Flat Mates - Chapter 1 - Meeting Gloria free porn video

FLAT MATES Chapter 1: Meeting Gloria I can remember it as if it were yesterday; I had celebrated my 21st birthday the day before and was still feeling decidedly fragile when I boarded the train to Manchester to start my degree at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology - (UMIST). As I recall I slept most of the way to Manchester and it was just as well that Piccadilly station is a terminus as there is no telling where I might have ended up otherwise; I was out for the count! Anyway, I did eventually manage to get both myself and my belongings off the train and into a taxi. I hadn't been able to secure a place in a Hall of Residence and, consequently, found myself heading north on the Old Bury Road to an address where I had been able to obtain a room in a small house, sharing with another student who was in his second year at UMIST. (Oh, by the way, my name is Kerris; "Kerris Thomas Wright" to be exact, but I hate the name "Kerris" - apparently it is an old family name, but that is still no reason why my parents had to lumber me with it! I encouraged my friends to call me "KT," and that is how I am usually known these days.) When I arrived at Gladwin Road, my accommodation for the next year turned out to be one of a row of Edwardian terrace houses that must originally have been built to house workers from one of the many mills and factories that once existed in this area. All were, of course, now long gone and the street was clearly "up and coming," and slowly being gentrified. Although a student house, my new home was clearly well looked after by the landlord; the exterior woodwork had recently been painted and the small forecourt nicely paved and planted with a few hardy shrubs. (My landlord must have realised that students don't "do gardening"!) I knocked on the door and my new housemate opened it. He was a man of about my age - (I subsequently learned that was also 21; the fact that he was in his second year at University whilst I was starting my first was due to the fact that I had taken a gap-year out after sixth form and he hadn't.) He smiled warmly and ushered me into the house. "Welcome," he said "I'm Gavin. It's good to meet the person with whom I am going to be sharing for the next year." He led me upstairs and showed me my room. It was in the front of the house and a surprisingly large room for a two- bedroom terrace. "I hope you don't mind," explained Gavin. "As I arrived first I have taken the smaller bedroom at the back. You have the larger room but I get an extra, smaller room with mine." I hastened to assure him the room he had allocated to me was fine. In fact I was surprised he hadn't bagged the better room for himself. Still who was I to argue! "As it's our first night," Gavin continued, "I've got in a couple a pizzas and a few beers. I thought we could chat a bit and get to know each other's likes and dislikes before we decide how best to run this place." Good idea," I responded. "I'm always up for a few beers and a pizza. However, I also quite enjoy cooking and have brought some of my own kitchen things with me as Mum assures me that the stuff that comes with the house will hardly be worth using." "That's great," enthused Gavin. "I'm not much of a cook myself but I do enjoy good food and wine; sounds like we might get along famously." Gavin left me to unpack and, when I headed downstairs, greeted me with an open bottle of Theakston's Old Peculiar. "Ah a man who knows his beer," I remarked, "however you had better be careful not to be found serving Yorkshire beer in Lancashire. They can be a bit touchy about such things around here!" He laughed and we clinked bottles before taking a big swig of the beer. "I've just put the pizzas in the oven," explained Gavin, "so we should be able to eat in about 20 minutes. He led me into the back parlour where, somewhat to my surprise, he had laid up a table with a cloth, cutlery and glasses. I had sort of assumed we would be messily eating slices direct from the box. However, it pleased me to see the neatly set table as it seems to me that a meal is always more relaxed and enjoyable if you don't have to juggle with your food on your lap. I made no comment about the table, but sat down and poured the remainder of our beer into the glasses whilst Gavin fetched the pizzas from the kitchen. I was delighted to note that he had also prepared a nice side salad. I looked as though I had fallen lucky and found a housemate who also appreciated his food. The pizzas and salad were very good and, of course, the beer was excellent. We chatted away over our meal sharing the usual information about families, school, etc. It transpired that whilst we weren't studying exactly the same subjects at Uni, we were both in the same department. "That could be helpful," said Gavin. "We must compare timetables, once we have them. I have a small car and we might be able to share lifts into and out of town." Privately I thought that having a car was a bit unnecessary in Manchester. Parking is expensive in the City Centre and there is a very good bus service. I was also considering buying myself a second-hand bicycle. However, I said nothing as it was very kind of Gavin to consider my needs as well as his own. After supper we retired to the front living