Local hero

Jess' s date had become a celebrity overnight. Could she cope with his nd new-found fame?

For me, it was a normal evening, even though I had butterflies in my stomach as I got ready for my date with Alec.

I' d spent too long trying to decide whether my new lipstick made me look vampy or deathly, but couldn' t help smiling as I remembered how, two nights before, we' d been introduced by my friend Susie at a pub quiz.

I' d been enlisted for help with the history questions, and he was there for everything else, and we' d bonded over our joint fascination with the weird fact that a Medieval pope once declared war on cats.

`Alec is such a nerd,' Susie had said fondly when he got a question about dinosaurs right, followed by a question on railway stations.

I love nerds, I thought.

But it turned out we were mistaken Alec wasn' t a nerd. He was a full-blown hero.

I had no reason to suspect this when he arrived on my doorstep in a shirt and tie, sweatily holding a bunch of tulips, like a sixth-former on his first date, and when we argued about the historical basis for Game of Thrones as we walked to the Thai restaurant on the corner.

His hair was even more sticky-uppy than it had been in the pub, and I thought I could detect a faint whiff of charcoal about him, which seemed a weird scent for a shower gel.

But then a group of teens across the road spied him. They did a double-take, gasped and squealed, then reached immediately for their phones to take a photo.

I looked at him, baffled. What' s going on?'

Oh. Um.' He rubbed the back of his neck. I think it' s because I saved someone' s life today.'

I should have watched the local news before I came out. Apparently, he was all over it.

Once we' d taken our seats at the restaurant, I pulled out my phone and Googled him. You' re allowed to do that when your date is being stared at by the other customers and pointed at by the kitchen staff.

It' s not really a big deal,' he said casually, as I watched footage of him carrying a dazed man in a fireman' s lift out of a smoke-filled house. Then he turned back inside, and moments later, leapt out of the downstairs window like a Ninja, with the family dog in his arms.

Alec, this is incredible!' It was a fluke really,' he whispered, leaning closer to me. I just happened to be there. I' m amazed I didn' t land flat on my face and have to be rescued myself.'

His modesty was endearing. And now the local news wants to do an interview,' he said, grimacing.

That can' t scare you,' I laughed. You just ran into a burning building!' He shrugged ambivalently. I knew public speaking could be scary I did it nearly every day as part of my job in corporate training and I still got nervous about it. But I couldn' t imagine finding the courage to do what Alec had done.

I was about to offer my help to prepare for the interview, when the owner of the restaurant came out to shake Alec' s hand and tell us the meal was on the house.

By the time Alec and I got up to leave, at least a dozen people had come over to congratulate him on being such a great person. He was awkward but gracious, if a bit bemused. We barely had a moment to ourselves or a chance to talk.

It was a very unusual date. Well, that was weird¼ he wrote in a text the next morning.

I smiled at my screen, pleased he' d acknowledged it. I' d enjoyed his company, but there was no getting away from the fact that all the attention had skewed the natural course of the evening somewhat. Still, I was thrilled he' d got in touch again.

It's OK, I replied. I won't hold it against you that you're a s uperstar.

We arranged to meet in the park that afternoon. He

Moments later, he leapt out of the window like a Ninja, with the family dog in his arms

One very pretty girl, standing right beside me, said to her friend: ÔI wish heÕd give me a firemanÕ s lift

arrived before me, and when I saw him standing by the food kiosk, stomping his feet to keep warm, my heart gave a little leap that I think was excitement and hopefulness and pleasure all at once. He smiled when he saw me.

Ice cream?' he said, greeting me.

`Are you joking?' I laughed. If they' re selling it, I' m eating it. I never pass up a chance for ice cream. That' s my life motto, actually.' He grinned. You can have hot chocolate if you' d rather?'

What do you think I am, a wimp?' I said, archly. If you' re having ice cream, I' m having ice cream.'

