House of Cards

1

"Shreya, are you coming?" Leah yelled across the hospital cafeteria.

"Yeah, just give me a second," she called back, doing her best to grab all 3 coffee cups in her petite hands. She spun around fast, slamming into someone as she did and spilling all of the coffee over both herself and the stranger.

"Ahhhh!" He yelped in pain.

"I'm so sorry!" she grabbed a handful of napkins and began trying to wipe the liquid off of his now very stained white shirt. It was useless, but she continued anyway, partially because she could feel his abs through the fabric. Shreya felt his gaze on her and looked up slowly. She felt all the heat in her body rush to her cheeks. He was staring at her so intensely she felt like she could drop dead right there.

"It's ok," he assured her, grabbing her hand to stop the hand she didn't know was still trying to wipe the stain out of his shirt. He spoke with a slight accent, which Shreya found incredibly hot.

"Are you sure?" she asked. "I could get you a new shirt." Shreya was volunteering at the hospital for the next few weeks; she was sure she could find some spare clothes around. It was the least she could do.

"Shreya!" Leah yelled again, from further away this time. "Hurry up!"

"Shreya? Is that your name? It's pretty," the stranger smiled, showing his teeth in a manner that reminded Shreya of a bunny. It was adorable. She blushed again.

"Y-yeah. What's yours?" she asked boldly.

"I could tell you," he teased, "but I think you have somewhere to be." He pointed to an angry Leah crossing her arms at the other side of the hallway.

"Um, ok. I have to go. But I'll make it up to you, I promise!" Shreya rushed off as the mystery boy watched, amused. She hoped she would see him again before he left. He didn't work at the hospital, that was for sure, so he must've been visiting someone. She hoped that whoever it could be was going to be ok.

"Hey, what's up?" Shreya tried to sound casual as she approached her friend.

"Where's the coffee, Chungalitis?" Leah asked.

"Oh, um, I spilled it on a guy," she explained sheepishly.

"No duh, but you could've gotten more instead of drooling over his abs. Now the nurses are gonna be all pissy."

Shreya's face paled. "Was I that obvious?"

"Heck yeah you were." Leah laughed.

"Oh no," Shreya rubbed her temples.

"Calm down, Broski, it's not the end of the world," she laughed again.

"He was so hot though," Shreya whined. "Did you see him? How am I gonna not make a fool out of myself if I talk to him again?"

"Idk chungus, just be yo self. I'll even cover for you."

"Really?" Shreya's eyes lit up.

"Go," Leah urged her, "but I can't promise that you won't get fired."

"What?"

"Nothing. It's not like we get paid anyway. Go!"

Shreya ran to the nearest supply closet, hoping that she could trust Leah not to jeopardize her volunteer hours while she searched for a shirt that the attractive stranger could wear. She found some spare scrubs, grabbing only the shirt of a medium sized pair, and went back to the cafeteria. He was gone, but Shreya wasn't going to give up that easily. She went to the coffee counter and snapped her fingers to get the worker to turn around.