room and collapsed into a couple of easy chairs and opened some more beer. We continued to talk about our hobbies and interests and I explained that I had always enjoyed helping in the kitchen and that Mum had encouraged me to be experimental with food. Cooking was now one of my favourite pastimes. For his part Gavin talked about his early interest in theatre and acting. He was already a member of one of the University drama groups. "As I am now in my second year and an "old hand," with the group, I am hoping to get some leading roles this year. You must come and see me act." I promised that I would. We spent a very pleasant evening and I was inwardly congratulating myself on my luck in having found such a congenial person with whom to share the house. As the evening progressed and the beer went down, I sensed that Gavin was starting to get a bit tense. It was as though he had something he wanted to tell me but didn't know how to start. Eventually, when there was a pause in the conversation, he coughed and took a deep breath. "Kerris - (and his use of my given name was indicative of how important whatever he wanted to tell me was, as I had already urged him to call me "KT") - there is something I have to tell you about me. It might result in your deciding to seek alternative accommodation but in fairness I have to share this with you. I hope you will understand and accept because, in so many other ways, I think we have a lot in common." I was all agog; what dreadful revelation was Gavin about to impart? "I have to tell you," he started, "that I am a transvestite. On a regular basis I dress and go out as a woman. There, now I've told you and, if you are too shocked and want to move out, I will fully understand." We sat silently for a few moments. I won't pretend that I wasn't shocked. Whilst we had been chatting, at no stage had I though Gavin to be in any way effeminate or camp. However, I wasn't a fool and whilst I never consciously encountered a transvestite face to face I was aware that they existed. Indeed much of Channel 4's TV output seemed to feature them, and it was becoming quite rare to find a theatrical production that didn't have at least one cross-dressed person in the cast! I looked Gavin directly in the eye. "Look," I started, "I don't know much about transvestites but you seem a really nice guy and I think we could get on well together. How you choose to dress when you go out isn't anything to do with me. I'll be happy to stay, if you'll let me." The relief on Gavin's face was palpable. "Oh I'm so pleased," he exclaimed. "I too think we could be good house mates. I promise I'll keep "Gloria," out of your way." He explained that "Gloria," was what he called himself when dressed. I told him not to be stupid. If "Gloria," was going to be the third person sharing our house for the next year, the sooner I met her; the better! It was getting late and we had both drunk a fair amount of beer. We decided to call it a night and I retired to bed reflecting on what I had learned that evening. In spite of his revelation, I liked Gavin and was sure I could cope with his cross-dressing. The next morning Gavin drove me into town in his car and showed me around my new department. We parted and went off to our separate classes to start the year's work. When I was eventually released, late in the afternoon, I looked around for Gavin but couldn't find him. His car was gone from where we had parked it that morning so I assumed he had things he needed to do on his own. I caught the bus back to Gladwin Road and wandered along to the shops I had noticed on the main road. For a small suburban parade there was quite a reasonable selection of shops; a small supermarket, chemist, newsagent, and, I was pleased to see, a very good butcher. I picked up a few things and went back to the house, where I started preparing supper. Gavin came in about an hour later. "Great smell," he shouted. "If you are as good a cook as it would seem, I can see I am going to have to be careful with what I eat this year or I won't be able to get into my favourite dresses!" The casual way he referred to his dressing habit reassured me that he was comfortable with me and that there was a very good chance that we would get along fine. I had made one of my favourite casserole dishes and had found a not half bad bottle of merlot in the supermarket, so we both enjoyed a relaxing supper. Afterwards Gavin somewhat shyly asked if I was ready to meet "Gloria". Knowing that this was a hurdle I would have to overcome sooner or later, I said I would be delighted to make the lady's acquaintance and Gavin disappeared upstairs to effect his transformation. As I sat waiting for "Gloria" to appear, I reflected nervously on what my possible reactions might be. There were so many possibilities. If Gavin came down looking like a "man in a frock", would I burst out laughing? What if "Gloria" was some outrageous Drag Queen? However "she" looked, could I cope with seeing my new house-mate dressed as a woman? I had a long time to muse over these questions because a good hour passed before I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Whatever sort of image I had been anticipating, the vision that stepped through the door was something way beyond my wildest imaginings. Gloria was gorgeous! A slim girl stood