Newspaper Boy

Small Errors

(Samuel's POV)

It was well-passed 11 AM, already almost noon, and he still wasn't here. My anxiety was rising up ever so slightly as I kept glancing at the ticking clock nearby. Was he okay? He seemed fine last night. What if-?

My eyes shifted over to Rachel, who was in her whole world like always as if nothing could phase her. I bit my lip, worried about the consequences.

"Have you heard anything from him yet?" I asked nervously, hoping that nothing bad came up.

She glanced over at me before checking her phone and sighing.

"Nothing. Don't worry too much though, I'm sure he'll be coming in soon." She replied but I could hear in her voice that she was nervous as well.

Before I could open my mouth, the noise from the elevator made both of our heads perk up to see who was presented. My heart began to beat heavier from the suspense.

Just like before, he walked with a purpose out of the elevator and towards his destination. But something was off, oddly enough I could tell just by watching him. This worried me but I kept to myself, too anxious to bring anything up.

No words were exchanged as he passed by us and walked up to his office, slowly unlocking the door. With the door giving him difficulties, I could sense that he was annoyed already as he shoved it open and slammed it hard behind him, making Rachel and I both jump in shock.

As a moment of silence passed through us, we both sighed deeply. Nervously, I glanced towards Rachel who was trying to stay calm as well.

"It's definitely not going to be a good day." She announces, looking back at me, giving a sympathetic look.

I bit my lip as my eyes shifted towards his door. 'I really hope that he's okay.'

"Maybe I should..." I started to suggest but I could already her shaking her head, glaring at me.

"Don't even think about it. With his mood right now, talking to anyone is the last thing that he would want." She informed me, giving me a stern look.

But my heart was telling me otherwise. The same feeling I had when I asked him to dinner, I just felt like it needed to be done. Thankfully the outcome of that was positive, but this was harder to tell now.

I took a deep breath to relax but my body just couldn't hold still that I had to jolt up from my chair. My feet moved on their own as they wrapped around my desk and towards his office.

"Sam, what are you-?!" Rachel exclaimed in a whisper but before I knew it, I was already in his office.

I don't know what made me pull off this coward move that was obviously the wrong choice, but I felt like I had to help him. As I entered his office, I could see him distressed at his desk, with his hands firmly on his head against the desk. My heart began to sink slowly as I gradually made my way towards his desk, my hands fidgeting to keep my thoughts inline.

Once I stood in front of his desk, my nerves were already getting to me. But as I saw him covered up, breathing heavily, my body felt depressed, sadden by how he could be feeling right now. It took me awhile to form a proper sentence, especially for him.

"Ryan-" I paused in shock, remembering our environment for a moment. I then cleared my throat to restart.

"Mr. Sanders... are you okay sir?" I asked, quietly but enough for him to hopefully hear me.

My body tensed up as I watched his head slowly rise up from his hands. His expression as he looked at me was nothing that he could hide, he was worse that I thought. The darken bruise on his cheek caught my eye first but then gradually moved towards his own pulps, that were filled with regret and... something else. My brows narrowed as I tried to figure out what was going on.