Lost in You

Chapter 5

Monday evening, we're taking care of the rooms again. The hotel seems too quiet with most of the people that came for the competitions already gone again. Surprisingly, I miss the chaos now after complaining about it before. "Don't tell me you miss him. I warned you," Maja says who caught me staring down the corridor lost in thoughts. I shake my head. "I don't. I was just thinking that an empty hotel doesn't seem right anymore," I say. "Other guests are going to come, don't worry. That's why we have to take care of the rooms tonight," she reminds me. "I know. I'll be back to complaining about messy rooms by tomorrow then," I say and push open the next door. And freeze in the door. Maja bumps into my back and holding on to the door frame is all I can do to not bang the door shut again. The room isn't empty as it should be. "Sorry, I didn't know you were still here," I stutter and back out again. Marius sits up in his bed and looks at us as shocked as we are. He looks pale and his hair is messy from sleep. The room is stuffy and my second reaction would have been to open a window. If I could move. "It looks like I have to stay a few more days," he says, his voice raspy and I understand. He's sick, so he didn't travel with the others to the next competition. And he looks pissed about it too. "Well, then we won't disturb you again," I get out and push Maja back who tries to catch a look over my shoulder until I close the door. "We still have to clean the room," she protests. "He surely needs to sleep if he's sick, we can't walk around in there now," I give back. Then we look at each other for a moment, realizing at the same moment that no one ever prepared us for this situation. Until Maja pushes me back to the door. "Ask him what he wants then." "Why me?" I hiss back. I don't want him to hear any of what we are discussing right now. "Because he smiled at you, not me." I roll my eyes. "That was one time and you can't even be sure. Maybe he smiled at someone behind us and I stood there like an absolute idiot because I smiled back." Maja giggles and I press my hand over her mouth. "Alright, I'll ask," I say before this gets even more embarrassing. Only that this time before I enter, I straighten the green shirt that is part of our work uniform and wait for an answer to my knock. "Sorry again, but can we get you anything?" I ask and force myself to take a step into the room. "Not at the moment, thanks." I should nod and leave him to sleep, but there is something that doesn't leave me in peace. "I could open the window, at least a little. Fresh air will do you good and the air is really fresh here," I say and bite my tongue. Did that even make sense? At least he looks at the window like he's considering it. "You're from the city," he guesses. "Yes. Well, I study in Munich. The air is a lot worse there," I say. I really should stop talking about air quality. "Fine, you're probably right," he finally says and pulls the blanket up to his neck as if preparing for the cold that's about to come in. It takes me a moment to realize he's just given me permission to open the window. "I think I saw them making soup in the kitchen for dinner. I could bring a plate up for you, if you want it," I say while stepping over a pair of shoes to make it to the window. "Don't you have other things to do?" he asks and coughs. "Once we're done with the rooms, not really," I say truthfully and enjoy the view of the mountains for a moment. It's definitely better than from our room. It started to snow again, the snowflakes glitter in the late afternoon sunlight. Just a few more rooms and I'll be out there, with my skis on my feet, I remind myself. "Then I think I would like that." I turn to him and smile. "Good. Then I'll come back later." He only nods, having pulled the blanket almost over his mouth now. I bite back another smile and leave the room, satisfied to know that I was able to do at least something. Maja already moved to the next room, but comes out as soon as she hears me close the door. "And?" I shrug. "Nothing. I opened the window and promised to bring soup later. What else did you expect?" "I don't know? More flirting maybe?" "He's sick and he's missing competitions. I'm sure he's not in the mood for flirting right now," I say and push my cart past hers to get to the next room. "But I did see that it started to snow, so hurry up, I want to get out there," I say. "You didn't even hope for another smile?" Maja asks again. I sigh. "Maybe." Maja squeak and goes back to her room. "Try to keep up with me," she calls out. I'm glad she doesn't push the matter, though I know she'll ask again tonight when I brought soup up.