facing me with a somewhat nervous expression on her face. Long, wavy, platinum blonde hair framed an elfin face, immaculately made up with blue eye-shadow, long curling lashes, and a rosebud, pink-lipped mouth. Gold hooped earrings peeped through her locks. (I hadn't spotted Gavin had pierced ears. He later told me that when in male mode he wore transparent plastic studs that were virtually invisible through his longish, shaggy hair.) As I drew my eyes away from Gloria's face to take in the rest of her "look", I noticed she was wearing a pretty, pink, long-sleeved tee-shirt with a small pendant necklace nestling in what appeared to be a very realistic cleavage. A narrow waist led to slim hips clad in a tight fitting black mini-skirt. (I later learned that Gavin usually wore a tightly laced corset when dressed.) Shapely legs clad in shiny, nude hose ended in neat little feet, shod in a pair of very high-heeled black pumps. I was gobsmacked! For a while we just held the tableau; Gloria leaning nervously against the doorframe and me sitting open-mouthed in my chair. Eventually Gloria broke the silence. "Am I that much of a shock to you?" she said. "I'm sorry. I'll go and change back at once." I could see tears forming in her eyes as she turned away to go back upstairs. "Stop," I cried, "don't go. Yes I am shocked, but not the way you think. I never envisaged that you could turn yourself into such a beautiful woman. I have to look really hard at you to see even a trace of "Gavin" underneath." Gloria turned back toward me with a smile of relief on her face. "Do you mean it?" she enquired. "Do you really think I am beautiful? You can't imagine the relief. I was so worried you would laugh at me or storm out of the house." "I think you make a most realistic woman and I am happy to make your acquaintance," I responded, smiling and rising from my chair took her hand in mine. I gallantly bent over and kissed the back of her hand. "I am sure the three of us, you, me and Gavin, will be really good house- mates this year. Now I think there is still a drop of wine left, so let me pour us each a glass and we can toast our new friendship." And so we did. One glass led to another and Gloria and I sat up late whilst she explained how she had always had this desire to dress as a woman, the better to express the feminine side of her personality. "I've never wanted to actually be a woman," she explained. "But even as a child I enjoyed playing "dress-up" games with my sister and her friends. Mum and Dad were cool about it and I probably spent as much time at home in dresses and skirts as I did in jeans and trousers. I enjoyed playing football and building dens with my mates, but I also liked joining in my sister's doll's tea-parties. You could say I had the best of both worlds. Of course, as I grew older it became more difficult and complicated. My dressing became more infrequent but whenever there was an opportunity for fancy dress, I always found an excuse to go as a girl. My mates became used to my odd ways and, as I clearly wasn't gay, accepted that it was merely an eccentricity of mine." "As I entered my teens and started to get interested in girls in the more conventional sense, things got even trickier. Of course the local girls had seen me in dresses at parties but they wouldn't have been keen to go out with me as two girlfriends! So I put my dressing to one side and had a really good time at senior school. I dated quite a few girls. Some of my relationships lasted a long time but I never met anyone I was really serious about. However, the desire to dress never went away and when I got my place at UMIST I decided now was the time to give "Gloria" her head. After I leave here I will have to find a job and probably marry and settle down to raise a family. The probability is that in three years time "Gloria" will cease to be, so, during this window of opportunity, I am determined to be feminine for as much of the time as I can." She paused, and I sat back trying to take in everything she had told me. I was already thinking of "Gloria" as "she" and "her". Gavin would re- emerge at some point, but for tonight I was enjoying the company of one of the most beautiful women I had ever met. "That's why I was so worried about what your reaction would be," she continued. I can't afford to live on my own and most house-mates would run a mile rather than live with a tranny. I'm so relieved you are cool and relaxed about it." "I won't deny I find it strange," I responded, "but who am I to criticise your life-style. I think you are very brave to do what you are doing and if I can help make it easier for you, you have my full support." Tears of joy sprung into Gloria's eyes and I had to pass her a handkerchief as she gently dabbed them. "I've got mascara all over your handkerchief," she laughed. "I guess I had better get used to that," I answered with a smile. Eventually we called it a night and retired to our rooms. Gloria explained why, as Gavin, she had chosen to take the smaller of the two bedrooms. "It is because of the little extra room," she explained. "It gives me somewhere to keep all my "Gloria," things and not get them muddled with "Gavin's". I could get in a real mess if my two sides got totally jumbled!" The next morning it was "Gavin," who came down to breakfast. "Thanks for