Hey! I am back! Here's the edited version of the chapter.
Thanks to Vero for being my beta!
Chapter first
Boston Memorial Hospital
She ran. She ran the fastest she could, carrying her bag, trying to not fall in her matching shoes. The bag with her medical uniform was hitting her thighs and the rude brown curls continued falling in her eyes. She was about to cut her palms with the sheets she had in her hand because she was grasping them too hard.
Without going slowly, she looked at her watch: 8:30 am. She could make it.
"If I'm late again, the head physician is going to kill me," she thought. "And I must meet Mike and William before I start my shift. The next time Robert uses my car without asking me, I swear I will ask for a divorce!"
But she was there: Boston Memorial Hospital was in front of her eyes, elegant in the cold December sun.
Turning the cover, she opened the door and entered the familiar atrium. She climbed the four steps and went out, in the cold again, on the terrace to which she was directed.
"Miriam!" William exclaimed. "We we've been waiting for you for thirty minutes!"
Panting, Miriam leaned on the wall, raising her hand: "I know, I know. I'm sorry". She met his eyes, a pale, light blue. He was in his medical uniform, smoking his first cigarette of the day. He was so responsible and organized. Always on time.
Even if she has been married to Robert for a year and an half, she still had feelings for William. But anyway, William already confessed her he was hopelessly in love with Mike. And how could Miriam blame him? Mike was perfect. She – because Mike was a She – had a list of selected qualities and everybody – men and women – love her. She was beautiful, polite, smart. Able and efficient, but sweet, truly kind, compassionate to others. But at times, she also had a coldness about her, and you could go so far as to say she was a control-freak, only school and work: no fun, no flaws, no faults, and she never gossiped. She was always so organized and programmed.
Miriam turned to watch the object of much admiration: she was sitting on a bench, hugging herself. Her long, amazing coppery hair falling like waves down of her shoulders, framing her angelic face. She smiled at her friends' conversation with that amazing smile of hers, opened, amused. Her eyes sparkled. Big, strange, incredible, mismatched eyes. One was grey, the other brown. Her little, delicate hands played with her tag: Dr. Michaela Quinn.
"Mike, look what I got ya!" Miriam said, handing her sheets to Michaela.
Mike took them and studied them. "What's this?" she asked, raising and eyebrow.
Miriam was one of her best friends, but sometimes, when she was overworked and had a lot of her plate, she just couldn't stand her rubbish.
"Announcements for selections," Miriam answered like if she was saying the obvious.
"Selections for what, for Heaven's sake?" asked Mike again, while William took the sheets from her hand.
"America's Next Top Model!"
Mike rolled her eyes and shook her head, while William started laughing. For months Miriam had been telling Mike that she was perfect for "America's Next Top Model", and Michaela knew for sure that she wasn't quitting it.
She stood: "No," she said again.
"But you're gonna win!" Miriam replied. "You have got an angelic face and an amazing body!"
William, trying not to get caught in the middle, glanced his eyes on Michaela's body: she sure had amazing curves, some were almost accentuated. Never exaggerated, always proportioned. Miriam was absolutely right.
"I doubt that, but you have to know, my height is wrong for this type of selection!" She allowed Miriam three seconds for a response but when she heard none, she added: "I'm going, I have to stop by Surgery before I start my tasks", and she took the door.
"We're gonna hang out at Grace's at noon?" William yelled.
"Maybe," was Mike's answer.
With her footsteps measured and fast, she headed to the elevator. Some nurse yelled after her: "Good morning, Dr. Mike!" Everybody calls her that, Mike, just like her father did. anyway, it was the dr.part which was trilling: she was an intern, she had waited all her life long to be called doctor, but still - she couldn't believe it.
She was always headed to the ground floor, but that morning she decided to stop by Surgery: so, she took the elevator to the fifth floor. While she was going up, she wondered if she could maybe read the article her friend Dorothy had sent her almost two weeks ago later that night. She was hoping she could make it in time.
Michaela entered the Surgery division.
"Good morning, doctor Mike!" Amy, the nurse, greeted her.
"Morning, Amy," Michaela replied. "May I see the head physician?" she asked.
"'Course, my dear!" She took the phone, yelling: "Jimmy! Where's the primary?! Miss Quinn's here!"
Mike waited two minutes, then the primary appeared from one of the rooms. He was a man in his fifties, still young and handsome, with grey hair and a beautiful smile. When he saw her, his face brightened. He smiled and opened his arms: "Princess!"
She smiled and hugged him: "Hello, father. You're exaggerating. You're been here since yesterday morning: mother's out of her mind, you know?"
Joseph Quinn laughed: "Leave your mother alone, Mike. You know, she barely lets me leave the house!".
Mike sure didn't want to think about her mother even at work.
"She made me swear we would be home around five," she told him.
"And why on earth?"
"Father! Tonight's Rebecca's birth-day!"
