"Honestly, what really happened with Dr. James tonight? You didn't look too happy out there by yourself," Dylan says.
"That's because I was forced to talk to you."
"Come on, Katie, you can tell me."
I sigh. "If I tell you, will you shut the hell up?"
Dylan smiles, amused at my response. "Gladly."
"He...he had to leave because one of the other interns got sick and he had to fill in." I chew on my lip.
Dylan stares at me a moment before bursting into laughter.
I roll my eyes. I knew I shouldn't have told him.
"Oh, God, that's good," he gasps between laughs. "A medical intern got sick? Oh, the irony!"
"Stop," I say, my cheeks flushing. The elevator dings and I step out, briskly walking down the hall.
"I'm sorry, you don't find that funny at all?" Dylan asks, following me down the hall. "Not in the least bit?"
"No," I snap, fishing my keys out of my bag.
"You really are frigid," Dylan says, shaking his head.
"And you're an asshole," I retort, twisting the key in the lock and stepping into my apartment.
"See you at work!" Dylan says as I slam the door.
Chapter Nine
I walk into work on Monday dreading to see Dylan.
It seems all he wants to do is annoy me, which wasn't difficult to realize. I wish we had never met.
Surprisingly, Dylan's already at his desk when I arrive.
"Late," he says, spinning in his chair. He always seems to do that.
"I'm not late," I bite back.
"Are too."
"Are not."
"Are too."
"I'm not doing this with you."
I sit down at my desk, opening my manuscript.
"How many pages?" Oliver asks, leaning over his desk.
I flip to the back. "Two oh five."
"Not bad."
"You?"
"One sixty six."
"Lucky! Trade?"
"You wish." Oliver grins, sliding back into his chair.
I smile and focus on my work. I click my red pen open and begin making notes in the margins. I sip my coffee on and off as I make edits in the story.
I'm so immersed in my work that I barely notice when I'm hit with a paper ball.
And then another.
I finally look up after five hit me. Dylan smirks, crumpling up another paper, ready to throw. He brings his arm back and tosses it, nailing me on the arm. I narrow my eyes.
"Stop," I hiss.
"I was aiming for the trash can, I swear."
"Then get it in the trash can," I say through gritted teeth.
"If I could, I would. I'm a terrible shot."
"Find something else to do," I snap.
"Like what?"
"Work."
Dylan throws back his head and laughs, like I've just told him the funniest joke in the world. "That's almost as laughable as the sick medical intern."
I exhale slowly and angrily. I look back down at my manuscript.
Dylan is hot and cold. Sometimes he'll be like this, annoying the living shit out of me, or he'll snap at me. Talk about bipolar.
Another paper ball hits me and I snap, grabbing it from my desk and hurling it back at him. It hits him right in the face and everyone around us bursts into laughter. I put a hand over my mouth. I never thought I was a good aim, but karma proved me wrong.
Dylan's cheeks flush and Oliver howls with laughter. Lana wipes tears from her eyes and Phil high fives me.
I lean back in my seat smugly, feeling powerful. I raise my eyebrows at Dylan, challenging him to throw another one.
"Lucky shot," he snaps, leaning over his desk and picking up a pen.
"Whatever," I retort and turn back to my own work. Moments later, another paper hits me and I scowl. I'm about to throw it back again when I notice blue ink on it.
I open up the paper, smoothing it out.
You'll pay for that, it says in block handwriting. It's surprisingly neat. I didn't expect Dylan's handwriting to be so clean.
I click my pen open and scrawl a reply.
You deserved it and you know it.
I toss it back and he catches it with one hand.
It lands on my desk a second later.
Watch it, Katie.
I grimace and toss the paper into the trash. I can't stand him calling me my pet name. The only people I allow to call me Katie is my family and James. No exceptions; at least, not since what happened between my sister and I.
I hate that Dylan knows it sets me off. He knows all he has to do is call me 'Katie' or 'Katherine' and he'll automatically win. I wish I knew something about him to taunt him with, as sick as that sounds.
I lose myself in my work for the rest of the day, managing to ignore Dylan's teasing. He reminds me of the boys that would make paper airplanes and fly them around just to annoy the girls in second grade. So basically, he acts like a second grader.
The weather seems to be getting colder by the day. I shiver in my sweater and turn on the heat in my car as I drive home. My dark hair spills over my shoulders and my cheeks are rosy red from the cold.
I throw my keys onto my couch when I get home, sighing. James hasn't contacted me since last night. I don't want to seem like a clingy girlfriend, but he should have at least called me, right?
I pick up my phone and dial his number, then hang up. If he wants to talk to me, he can call me.
I turn up the thermostat and make myself some tea. I turn on the TV and let my mind wander.
Before I know it, I'm asleep. I had no idea how tired I was. It must be Dylan and all his antics making me this exhausted. I decide to ignore him from now on, and just focus on my work. Maybe if he sees he won't get a rise out of me, he'll stop bothering me so much.
One can only hope.
Chapter Ten
I cross my arms over my chest at James. It's been an entire week since he left in the middle of our date, and he's barely called me. To say I'm upset is an understatement. He smiles at me apologetically.
"Want to explain yourself?" I ask, leaning against my doorframe.
"I know you're probably pissed to the max, Katie, but I've been swamped. Flu season is starting, you know."
I sigh. "I guess I just feel like you don't make time for me." I hate the whiny tone in my voice.
James's eyes soften and he takes my hand. "I'll try harder, I promise. Soon I'll be on break and we can spend every day together."
A smile creeps onto my face. "Okay," I say meekly and James pulls me into a hug, kissing my cheek.
I hear rustling and I open my eyes over James's shoulder to meet vivid green ones. I pull away from James quickly.
