House is sitting at his desk when we walk into his office. He looks up and looks at his girlfriend first, standing with a girl, who's about the same height, maybe an inch taller. That girl would be me, her sister, Carter.
Though there's a decent age difference between us, I'm taller than her. People always assume I'm older, or that we're twins. Danielle is wearing a simple blue and grey striped polo and blue boot cut jeans with heeled boots, coming from working at the high school. She had a free period this morning and said she'd bring me here. Me, on the other hand, is wearing a plaid button down shirt and skinnies with converse. While Danielle's hair is done up, mine is down with a beanie. I bear no makeup, while Danielle's face is perfectly made. It's hard to believe we're even related.
"What can I do you for, oh goddess of mine?" House says to Danielle with a sarcastic, yet thoughtful look. Danielle rolls her eyes.
"Carter needs volunteer hours for school," Danielle explains. "She doesn't want to grade papers so I thought she could be a candy striper."
"A candy stripper?" House asks, with his eyebrows up. "Well that's kinda kinky, don't you think?"
"Not stripper. Striper," Danielle says as her eyes roll again. I swear one of these days her eyes are just going to roll right of her head because of him. She walks over and sits on his desk. I just walk over to the side of his office. "Like a volunteer."
House thinks for a second. Or at least pretends to. "She can be my assistant," he declares. "I'll sign off on it."
Danielle smiles. "Smart move," she says, leaning over and kissing him. "Good luck, Carter. You're probably gonna need it. See you later Greg." She walks out, leaving me with her boyfriend. Who I've never talked to privately, nor know much about, and now apparently have to have a conversation with.
I sit down awkwardly and avoid eye contact. "What do you want me to do?" I ask shyly.
House looks up at me, silent. When I look up to see if he heard me, our pale blue eyes meet. "Well, first off, you don't have to wear that stupid dress uniform they have." I sigh in relief, I absolute hate dresses. "For what you can do, you could help me belittle my team." I raise an eyebrow. Just then, his phone rang. "Hello?" he answers gruffly. He listens for a bit, then hangs up."Change of plans. You're going to come help me on clinic duty."
I follow him everywhere, fetching this and that, all day, without much complaint. I'm just holding it in. I don't really like this man. He's rude, arrogant, cocky, but I know I have to put up with him for the hours, and since he's dating my sister. I really don't know what she sees in him. She's kind and has a heart and cares for people, where it seems like he just doesn't give a crap. We walk (he limps) into what seems like the 100th room today.
House sits down on the stool. "I'm Dr. House," he starts off. "And this will be our candy stripper, Carter."
I roll my eyes and face-palm myself. He's said that in almost every room. "Striper, not stripper. How does my sister put up with you?"
House glares at me. "How does she put up with you?" he snaps back.
I narrow my eyes. "Touche."
"Ahem," comes from the blonde on the table. He has a European accent. I look up and gasp, I know exactly who this is.
"Ah. You from across the pond?" House asks.
"Yes. Ir-" he starts.
"Ireland!" I exclaim. "Mullingar to be exact." I look down shyly. "He's Niall Horan from One Direction."
"Well that's not what this folder says. It says Kyle," House grumbles back, expecting to be right.
I look up, questioning his intelligence. "Well obviously it's not going to say it on there for everyone to know." I snap. I swear this man is... There is no words for what he is. "It's called an alias." I look up at Niall with a smile. "Don't worry, secret's safe with me." He smiles back. We lock eyes and smile at each other.
House scoffs and bangs his cane on the table, making us both jump. "If you are done fucking each other with your eyes, can we get to the reason why you're here?"
I feel my cheeks flushing and watch Niall's follow suit. "Right, erm... I've been been having stomach pains. It's half cramping, half nauseous. Basically, the only way I can be comfortable is laying down."
House takes a moment, probably thinking everything through, while I connect one thing (HA.) with another. "So it's pretty much impossible for you to perform."
He nods and looks to the doctor. "No vomiting, just..." he drifts off, looking back to me, uncomfortable.
I laugh and shrug. "Don't worry, everyone has it, we need the information, and it's a medical term," I assure him.
Dr. House groans dramatically. "Carter, no flirting on business hours. And as for Blondie," he comments, motioning to Niall. "I'm going to give you Hyoscyamine. Take it three times a day. If it gets worse... Please hesitate to call," he grumbles before limping out.
Niall jumps off the table and I shake my head, rolling my eyes. "Don't listen to him, you need to call," I say, scribbling down my phone number and handing it to him. "He's a self-centered, cocky, know-it-all, buttface."
