The bathroom was being renovated at my parents house. Everyone was at work or school, and I didn’t have any morning Uni classes, so responsibility fell upon me, to ensure the tradesman was able to come in and finish the job.
He was late. I was pacing up and down the lounge, peering out the window, sending irritated texts to my sister, who had hired her friend to do this plumbing job.
He finally arrived and I opened the door to greet him. I acted uncomfortably, unsure of how much to smile, and what to say because I had a tiny crush on him and his uneven dimples. We sort of knew each other, as he had been friends with my sister for many years, but he was a lot older than me so I’d never really engaged with him more than a greeting. He sort of leaned in with his handshake, to kiss me on the cheek, but I wasn’t expecting that and didn’t lean in myself, so there was this mid-air pause, like a freeze frame of sorts, until he forced a small giggle and retracted his face. I day-dreamingly refer to this act as our ‘almost’ first kiss. haha.
It was his third and final day sorting out the bathroom and was familiar with where and what he needed to do.
I tried to busy myself with some pre-lecture readings, and constant mirror checks because I could not stop blushing to save my life! My rosacea was an unhealthy mix of embarrassment and a school-girl crush. I think I must have caked on 4 layers of foundation in an attempt to keep the “feels” at bay.
An hour must have passed, and he FINALLY walked around to the van, with his gear to leave. I had left the front door held open about ten centimeters in an effort to not be rude, while I peered out from behind the living room curtains like an actual CREEP, waiting for him t go so I could head down to the bus stop. I was literally willing him to leave, as I mumbled “get in the van, get in the van, get in the van”. He looked up at the house and must have noticed the door was ajar and started approaching. I was hiding in a place which meant if I moved, he would see me through the glass door and know I was standing there watching, so I was stuck!!
As he walked up the steps, my heart was palpitating so quickly that I think I died for a second. I was just hoping he wouldn’t call me and see I was standing RIGHT NEXT TO THE DOOR, watching him from the curtain!! I held my breath as he popped his mouth into the crack of the door and yelled “I’M LEAVING”
I screamed “AGGHHH!!!” and jumped about a foot into the air.
He screamed “AGGHH!!!” because he got a fright from me yelling, right next to his mouth.
He pushed the door open, saw me standing exactly where I didn’t want him to see me standing and again, forced an awkward giggle with his hand resting on his head with what I assume was confusion, and eyes as wide as my blushing cheeks. I joined in the laugh this time, reluctantly, to cut the silent tension and said “see ya” as I slowly, but surely, melted into the old wooden entrance way and died another embarrassing death.