“None. They all stink. If you fancy someone just start talking normal. Forget all that chatting up junk. Girls don’t go for it.”

“But how am I going to get to know this girl that everybody wants to get to know?”

“You’re a good looking guy, Sticker. Just use your charm.”

That was good to hear, but I wondered if she was just teasing me again.

A lot of things were bothering me the night we met down the pub again. For a start I wondered if, when I introduced myself, I should use my real name or my nickname. Joe was cool, but Sticker was what everybody called me, yet it sounded pathetic the first time you heard it. I didn’t want her to think I was trying to fake anything. Everything had to be right. So Sticker or Joe. When I finally made it to the bar and she swung those big beautiful eyes onto me I just threw caution to the wind and shouted above the racket everyone was making, “Sticker wants a pint, and by the way, he’s stuck on you!” It just came out, and everyone who knew me within earshot laughed. She laughed too, though she didn’t really know anything about me.

“Are you Sticker?” she smiled.

“Sure. Sticker to my friends.”

“Why do they call you that?” she asked, pulling my pint.

“Cos I stick with what I start on. Never give up, that’s me.”

“Really, like what?”

“Like getting to know the most beautiful girl in town.”

“Oh, and who’s that?”

She handed me the pint. Timing was everything. I looked left to right, then looked back again, made as though I hadn’t heard. “Say what?”

She came closer over the bar. Her top was a light pink number that clung delicately to her shoulders by two thin straps. The material tightened on her as she leaned forward. I thought I would die with ecstasy just inhaling her perfume. Her long wavy hair was close to brushing the back of my hand, which I had it resting on the bar in front of me. “Who is that?” she repeated.

“Who what?” I said, the volume in the bar escalating around us, which helped my ruse.

“Who’s the most beautiful girl in town?”

“Oh that? You think it’s you?”

“No!” she blushed and pulled back. It was the first time I saw the smile slip. She looked put out and made as if to go to the next customer.

“Well it is,” I said. But it was too late. She was gone, tight-lipped,embarrassed.

The next night I waited for her outside the pub. I didn’t have any money for a drink, but I waited for her as she left work and followed her down the street. It was a quiet street, not many people around. I called after her and she turned round, a little suspicious. When she saw it was me, she stopped.

“I told you I’m a Sticker,” I said.

“I’m sorry,” with that smile again, “but I need to get home. My boyfriend is waiting for me. He gets touchy if I’m late.”

“You have a boyfriend?”

“Yes, Sticker. A good boyfriend. He loves me.”

“I bet he does.”

“Can I go now?”

“Yes,” I laughed. “Just wanted to say hello.”

She turned to leave. “Well, see you at the pub.”

“Just wanted to say you’re beautiful.”

She turned to me again. “You’re cute, Sticker. But, you know…”

“Yeah, you have a boyfriend.”

“But you never give up, do you?”

The stars were still out, not a cloud to be seen. It felt like magic.

“No,” I said. “I really don’t.”

She nodded. “I’ll remember that. See you round.”

As she walked away I couldn’t stop myself from grinning. That went well. My lines had worked. One day, I knew, I was going to get to know her very well.