He laughs and puts his hands in his pockets. "Buttface? Aren't you a bit old to be calling people that? You're what... 23?"
I look down, blushing lightly. "Actually I'm only 18. But I act like a 13 year old most of the time," I admit shamelessly.
He gives a small shrug, his smile still not fading. "Sorry, you're just taller... But you remind me of my band-mate, Lou-"
"Louis, I know," I cut him off without thinking. Then my cheeks get hot and I tuck a stray hair behind my ear sheepishly. "Sorry, I'm just a big fan."
He smiles his perfect smile at me. "No problem, I love a fan," he says, making me smile at the ground.
Suddenly, there's a loud, eerie banging on the door. We both fall silent and turn to the source of the noise. It slowly creaks open, like in a horror movie, and we see the silhouette of a man, before his hand flicks off the lights to the room. His arm raises, and in his grasp, is a small hammer. I know it's not big, but it can still do damage. Niall and I yell and embrace each other, nerves high. If you can kill someone with your thumb, this would be equivalent to a gun. Or at least a large rock.
The man takes a step closer, turns on the lights, and the face of Gregory House is revealed. It turns out he was holding a small hammer to break the glass of a fire extinguisher case. "Candy Stripper, I need you," he states expressionlessly.
I huff and let go of Niall. "Dammit, House! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" (OW!)
He frowns and tilts his head. "Either I've changed you, or Danielle lied. She told me you don't swear."
I fold my arms. "My sister doesn't lie," I say flatly, on my last nerve with this man.
"Everybody lies," House recites matter-of-factly, as if he won.
I look up, faking a thought. "Huh, you're right." I push passed him, but clearly say, "Nice shirt, looks good on you," dripping with sarcasm.
As I walk passed the window for the room, I see four pale blue eyes on me. I look straight at Niall, hold up the 'Call Me' sign, and mouth the words before disappearing. I can faintly hear House say, "Good luck with that one." I can't help but laugh, secretly wishing Niall luck as well.
It's lunch and I'm sitting in the hospital cafeteria with my sister. She got a break while the kids were on their eating period, and decided to spend it with her two favorite people.
"How do you deal with him?" I ask, confused. "Everyday? Is he really that obnoxious?!"
"Oh like you're a picnic," House says, walking over. "Hey Dani, what do you think of my shirt?" he asks, mocking me.
"It's lovely on you," she says sweetly with a genuine smile. "Why?" she asks, slightly tilting her head.
"Oh, just proving your sister wrong," he says, looking at me smugly.
"Oh what?" I ask innocently. "Did my sarcastic comment hurt your little feelings?" I ask with a pout.
"You little-" he starts with a scowl.
"Girls!" Danielle snaps, catching our attention. "Stop bickering."
"If I'm a girl," House says plainly. "You're a Lesbian." I gulp, keeping my bark of laughter contained. Even if I hated him, he's very... I hate to admit it, but similar to me.
I snap back to reality and wince, keeping up my annoyed act. "See?" I point out while she rolls her eyes.
"So Carter," Danielle says, trying to change the subject. "Anything interesting happen today?" she asks politely.
"Oh yeah," I say with a smile, remembering. "We treated Niall Horan!" I exclaim, bouncing with excitement.
"That's awesome, but are you sure it wasn't a look alike?" she asks me doubtingly.
"The file... Said Kyle," House says slowly, like a little kid.
I look at him, narrowing my eyes in annoyance. "Oh you're not going to laugh that you made a rhyme?" I ask with a smirk. "Besides, I told you. It's called an alias. He's part of the world's biggest boy-band."
"Well, my little Candy Stripper," he changes the subject, making me roll my eyes. "Take the rest of the day off, though I might need you back here tomorrow."
I get up and hug my sister. "Bye Dani," I say with a smile, ignoring House completely.
As I go outside, I notice Niall being dragged back to the hospital by Louis. I straighten the olive green beanie on my head. Before lunch, I had taken off my scrubs and took my wavy hair out of my ponytail, then put my favorite hat on.
"Is that the girl?" I hear Louis ask him, pointing passed Niall's shoulders, right at me. I hear and feel my heart beat faster.
Niall seems to wince. "Yes, now can you please drag me back?" Niall asks, pushing his feet further into the pavement. I laugh to myself, he's so adorable.
"You!" Louis calls, directly to me. "I need you!" he shouts with a smirk, a devilish glint flashing in his eyes.
