Ray and I had arrived at the hospital and I couldn't help notice the looks we got as people observed Ray's bloody face.
"Want a coffee?" Ray asked as we both took seats at reception.
"I'll get it, you?"
"Er, chai tea latte with two shots and cream please," Ray answered. He must have seen my expression change from neutral to outright horrified as he cracked up laughing. "Ouch, stop making me laugh like that. It literally hurts."
"I didn't!" exasperated, I exclaimed. "And okay, I'll be back."
I was trying to remember what he wanted, and whether he wanted two shots, or two creams. Either way, I didn't even know how to make it. Halfway down the corridor, Ray called me and I turned around.
"Flat white, please. I was joking!" he yelled, I couldn't help but smile.
"What a douche," I grinned and shot him the finger. He put a hand over his heart, as though I had wounded him and he stuck his bottom lip out.
I couldn't help but remember that I had only met this man two hours ago and here we were, already have kissed and trading banter and jokes like we had been the best of friends forever.
I stood in front of the coffee machine, and confused as to what to do. Truthfully, I never made my own coffee; I lived near a francise of Starbucks and as a regular customer, I got discounts since I had developed a friendship with the employees and employer and before heading to work, that was my go-to.
"Need some assistance?" a deep voice said behind me.
Surprised, I whirled around to face a... chest. I had to blink twice and look up at a dark (light-skinned) man who was extremely tall.
"Uh..." I didn't know what to say, I was rendered speechless.
"Sorry," he chuckled, "I'm Oliver. A nurse here," and he pointed to the badge he had on his light blue V-necked top that was part of the nurse uniform.
"I'm Aria, and I'm not a nurse here," I pointed to my non-existent badge and we both laughed. Then the laughter died down and there was just an awkward silence. I shuffled round on my feet and I glanced at my shoes. Adidas Superstars. No, I'm not a cliché 18 year old, I guess I just like following the trend. Some may have found it odd that I was dating a guy who was 22 but age is nothing but a number, right? I love the fact that I look like an eighteen year old with my fair skin; my layered, short hair that was dirty blonde at first until I died it jet black, so black that light reflected off it as well as my tall, slim figure. And no, I'm not naturally slim so don't cry and get jealous, instead, I hit the gym in my spare time. And having a well-paid job helped tons with my expenses towards clothes and make up and salons etc. Well, obviously it did, but now that I've quit I'll need to find another job...
"So, uh, you need some help?" he pointed to the coffee machine, and startled I looked up.
"Oh, yeah. I'm not really used to coffee machines, I buy it instead of actually making it," I replied, glad that he started a conversation.
"Oh, so you're them kind of people," he chuckles.
I didn't know whether to be offended or not, so I just had to ask, "what kind of people?"
"You love things but can't handle the work it takes to get the," was his answer.
"Are you insinuating that I'm lazy?" I didn't know what he was saying or who he was and whether he was deliberately being rude.
"No, no," he immediately exclaimed, "okay. How about we start again. Hi, I'm Oliver, a nurse here and you must be?"
"Aria, I'm not a nurse here," I smiled, shaking his hand.
"So, would you like some assistance with this machine?" he asked politely.
"Wouldn't mind some," I laughed as he stepped forward and glanced at me.
"What is the order?"
"Orders." I corrected him.
"Sorry, what are the orders? " he grinned, shaking his head.
"One flat white and one cappuccino," I replied, watching as he grabbed a cup, placed it under the lever, and pressed some buttons, adding some shots and got to work. Seconds later, I had 2 big steaming cups of aromatic coffee in my hand and I thanked him more than once.
"So, who's the other one for?" he innocently asked.
"Oh, the man I was sitting with."
"Boyfriend?"
"Uh... no, not really," I replied. Did it mean that he was my boyfriend if we'd kissed? Surely not.
"Not really? Oh, is it open for discussion," he was being a lot more polite but with an edge of humour.
"Well, not right now," I gestured towards the reception, "I'd best get going."
"Well," he grabbed a pen and paper, ripped the paper in half and scrawled some digits on it, then handed it to me. Both hands full, he had to put it in my bag. "When the matter is open for discussion, you know where I'll be." He winked and gave me a heart-stopping smile that left me speechless, and then strode away attending to other patients.
Was he flirting with me? He was quite good looking though, and I suppose I don't look half bad today...
A tap on my shoulder brought my back into reality and I spun to be facing Ray.
"Oh crap, that scared me," I cursed as I handed him his coffee.
"First time operating the machine or something," he smirked, peering at his coffee, most likely to check if it was right. I couldn't blame the guy though.
"How'd you know?" I laughed, sipping the delicious coffee. Hm, maybe I should swap Starbucks with Costa now.
"You took," he glanced at his watch then looked back up, "approximately 15 minutes to make two simple coffees. Did you even make it though?"
"Hey, don't be rude okay, I'm not one to perfect the master of coffee. And no, I didn't actually," I folded my lips together and gave a guilty shrug.
"Yeah, I figured since this coffee tastes so damn good."
I punched him and he said 'ow' in a way that it didn't actually hurt.
"I didn't make it," I was about to describe Oliver when he walked right past, so I pointed towards him, "he made it."
Oliver smiled, then raised his eyebrows and changed his direction to walk towards us. Ray's expression faltered for a second to one where his eyebrows furrowed and he looked extremely unwelcoming but as instantly as it came, it went and he smiled again.
"Hey Aria, coffee good?" he asked, a twinkle in his eye that you couldn't not notice.
"Very, tell me, where did you learn this art?" I sipped some off my coffee, and enjoyed the sweet, bitter taste that engulfed my tongue in pure heat.
"YouTube."
I had to place the coffee down on the machine as I cracked up laughing. It was hilarious, and I couldn't stop; I literally would wee myself if I didn't stop.
Ray and Oliver stared at me and soon, Oliver joined in the laughter so that Ray was the odd one out. Feeling rude, I stood up and regained my composure.
"Sorry, that was..." I had to gulp back another laugh, "hilarious. Anyway, Ray meet Oliver. The one who makes me laugh in seconds of meeting him. And Oliver meet Ray, the one who was my knight in shining armour today."
"Nice to meet you," they both shook hands and smiled, awkwardly.
I noticed the ID card lanyard around his neck and couldn't help but stare at his official image. He, truthfully, looked really hot.
"Whoa," I couldn't help but stare.
"What?" Oliver unhooked the ID card off the neck strap and handed it to me.
"You look incredibly hot here," I blurted out. I didn't even know what I said until it was silent and I looked up to find Ray and Oliver both staring at me, eyes wide.
"Well," Oliver blushed after some time of silence, "I also happen to find you incredibly hot."
I felt something flutter inside of me, butterflies? We both stared at each other with unconcealed awe and interest.
Ray winced and the moment was ruined, but I felt guilty to even think that. I looked at him, and he was clutching his lower chest; his face was scrunched up in agony and avoiding my stare, he walked away to the nearest nurse. He began talking, and she took him away.
"Oh, I could've treated him, why did he leave?" Oliver asked with concern.
"Uh, I don't know but I'd better go," I was already walking away, then I walked back to him. "Give me your pen."
He obediently handed it me, and I muttered a loud 'sorry' as I quickly scrawled my digits in big, messy numbers on his arm.
"Call me," I smirked, and walked away, fully aware that his gaze was on me.
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