It just feels like one of those days.
As she stumbles out of bed in a rush 20 minutes after her alarm went off, Cameron stubs her toe on a dresser. She grabs her foot instinctively and trips over a pile of dirty laundry. She falls, catching and cutting her hand on a sharp edge of the windowsill.
The hot water runs out before she's done showering. She pokes herself in the eye with her mascara brush. A destroyed work shoe sits, slobbery, beside her boyfriend's sleeping dog.
The car won't start so she gets a boost from her neighbour. She stops for gas and spills some on her shoes. She realizes she left her credit card at home and therefore has to spend her lunch fund on gas.
It can't get any worse, she thinks.
"Morning sunshine," Dr. House says, grinning smugly. "Who shit in your Shreddies?"
Cameron grumbles, as does her stomach; she missed breakfast too.
She mumbles 'morning' in return and turns her back to walk away.
"Not so fast." Cameron stops, slouches and sighs; House smiles at her. "You're on intern duty today.
She grumbles and looks House in the eye. He knows how she feels about interns – most of which are young men with raging hormones who like to make stupid jokes about "playing doctor" with her. She would much rather castrate them all.
"Oh, don't look so honoured. I'd give her to Foreman but last time I left him with an intern, the guy left making racial slurs – against himself." House laughs at his own joke; Cameron doesn't find it funny.
"Wait, did you say her?" Cameron asks, her demeanor suddenly brightening up. Another girl on the team – she can handle that.
"Yes. But don't think you'll be making a new friend. This one is the Queen of ice Queens. She doesn't even pretend to think my jokes are funny. Can you imagine that?"
Cameron rolls her eyes as she follows House down the hallway – it smells clean and a bit like chlorine but she's accustomed to it by now.
She stops to read a bulletin on the wall and notices House walking quickly ahead of her.
As she catches up, the doctor begins his introductions. "Dr. Cameron, this is intern # 13. Also known as…well, Thirteen." He smiles contentedly to himself.
The girl, Thirteen, looks unimpressed. She keeps her arms crossed and forces a smile.
Cameron reaches out her hand. "It's nice to meet you."
Thirteen doesn't respond.
House shrugs with a grin. "Pussy's got her tongue."
The girl shoots House a glare that could kill and watches him carefully until he leaves the office.
"So you're still in school then? How old are you?" Cameron asks. She is nervous; she can feel beads of swearing forming all around her hairline.
Thirteen looks at her with piercing blue eyes. They seem dark on the outside but aren't lined with any make-up. "I'm pretty sure that's none of your business."
"O…K," Cameron responds, sliding her hands into the deep pockets of her long white jacket. "Do you have a real name or is that none of my business either?"
Cameron catches Thirteen smiling quickly. The girl hides her amusement just as fast as she revealed it. "Thirteen's fine."
Cameron nods and holds the door open as the girl exits. Once bitten, always bite back, she thinks to herself with a smile.