Found in the Office

Chapter Two

Still shocked and now hurt from running into the window, she began to turn around while rubbing the side of her forehead.

"Ow." Ellie whispered to herself, hand still rubbing her forehead with her head pointed towards the ground.

"Who am I? Who the hell are YOU?" Ellie lifted her head up and met eyes with the stranger who was in her soon-to-be home. She stopped rubbing her forehead as the pain and throbbing began to subside. 

Ellie and the stranger's eyes locked, and when they did, Ellie's heart began to beat so fast she could swear her heart was about to jump right out. She even forgot what she wanted to say.

The stranger standing before Ellie was a man. A tall, very handsome man who looked to be between 21 and 22 years old. Medium, dark brown hair, hazel eyes, and you could tell he definitely worked out. Ellie froze while the stranger began to move closer to her. 

"I'm the one who's moving in here tomorrow. This is my apartment. Are you okay by the way?"

"Yes, I'm okay and no you're not the one moving in here tomorrow, me and my best friend are. I have the key, see?" 

Ellie pulled the key out from her pocket showing him she did have the key to the apartment. 

Looking at the key in front of him, the man was now confused, thinking maybe he really was in the wrong apartment. 

"Theres obviously been some kind of mistake, but I'm sure we can get this cleared up at the main office." he said to Ellie rubbing his head. 

"Well, let's go then. The sooner the better."

Both Ellie and the man were on their way to the office without saying a word to each other. They're almost to the office when the stranger decides to finally break the silence. 

"So?...." he claps his hands together.

"What?" Still walking, Ellie turns to look at him curious about what he's about to say.

"I don't know. Was trying to get a conversation starting but I just made it more awkward."

Ellie let out a small laugh but didn't say anything back. They had just gotten to the main office and were walking in hoping that Anna was still there to help them with all this confusion. Luckily, Anna was still there. She was in the backroom when she heard the doors open and close.

"Hi guys, what can I help you with?" She sat down at her desk and clasped both hands together over the desk. 

Ellie stepped closer to the desk, "Hi Anna, um so we had a bit of a problem. You gave me the key to my apartment but the man here also seems to have the same key to the SAME apartment. We just need to find out who belongs where."

Abruptly, and embarrassed, Anna stood up. "I AM SO SORRY. Let me get that figured out for you guys. I'll be right back." And with that, Anna headed towards the back room while Ellie, once again, awkwardly waited with the stranger. 

Ellie sat down in one of the waiting chairs a bit nervous. She never really talked to guys let alone start a conversation with one. 

"So.. again." The stranger sat beside her trying to make small talk once more. 

"Sooooo is there something you'd like to say?" Ellie turned to look at him, curiosity filling her thoughts. 

"My name is William D'amore." He extended his hand out to Ellie for a handshake. 

Ellie gave William a subtle smile, "I'm Ellie Celestine." Ellie then shook William's hand. Just then, Anna came back with another key. 

"I see what happened here, it was my fault. Ellie, I accidentally gave you William's spare key." Ellie, handing Anna back the key to William's apartment, said, "I see, it's okay."

"THIS is YOUR key, Ellie. Although, it doesn't make much of a difference. Your apartment is right above William's."

Receiving the key from Anna, Ellie began to feel nervous again, she felt the blood rush to her cheeks. She was very attracted to William and just got nervous around him but she didn't really understand why. 

"Wow, okay well thanks Anna."

"I am so sorry to the both of you."

"It's okay Anna, really." William stepped up to say. 

Ellie began to say her goodbyes to Anna, telling her she would see her tomorrow for the move. She began walking out the door when William ran up next to her. 

"Should I start calling you neighbor?" He gave her a little smirk, but to Ellie that smirk was the cutest thing. She gave him a smile. 

"Haha, yeah. I guess so, but you can just call me Ellie. I'm going to double check my key and I'll be heading home."

They made it to the apartment building before parting ways. 

"Well, Ellie..."

William got closer to Ellie. Close enough that she could feel his breath when he would talk. Not having any kind of experience with a guy, including just talking, this made Ellie pretty nervous and a bit uncomfortable.

"... it was nice meeting you. I'll see you tomorrow since I will be moving in too." 

William grabbed Ellie's hand and gave it a small, soft kiss before he started to walk away.

"What was that for?" She looked at him confused by what he had just done.

William looked back at Ellie and gave her a shrug. 

"I don't know honestly. I think you're cute and I kind of just went for it." 

With that, William gave Ellie a wink before continuing to walk to his apartment leaving Ellie surprised. She didn't even know how to react let alone what to say. He was gone by the time she could get herself together. 

Ellie began walking to her car, got in and sat there for a few minutes, taking in the little scene that just happened. 

"Well, this is gonna be interesting.." She couldn't wait to get home and tell Kim about it, get her opinion on it. Ellie didn't let herself get too excited on something as small as this because she told herself it might have not meant anything. 

But maybe, just maybe, that small kiss of the hand could be the beginning of something.