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