A table flew through the last remaining window within the very active floor of this office building. A few employees remained solely because the things they feared most blocked their only exit.
So they cowered in the safest corners, and the most firmly bolted of desks. The other portion ran long ago, probably when those two finally came too close to their inevitable proximity.
Henry and Marie. The two—"WHY DO YOU EVEN EXIST!?" Hated each other... They should have a-lot in common. Henry ate treats Marie loved, Marie had books Henry would kill for.
They even shared a vow: "I will love no one!"
Material for the bestest of friends. But they hated each other. They despised each other. They threw tables at each other. Not very friendly behavior.
Today was the worst of it. Normally one window survives, they move up a floor, and repair the last one in about a week. Now the walls were in danger, the ceiling too. But how it started was strange...
Henry was always the first to arrive, even before the janitors. But not only had he forgotten to shave, his stubble beaming brightly, he even fell asleep in the elevator.
Marie arrived later that evening, her hair all out of place. She skipped past her paved route straight to the last booth she'd walk to: booth ten.
She stared down at her colleague with no clear expression on her face, not even a scowl. "Henry." She called coldly.
The man slowly rose, eyes blinking in two different time-zones. "What..." he mumbled.
Her brow twitched, and with a sigh she continued, "We need to talk."
Henry blinked a few more times, possibly just to get them synced. "Very well." He grunted, rising out of his seat.
The two walked into the lounge, and five ran out. A few brave souls tried their shot as eavesdropping—from six feet away—Only able to hear a few mumbles.
The two stood at the center of the room, Marie's arms crossed. "I know you have feelings for me."
"I vowed to love no one else." Henry simply stated, pacing toward the snack table.
She tapped her foot impatiently. "So did I."
The two said nothing for a moment. Marie tended to her hair, Henry plucked a muffin from the basket.
"And yet." Henry finally spoke up. "You just have to be so insufferably, irresistible." in his confession..? He crushed the muffin. An utter waste.
Now Marie started to pace, fingers trailing a nearby chair.
"You just had to make my heart flutter with every stupid blink!"
"I'm supposed hate you with your encapsulating stench!"
"Good! This scent was reserved for my only love. It was his favorite!"
He plugged his nose, making a show of reeling in disgust. "He has poor taste!"
A chair burst through the window, striking three employees right on the head. In that instance, about half the company crammed into the elevator causing it to collapse from the sudden weight.
Standing at the center of the lounge, Marie clung to another chair. "Just who do you think you are!" She shouted rather than asked, slinging a chair at whoever they were.
"My own person!" Henry quickly retorted, tucking under a table and barely avoiding the projectile.
And that's how they got here... a few chairs later. "Quit hiding behind that stupid table!" Marie shouted, lifting the thing and tossing it out of the building.
"The only thing stupid is your lovely hair!"
"Well I hate that ugly stubble, it disgraces your fine face!" Marie reached for another chair but found nothing.
...
Wind blew through the new brutally installed terrace, sprinkling drywall into stubble and strands.
Marie's chest rose and fell as she scanned for anything she could lift.
Henry swiped his nose, slowly easing his defensive stance. "What is the name of this lover..."
"Jealous?" She spat, not caring for an answer if she could brag. "It's Anthony. Yours?"
"Henry—"
"Your lover!" Marie corrected with a cute huff.
He grimaced at the girl he so firmly hated. "...Cleo," he finally admitted.
Marie squinted at him like he said death was real and very petty.
"What?" Henry asked skeptically.
Marie shook her head "...So basic."
"Anthony is far more basic!"
"Basic!? Well where have I heard Cleo?" she tapped a finger to her chin. "Sounds famous!"
"We have a co-worker named Anthony, I was almost named Anthony!"
"Well I—"
"Haven't met a Cleo a day in your life!"
"Not in this life." she muttered to herself. "How about you just shut up!"
"Maybe you should stop your cute pouting! IT'S INFURIATING!!"
"Anthony liked it!"
"Poor taste! My Cleo would love—"
"Cleo loving anything about you is poor taste!"
Henry's eye twitched, his yawn merging with a growl. "You clearly love me."
"Well apparently I have poor taste, same as you." She turned her head, looking at the horizon. Something compelled her to take a step back.
"I hate you..." Henry grumbled. "I should."
Marie scoffed. "You think I don't feel the same?" she said bitterly. "I'm waiting for someone else..." She almost whispered, hating her lack of certainty. "I can't love you!"
Henry didn't respond. He sat down, reaching for "her" favorite snack. He held a honey ball out to the problematic girl.
"You want some?"
He didn't need to ask.
She always wanted some—problems or treats.
"Finally," Marie said, reaching past his hand and going straight for the bag. She sat next to him, silently munching on her snack as they both watched the sun set.
Anthony (their co-worker) peeked from under his desk half expecting a corpse or two. But no, Henry and Marie just sat in the wreckage. Eating together.
Henry popped his last honey ball into his mouth, chewing it thoughtfully. "You know," he traced his hand across the scenery. "I remember a sight like this. Without all of the buildings of course."
"Trees galore?"
"Exactly." He let out a satisfied sigh. "It was the last time I saw her,"
"Cleo?" Marie asked.
Henry nodded.
"I-is she..?"
"What n—well, yes..." He scratched his neck. "She's waiting for me."
Henry pointed to the desk to the far right of the office. "You found him haven't you?"
"Pshh no. that nerd?" She let out one very amused "HA" before shaking her head again. "My Anthony would be the poetic, charming, clever man he always was..."
She looked around the place, stopping on Henry. "...But he'd fit right here."
Henry looked down at himself, glancing back at Cleo. Her brown eyes. Short hair. Pretty, fair skin.
She looked different, but looking at her felt all the same.
Henry huffed softly, shifting closer to Marie. "How did I hate you?"
Marie smiled, her eyes brightening as the blue sky reflected on them, deceptively.
She chuckled, started giggling, smiling even brighter. "It's pretty ridiculous..." she wiped her eyes with her sleeves "Am I still waiting Henry?"
"Well, I'm no Anthony any more, if that's a problem..."
She scooted even closer, leaning on his shoulder. "I think its fine. Are you still supposed to hate me?"
"I think it's fine." he echoed, smiling back.
An ominous groan crept from the ceiling, a brief warning to move. Cracks spread across the ceiling, and one could swear they spelt: "Cute".
But the tiles fell before anyone could proof read.
Everyone bolted down the emergency stairs, shoving and stumbling over each other.
Henry and Marie?
Holding hands.
Three—and a half months later, all of the repairs were finished. All of the furniture was bolted to the floor, and if that didn't deter anyone maybe the sign warning people not to throw chairs would.
Marie scoffed at the sign, carrying on. She went along the only path she wanted to go: booth ten. "Henry~" she cooed taking the booth next to him.
"Yes—Hey!"
Marie snatched the honey balls from his desk, scurrying back to her new booth. The world learned it was suddenly wise not to separate them. It wouldn't last long.