"Cleaner girl's back."
My shoulder's tense under Holden's voice. I ignore him, the music from my earphones dulling his obtuse voice.
"Are you normally rude to all the patients you clean for?"
Pulling out one earphone, I turn to stare at him, slightly exasperated. "I'm just doing my job. By no means am I trying to upset you."
He's leaning against the door frame to the bathroom, arms folded over his chest as he follows my sweeping movements with his mahogany eyes. His hair is ruffled from sleep and I notice the two buttons open on his loose shirt. Underneath, I notice two white patches attached to cords, disappearing further down his chest. Likely an event monitor, recording the electrical activity of his heart for symptoms.
I picture last night's dinner with Char and Jett. Watching Holden clutching his chest and collapsing on stage. I suppress my wince as I glance away from him, rinsing my mop and repeating.
"What made you want to be a cleaner, exactly?" he questions, eyebrow cocked. "I could think of better jobs."
"I'm sure you could," I mumble, moving further into the bathroom. "They didn't have any receptionist jobs available, if you must know. This was the only thing available if I wanted to work in a hospital."
"Why does it have to be in a hospital?"
"What is this? Twenty questions?"
"You really don't like me, do you?" he smirks, biting back a grin.
"I'm just not used to having patients grill me about my preference in my job," I argue.
"The other day you seemed quite irritable around me too," he observes. "Have I offended you somehow? By no means am I trying to upset you."
Jerk. I watch his knowing smile as he copies my earlier sarcasm.
"I'm surprised you're even talking to me. I'm just a cleaner."
"So I offended you then," he nods, placing a hand over his heart.
My stomach drops for a moment, picturing him collapsing on stage. Then I realise he's feigning an apology and I glare at him.
"I'm sure you and your rock-god personality have something better to do. Write a new song, maybe? I'd be happy to be the inspiration, if you'd like," I grab the glass cleaner from the basin, spraying and wiping the mirror.
I watch myself in the reflection, the way my body seems so much more pale than the light makeup I had applied this morning. The cascades of my blonde hair seem to be shades duller than yesterday too.
I find Holden's expression in the mirror as he catches my eyes, before moving to my arm. "So you know who I am then?"
"Don't get full of yourself. I promise I won't beg for an autograph."
YOU ARE READING
A Heart Like Yours | ✓
Teen FictionNineteen-year-old, Bea Somerton, knows exactly how she wants to live. Become a doctor, remain in remission from her childhood Leukaemia and have a happy, normal, life. The last thing she expects is to meet rising star and troubled musician, Holden P...