Dylan grins, dropping his keys into his pocket. "Afternoon, Katie," he says.
James looks between me and Dylan, and back again.
Dylan looks at James and his smile grows. "You must be James," he says. "I'm Dylan." He reaches out to shake James's hand. "I've heard so much about you."
I internally cringe. James shakes Dylan's hand.
"And I've heard nothing about you..." James shifts his gaze to me.
"Katie and I work together and we also happen to be neighbors. Isn't that right, Katherine?"
I look at my feet. After a successful week of ignoring Dylan, I'd thought he had gotten the message that I really don't want to associate with him.
"Oh," James says. "Very nice."
"So I hear you're a medical intern?"
Oh God.
"Yes," James answers.
"That's very interesting."
I'm afraid to look up from my feet.
"What sort of work do you do?"
"Anywhere they need help, really."
"Ever do any work on the heart?"
"No, actually. I'm not too interested in cardiology."
"I thought you said you worked anywhere they need help."
"I do, but I haven't worked on the heart. Not yet, anyway."
"I see."
"What do you do?"
"I work in accounting."
"Wow."
"You don't work," I interject. "You just bother me."
James looks at Dylan. "He bothers you?" He asks me, his tone cold.
"No, not like that, James. He throws paper at me, though."
Dylan smiles crookedly.
James looks at me. "Well, we have a place to be, so I'll see you around, Dylan."
"All right. Have a good night." I'm surprised at Dylan's friendliness.
James takes my hand and we begin to walk down the hall.
"Oh, Katie?"
I turn and look at Dylan, James stopping as well.
"If anything should come up, I'd be glad to give you a ride again." Dylan smirks, his eyes mean.
I blush.
"What does he mean?" James asks.
"Nothing," I snap. I tug James's arm and we get into the elevator, the doors dinging shut behind us.
I'm admittedly furious at Dylan. How dare he say that in front of James? I can only imagine what James is thinking.
Dinner goes smoothly and James drops me home, kissing me at the door. He hasn't asked me about what Dylan said to him before we left, and for that I'm glad.
We say goodbyes at the door. He smiles at me and kisses my cheek before turning and starting to walk down the hall. He stops and looks back at me.
"Katie, do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"Stay away from Dylan."
His request takes me by surprise. "What?"
"I don't trust him. Just...keep your distance, alright?"
I nod. "I don't like him, anyway."
James smiles. "Good. See you later, Katie."
I watch him get onto the elevator and the doors shut. As soon as he's out of sight, I storm across the hall and pound on Dylan's door.
Dylan opens the door, astonished at my intensity. "Katie?"
"How dare you say you gave me a ride in front of James? He thinks I'm cheating on him or something!"
Dylan half smiles. "It was just an offer, Katie. No need to get pissy."
"God, stop calling me Katie!"
Dylan folds his arms over his chest. "And if I don't?" He challenges.
I take a breath. "Then...then..."
He smiles coolly.
"You're such an asshole, Dylan. You go out of your way to make me crazy, and I'm sick of it. Why don't you just leave me alone?"
He steps back, eyes flashing at my words. Anger quickly engulfs his features. "All right, I'll leave you alone, Katie. But I'll tell you something--James's hiding something."
"What the hell do you know? And why do you even care?" I ball my hands into fists. "James would never hurt me!"
"Oh, please. I could give a shit if James hurts you!"
Something inside of me deflates. He's so disdainful, it shocks me. I turn and walk back into my apartment, slamming the door.
I could give a shit if James hurts you.
Good. I wouldn't need Dylan if James hurt me, anyway.
Chapter Eleven
The more I encounter Dylan, the more I realize James is right. I should stay away from him. However, living across from him and sitting by him at work doesn't help.
I walk down the hall to my apartment, fishing for my keys in my pocket. It was a long day at work today. I finished editing two manuscripts, and I'm exhausted. Sarah and Oliver were flirting the whole lunch hour, and I just wanted to take their heads and mash them together already. It's painfully obvious how much they like each other.
When I can't feel my keys in my pocket, I open it wider to peer inside. I check all of my pockets multiple times before groaning. I've lost my keys.
I find my car keys, of course, but not my apartment key. Just my luck.
I go on my phone to find the number of a locksmith and dial the number. The locksmith informs me he will be here in about twenty minutes and I thank him before hanging up. I pace outside my apartment, trying to think of a way to pass the time.
Just as I'm about to go down to my car to perhaps go out for dinner, the door to Dylan's apartment opens and out he steps.
Of course.
"Katie," he greets me. "I thought I heard you out here."
"I'll keep the noise down," I snap, crossing my arms over my chest and leaning back against my door.
"Locked out?" He asks, humor in his eyes. He wears a plaid flannel and jeans; he must have changed out of his work clothes. A cocky smile is painted onto his lips.
"Yes." I grimace.
Dylan bites his lip to keep from laughing and I roll my eyes.
"Go ahead, laugh," I say.
Dylan shakes his head. "No, there is absolutely nothing funny about this." He tries to hide his smile, but he fails and his dimples pop into his cheeks.
I roll my eyes again.
"Katie, if you roll your eyes too much, they'll roll right out of your head," Dylan warns. He leans back against his door, mirroring my stance.
"What do you want, anyway?" I ask.
Dylan shrugs. "Thought you'd want company out here."
"Well, you thought wrong."
"Lighten up, Katie."
"Stop calling me--"
"Nope."
I lock my jaw. "Can you leave me alone?"
"Nope."
"Why not?" I groan. Any company would be better than Dylan's.
"Because this is too much fun."
"What, making me miserable?"
"No, counting how many times you roll your eyes."
As if to back him up, I roll my eyes without thinking. Dylan laughs.
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