"Oh God, I forgot". He removed his glasses and passed one of his big hands over his face. "Tell me, Mike, you already buy a present for your sister?"
"No, father," she smiled. "I forgot, too".
Joseph laughed again: "We're just the same, my little Mike!"
Three in the afternoon: Michaela was in a tiny office in the Emergency Room. Her father was about to pick her up, but she has to find out something in Mrs. Bones analysis. The problem MUST be somewhere.
Someone knocked at the door.
"Come in"
"Michaela?" William showed up.
"William, hello"
"How are you? You haven't eaten again. You work too much".
She smiled a little smile but she didn't give him a reply.
"Would you do me the honor of having dinner with me, tonight?" he asked. For the hundredth time.
"William, I'm sorry, but like I said before…"
"When are you going to stop waiting for the Prince Charming? Maybe he was always at your side and you didn't know. When are you going to let me court you?"
With that, he went out.
"Damn it!" she whispered.
Why don't people understand?
She wasn't' waiting for the Prince Charming. She stopped waiting long ago.
She just wanted to spend the afternoon with the man of her life, that night celebrate her favorite sister's birth-day and then wake up the next day and go to do the job that she loved.
She didn't want more. Never.
The Quinn's Residence
"Mike?" Rebecca asked, finding her in the library. "Are you going to change into something more comfy?"
"Only my pajamas," Michaela replied, glancing at her light-blue dress. Rebecca's party had just finished, and all Michaela could think was taking off her heels and collapsing onto the couch, possibly with a medical journal.
"No way, girl; we're hanging out with a few friends, and you're going to come with us," Rebecca explained, smiling widely. She loved spending time with her little sister, but she rarely had the chance to do it: Michaela was always either at the hospital, or at school, or studying in her room. And if she had a few free hours, the first person with whom she liked to spend them with was always their father.
"Where to?" Michaela asked, twisting her mouth. She sure wasn't thrilled about the idea.
"Hank's. Dorothy, Grace, and other guys are waiting for us"
"Oh, no, Becca. Thank you, but I'm not coming. I'm really tired and I wanted to study, tonight. Besides, tomorrow I'm working."
"If I remember correctly, your shift starts at 6 PM. So, are you gonna change or not?"
Michaela snorted but shook her head: "No, I'm coming with this dress. It's decent"
"You're gorgeous, little one. Go on, take your purse. We'll wait for you in the car".
When Robert, Becca's husband, discovered that his wife had actually convinced her little sister, he was really impressed: only Joseph could convince his daughter to do something she didn't want to do.
"You'll have fun, cutie pie," he teased the young woman when she entered the car.
"Oh, stop talking to me like that: this night is going to be a disaster on its own, so you spare me!"
Hank's bar.
"Rebecca and Robert are on their way, and guess what? They're bringing Mike!" Dorothy exclaimed, reading a text from Becca.
"I'm sure they had to force that poor thing to go out," Grace, a nice-looking, black, young woman commented. She owned a little restaurant just across the street from Memorial, so she knew all about Mike's attitude.
"Oh, girl, it doesn't matter! Mike's coming, for once! This is the greatest news!"
Three other guys were with the two women: Robert E, Grace's husband – grinning over the women's conversation: he had met Mike a few times, and she sure was a stubborn thing – Sully and Cloud Dancing, a Native American man. They were glancing at each other, and Cloud Dancing was sure his friend wasn't going to enjoy the night at all.
"Women," Sully whispered in his friend's ear. "All this fuss about this Mike fella ain't necessary".
Cloud Dancing chuckled, when the group of three – two girls, one of them might be this Rebecca, and a guy - entered the bar and Dorothy and Grace begun to scream in ecstasy. Sully eyed the objects of all the excitement: a couple holding hands, and a young woman, with a light-blue dress, black coat and heels, and long hair combed in a ponytail.
"Mike, I'm so happy you're here!" Dorothy yelled hugging the girl. Sully's jaw dropped. This was Mike?
"Come on, I want you to meet everyone!" Dorothy continued, taking the girl's hand. "Mike" hugged Grace, smiling lovely.
"You already met Robert E., my husband," Grace said.
"Yes of course," she replied with the sweetest voice. "How are you?"
"Fine, thanks. Nice to see ya here, Mike".
Dorothy tuned to Sully, while Cloud Dancing was shaking hands with the enchanting Rebecca and her husband.
"This is Sully," Dorothy announced. "Sully, this is Mike"
"Mike?" he replied, raising an eyebrow. "Nice to meet you, Mike. I'm Sully"
"My name is Michaela," she corrected, glancing at the man in front of her: ha was shorter than Robert, with long, wavy honey hair. He was all muscular: his jaw, his chest, his shoulder. He had amazing, sweet lips and a pair of piercing blue eyes. They were the bluest things she had ever seen in her life.
Sully returned her gaze. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Delicate, porcelain skin. A bright smile, with perfect teeth. And two big eyes: they were shining like diamonds and they were two different colors! She had a ponytail, and he noticed her hair was auburn. Plus, she had the perfect figure, even if she wasn't tall.
