There was an accident on 394

By Rikku Minouke

Disclaimer: Don't own YYH or any of the music used.

Below is information about the author, feel free to skip, will not be offended.

AN: Hey everyone! I do plan on finishing my other stuff, I just needed to get back into things, and it's been sooooo long! I haven't wrote since the beginning of December if I remember correctly. Gross. Well, this is me trying to move past the obstacles life has thrown at me and continuing to write. In December, my husband's grandmother passed away and then a week later it was Christmas. The day after that holiday we actually moved to a new apartment. Hate moving, especially when you are grieving. Less than a month later, my husband got into a car accident which was devastating, because I watched it all happen from the sidewalk, but no one was hurt luckily, it could have resulted in many casualties. He decided he was no longer fit to drive after that though and I had to find a new job that allowed me to be able to drive him around. (My husband is disabled and was prior to the accident) And then I started feeling like I could write about 6 weeks later… And then tax season rolled around. I'm sure many of you feel my pain there. It brought me down and to make matters worse a month after that, I, myself, got into a car accident that sent several others into the hospital. Everyone is alright now, but it was difficult to move past. But as much as life keeps testing me, I've come too far, been through too much to give up now. This is me, trying to come back from one of the hardest years in a very long time. I'm still alive and I have people by my side. (big smile)

PS: There may be mistakes in my grammar and spelling, sorry guys, I didn't read it over after I typed it out. yikes, my bad

Chapter 1: The Underdog by Spoon

Shuffling in my white ballerina flats, I made my way to the same elevator that I took every morning in the North Plaza building. One of the shoulder straps from my purse hung halfway down my bicep. I was agitated already and I hadn't even clocked in yet. The stupid traffic was making me late for the elevator and I had a precise schedule to keep up.

The ding of the lift caught my attention as I quickened my pace. "Hold the door, please!" I called as I rounded the corner. Huffing slightly, I saw several people in the doors waiting. Thanking the nice woman holding the door, I approached the crowd.

Made it!

And then I tripped over my own two feet. Wide eyed, I went face first into the red headed man's chest making him drop his briefcase.

PAUSE.

REWIND.

My name is Botan. I'm 31 and live in a studio apartment that's barely larger than a closet. Fun fact- I'm single. It's just me and my orange tabby, Ryu.

Surprise, surprise.

I'm a crazy cat lady with only one cat. But he's my cat. So, everyone else can deal.

My mom calls twice a month and holidays to make sure I'm still alive and to see if I'm married yet. Not likely at this point, mother.

I work in the 'burbs of a big city in a call center. A call center! Not even a career job! But they pay well and give me hours. Guess that college thing wasn't really worth the money, now was it?

Anyways…

So for the last 9 months, the equivalent of a whole school year, I have worked my schedule to line up with this guy on the fifth floor. Kind of sad and creepy.

I get it- okay!

But he's never noticed me before… not really.

I'd been working at the call center for two years by the time I first saw him. One day when I actually arrived on time, I saw him waiting for the elevator. He'd been polite and acknowledged me with a smile and a nod; I'd probably just awkwardly stared back at him.

I am the crazy cat lady after all. 'Awkward' should be my middle name.

Since that day though, I leave early just to ride the elevator with this mystery man. Even after 9 months, I still don't know much about him.

I'm not that crazy!

I know his hair is candy apple red and on casual Friday he still wears dress pants. His coworker mentioned it once. I know he eats from the cafeteria on the lower level every so often; I've seen him down there watching the CNN that the café workers turn on. And he gets off on the fifth floor, so he may work for the doctor's office or the IT school. Those are the only options on that floor. Honestly, I wish I could know more, but mornings are rough on everyone so I don't take in as much as I wish I could about this guy.

Besides the few acknowledged head nods, smiles, or casual 'hello's, I hadn't actually spoken to him. Not even about the weather!

Ok. You get the point, I obsess over a guy I know nothing about. Maybe because he's so handsome, maybe because he seems so wonderful, or maybe because I know I'm the complete opposite of him and I know I could never be with a guy like that.

FAST FORWARD.

"Oh my!" The woman holding the door gasped. "Are you alright?"

My hands were gripping the fabric of a very nice grey button up shirt and my eyes stared scared at the forth button from the top. It looked expensive with it's subtle pinstripes. There were strong hands gripping my waist and I felt like my mind was forgetting something. Oh, that's right- breathe. I need air. Sucking in slowly, I forced my grip to loosen as my eyes trailed up to meet the concerned green orbs of the man always on my mind.

"I'm sorry?" Somehow a question mark ended up at the end of that. I felt the pressure of his hands on my sides as he lifted me fully onto my feet. Dang, was he hiding muscles under that office attire or what!

"It's alright, as long as you're alright, miss." His voice made knees wobble and I hoped no one saw how weak I felt being the object of his attention.

Coughing to clear the dryness in my throat, I nodded and looked down at my feet. Stupid feet. "I am, thank you."

I heard a small laugh from him and I glanced up to see his face relaxed. "Don't worry about it. At least you didn't end up on the floor."

"Oh dear," the woman by the front gasped as the doors closed. "That would have been awful. It's a good thing he caught you."

"These tiles on the elevator floor can be really hard," someone else muttered and I realized there was an audience to witness everything. There was no stopping the blush that covered my whole face as I shuffled away from the man I fell on. I didn't want him to see me so embarrassed.

I waited in the corner as the elevator reached the fourth floor and the two other people got off. Staring at my flats, I tried to control my breathing while listening to the doors shut.

Normally we were accustomed to the silence among the people in the elevator as music softly played over head. But today, after my klutz attack, the air felt very thick like we should be talking about something. Anything! But my mind was blank. And then the lift reached his floor and the doors opened wide. Glancing up briefly, I watched him walk to the doors. Momentarily, he paused and glanced back at me with a soft smile on his lips.

"Be careful today, ok?" I could only nod in response as he chuckled and walked out of sight.

The doors shut and I lowered my head to my hands.

"You idiot!" I yelled softly into my palms. "Ugh! You could have said anything! But you didn't! So stupid!"

Lifting my head, I dropped it back against the metal wall. Maybe tomorrow would be better.