Awkward Beginnings

Being efficient had disadvantages. Miles had finished passing out the afternoon mail, finished his little stack of projects, and now was trying to fill the rest of the work day. He had added several new paper airplanes to his already large collection. He'd been at it for almost half an hour. He didn't know how he'd survive when they hired a new person to take over mail duty.

That day had been particularly dull. Meetings consisted of him doodling on his note pad, only paying attention when Nory Wilson gave her opinion about the projects. He tossed a paper airplane at the pin up target across from him. It missed, and fell into the waist basket along with the others. Reflected his life. He wasn't like Nory. She always had projects handed to her, and she could make them work. All he could do was pass out mail and fix the water cooler. And make paper airplanes. He could do those projects, but everyone seemed happy to keep him doing the odd job, which left lots of free time. Someone like Nory would never be demoted to mail carrier. She'd probably be amazing at that, as she was with everything else.

Miles absently ripped a page out of his note book. Nory had been hired about the same time he had, but was already getting the big name design deals. His fingers folded the paper instinctively into a triangle. Nory was a no nonsenses type of girl and got things done. He creased a wing, folding the wing perfectly along a lone sketch he'd made during the meeting. Behind her intimidating expression and behavior was a fair person who managed to get along well with most people in the business. Miles stared blankly at the new paper-plane he held. It was a side profile doodle of Nory, in one of her thoughtful stares. She'd probably make director of the agency one day. If he wasn't in love with her, he'd probably be jealous.

Frustrated, he tossed the paper plane into the air. Soon as it was airborne he realized his mistake. Making planes at work was one thing. Flying them in the work place was another. If he was caught, he might get worse than mail duty.

The yellow note paper looped twice before diapering over the cubicle wall. His heart jumped to his throat.

That was Nory's cubicle.

He raced to the doorway. Maybe she wasn't in. Maybe she . . .

He rounded the corner and froze. Not only was she sitting there but his airplane was sitting on top of her head, next to the rose ordainment she always had were her ponytail. She sat ridged in her chair, apparently stunned. Slowly her hand went to her head and lifted the small projectile down. To his horror, Miles remembered the small sketch on the wing was a doodle of her. She stared down at the paper, then turned in her chair to face him.

Of all the situations he'd imagined of for a first encounter with her this wasn't one of them. Her dark brown eyes seemed menacing as she looked him over.

He needed to say something. Anything. “Uh, that's mine.”

She pointed at the image of her face. “This too?”

“Yes, I mean, No! you're not mine, though I’d like it. I mean yes, that's drawing of you. Not that I’m a creeper.” he stopped, face burning. “Yes that's my work.”

She nodded. “you're good, Conners. Though I don't appreciate ideas dive bombing my hair while I’m working.”

“I'm really sorry about that.” he held out his hand. “I'll get that out of your way.”

“Mind if I keep it?”

He must has misheard her. First she knew his name and now she wanted his art. This had be a side affect of boredom. He must be hallucinating.

She suddenly turned red. “I mean, I should confiscate it, but it would be a waist. Not that I’m saying it's a waist.”

They both stared at each other, faces equally red. Then he smiled. “Sure, It's your anyway, finders keepers and all.”

The corner of her mouth twitched. “Thanks, Conners.”

He waved and walked back to his cubicle. Not the beginning he'd expected, but not too bad either. Picking one of the older planes out of the pile, he straightened the nose and tossed it at the target. It barely hit the bulls-eye. Being bored was not so bad after all.