Asher hummed to himself as he boarded the elevator. He sang a few words under his breath here and there. "In a house on the street where you lived..." He adjusted his headphones, letting one earbud dangle out.
The elevator doors began to close, but a hand stopped them just before they made contact. A handsome man with tawny skin and jet black hair walked in carrying a messenger bag stuffed with mail. He wore rimmed glasses, and had well-kept facial hair. He smiled at Asher politely as he boarded and pressed the button for his floor.
Asher's music played softly through the free earbud. "And in a wide sea of eyes I see one pair that I recognize..." He hummed along still, though quieter now.
The man glanced at Asher briefly. "You have good taste."
Asher looked down at him. "Sorry?"
He pointed at his ear, indicating Asher's headphones.
"Oh!" Asher laughed, taking the other earbud out. "Thanks." He smiled.
The man chuckled softly. The elevator doors opened and he left, waving to the receptionist of the floor as he walked past. The song came to a close, fading out of the headphones in his hand. "That I am, I am, I am, the luckiest..."
Asher watched him walk away with mild interest. He wondered why he hadn't seen him around the building before. Asher had worked here in different jobs for almost eight years; he must be new. The elevator continued going up, releasing him on Lauren's floor. He wandered to her desk in the back of the floor.
"Hey Ash," Lauren greeted him without looking up from her computer.
"Hi," he replied mildly. "Hey, uh, Lauren-" he began casually. "Who's the new mail guy?"
Lauren glanced up, one thin eyebrow raised. "Why do you ask?"
He shrugged innocently, flipping through a design catalogue on her desk. "Just saw him in the elevator, normally I know everyone."
Lauren rolled her eyes and clicked a few times on her mouse. "His name is Asif Hassen, he just started last month."
Asher nodded, making sure he remembered the name. "Interesting." He stood up straight again and smiled at her. "Well, I'm gonna go get you a coffee. Be back soon." He turned and left back towards the elevator. He punched the button for the lobby, where the cafe was.
He popped his headphones back in, both this time, and closed his eyes for a moment, listening. The bass pounded against his eardrums, just shy of pain. He liked his music loud.
Asher's pocket vibrated when he got off the elevator, signaling a text. He flipped his phone open to see a message from Rachel. "Drinks later?"
He replied with a quick affirmation and stowed his phone again. He approached the counter of the cafe and ordered two black coffees. He received the drinks quickly, and left again.
When he returned to the elevator, Asif was there waiting for it as well. Asher smiled at him, tugging one earbud out. "Hey again."
Asif chuckled. "Hey."
Asher nodded at the mail bag. "Got anything for Lauren Wright? I can bring it up to her."
Asif shuffled around in the bag for a minute before producing a small stack of letters. "You work on her floor?"
Asher took the letter and gave a noncommittal shrug. "She's my sister, I just work for her to pay the bills."
Asif nodded knowingly.
The elevator doors opened, and the two men walked in. Asif pushed the button for the mail room, but also hit the button for Asher's floor without asking. Asif's floor came first, and he exited the elevator with a small wave. Asher watched him walk away as the doors slid shut.
Asher sang to himself softly as the elevator rose. "That I am, I am, I am, the luckiest..."
