She's Always There
Ross had managed to avoid Emily for several days before he realised that he was the one doing the avoiding. He seemed to be the one who wouldn't come out of his office if she was out in the hall talking to someone. He was the one who timed his departure to be after hers every day so that they would never catch the same elevator. He was the one who didn't go into the common room.
He realised this as he was walking past the common room, yet again. He had heard Emily's voice and had turned away, even though he really wanted a cup of coffee. But why shouldn't he get a coffee, he asked himself, and walked in.
You should have been there,' someone was saying to Emily. Ewan Mulvaney was sitting near Emily in one of the armchairs that surrounded the central low table. He was leaning towards her in the way that Ross knew meant that he wanted to chat her up. Every new female in the department got this kind of attention from Ewan, sooner or later, so it wasn't as though Emily was being treated as special in any way. I just can't believe he didn't show you that,' Ewan said.
Well I wasn't here for very long,' Emily said, as Ross started making his coffee.
Can you believe that, Ross?' Ewan asked in a loud show offy voice. When Emily was here being shown around by her boyfriend, he didn't take her to the Guggenheim.' Ross froze.
Well, Ewan,' Emily said with an unconvincing laugh, I can find the Guggenheim by myself.' Ross felt a little less tense.
You're going to catch up with your old flame while you're here?' Ross nearly dropped his coffee cup.
No,' Emily said firmly.
'That bad huh?'
'That irrelevant,' she said. Oh thank you, Ross thought, annoyed, thank you very much.
'So do you know anyone else you can show you around?'
'I don't need anyone to show me around. I can get a bus or a train by myself without anyone's help.' It had been a long time since he'd known her, and that for a short time only, but there was something in the way she said that that made Ross think that Ewan was really annoying her, even though the words were expressed mildly.
I can take you,' Ewan said, having missed the verbal cue.
Thank you,' Emily said. Ross knew how enigmatic that Thank you' could be.
Great,' Ewan said, How about this Saturday?'
I'm going to stay with my uncle this weekend,' Emily said coolly, But another time would be nice.'
I'll check my diary and get back to you,' Ewan said, and left the room, leaving Ross and Emily together. She gave him a brief glance, and took a sip from her cup.
Looks like you've got someone to take you around,' Ross said. Emily shrugged. What's the matter with him?' He knew that apart from being a little pushy, Ewan was inclined to steal ideas, but there was no way that Emily would know that. That was probably something that he should warn her aboutI just don't want to get involved in anything,' she said. It's just not worth it when I'm going away again.' She looked at him steadily. I learned my lesson last time.'
'It wasn't that bad,' he said, feeling injured.
'Yes it was,' Emily said. She got up and walked out of the room. She had been the one to leave, but he didn't feel at all comfortable.
Ross hadn't been paying attention to the time when he realised he was due home nearly an hour ago. He had been so absorbed in his work that he'd forgotten. Rachel seemed to have forgotten too - there had been no call from her - but he realised then that he had knocked the phone off the hook. There was a voice message from her and he called her back, only to get the answermachine. They seemed to have a lot of phone conversations that way, disjointed pieces of dialogue marooned on different machines.
'Sweetie, I'm coming home now, I just lost track of time.' Now that he had remembered to go home, he couldn't wait.
He bundled up his things and headed for the lobby. It was pouring with rain and he opened his bag to get out his fold up umbrella. As he closed his bag, he noticed Emily walk past him to the door, huddled in her coat. She had stopped to survey the rain, the way a person does when she has no umbrella, calculating the distance to the next shelter, wondering if the rain was easing off any
Ross joined her on the doorstep, putting up his umbrella. She gave him a slight sideways glance, and started off on her own. He didn't know why. Perhaps he was naturally really polite - he didn't know. He knew afterwards that he had acted without thinking. He ran after her.
'Here,' he said, catching up to her and partly putting the umbrella over her head.
'What?'
'Get some shelter.'
'I'm all right really,' she said, walking a little faster.
'You don't want to get your feet wet,' he said, walking faster too.
'If they get wet, I can dry them myself,' she said. She slipped, and he put out a hand to steady her. They walked to the subway entrance in silence. As he put down his umbrella she said, 'Thank you,' and disappeared into the crowds descending to the subway.
At home, he got in trouble for not calling, although he pointed out that he'd left a message on the answermachine.
'Don't make a habit of being late,' Rachel said when they'd finished their argument. 'I don't see enough of you as it is.'
'I'm sorry sweetie.'
'And Emma doesn't either.' Emma was already in bed. He needed to see more of her if she was going to bond with him properly. He'd make sure not to be late tomorrow. He wasn't changing his behaviour for Emily any more.