She flashed a smile and went back to her sister: a little taller than her, with dark-brown hair. Real pretty, but nothing like her sister.
"Mike's easy ah the eyes, don't ya think, boy?" Robert E. questioned, approaching his friend.
"She's real pretty," Sully murmured.
"Why don't ya go to her and see if she wants something to drink?"
"I don't think it's the type of girl who likes to be spoiled," Sully replied, glancing at her, sitting at the bar.
"C'mon, man, ya don't have to spoil her; just be nice".
Sully sighed and approached Michaela. Her figure at the bar was the most… artistic thing he had ever seen.
"Hey, you," he said cheerfully, sitting by her side. She smiled but didn't reply, so he asked: "What do ya wanna drink?"
"I rarely drink" she replied, obviously annoyed.
"Oh, so ya not that kind of girl"
"No, I am not"
"Are you sure we're talking about the same kind of girl?" he retorted, smiling. He liked her.
"I'm talking about the kind of girl you're used to. Those pretty and well-dressed girls waiting for you to show up and buy them drink".
Sully froze. She shot him down with just a sentence. He sighed: "Well, you are pretty pretty and well-dressed, too, but I can see your point. I was just tryin' ta be nice, but if ya don't like the company…"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude," she explain immediately. "It's just…"
"It's ok. So, about that drink?"
"A Red Malibu, thank you".
With that, things went on easily. She was quite eloquent and had a great sense of humor. In something about twenty minutes they were talking only to each other, completely ignoring the rest of their group.
"You don't have a New England accent, where are you from?" she asked.
"I was born in New York but spent a lotta my life back in Colorado"
"And what do you do here in Boston, if you don't mind me asking?" With a smile like that, how could he mind?
"I'm an architect. I'm working at the new area of the Memorial"
"That's where I work", she told him, smiling.
"You're a nurse or something?"
"A doctor. Well, I'll be one in June, when I'll graduate". He was really impressed. "A doctor? That's great". He noticed she was glancing at some couple, dancing in the middle of the room.
"Wanna dance?" he asked. He wasn't much of a dancer, but the thought of having her in his arms was worth it.
She smiled back, and nodded: "Yes, that would be nice. Thank you".
Sully took her hand, heading her to the dance floor. When the music began, he wrapped his arms around her waist. After seconds, she did the same, around his neck.
watch?v=NARjr3fMMvY
"I love this song!" she said, smiling widely.
Baby, I just don't get it – do you enjoy being hurt?
I know you smelled the perfume, the make-up on his shirt.
Do you believe his stories? You know that they're all lies.
Ad as you are, you stick around and I just don't know why.
She closed her eyes, sighing softly. She doesn't seemed content or relaxed, just… troubled. She said she loves this song, Sully thought, caressing her skin with his eyes. Maybe it was bringing up bad memories? He was about to ask her something, but she gave it up suddenly. Feeling her relax in his arms, he didn't want to get her nervous.
If I was your man – baby you
Never worry about – what I do
I'd be coming home – back to you
Every night, doing it right.
You're the type of woman who deserves good things
Fistful of diamonds, your hand full of rings –
Baby you're a star, I just want to show you, you are…
Sully wasn't often interested in girls. Well, not in any girl. But there was something about this one, about the way she locked her eyes with his. He knew she was different, even if he had met her only for a few hours. Just the thought of someone being mean to her could make him feel a surge of fury.
You should let me love you, let me be the one to give you everything you want and need;
baby good love and protections, make me you selection
show you the way love's supposed to be.
Baby, you should let me love you.
He wrapped his arms tighter around her, bringing her more close. Oh, how he wish she could rest her head on his shoulder. She seemed so reluctant, wasn't she feeling the same way about him? The song's lyrics were speaking his feelings out loud: if she would let him love her, he sure would treat her like a diamond. Wait: did he just think the word LOVE? Was he already falling for her?
Listen
Your true beauty's description looks so good that it hurts
You're a dime plus ninety-nine and it's a shame
Don't even know what you're worth
Everywhere you go they stop and stare
Cause you're bad and it shows
From your head to your toes, Out of control, baby you know
Falling for her.
She was a stunning beauty. Her hair brushed against his hands, wrapped around her waist. He was completely enamored with her beautiful face, with the way her eyes twinkled at him. He was sure: she wasn't only beautiful. There was more, and he was ready to find it out.
You deserve better girl - you know you deserve better
We should be together girl
With me and you it's whatever girl
So can we make this thing ours?
She moved from his embrace, smiling. "Thank you for the nice chat and the dance, Sully. It's time to for me to go home now. I have to find my sister. Good night". She walked away, and he called after her: "Hey, wait a minute!" She stopped. "I really wanna see ya again. Maybe we can hang out for a coffee, at Memorial?"
"Maybe. If I have time"
"I'll look for ya. It's a promise".