After what felt like a lifetime of laundry, I finally folded the final pillowcase, placing it down on the neat piles I created for the housekeepers tomorrow.
"Done." I sighed to myself, wiping my forehead with the back of my hand.
I glanced up at the small clock that hung on the wall just above my head - 12:15. I bit my lip with a slight grin, adjusting my hair in the reflection of the washing machine. I smoothed out the wrinkles on my sweater before closing my eyes and letting out a deep sigh, still with a smile upon my face.
Time to go.
I quickly headed out the door and up the stairs, almost tripping up on myself multiple times. I was so relieved to get out of that hot and damp basement. The cool air conditioning that hit my rosy cheeks felt divine.
I made my way into the desolate lobby, my eyes searching for any sign of the tall dark haired boy. My feet trailed to the centre of the room, I twisted my body round in circles as I looked for Richard - but there was no sign of him anywhere. He must still be upstairs, so I decided to just wait for him here.
As I began to walk towards the reception desk, I suddenly felt two large hands grab my waist from behind, somewhat forcefully. I jumped out of my skin, my heart almost exploding at the sudden contact. A slight scream escaped from my lips as my whole body shuddered.
"Boo." hummed a voice close to my ear, close enough to feel the warm breath upon my skin. Locks of dark hair gently brushed against my cheeks and jaw, tickling me as the voice whispered beside my head.
I turned my neck to look up, my body still shaking.
Richard.
His grip loosened on my body as I spun to meet his face with mine. His plastered with a smug expression, obviously proud that he managed to scare me.
"Hey, you." Richard laughed, shoving my shoulder playfully with his fist.
"You're such a child. You know that, right?" I said breathlessly, my hand clutching onto my heart as it's still beating a million miles per hour.
I shoved his shoulder in return, giggling with my head down on the floor. I look back up at him while tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.
Richard didn't say anything for a few moments. He just stood there grinning at me, a really cute lopsided grin featuring several lines around his eyes.
"Follow me." He said, breaking the silence.
Richard spun around on his heels, walking ahead of me, out the lobby doors and towards a row of elevators. As we entered one, he reached out and hit the button with his fingertip, taking us to the very top floor. We stood opposite one another in the cramped silver box, with plain silver buttons and plain silver doors.
"Why are we going all the way up there?" I question with my back pressed against the elevator wall, staring him down as he stood opposite me.
"You'll see. I go up there to chill out." He replied as he tapped his foot impatiently, waiting for the doors to open as we climbed each floor of the hotel.
"Shouldn't we be doing actual work? Won't Antonio get mad? Richard, are you sure this is-"
"Willow-"
"Please shut up." Richard says cutting me off, rolling his eyes with another one of his devilish smirks. He glared down at me, the back of his head resting against the wall.
He's so annoying.
Before I had time to make a sarcastic comment in return, Richard grabbed my wrist as the elevator door squeaked open, his huge hand wrapping all the way round it with ease.
"Come on." He said, pulling me down the hallway, my short legs barely being able to keep up with his long ones as they made lengthy strides along the carpet.
I watched his toned back intently as he walked, his broad shoulders swaying with each movement, while his wavy curls rested perfectly on them. I even found his back profile attractive.
At the end of the hallway we reached a small set of stairs with a metal door placed at the top of them. Richard let go of my wrist to push open the rusty door, using his shoulder to give it a final shove as it screeched its way open. Before I could even see what's behind the door, I immediately felt the fresh breeze hit my face.
Richard stepped aside from the doorway and with his hand, gestured for me to walk out first. The warm summer air filled my nostrils as I peered out.
We were on the rooftop of the hotel, and the view from up here was every kind of wonderful. The kaleidoscope of shimmering lights flicker in the distance as the starry sky sweeps over El Paso.
I slowly creep forwards to the edge of the building, the constellation of lights below me glistening away like glitter. The soft wind blows through my hair, letting it stick to my lip gloss as I stand in silence, taking in the view. I adore the way this city looks at night. El Paso is nothing like my hometown. It's calm. Tranquil. Beautiful. Far from the chaos of Vegas.
"So uhh. What do you think?" I hear Richard speak as he comes to stand beside me, also looking out at the cityscape.
"It's so pretty." I respond calmly, not yet taking my gaze off of the view.
From the corner of my eye, I felt Richard turning his head to look down at my face as he stood next to me.
"Yeah." He says smoothly, almost like a whisper while he's still facing me. I can see him smiling from my peripheral vision. I couldn't help but crack a soft smile back, my stomach fluttering with butterflies as I continued to scan El Paso with my eyes.
YOU ARE READING
collided
Fanfiction"One glance of those brown eyes told of a lifetime of struggle that had never been put into words."
