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The invisible man

My mate's bloke sounded too good to be true?


Published by: Helen O'Brien & Gail Shortland
Published on: 14th January 2010

Popping the cork from the bottle of cheap wine, I sloshed some into two tea-stained mugs. 'A toast,' I grinned, passing one to best mate Natalie Lewis. 'To university life.'
'And to finding fit men,' she added, taking a swig.
We collapsed into giggles.
Days earlier, we'd moved into halls of residence at Brunel University, London. I'd known Natalie for two years. We'd met while studying drama at college.
Now we'd come to the same university to study for the same drama degree.
'This is going to be great,' I squealed, comparing timetables. What could be better than sharing everything with my best mate?
Over the next few months, we studied hard and partied even harder. We were like sisters, sharing all our problems. Natalie's biggest one was finding a man. She went on loads of dates, was always attracting guys, but no
one serious.
'I'd like a proper boyfriend,' she moaned, as we collapsed on to my bed after a night dancing.
I kicked off my heels. 'You've got me,' I insisted. Not for long, though, it turned out. A few weeks later, on a night out in London with mates, I met delivery driver Paul Bone, and we started dating.
We loved the same alternative music and going to gigs. It was great... but I felt bad for Natalie. I made a major effort to include her, and tried not to be too much of a couple in front of her.
The three of us were always in the pub together, having a laugh on karaoke. I didn't mind, I wanted them to get on. 'He's a great guy,' she told me one night.
'And you'll find someone just as perfect,' I promised her.
After the first year, me and Natalie moved into a house together with mates. Paul was always visiting and, after nearly two years together, we knew we had a future together.
One night, we were curled up in front of the telly.
'I was thinking about getting a tattoo of your name on my wedding ring finger,' Paul said. 'Before we get engaged.'
Engagement, tattoos... things were getting serious.
'Sounds perfect,' I beamed, feeling butterflies in my tummy.
But while I'd found my soul-mate, Natalie was still searching.
She had Paul to hang out with, though. They'd even swapped numbers.
'Got any sexy mates you could set her up with?' I hinted to him.
'I'll have a think.'
A month later, I walked into the living room, and Paul snapped his phone shut. 'Who was that?' I asked.
'Um... I...' he said.
What was he hiding?
'You caught me,' he sighed. 'Me and Natalie were planning your birthday.'
'My birthday's a month away,' I smiled 'You two are the best.'
Planning a party was one thing, but soon Natalie was hanging around so much I felt like me and Paul didn't have our own space.
A few weeks later, in town shopping, I spotted Paul's car parked in front of a pub.
Natalie was in the passenger seat. 'Can't she find her own friends?' I thought, irritated.
Walking up to the car, I tapped on the window. Natalie whipped around in surprise. Then she wound down the window, smiling.
'I came to pick you up,' Paul said. 'And Natalie needed a lift.'
'That's nice of you,' I said, forcing a smile. Poor Paul. He must have been fed up of having her around all the time, too.
I was relieved when she came home with news a few weeks later. 'I've met the perfect man,' she said.
Perhaps now she'd leave us alone... 'That's fantastic,' I cried.
'He's a student called James and lives 30 miles away in Reading,' she added. 'It'll be hard for you to meet him. But he's gorgeous. And amazing in bed...'
I winced as Natalie spilled details of their steamy sex sessions.
'I've never seen you so excited about a guy,' I laughed.
'He's special,' she smiled.
The only down side was I never got to meet him. She'd get the train to his every few days, but he was too busy to visit us. He'd certainly put the smile back on her face, though - and a spring in her step!
'Natalie's smitten with James,' I said to Paul one night. He shrugged. Went back to watching telly. Mind you, he barely seemed to say two words to me these days, always seemed too busy to come round...
Suddenly, it hit me. While my mate's love life was taking off, mine was going down the pan.
What had changed?
'Do you think I've done something wrong?' I confided in Natalie, over takeaway. 'We hardly have sex any more.'
I waited for the usual flood of advice, but she was quiet. 'Maybe you should talk to him,' she shrugged.
I threw a cushion at her and laughed. 'Like I haven't thought of that,' I scoffed.
When I did try talking to him, though, he became irritated.
'Nothing's wrong,' he snapped.
I was at a loss. It felt like Natalie and I had swapped places, I was the miserable one, and she was in love.
She'd been dating James for a month when she suggested a girls' night out.
Just what I needed!
Having danced the night away, a load of us headed home. With everyone eating kebabs, I went into the kitchen for a glass of water.
Back in the living room, she had gone. 'Where's Natalie?' I said.
'She went to her room to take a call,' shrugged a friend. 'It was her boyfriend Paul.'
'James,' I corrected. 'Her boyfriend's James.'
'She said Paul,' they insisted.
Suddenly, I felt very hot. We only knew one Paul... My mind went crazy. The phone calls... seeing them in the car together... Paul's mood...
'James is Paul!' I gasped.
My best mate and my bloke wouldn't do that to me... would they?
I rushed upstairs, and flung open Natalie's bedroom door - just as she snapped her phone shut.
'What's going on with you and Paul?' I demanded.
Was I really asking my best
friend this?!
She said nothing.
Then her mobile rang. Snatching it up, I answered it.
'Hi babes, what's going on?' said a voice.
It was Paul. 'Actually, it's your other girlfriend,' I yelled. 'Remember me?'
He hung up. His silence screamed his guilt. Hurling the phone at Natalie, I fought the urge to be sick.
How could the two people I cared about most betray me like this?
Natalie was silent. Not even a sorry. Racing downstairs, I shut myself in the bathroom.
'She told me about their sex life,' I wailed. She'd had the gall to make up an imaginary boyfriend so she could boast about how great my bloke was in bed!
Minutes later, I heard Natalie heading for the front door.
I ran out to find her crying... and Paul pulling up in his car. 'How long's this been going on?' I cried.
'Just leave it,' Paul snapped, driving off.
I couldn't believe it. They were acting like I was making a big fuss - they'd broken my heart.
I never wanted to talk to him again. But I was more hurt by Natalie. She was my best friend, and she'd stolen my boyfriend.
I threw myself down on to my bed sobbing.
A few hours later, Natalie finally came back. 'So, what's going on?' I asked, trying to stay calm.
'We really care about each other,' she said. 'We're in love.'
'So were we,' I whispered.
The worst thing was Paul kept coming around the house. Talk about insensitive - our bedrooms were next door to each other!
But I had the last laugh. Their relationship only lasted one more month. I guess it wasn't so exciting now they weren't sneaking about.
Shortly after, we graduated and moved out. I got a job at a council, and I've been dating Steve Jackson, 25, for two years. We're planning to buy a house next year.
I haven't seen Natalie since. She hurt me so much. Perhaps she was jealous of what I had and wanted to take it away from me. But she threw away the most important thing, our friendship. Natalie Lewis, 25 said: 'Something may have happened between me and her. But I can't believe it's all being stirred up.' Paul Bone, 27, said: 'I don't care, and I won't deny any of it. To be honest, it was fun.'
Kat Reynolds, 25, London