being so understanding last night," he started. "It was a real boost for my confidence." We said no more about it and, after breakfast, set off for our day's work at the University. Gavin was home before me that evening and had started cooking supper when I arrived. "We had better sort out a rota for cooking," he suggested "and set up some sort of kitty to pay for the bills." This was an eminently sensible suggestion, so I agreed at once. "I don't think my cooking is quite in the same league as yours," Gavin apologised, but the sausages he served up were of good quality and tasted delicious. (One of my big worries about sharing a house was that the other person would want to live on a diet of curry, cornflakes, and beer! I had fallen very luck with Gavin who, like me, obviously enjoyed his food.) We both had course work to study so that evening was spent sitting either side of the table pouring over our laptops and comparing notes. The fact that Gavin was a year ahead of me was extremely helpful as he was able to steer me towards appropriate websites and advise me on some authors I ought to research. The evening passed pleasantly enough and it was good that, already, we were comfortable about living and working together. Gloria next appeared on Friday evening. There was a note on the table when I got home. It was from Gavin; "I'm going out this evening so had a bite to eat earlier. Don't wait up! Enjoy whatever you have got planned." It so happened that I had arranged to meet up with some other students on my course, so this arrangement suited me fine. I was just finishing my meal when I heard footsteps in the hall. It was Gloria. She was even lovelier that she had appeared the first time I met her. Tonight she was in full war-paint; her hair teased and frizzed into a wild mop. A low cut, red dress displayed a very realistic bosom and her heels were positive sky-scrapers! She was a walking invitation to dalliance!! "I'm off to a club," she explained. "Manchester has a really great gay, lesbian and tranny scene and there are loads of clubs where girls like me are welcomed with open arms. I'll see you in the morning". And with that she vanished through the door; leaving a scent of perfume in her wake. I spent the evening with my new mates. We had a few beers; played bar billiards; and ended the evening with a curry. (The curry was truly excellent and I was quickly informed by those in the know, that Manchester enjoys a wonderful range of different cuisines. I thought to myself, "Gloria isn't the only one who is going to have to be careful about putting on weight!) I got home just before midnight. Gloria was still out on the town. It was about three in the morning that I heard her trying to tiptoe upstairs quietly so as not to disturb me; of course she failed! "It's OK," I called out, "I'm awake. Did you have a good evening?" Gloria's head appeared round my door. Her wig was a bit tousled and she had clearly had a fair bit to drink but not so much as to be drunk, just happily "merry". She still looked gorgeous. "I've had a great time, thanks," she smiled. "It was a live music night at the club and the band was fabulous." (She named an up and coming group which I knew and much admired.) "Oh I wish I'd known they were playing," I moaned. "I think they are great and I would love to have heard them live." "Well you must come with me to the club next time they are on the bill," Gloria announced. "They come from round here and are still loyal to the clubs that gave them their first breaks. They play at our club about once a month, when they are not on tour." "I'd love to," I cried - and then realised I had just agreed to go to a gay, lesbian, and tranny venue! Well cross that bridge when the time comes! Gloria said goodnight and tottered off to bed. I fell asleep again and found myself dreaming of being out on the town with Gloria. It wasn't a sexy dream; just the two of us out having fun together. I awoke in a confused state of mind. Over the next few weeks' life settled into a fairly regular pattern. Gavin and I agreed a rota for cooking and cleaning the house and most weekday evenings were spent pouring over assignments and research texts. Occasionally Gavin would slip into casual women's clothing for the evening. He explained that he felt more relaxed as "Gloria," and could concentrate better on his work. On these occasions Gloria wasn't the dynamite looker I had seen previously; simply a pretty girl in jeans and a blouse, wearing flattie shoes and minimal make-up and jewellery. I became used to working with whichever of the two personas pitched up on any particular evening. I think Gavin really appreciated the fact I was genuinely unconcerned about how he chose to present himself. At weekends the full-blown version of Gloria came out to play. I never ceased to be amazed at the extent of the transformation when she put her full war paint on. All trace of my mate Gavin disappeared and this glorious vision of femininity took his place. We hadn't actually gone out together whilst he was in "Gloria" mode, although as "Gavin" he and I enjoyed the occasional mid-week visit to the local pub for a late night beer after finishing our university work. One Sunday morning - (mid-day if I am honest) - have only recently having got up and enjoying the first cup of coffee of