hidden | ethma

two

i step in to the elevator, struggling to push the button, i hold multiple overflowing grocery bags in my arms after a very successful trip to the supermarket. i end up jabbing the button with my elbow, huffing.

it's sunday, and i begin my new job tomorrow. i've been a nervous wreck all day, worrying about the impression i'm going to make tomorrow. this is the start of my career, and i can't mess it up.

don't get me wrong, i'm incredibly excited for this job, too. i have hardly stopped smiling or thinking about it since i got the job the other day. i wonder what my co-workers be like. i hope i make some friends in the workplace.

the elevator dings to my floor and i step out, my arms aching for carrying the heavy bags. i struggle with my keys and accidentally drop them on the floor.

"great," i huff. i'm about to bend down slowly to retrieve them when a hand reaches out and takes them before i can. i look up to see a boy with deep brown eyes and a kind face.

"you dropped these," he says, smiling at me.

"thanks," i say. "i appreciate it."

"no worries," he says. "i'm max."

"emma."

"you moved in here?" he gestures to my apartment.

"yeah, yesterday," i pause. "do you live in this building?"

max laughs and shakes his head. "no, but i have a friend that does."

"oh." i nod.

"well, have a nice night," he says, smiling at me once again.

"you, too."

he turns and walks towards the door across the hall from me.

"wait," i say, furrowing my brow again.

max turns and looks at me expectantly.

"you're friends with ethan?" i ask.

max nods. "yep," he says. "you've met him?"

"unfortunately," i say and max laughs.

"oh, he gave you a hard time?"

"no, he was just really, really rude. so yeah, j guess he actually did." i shift the grocery bags in my arms and laugh lightly.

"that's ethan," max says, chuckling. he says it so lightly, so easily. i wonder if ethan was as rude when they met as he was - still is, to me now.

suddenly, the door to ethan's apartment opens, and he steps out. he wears a t-shirt and the same dark jeans and boots.

"what the hell is the hold up?" he snaps at max and then looks at me. he doesn't say anything to me.

"nothing, just helping emma with her keys," max replies, unaffected by ethan's rudeness.

"well, hurry up," ethan grumbles. "we have work to do."

"all right," max says. "it was nice meeting you, emma." he says, and smiles to me again.

"you, too," i say, eyeing ethan. ethan rolls his eyes at our friendly exchange and slams the door as soon as max enters his apartment.

it continues to baffle me how ethan is so rude. how could he have a friend like max, who seems so kind and friendly?

i unload my groceries, still annoyed at ethan's behavior. what did i ever do to him that made him want to be so vicious?