Tech Romance.

“I see you’re late again.”

“It’s early and I had a long night”, I said glancing over at the clock. “It is only 8:15; I’m 15 minutes late if you can’t do the math. Please get off of my back, I’m exhausted.”

I watched as Kathy just rolled her eyes and walked away. I nodded my head before walking to the kitchen seeing everyone already working. I could hear the horrible Mexican music that Vince plays when he cooks and the complaining that Jeff does.

“Hey man.”

“Yo, hey”, I said shaking Damon’s hand. “So did you get it in?”

“Nah man”, he said with a laugh. “Not with all of you guys cock blocking.”

“Sorry dude didn’t mean to. I was kind of thrown in, my girl wanted to go on a date so I had to do it to get some. You know how that is.”

“It’s all good dude”, he said with a laugh. “Besides she’s not the type of girl that will fuck on one date. It’s like a couple of dates and shit.”

I just nodded my head before looking over at Alison standing there talking to some other people. A smile on her face, I looked her up and down and noticed her long legs. That’s when my eyes went straight to her chest, I could see cleavage. I don’t know why I never checked her out in high school.

“Hi John.”

“Hey Sophie”, I said with a smile as she glared at Damon.

I looked over seeing my list and I was already getting sick of this, and it was only my second day. Routine is something I’ve never been good at. I watched them pack on the food in the big tubs as we scooped and placed on the plates. After finishing the plates you packed them all up with the tops and then placed that on a cart. I went from room to room placing the plates down, not saying a hello to the people as I did. I looked down remembering that Daisy was going to be the last room I visited. I finished up my rooms before going to the same room. I looked over and saw the empty room and the sick little girl laying there, looking pale as ever.

“Knock knock”, I said with a smile holding the tray in my hand.

“John! You remembered”, she said with a big smile.

I couldn’t help but to smile back as I walked into her room placing the tray down on her bed side. “Of course I remembered.”

“Thank you”, she said with a smile.

“Don’t thank me silly”, I said looking down at the book on his lap. “Reading?”

“Yeah, Ali gave me this book to read. She said I would like it.”

“And do you?”

“So far”, she said with a smile as I looked down at the title page. “The main character is making me mad.”

“Why?”

“Have you seen the movie?”

“Yeah, I had to take my girlfriend to it. I sat there as she cried, it was a good night”, I said with a smirk remembering how I comforted her after.

“Did you like the movie?”

“Between you and me?” I asked as she nodded her head with a smile. I looked from side to side as I heard her let out a fit of giggles. “I actually really liked it”, I said with a laugh. “I even cried, but don’t you dare tell anyone or I’m going to find you”, I said whispering the confession.

“I won’t, pinky promise.”

I watched her put up the pinky a smile on her face. I looked down at her small pale hand that was shaking. I looked over at the sick girl laying there, her hair completely gone. Her eyes looking as though they were sunken in with dark bags surrounding them like a raccoon. But there she was with a smile on her lips.

“Pinky promise”, I said taking her pinky in mine as I laced them.

“Can you do me a favor John?”

“Yeah?”

“Can you read to me?” she asked looking up at me with hopeful eyes. “I can’t see too well right now and I want to know what happens next.”

“Of course.”

[&]

“I can’t stand that kid!”

“Who?” I asked taking the book from Kathy’s hand.

“John O’Callaghan, he’s a snotty little brat.”

“Ease up on him, he’s not that bad.”

“Not that bad?” she asked as I nodded my head. “He’s a totally little jerk.”

“He can’t be that bad.”

“He comes in 15 minutes late and then gives me attitude to get off of his back, he’s that bad.”

“He’s probably not a morning person”, I said with a shrug as I took a sip of my water.

“I’m not a morning person either.”

“Maybe he just needs coffee in the morning to be more cheery”, I said with a laugh. “To get on your level of happiness.”

“Maybe”, she said with a shrug making me laugh.

“And I don’t even know where the kid is, he’s missing and we need him to help with the construction.”

“Maybe he’s in a room with one of the patients talking to them.”

“Maybe he left like a little jerk he is.”

We walked down the hall before I stopped at Daisy’s room. When I looked in I was surprised to see John sitting down next to her, the book in hand. I looked over at Kathy with a satisfied smile and she just shook her head not wanting to believe it. I walked into the room clearing my throat and the both of them look up at me, looking startled.

“Hey guys, what’s going on here?”

“John’s reading to me.”

“Oh really”, I said with a smile walking up to them. “You a fan of A Walk to Remember,
John?”

“Fuck no”, he said as Daisy let out a laugh and I watched as John gave her a look making her laugh harder.

“Well you’re a wanted man John.”

“What?” he asked looking up at me confused.

“They’re looking for you”, I said with a smile pointing my thumb at the door. “I’d hurry up before they get you in trouble.”

“Oh okay, thank you.”

“Are you going to come back tomorrow John?”

“Of course my Daisy”, he said kissing her forehead. “See you later Alison.”

“Bye John.”

He gave us one last smile before disappearing into the hallways. I looked down at Daisy who was all smiles. A certain glow to her made me happier than ever.

“I really like him.”

“I can see that”, I said with a laugh. “Someone’s got a crush.”

“I’m in love.”

“We should plan the wedding.”

“Mrs. John-“she stopped and looked at me with a laugh. “What’s his last name?”

“You’re in love but you don’t know his last name”, I said as she let out a small giggle. “And it’s O’Callaghan.”

“Mrs. Daisy O’Callaghan”, she said with dreamy eyes. “How does that sound?”

“Sounds beautiful”, I said with a laugh.

“Like him.”

I couldn’t help but to laugh as I fixed her pillows behind her head. I gave her a kiss before moving on to the next room.

“Hello there Justin.”

“Hi Ali!”

“How are you doing today?”

“I’m good”, he said with a smile. “I got extra Jell-O for lunch today.”

“And who snuck that in for you?”

“This guy.”

“And what’s his name?” I asked with a smile.

“You won’t tell on him, right?”

“Of course not.”

“Damon.”

“Oh really”, I said with a smile as he nodded his head. “Well I’m going to go thank Damon for taking care of my favorite Justin.”

“Bye Ali.”

“Bye Justin”, I said with a smile before walking off.

“AJ!”

I turned around seeing Sophie walking down the halls with a smile on her face. She caught up to me with an even bigger smile on her face.

“So guess who has a date tonight.”

“By the size of your smile on your face I’m guessing you.”

“And you are right”, she said with a smile. “I really like him AJ.”

“I know you do”, I said giving her a hug. I looked over at Damon standing there with a smile waving his hand in my direction. I gave him a soft wave and smile before pulling out of Sophie’s grasp. “I really like him too.”