I don' t think I' ve ever been so cold in my life as when I was three-quarters of the way through my rocky road cone. My whole face was numb.

He put his somehowtoasty hands to my cheeks to warm them up. Suddenly, I wouldn' t have cared if I' d frozen to death. When I grinned at the ridiculousness of it, he laughed at himself and stepped back, as if embarrassed.

Do you want me to finish your ice cream?' he said. I won' t think any less of you.'

It would be your second heroic feat of the week,' I said, my teeth chattering. It turned out I was a wimp. Come on,' he said. Let' s get you in somewhere warm.'

We went to a pub around the corner and I joyfully warmed my hands and lips on a cup of coffee. When' s your interview with the news station?' I asked.

He pulled a face, and I was sorry I' d reminded him. Tomorrow evening. They want to film it where it happened.'

You' ll be great.

You' ll be famous all over again.'

Ha ha!' he laughed. Yes.' I hesitated, started to speak, then paused to blow on my coffee. I' d been about to ask if he' d like me to come along for moral support, but didn' t want to be pushy.

You could¼ come too. If you like,' he said.

To the interview?' He nodded. It was as if he' d tuned into my thoughts. Before I could answer, we were interrupted by a couple of lads who wanted to know if he was the guy who saved the dog from the fire.

With an amused glance at me, Alec said: No, sorry. That was someone else.'

They didn' t believe him. They insisted on taking some pictures with him. Once other people saw there was a fuss being made, they started paying attention too, and our table was soon surrounded.

Alec was pink faced as people lined up. At first I felt proud to be with him, even though no one paid me any notice and I got pushed further and further aside, until I eventually gave up my seat.

One very pretty girl, standing right beside me, said loudly to her friend: I wish he' d give me a fireman' s lift.'

Alec glanced at me and blushed furiously, with a shy but undeniably pleased smile. Pretending he hadn' t heard the girl, when obviously he had, he went back to retelling his story for the fifth time, while I resisted the urge to jab her out of the way with my elbow. I' d often wondered how the wives of Hollywood stars coped with their husbands' groupies. Was this how it felt?

Alec bought a round for everyone. For about 20 minutes, I couldn' t get anywhere near him. He was glowing under all the attention.

When he eventually caught my eye, I gave him a reassuring smile. I' d already shown myself up as a wimp today, I wasn' t going to show off my insecurity too.

I was quiet as we left the pub. I' d left my car across from the park, and he offered to walk me back.

That' s OK,' I said. You don' t have to.'

I suppose I was thinking about the girl who was still inside the pub, who he might be tempted to go back to. She' d kissed his cheek before we left. I bet she'd be able to finish her whole ice cream, I thought.

Alec looked surprised.

He' d been so sparky in the pub. And he' d deserved the attention I didn' t want to put a damper on it. But for a moment in there, I' d lost sight of the self-effacing, geeky bloke I' d been falling for and a different Alec had appeared an Alec who' d forgotten all about me.

An Alec who was a bit of a showoff.

I can' t quite get used to this,' he said, waving a hand to encompass the pub behind us. Again, I felt a touch of relief that he was acknowledging how weird it was. But then he chuckled. They think I' m a superhero. I' ve never been so popular with women!'

I' m happy for you,' I said tightly, and marched off towards my car.

There were limits to my supportiveness.

I waited to hear from him. No word.

I' d been expecting him to confirm that he wanted me to come to the interview. Now I wasn' t sure whether it had actually been a solid arrangement or not. I was beginning to doubt my own feelings had I been wrong in my impression of him?

Had I misread his interest in me? And did I really want to spend the afternoon shunted to one side while he entertained his fan club again?

Well, I wouldn' t call, I resolved. Let him call me if he wanted me there.

The day passed,

and it grew nearer to the time. I gave in and rang him.

Hi, Jess,' he said, answering straightaway, which was a good sign. I can' t really talk just now. Is it urgent?' This wasn' t such a good sign.

