Dots and Zeros [Completed]

3. Madeline

A new job. How difficult can it be? I've done this before. I can totally do this. I just need to be confident. And I am. I even put up the perfect bun this morning. Which is a good omen and definitely not a sign of false hope.

Who am I kidding, that stuff doesn't even exist.

I take the last turn and end up on the mostly empty parking lot in front of the building. Giant letters on the outside of it scream the name of the company at me. ROSSINGOL AND SONS. A small company located in Pennsylvania all about tracking and mapping routes for trucks. Exciting stuff, I know.

I manage to park my car in a spot backwards. While turning the engine off I lay my forehead on the top of the steering wheel. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, knocking on my window. Knocking on my window?

When I look up I see a face through my left window. As the guy behind sees my confused face he laughs. I roll down my window.

'Hi?' I say.

'Good morning.'

'What is- I... Can I not park here?'

He laughs and distances himself from the window. He puts his hands in the pockets of his jeans.

'No, you can,' he says.

'Then why are you looking at me like that?'

'Are you okay?'

Am I okay? I've been better I suppose. What is it to him?

'I'm fine,' I answer.

'You don't look fine.'

With that said, he walks away after a second of silence. But then he must have changed his mind. He turns around and walks past the hood of the car. He reaches for the door of the passenger's seat and opens it. He sits down next to me and closes the door next to him. His backpack is on his lap.

'What are you doing?' I ask.

I've met many new colleagues over the years, but like this? Not once. I suppose it was bound to happen sometime. Every office has their weirdo. But to meet them directly on the first day is a little overwhelming.

'I have some painkillers in my bag. Do you want one?' he says.

'Why?'

'Don't you have a headache?'

'Why do you think that?'

'You were laying on the steering wheel. Well, your head was. There's obviously no room for your entire body. No pain?'

'No.'

'Oh.' He swallows. 'My bad.'