The Priceless Pair

“OK, I’ll bite. You’re my gift?” Said a bewildered Alex

“You can bite me if you want but that wasn’t what I had in mind” Said Clara with a cheeky grin.

“What did you have in mind then?”

“I was thinking of that Purple Rain LP, it reminded me of the conversation we had straight after you gave it to me, do you remember?”

At Clara’s birthday a month before, they joked together about a guy there that she liked. Alex tried to set them up but nothing came of it. It got Clara and Alex talking about how little experience either of them really had with matters of the opposite sex. Neither were virgins, but only just they both agreed.

“The one where we agreed we know jack about sex?” Said, Alex

“I think that people we’ve dated got scared off because you and I are so close. At least that’s my theory. So in a way we’re both sort of responsible for our lack of experience, which sort of brings it full circle.” she said

“I’m lost…so how does that make you the gift?”

“Alex, I’m offering you me…to have sex with. I’m saying, let's learn together everything we want to know about sex. You said it yourself, we’re both only fifty percent sure we’re not still virgins. Let's make it one hundred percent.” Clara smiled at Alex as her hearted pounded in her chest.

“Clara I ….Errr…Really?” Alex was a mix of nerves and disbelief.

“Yes really!. It’ll be fun but we can learn without fear of failure. You and I can get it wrong with each other as often as we want…can’t we?”

Alex looked Clara solemnly in the eye “If you’re serious, really serious, then yes, of course, I’d like that more than you can imagine. But if this is a joke, then please tell me now”.

Clara knew Alex better than anyone, she expected him to be hesitant like this. Which is why she arranged for Dani to disappear inside the house.

“Alex, I promise you, no jokes” Then she leaned in towards Alex. He closed his eyes as Clara's lips got closer to his, he could feel her breath on his face and then ‘wham’, they bumped noses.

“OK. Lesson one, we need to figure out how to kiss properly” Clara said laughing as Alex rubbed his nose and tried to hide his blushes.

“I’d say that’s a good place to start” Said Dani, making them both jump. She was wearing black jeans and a black hooded sweater and with the shadows of the fire dancing around the yard, Alex and Clara had not seen her there.

“How long have you been listening?” Alex asked annoyed

“Long enough to tell you that it’s not a joke,” Said Dani giggling

“Alex it’s OK, she knows. Dani helped me figure this out. Right now, I just want to know if you want your gift or not?” She was shivering from both the cold and her anxious state. Alex hugged her to warm her up then he kissed Clara, this time without mishap. They embraced for a full minute or so, and when they came up for air Alex said

“Does that answer your question?”

“I’ll take that as a yes” Said Clara grinning.

“Tell him the best bit,” Said an excited Dani, they’d almost forgotten she was there for a minute.

“I was just getting to it! Just go keep an eye out and whistle if anyone’s coming” Said Clara to Dani, who giggled and skipped off down towards the house.

“So what’s the best bit?” Asked Alex

“We’re going to need somewhere to ‘practice’. Your house and mine are both out of the question, our moms would catch us in an instant, not something that I’d like to happen. And I don’t feel like messing around in the back of your work van either. However, Aunt Fi said we could use her spare room.”

Aunt Fi, or Fiona, was Clara’s Mom’s younger sister and was Dani’s mother. She had a bohemian laid back personality, lots of long flowing skirts and beads, gladiator sandals and flowers everywhere. Her house was like a jungle she had that many plants. Aunt Fi was a very open and free-spirited woman that Alex liked a great deal, she was never stressed. Like her daughter, she always seemed to be happy. It did not surprise Alex that Fiona would let them use the spare room, he was aware she let her daughter have boyfriends in her room overnight. Which was something they knew not to tell Clara’s mother, or Alex’s mother for that matter.

“Clara I don’t know what to say? This is all just so….” Alex was genuinely dumbstruck, as much by the kiss as the gift itself.

“You don’t have to say anything, the look on your face right now is all I need. Do you think you could come back to Aunt Fi’s tonight?” Clara said after pecking him on the lips.

“Probably. I’ll tell mom that I’m walking you and Dani back home and that I may stay over”

“Do you think she’ll be OK with it?”

It was a good question. Alex may have been a smart, independent young man but his mother worried endlessly about the smallest things. So when Alex told her he was thinking of going on a trek through the Amazon for 3 months his mother cried non stop until he promised not to go.

“Probably, but you never know. I’ve got an idea though…” Alex took out his cell and sent his sister a message. When her reply pinged back he said to Clara

“OK, we go inside and you and Dani say you are going home, leave the rest to me and Sophie.”

“Let me text Dani so she knows first”

When the text was sent Alex and Clara went into the living room where Sophie and Dani were talking to his Mother.

“Thanks for a lovely day Mrs. Curren, Dani and I are going home now,” Said Clara

“That’s OK honey, you’re welcome,” His mother said, not bothering to get out of her chair.

Sophie got up and hugged Dani goodbye, then Clara, and said “How are you guys getting home? Have you called a cab?”

“We’re walking, it’s only about fifteen minutes,” Said Clara

“What?!” Said Sophie so loudly their mother jumped. “You can’t walk home on your own just the two of you. I’m sure Alex will walk you home”

“Of course I will. Clara, I’m sorry I should have offered”

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Asked a bashful Clara.

“It’s OK, I’ll pay for a cab, no need for Alex to walk you home,” Said Alex’s mom from her chair.

Alex grabbed his coat and said “It’s OK mom, I need the air anyway, I’ll probably stay at Clara’s for a bit, no need to wait up” And he left as quickly as he could, hurrying Dani and Clara out the door before his mother thought of some other excuse for him not to go. He knew Sophie would help calm his mother but still, he felt a little guilty.

Clara seemed to read his mind “You know she’ll be fine, stop worrying. Sophie’s there too” then she put her arm in his, Dani did the same on his other arm.

As they walked down the road Alex said “So what’s lesson two then?” and grinned cheekily

“I’ve no idea, let’s find out together,”

“What a priceless pair you two are.” Dani said then burst out laughing, neither Alex or Clara had any idea why though.