the day, I asked Gavin how he managed such an effective transformation. "Well you have to remember I have been dressing, on and off, since I was a little boy," he explained. "As my sister and I grew up we both experimented with make-up and heels together. I remember being really envious when Mum brought sister her first training bra. But sis was very good, she soon gave me one of her spare ones and we used to experiment with different types of stuffing, trying to see how to give me realistic breasts. We soon found toilet paper and socks were not very satisfactory and then one of her girlfriends told her that some of the girls who were a bit late developing had found bird seed in the toe of a nylon stocking very effective. Needless to say sister and I tried this immediately and it worked very well. Later, of course, I discovered silicone enhancers and inserts." "So," he continued, "during my teenage years I learned the same skills that any girl does. When I came to Manchester and decided to give "Gloria" her head, it didn't take long to get the knack back. It is just second nature now." Blushing slightly, he avoided direct eye contact with me and said; "Would you like me to show you how it is done?" I realised immediately that this was an important step in our relationship. Gavin was offering to trust me with one of his deepest secrets; I couldn't turn him down. And, to be honest, I didn't want to; I was really intrigued by his amazing transformation and it would be fascinating to see how he did it. "I'd love to," I replied. "I can't believe that some scrawny kid like you can become a beautiful woman without some form of magic and I want to know what that is!" We both laughed and he said, "Well if you have nothing planned for the afternoon, why don't I show you today? I'm going out later so I would have to get ready anyway. I can just take more time over it and explain to you what I do." I assured him I wasn't doing anything that afternoon and would love to see him effect his transformation. "Just give me twenty minutes or so to shave and get some undies on," he said. "I don't think I'm ready to show you that much just yet!" He disappeared upstairs whilst I sat back over a second cup of coffee and mussed about what I was about to learn. True to his word, it was about half an hour later - (a woman's prerogative to always take longer getting ready than she says!) - that Gavin called down and said he was ready for me to go up. I ascended the stairs somewhat nervously. Gavin was in "Gloria's room", seated at a dressing table in front of a large mirror. He was wearing a short, nylon robe over shiny, black tights. He grinned nervously at me. "I usually start by putting on my make-up," he explained. "I keep my body free of hair by the regular use of hair-removal cream. One of these days, when I can afford it, I am planning to invest in laser treatment to remove it permanently. I can't use regular hair remover on my face but, fortunately, I don't have a heavy beard growth, so a really close shave before I go out works ok." (S)he then explained the importance of matching make-up products to ones skin tone and showed me the particular shade of foundation that worked best for her - (I had decided I ought to start thinking of her as "Gloria" from now on as the transformation took place.) "I find MAC products work well for me," she explained. "They are a bit more expensive but, in the long run you use less and they work better. Also when I was first experimenting with buying my own make-up products, I found the sales assistants at MAC very helpful and totally unfazed by the fact that I was a boy; so I've stayed with them ever since." She then spent several minutes carefully applying and smoothing out the foundation with a small foam pad. "It is important to get an even coverage. If I don't get the base right, whatever I put on later just doesn't look right." Once she was satisfied with the foundation coverage, Gloria applied a dusting of powder. "To set the surface," she explained. Next she turned to her eyes. "I've decided to go for a blue look today," she said, setting out a palette of eye-shadow in various shades of blue. She proceeded to apply the eye-shadow, using darker tones on the lid and lighter ones higher up the eye-socket. She was carefully to blend the various shades to create and even colouring without any jarring lines. She then used a pencil to emphasise her brows. "I keep them lightly plucked," she explained. "Not too much so that they would look odd when I'm dressed as "Gavin" but to not too masculine heavy either." Next she put mascara on her lashes. This had the effect of lengthening and darkening them to an extent I would never have guessed. Dark powder liner was brushed around the edge of each eye and then Gloria reached for the liquid liner bottle. "Now this is really tricky," she said. "It took me ages before I acquired the knack. I can put it on easily now but sister had to do it for me for quite a long time and I for her." Proving the point, she proceeded to emphasise her already striking eyes with a few deft swipes of the brush. "Now I just need to wait for it to dry," she explained and, sitting back, asked me what I thought of it so far. "It is all very interesting," I enthused "but I can still see "Gavin" under that make-up. When does the magic