Elevator Rides Are Fun

I was waiting for the elevator to open up at the ground floor, sighing frustratedly at how long it seemed to be taking at the first years’ floor. These freshmen need to learn how they are not going to fit all of them in one elevator ride, I begrudgingly thought. The weight limit warning had already buzzed twice and the elevator has yet to leave their floor. There’s three elevators in the building, for God’s sake, why do they keep on trying to cheat the system?

I knew I was being a bitch despite knowing that most first years in medical school did tend to flock together in big groups. Heck, my friends and I still flock together, but I guess I have more respect for other people’s time now than I did when I was in first year: other people are waiting for elevators to come down!

I sighed loudly once again, crossing my arms against my chest, and immediately regretted my bitchy attitude when I looked around me. There was another guy waiting for the elevator as well, holding up a coffee tumbler to his mouth and looking at me with an amused smile. I smiled awkwardly back at him, knowing full well that my face was too red of embarrassment. My bitch moves were really more of an introverted thing, and they only show up whenever my niceties run out, which is not very often but usually coincides with paper deadlines.

This guy clearly did not go to my school. He was not wearing a white uniform. Instead, I surmised he was one of the hospital’s IT specialists since he was wearing the navy blue uniform and the IT office was in my school’s building (for reasons unclear, really). He looked cute and clean with a snobbish look, mysterious eyes, sexy jawline, and windswept hair that made hisamused smile look a lot hotter. I liked snobbish-looking guys who looked like they just got out of the shower every time. This guy was it and it made waiting for the elevator a lot more bearable.

When at last the elevator opened up, I couldn’t help but send out an exasperated look at the freshmen who were getting out of it. They looked troubled and apologetic at that and I was satisfied. There is a pecking order in this profession and I was technically their superior, and I played out that card every now and then to those who deserved it.

IT guy gestured for me to get to the elevator first and so I did. Plus points for being a gentleman, I thought. He followed me inside, stood across the elevator buttons, and pushed seven. Yup, definitely an IT guy. “Where to?” he asked, turning his head fractionally towards me.

“Eighteen, please. Thanks,” I said meekly as I watched him push the button. Darn it, I always get so shy around guys that I like. Awkward silence was awkward! The only sound I could hear was the soft hum of the air shaft above.

When the elevator opened up at the seventh floor, he turned to me and pushed the hold button, extending a hand. “I’m Luke, by the way. It’s so nice to see you not in too much of a rush at last. It’s always difficult to get an elevator ride with you.” He smiled.

“Samantha,” I almost stammered as I shook his hand. He was too cute when he smiled!

“See you around, doctor,” he said with awide smile and waving two fingers like a salute or something. I was sort of stunned as the elevator doors closed.I’ve always had this weird stand that confident guys who had the guts to talk to a random stranger were cocky (I know, it’s stupid. My friends think so, too). But I strangely didn’t think this Luke was cocky at all. In fact, I was flattered.It was the first time I saw him, but apparently it wasn’t the first time for him. Gosh, now I was self-conscious of how I looked whenever he saw me rush past. I just hoped I looked decent enough.