Hallway Meeting

Ivy sat on a barstool in her doorway drawing. She pulled her platinum hair up into a pony tail then let it hang free down her back.  Finally she let it hang between her face and the hallway.  She glanced up at her neighbor’s door then back at her sketchbook.  She erased a bunch of her drawing.  Pulling a pencil from her ear she put down a couple more lines.

She bent back to her sketch book and erased another bit of the drawing.  She brushed the eraser fragments off her paint covered jeans.  Her cousin had often said that any man that didn’t notice her in them was blind.

She heard the deadbolt from across the hall click open.

There was something about her neighbor, Steele.  She never could pinpoint exactly what it was.  Something about his steel blue eyes, maybe, held her thoughts like a magnet.

Remember, play it cool.  Her heart started pounding her ribs.

Steele could hear Ivy’s music before he stepped through his door.  His heart sped up to match the beat.

He stepped out and closed the door behind him, locked the deadbolt with his key. Putting the keys in his pocket he turned from the door.

“Oh. Hi, Ivy.” Steele said.

He fought the urge to stare.  Her paint covered jeans and worn rocker t-shirt hugged her body perfectly.  As she brushed her brilliant hair behind her shoulder, he snapped his eyes to her face.  He wondered what her lips felt like.  How it would be to brush aside her hair. What her body next to his on the couch would be like, warm, soft.

“How are you doing?”  He smiled.

She smiled back before answering. He felt his composure crack. “Pretty well, yourself?”

“Not bad.”  Keep going, hold it together. “Just heading off to work. You got anything going today?”  He stepped over and pushed the elevator call button.

“Not till later.”  She turned on her stool to face him more easily.

“I’m throwing a little party tonight.  You should come.” Please say yes, please.

“Um, sure, that could be fun.” Steele rubbed his neck.  “I get off a bit late though.  When is it over?”  He gave a half smile.

“With my friends, probably not till late, one or two.”  She returned his smile and brushed a stray hair from her face.  It seemed his eyes flashed white for a moment.  She blinked they were normal.  “You should stop by.”

“I will.” his smile broadened. “Thanks.”  The elevator arrived with a chime.  “Well, I gotta go.  I guess I’ll see you tonight.”

“Sounds good.”

He got into the elevator.  The door closed, a smile bloomed on his face.