Long Time, No See

IIIIII: III

Denise

I don't know how, but Denver has managed to turn this busy work setting into a glacier of ice with just his eyes.

No more can I hear the incessant tapping of keys on keyboards, or the mute chatter from around the floor. The random chime of the elevator, being summoned or boarded, breaks through our frosty silence occasionally, but other than that it's like no one else is on the floor with us.

"Well?" He repeats and impatience reeks throughout his tone.

"Well, what?" I ask choosing to feign innocence instead of dealing with his darkened mood.

"Aren't you going to go to 'the toilet'?" He hisses his stare is still on the paper held tightly in my right-hand grip.

"O-Oh yeah! I'll go in a minute. I don't need it that bad." I mutter nervously whilst flashing him a sweet smile; though it's not like he saw it, what with his eyes STILL GLARING AT THE NOTE IN MY HAND.

I watch in horror as he marches up to me, bringing his left hand out for me to hand it over to him.

"Lemme see it," he demands, and my eyebrows bunch up in confusion as to who he:

A. Thinks he is.

and,

B. Thinks he's talking to.

"Excuse me?" I retort bringing the small piece of paper closer to my chest.

"Don't patronize me, Denise. I want to know what he wrote on the note." He reiterates having reached me. He reaches to grab the note despite the close vicinity to my chest, but I quickly retract my hand from there and hide my hand low behind my back, by my bottom knowing what would happen if anyone witnessed his hand anywhere near that area on me. He growls in irritation, his face growing red and eyes squinting with indignation at my actions.

"Denise!" He cautions, though his voice resembles that of a hiss as my name travels passed his clenched teeth.

"No Denver! What the hell is wrong with you?!" I roar. I can't believe how childish he's being. I feel my own anger levels rise like hot magma within me as a voice in the back of my mind tries to remind me of the calming techniques that I use whenever I feel myself about to snap. However, at the moment, with Denver still bearing down on me with his domineering stance and unjustified anger I can't help but revel in the rage that I feel encompass me.

"What right do you have to demand anything from me Denver?! I don't want to show you the note, it's not a crime, and the last time I checked unless its intern work, I don't have to answer to you. So, fuck out of my face or I swear!" I seethe with a thunderous growl of my own and my unfinished threat hanging between us. Denver watches me with a stoic expression, but I can see that he didn't expect for me to get so angry, we stand glaring at each other until he finally breaks the tense silence between us.

"For you to stand there and fume at me after you both stood here, and told me that bullshit lie, about needing the toilet is just downright disrespectful. Forget I even asked, I don't know why I even bothered, do whatever you like with him." He bites back and I'm left stunned at the amount of bitterness he lets seep into his voice.

With that, he turns away from me and starts to walk off, but not before sending one last remark my way.

"Return the container to me when you've finished the muffins, it's my grandmothers."

And without another word, he strides down the corridor into the cubicle of another intern.

Finally alone I make my way to my cubicle still dwelling on the argument that just took place between us.