Anna stepped carefully down the stairs and saw them. There they were. All of them. Sitting around the table covered in empty glasses, chatting quietly. James was right behind her, with his strong hand resting gently on her hip. Anna felt a cold shiver run straight down her spine.

“Maybe this isn’t such a good idea,” Anna suggested nervously, as she tried to turn and head back up the stairs.

“It is. Now, I’ll go and get us a drink and you can go say hello. Then I will be there, right next to you. I promise. You can do this.” With a quick kiss on the top of her head he left her side.

“But…but—” It was too late. James had already disappeared into the crowded room.

Slowly she made her way across to where they were all sitting. Everyone was there; Bronwyn, Daniel, Grant, Matt, Johnny, Holly, Rick, Stephanie. Grant saw her coming. He stood up and grabbed another chair before embracing her in a tight hug hello. Then after hugs and kisses from everyone, Anna pulled over another chair and sat down nervously.

“Do you want a drink, Anna? My shout,” Grant bubbled enthusiastically.

“No thanks, I’m okay. Actually, James is just getting me one.” Anna balanced nervously on the edge of her seat. Forcing her hands under her thighs, she was fighting her every impulse to cut and run.

“Who’s James?” Bronwyn pounced quickly, never one to miss the opportunity to uncover gossip. Throughout high school, Bronwyn had been the gossip queen. She had to know everyone’s business, maybe to ensure she remained popular. She knew everything about everyone, and she had the ability to either make or break them.

“When he comes over please don’t say anything stupid or act funny around him. Please. I’m begging you. He’s just a normal guy like you and me,” Anna pleaded, wide eyed.

At the mention of the ‘normal guy,’ Anna couldn’t help but notice the wide, suspicious eyes staring back at her. It was obvious her comments had had the exact opposite effect than the one she’d been after. Instead of acting natural and normal, now Anna was worried what would fall out of their mouths. And what confused her more was why. After all, they’d all known each other for years, but now, all of a sudden, Anna didn’t trust them. Not as far as she could throw them.

But in the same moment the thought crossed her mind, James edged his way around the bar towards them. Daniel was first to see and recognise him. Anna watched on, horrified, as his mouth fell open, his eyes firmly fixed on James’s approaching figure. And slowly but surely, one by one, everyone else’s gaze followed.

Anna hated her home town in that moment. And she knew James would have as well. This was why they never went anywhere or did anything. The whole bar was watching him. Every move he made was scrutinized, and as he passed by tables, Anna was disgusted to notice conversations fell short. People stopped pushing buttons on the poker machines, and even the bar attendants froze mid-pour as the entire club fell silent. But to James’s credit and Anna’s delight, he continued to walk purposefully across the room, his head held high, and took his seat next to Anna, offering her a glass of mineral water and a reassuring smile as she made introductions.

Anna had never felt so many pairs of eyes on them at once. She felt them boring into her soul. So she did something she never would have done if she had been thinking straight. It was Anna’s greatest weakness; she was rash and impulsive. And when provoked, she tended to react first and think later. So she kissed James. In the middle of the crowded room, with hundreds of eyes fixated on them, she kissed him. It worked, luckily. Shocked people returned to what they were doing, leaving Anna’s cheeks burning. She could hear their names being whispered amongst patrons, but at least the staring and deafening silence was over. She heard rumours beginning to take shape, about how she—a nobody—had just kissed the superstar swimmer.

The silence had enveloped the group, and surely everyone had noticed. But it seemed to take forever for someone to break it. Anna had never been so grateful to Grant for starting a random conversation. The topic didn’t matter. Anything to take some of the focus off Anna was all right by her. Being the centre of attention was something Anna wasn’t used to. Sure, James had to deal with it every day, but Anna had never adjusted. Soon, she wouldn’t have a choice.

Surrounded by old friends, Anna was surprised to see people she once knew silenced. Usually they spoke their minds and were brutally honest, but today they were far too quiet for Anna’s liking. She knew them, and they her. And in that moment, while they continued to make idle chit chat with the swimmer the world recognised, Anna knew they had a million questions they were dying to ask. And she was already dreading the moment she’d have to face them. She was never comfortable with answering personal questions and highly doubted she ever would be.

Desperate for a break, Anna began scouring the room for a release. Someone, anyone she could talk to just to have a break from the intense scrutiny. A few tables over, a group of people seemed to be staring at her. It took Anna few moments before she could place them. It was a group of teachers from her high school sitting there having a drink and watching the drama unfold; a show Anna was now starring in.

James tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention and bring her back out of her own head. “Where’s the bathroom?” he asked.

Anna knew as soon as he was far enough away she would be bombarded with questions. Reluctantly Anna pointed him in the right direction.

“Be right back,” James said, kissing the top of her head as he rose and moved away.

Three, two, one, showtime, Anna thought reluctantly. Three of her old teachers were headed in her direction. Please hurry back, James, Anna prayed silently.

But before the questions had a chance to begin the room fell silent once again as a news update came over the television. Somewhere in the bar, someone held the remote and decided now seemed like a good time to turn the volume up. It was then that Anna heard a very familiar voice–James. They were showing his press conference from earlier this afternoon. Of course they had to show it the moment James stepped away from her side.

“Coming up tonight in the late news,” the old decrepit broadcaster began. “Olympic swimming champion and world record holder James Thompson has today announced his engagement. Although he was reluctant to give away his bride-to-be’s name, he assures us wedding preparations are well underway.” Even though the newsbreak hadn’t yet finished, all eyes turned in a choreographed move from the television screen to Anna.

“It’s you,” Grant stated in no more than a whisper yet the whole bar seemed to have heard it. Anna’s heart felt like it was about to jump out of her chest and break through her rib cage. Where the hell was James right now? All Anna could do was to put her head on the table and hope the floor would open up and swallow her.

Then James appeared. The whole bar started applauding and whistling wildly. The look on James’s face was priceless. But when his eyes landed on Anna, his faced paled instantly. Striding deliberately towards the table, James flopped into the chair beside Anna and tried to discover what he’d missed.

“Well, the moment you left they showed today’s press conference and announced to the world you were engaged. That’s all.” Anna sighed heavily, raising her eyes to meet James’s sympathetic gaze.

In the few minutes he had left her alone, Anna’s life as she knew it had become totally unrecognisable. At the end of the room James’s gaze landed on a karaoke machine. Standing up, he strode purposefully towards it. The operator, who had seen everything, watched him approach.

“Mate,” James began, “mind if I say something?”