NOW THE BELLHOP'S TEARS KEEP FLOWIN'
AND THE DRESS CLERK'S DRESSED IN BLACK,
WELL, THEY'VE BEEN SO LONG ON LONELY STREET,
WELL, THEY'LL NEVER, THEY'LL NEVER LOOK BACK.

_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

My eyes desperately search for him. Most days he leaves early in the morning, other days he doesn't leave at all. My skin crawls at the thought of him remembering last night. He'll surely remember all the tension that took over the ninth floor corridor of Andromeda. It was thick, and awkward.

"A room for two please." One couple comes up to the register with a total of three large suitcases. While one wears a floral printed bucket hat on his bald head, and a bright Hawaiian shirt, the other one's wearing a baseball cap that flattens his mullet, and a white tank top to go with it. At least they're wearing matching black shorts, and sandals. They look fun to be around.

I nod, before handing them a paper they have to fill, along with an ink pen. "Please fill this form."

They smile and take the pen. I don't understand why a happy couple like them would stay here at Andromeda. This is Heartbreak Hotel. What are they broken about?

While my eyes continue to search for Austin, I ring the bell on the counter for Oliver. The employee's door bursts open immediately, and Oliver hurries out with flushed cheeks and smudged lipstick on his neck.

I roll my eyes. "It's seven in the morning!" And yell in a whisper, before I point at the pack of wet wipes sitting under the counter. Oliver nods and cleans himself off.

The happy couple take their sweet time filling in the form, so I take a quick second to look through the gap of the door Oliver came through. Holly sits on the table beside the coffee machine, fixing her red lipstick in the reflection of the pot. Her red dress has risen to the middle of her thighs, and her red leather stilettos are on the floor. Her hair's a mess... And so is Oliver's.

They're playing with fire.

"And, filled!" The bald man with the floral bucket hat exclaims, "Do I have to sign it as well?"

I nod, but freeze when I see him through the corner of my eye. Austin. He walks out of the elevator, with his hands in the pockets of his black dress pants. A simple black t-shirt, and leather shoes to go with it.

Taking my eyes off of him seems impossible now, but I try my best. My heartbeat quickens with each step he lazily takes closer to the reception. A sight to die for.

"Oliver, get these gentlemen's suitcases to their room!" I quickly tell the bellhop, and hand the couple their room keys. They thank me and leave for the elevator before Austin can approach the reception counter.

Oh god I hope he doesn't remember anything.

"Mister Butler!" I say. Maybe a little too loud.

He rubs his face with his fingers, clearly not fully awake yet, and perches his elbows on the counter.

"Austin." He corrects me. "Hey, do you have like a painkiller you could give me?" He buries his head in his palms and caresses the top of his head in agony.

"Yes!" I nod and rush through my small white bag. My fingers brush against all kinds of crap but the damn painkillers. "It's here somewhere!" I reassure him, and start emptying my overfilled bag. It's filled to the brim.

Finally, after bandaids, hairties, bobby pins, and stale candy, my fingers grab on to a box of pills.

"Here!" I place them in front of him and hurry into the employee's room to get him a glass of water.

When I'm back, he's already opened it, and holds two pills on his tongue. Jesus christ, Ottie. I curse myself under my breath. I shouldn't fantasize anything with his tongue... Something I wasn't thinking of, in the midst of all the rushing, was his fingers colliding with mine as he takes the glass of water from me.

Austin doesn't look like he even noticed. He's obviously too busy trying to repress his headache.

He takes big gulps, downing nearly the entire glass at once, and swallows before a refreshing sigh leaves his mouth. I watch him wipe his lips with the back of his hand, while simultaneously trying to take the glass back.

Austin's eyes captivate me again. He looks at me like he wants to drown me in a pool of his desires.

My hands slip. Of course they do, because I'm nothing but a pile of frozen skin and bones. And I drop the glass on the floor. Just then, the elevator doors open and Oliver rushes out. I gasp at the broken pieces of glass on the floor, as Austin attempts to gaze over the counter. He reaches over and holds his arm in front of my chest-

"Be careful." He says.

"Oh no!" Oliver approaches me behind the counter, "Good morning Mister Butler!" He says in between before turning back to me "Ottie! Don't let Damian see this! He'll be furious!" He tells me loudly.

My eyes widen. Damian. The evil manager.

"Hey, don't yell at her." Austin's eyebrows draw closer at the way Oliver panicks. "It's just a glass, no big deal."

Oliver slightly bows towards him, "You're right Mister Butler, but our manager-"

"I don't care about Damian!" Austin says, this time with a louder tone. "Go get her a broom, and she'll clean it. You don't have to scold her over it." He cuts Oliver off.

As if a little kid in time-out, Oliver nods, "I apologize Mister Butler." And quickly makes his way into the employee's room to get me a broom.

"I'm so sorry Mister Butler, I was just-"

"Austin." He emphasizes with a poignant tone.

I nod defeatedly, "Austin. My head's kind of all over the place. I apologize." I take the broom Oliver hands me and start gathering the little pieces of glass together.

Austin leans against the counter, shaking his head. "No need to apologize. It's fine." His eyes. Those goddamn eyes again. The sunlight through the glass doors shines right into his iris. I see it change colour from a light blue, to an almost grass green, with hints of coffee.

Then it's silent again.

I feel him stare rather intensely. He's not just watching, he's consuming. Swallowing me whole.

"I was gonna tell you to write me down for another week." He suddenly speaks. A sort or somber frown taking over his morning face. I can't focus on the shattered glass underneath the sole of my shoes, my attention is in Austin's chokehold. He has me.

Another week? I wonder if this is the moment I'll grow some balls to ask him why he's a frequent guest of the Heartbreak Hotel. And why he's in a fairly depressed state.

"Mister Butle-" I cut myself off when I see his eyebrows lifting, "I mean, Austin."

A satisfied grin on his face after I correct myself.

"If you don't mind me asking-" I say, mindlessly gathering the glass pieces into a stout pile. "what is it that brings you here so often?" I question.

Austin chuckles and brushes his fingers through his dirty blonde hair. "You don't want me here, Ottie?"

An immediate rush of regret appears on my reddening face. I shake my head franctically, "I didn't mean that-"

Austin starts laughing sweetly. "I'm only joking, sweetheart." He looks me right in the eyes. How can he be so deadly, yet talk so fine? I've always known he is good with words, but I'd never experienced it before.

...Well, up until right this moment.

Sweetheart... Lord help me.

"Ottie?" I'm brought back to my senses with his raspy deep voice. "Anyone there?" He waves his hand in front of my face, and his eyes narrow as he smiles. Confusion written across my forehead.

I shake my head. "I am so sorry."

"It's fine." He licks his lips and leans in closer, as much as the reception counter between us allows, to whisper; "I know you like seeing me."

My mouth forms an O, and stays that way for a long while. Austin clearly enjoys the expression. He lets out a deep, throaty laugh while stepping back.

His hands find their way back into their pockets, "Tell bellboy to refill the minifridge in my room. You know what kinda wine I like." He winks at me subtly.

I can only nod slowly, watching him walk out the doors of Andromeda Hotel. Lord Jesus help me.

_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

➥ IN THE NEXT CHAPTER.

Austin drinks wine and thinks of Ottie.

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