Wait until the music's over

2. False steps

I first see Angela earlier this year, on a Monday evening in June. Less than a minute later she's on top of me.
Nothing sexual about it unfortunately.

Well, I wouldn't really say unfortunately, I mean, she's not exactly my ideal type... on the other hand she's not ugly either, with those deep black eyes of hers. And those boobs... My instincts tell me she must also be good in bed, and they rarely fail me.

By the way, I'm heading back to my apartment after rehearsal, dragging myself to the elevator, when I suddenly notice this short brunette standing at the foot of the stairs. She's trying to distribute the weight of an indefinite number of bags, boxes and suitcases, equally throughout her body, arms, shoulders, head and neck. Once she gains a half-decent stability she just starts going up the stairs.

I'm already foreseeing an impending disaster, that's why I decide to do a good deed for once and help her out.

"Hey, can I give you a ha..." I can't even finish the sentence because after a few steps she looses her balance, trips and stumbles backwards. Right over me. It must be a funny scene from an outside perspective, I must admit it's partly laughable from the inside too. Except for the pain, that's nothing to be amused for. She's not exactly the skinny type and I'm taken by surprise. Luckily we don't break our neck down on the stairsteps, thank God. The both of us just keep falling awkwardly backwards, through the small lobby of our apartment building and then through the open (again, thank God) glass door, finally ending up on the outside with our ass on the ground. Actually, my ass is on the ground, hers is on her biggest suitcase, a hard one, which is right on my ribs. No thanks for you this time, God.

"Fuck... I'm sorry! I didn't even see you, are you alright? Did you get hurt?" the girl asks me, concerned and embarrassed at the same time. In the meantime she tries to stand up again, but she can't and keeps falling or making something fall back on me. I beg her to stay still, calm down and slowly remove all her bags from herself before trying to stand up again because she's kinda killing me. She takes my advice and gets back on her feet.. And I start breathing again.

"Wow... that was interesting" I smirk still laying down.

"Mmm no really... I'm s-sorry" she falters shyly "What if somebody saw that?"

"Uhm I can't see anyone else around. And I can't hear any laughter, so I'm pretty sure no one did" I answer, finally standing as well "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, no harm done. What about you? Are you sure you're alright? I mean... I fell on you"

"I swear, I'm fine, don't worry sweetie"

"I'm sorry..."

"Oh don't be, and just don't worry, ok?"

"Ok" she nods, she doesn't sound fully persuaded by my words though, I notice that she basically doesn't look at me while speaking.

"Just out of curiosity... what the hell were you trying to do?" I ask jokingly, starting to pick up her bags, which were now randomly displayed on the pavement.
"Well... going home... m-my new apartment" she answers, almost speaking in a whisper, while she tries to grab her suitcases away from my hands. But I don't let her. The conversation goes on while I go back and forth to take her stuff inside, and she just follows me in and out for no particular reason, her gaze constantly fixed on the ground.
"And you wanted to make it to your apartment like that? Carrying all this stuff up at one time? There's an elevator here, you know"
"I never ride in elevators... uhm I'm afraid of them" she replies rubbing the back of her neck.
"Right, and you're not afraid of breaking bones instead. Seems logic" I say sarcastically.
"That's a good point" she finally glances a smile "I thought I could make it, I'm sorry"
"Would you please, PLEASE stop apologizing now? Things just happen"
"Well things like that happen to me all the time"
"Throw yourself on strangers a lot?" I ask with a wink as we briefly make eye contact.
"Make a fool of myself with strangers a lot" she answers lowering her face again with a shy smile.
"Aw come on! It wasn't that bad. I've seen worse, trust me! By the way, I'm Chris, so we're not strangers anymore" I give her my hand to shake.
"I'm Angie"
"Hi Angie! Now, let's make this thing up" I say looking at the bags I've gathered in the lobby.
"Alright"
"Which floor?" I ask pushing the elevator button.
"Fourth"
"Oh great, I live on the fourth also, we're close! Wait... I've just realized you're gonna walk up and down on the stairs to and from the fourth floor every day. You're crazy!" I shake my head and chuckle.
"I always use the stairs, I'm kinda trained, you know"
"Yeah, sure, I can see that"
"Well, you can't, I'm actually living proof that exercise doesn't necessarily keep you fit" she said looking at me with a wide grin.