Might Imagine

The door swung on its hinges and then stuck. Teryn sighed as he put his foot against it and shoved it closed, giving it a kick for good measure. One day he would tweak the hinges. One day he would do a lot of things.

The hall was dry and musty as he made his way to the elevator. Not old, just full of the old man's belongings as his family slowly moved his stuff out. Teryn peered through the open door, hoping to catch a glimpse of red hair, and then instantly loathed himself for doing so. The old man was dead, and all he thought of was seeing his grandaughter one more time. He turned his eyes away and turned the corner, almost crashing into her as he did so.

"Whoops!" Jeanie said, comically tilting sideways.
"Sorry." Teryn muttered, looking down slightly. "I wasn't looking..."
"No worries." Jeanie said, shaking her head.

Teryn shrugged slightly and continued passed, then stopped a moment and turned slowly. She was still there, sorting through a handful of letters and making faces at them. "Jean." Teryn began, his mind counting over the days. In two weeks they had passed each other numerable times, and he had helped out on several occasions.

"Yes?" Jeanie asked, looking up.

"How long do you think it will take?" He asked.

Jean tilted her head from side to side. "A few more days, maybe." She smiled. "Don't worry, I'll be out of your hair soon."

"Oh it's no bother." Teryn said. He frowned and put his hand to the wall to steady himself. Did the floor shake? Nerves. He shook his head. "Do you might imagine we might go out for dinner sometime?" How many times did he say 'might'? And dinner? He meant coffee!

Jean blinked a few times as though trying to process the request, her hand clutching a bundle and half extended to a pile of letters. She frowned and then placed the bundle on top of the pile, turning back to him.

For some reason her eyes held his, and he blushed momentarily.

"Was that evil?" She asked finally, her lips drawn into a teasing smile.

"If you only knew." Teryn replied, letting go the breath he had been holding.

"Now?" Jeanie asked, her smile turned just a tad nervous.

Teryn opened his mouth and closed it again. "Just...just give me half an hour to run and do this thing."

"Half an hour? Really?" Jeanie blew at her hair. "I can't do anything in a half hour. At least give me some time to clean up."

Teryn raised an eyebrow and in the suavest tone he could muster, delivered the line of a master. "It gets better than this?"

Jeanie blushed and bit at her lower lip. "You didn't just do that."

"Apparently, I did." Teryn chuckled in embarrassment.

Jeanie covered her mouth with a hand and pointed at the door with the other. "Shoo!" She said, making flipping motions.

Teryn bowed his head ever so slightly, turned smoothly, and tried not to prance as he swept out of the door and into the elevator area. Deciding he was too giddy, he elected to take the stairs instead, and three stories passed like the wind as his feet barely touched the ground. He patted his messenger bag as he entered the foyer. Mind to task.

Mind to task.