No, sorry, I didn' t mean to disturb you,' I said, flustered.

I could hear voices and the sound of dryers and ringing phones in the background, which gave me the impression he was at the hairdresser. A female voice asked him something, ending on a giggle.

I don' t know,' I heard him say, though it was muffled, as though he had his hand over the phone. I waited impatiently, making faces at the phone. Eventually, he came back to me.

Sorry, Jess. Catch up later then, OK?' he said, flippantly. Sure.'

I knew a brushoff when I heard one.

I tried not to be too disappointed. We' d only had two dates after all. How could I begrudge his new-found fame if it made him happy?

When Susie phoned a while later, I immediately bored her with what was on my mind.

I' m really surprised he didn' t call you,' she said.

The fame' s gone to his head,' I said, trying to make a joke of it, despite how hurt I was feeling. I don' t think I' m glamorous enough for him now.'

Don' t be daft. But he has been insufferable lately, hasn' t he?'

I was glad she thought so. But,' she continued, I' m surprised he hasn' t been in touch because I thought he was going to ask you to help him with the interview. You do that stuff all the time.'

He doesn' t need my help,' I scoffed. He' s a superhero, remember?'

Jess,' Susie said, he' s absolutely petrified. He may think he' s over his nerves now, but a few days of people asking for selfies doesn' t undo 30 years of being shy.'

Isaw the news van when I parked in front of the house where the daring rescue had happened. I saw Alec too, chatting to the reporter, just moments before they said goodbye and separated. The reporter, strangely, seemed annoyed.

Alec!' I called, as I climbed out of the car.

He saw me and came over, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked smart his hair stylist had done a great job and his clothes shone with newness. But he looked like a kid dressed up for a family portrait, stiff with discomfort. You came,' he said. He seemed relieved to see me. Susie was right, I thought, he'd needed someone after all.

Have I missed the interview?' I asked, sorry now that I' d been late.

It' s OK, you didn' t miss much.' He barely met my eye, and just as I was casting about for something to say, he blurted: I owe you an apology. This whole thing hasn' t really brought out the best in me.'

Alec, you saved someone' s life!'

But all the attention afterwards! At first it was awkward, but I went along with it because I could see you were impressed.'

I¼' It was true I had kept telling him what a star he was.

And I wanted to impress you,' he went on. I liked that you thought I was brave. But then it all went to my head. I' ve never been cool before.' He gave a self-effacing smile. I thought I' d turned into a hero, but I' d actually turned into an idiot. I' m sorry.'

I could have handled things better too it didn' t bring out the best in me either,' I told him, not wanting to admit how jealous I' d been in the pub. And for the record, I still think you' re cool.'

So I haven' t blown it?' he said hopefully.

Not in the slightest.' He smiled at me. Here was the Alec I adored.

This would be the perfect moment for a kiss, I thought. But he just shuffled his feet.

Even when I tell you there was no interview?' he said. Why, what happened?' I kept having to sit down because I thought I was going to faint.'

Oh, Alec,' I said, sympathetically.

And halfway through we had to stop because I nearly threw up in a flower pot.' I tried not to smile. It certainly brought me back down to earth. All this fuss¼ it isn' t me at all. In the end, I told them I' d changed my mind. I just want things to go back to normal.' He sighed. I can' t believe you do this stuff every day. You' re the bravest person I know.'

And I' d been so afraid that he thought of me as a wimp. Suddenly, I understood what he meant about compliments going straight to your head.

Tell you what,' I said. You save people from burning buildings, and I' ll do the public speaking that way, between us, surely we' ll have every possible problem in life covered.'

He grinned. What a good team we make.'

It was another perfect moment for a kiss. So I pulled him closer, just to make sure he wouldn' t misunderstand. And fortunately, this time, we were back on the same wavelength.

T his would be the perfect moment for a kiss, I thought. But he just shuffled his feet