that transforms you to "Gloria," get to happen?" "Very soon," she laughed. "Just you wait and see!" Once the eye-liner was dry, Gloria selected a pair of false eye-lashes and, carefully applying glue, affixed them to her upper lid. The effect was amazing. In an instant her eyes became larger and doe-like. She smiled shyly at me; "now for the next bit." This next stage proved to be the part where "Gloria" really started to shine through. Blusher was applied to her cheek bones and the lower part of her jaw-line. A subtle highlighter was used to thin her nose. The overall effect was to soften the face and produce the "elfin" look that that had so captivated me the first time I saw her. The final stage was the application of lipstick. A pink pencil was used to draw an outline, slightly outside Gavin's natural lip-line. "This gives me fuller lips and also stops the lipstick bleeding into the rest of my make-up," Gloria explained. Once satisfied with the shape of her lips, Gloria used a fine brush to paint in the lip colour - on this occasion a soft pink. She then used yet another tube to "set" the colour. "There, that's done," she exclaimed, turning to me with a smile. "What do you think?" I found myself staring at a slight, androgynous figure. The face was Gloria's but Gavin's shaggy hair didn't look right. "I leave the wig to later," she explained. "That way I avoid messing it up when I get dressed; one advantage we tranny's have over real girls!" "Now to get dressed," she said, standing up and slipping off her robe. I saw she was wearing a pair of tight, black panties under her hose and was presenting a smooth, flat, feminine front between her legs. Gloria noticed my glance. "I have been "tucking" for so long now that my balls almost pop back inside me of their own volition!" she said. "When I started I used to wear a special gaff but that was never entirely comfortable and, with practice, I now only need it when I am wearing an exceptionally figure-hugging dress." Gloria picked a black waist-cinch off the bed and wrapped it around her torso. Fastening the clips in the front, she turned her back to me and asked whether I would help by tightening the laces. "I can do it myself," she explained, "but it is much easier and I can get a tighter lacing if someone else helps." Somewhat gingerly I started to pull in the laces. Gloria kept encouraging me and I was surprised just how much I could tighten it. When she eventually said "stop" Gloria's already slim waist had shrunk by at least three inches and she displayed real womanly curves. "Breathing can seem a bit shallow at first," she told me, "but you soon get used to it and a corset really helps you maintain a feminine posture and walk." Next she slipped her arms through the straps of a pretty, lacy, black bra and expertly fastened the clips behind her back. She showed me her silicon breast forms before placing them in the bra-cups and pulling her chest flesh into place. When she had got things sorted to her satisfaction, she displayed a very realistic cleavage, which she enhanced with a subtle bit of shading using her blusher brush. "Nearly there," she announced, taking a dress from its hanger and stepping into it. Once again turning her back, she asked me to zip it up for her; which, of course, I did. The dress was long-sleeved, black, and made of some stretch material. It had a wrap-over effect with a diamante fastening at the left side of her waist. More diamantes sparkled in a line running from the neckline to under her arms. The neckline was very low cut and displayed Gloria's cleavage to great advantage! The skirt fitted fairly snugly over her hips and fell to about three inches above her knees. Gloria fastened a necklace of silver stars around her throat and oval, hoop earrings in her pierced ears. Black beaded bracelets on each wrist completed her jewellery. She carefully tucked "Gavin's," hair into a nylon wig-cap, before gently putting on a short, blonde wig. A loose fringe fell attractively above her eyes and her earrings peeped out through loose waves. She looked gorgeous! The final touch was to slip her feet into a pair of peep-toe silver pumps and to pick up a matching clutch handbag. "There, how do I look?" she smiled, giving me a little twirl. "Absolutely divine!" I responded. "If I hadn't seen it for myself, I would never believe that you and "Gavin," are the same person." "Thank you," she cried and, leaning forward, gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. We both drew back in embarrassment. "I'm sorry," Gloria said, "I don't know what came over me. Please forgive me and try to forget I did such a stupid thing." I paused, not sure of my reaction. "Don't worry," I said and took her hand. "You are such a convincingly beautiful woman; I have been in danger of misbehaving myself before now." "That's a sweet thing to say," Gloria responded; "Just as long as I haven't done anything to spoil our friendship." I hastened to reassure her that everything was cool between us. And it genuinely was. I had come to appreciate the fact that Gavin was a complex person. However, that didn't preclude him from becoming a really good flat mate and true friend. I was sure that, as a result of knowing Gavin, my experience of life would definitely step up a notch - but in what direction I couldn't say!