Don't punch him. Just relax. Breathe.
Her tired and frustrated eyes glanced savagely at the man beside her. His snoring was absolutely the most annoying thing she'd ever heard. This was the last time she'd ever fly anywhere in coach; next time, she'd be first class, baby. If there'd ever be a next time, and she almost knew there would be. All this moving was going to be the death of me, she decided quietly.
A strand of golden hair fell in her face, and she softly tucked it behind her ear. She adjusted her Aviator sunglasses quickly and soundlessly, making sure not to wake the snoring beast beside her. She looked down, her faded skinny jeans bared many holes, and her white blouse looked brilliant under the lights of the plane. She soon reached up and touched the silver locket that hung from her neck, a gift from her mother and father, whom she'd never met. This trinket of beauty was her most prized possession. Her name is Malory, but she prefers to be called Mal. She's not one for last names; she believes they are meaningless things people wave about, your first name says who you truly are.
"Attention passengers, we'll be landing shortly. Thank you for flying Southwest Airlines!"
The man next to her startled awake. "Oh my! Here already! That went so quickly!"
"That's one man's opinion," she muttered under her breath.
Rain poured down from the sky and soaked everything, giving it a new hue. Mal, struggling to manage her five large suitcases, stumbled outside to wait for her taxi. It was going to be a long day, she sensed.
"S'cuse me miss, you Malory?" a pudgy taxi driver asked.
"Why yes sir, that would be me," she said eloquently.
"Alrighty then sunshine, let's get your bags in the cab."
"Er, thanks."
The taxi driver drove slowly. This is good and bad, she thought, I'd love to get home in the next six years, but, it gives me a chance to take things in.
"So, uh, what's with them sunglasses? You blind or something? Or are you just making some kinda fashion statement? Cause in case you haven't noticed, it ain't sunny out, princess," the cab driver spat out.
"Well, let's just say I'm making a statement," Mal said softly. She was never telling this stranger the real reason behind her glasses. She wore them to hide her eyes from others, because they often scared many (especially those close to her) away.
"Well this is Portland, doll. There's no need to make a statement here."
They pulled up to her 2 bedroom, 3 bathroom house. It was very beautiful, better then she'd ever dreamed of. The driver helped her bring her things in and then left, she tried to tip him but he refused. Over their "enthralling" small talk in the cab, he had found out she was a diagnostician who would be working at the local hospital, Resurgam First Care.
"Thanks," she said softly, uncomfortable with the whole gratitude thing. She'd never been great at thanking people.
"Anytime, doll!"
The cab driver soon drove away and Mal was left alone in the empty house. What was that saying about a house not being a home? Who cares, she thought. It took her forever to unpack her massive amount of clothing, which was another one of her pet peeves, dressing like a star. Mal slipped out of her black stilettoes and into slippers, shorts, and a t-shirt. She didn't have furniture yet, she was still in the planning process on that one. She never was great at planning things either.
She trudged back to her empty bedroom and crawled up in the big pile of blankets and pillows she had brought with her. Her alarm was set for five AM, which she was not thrilled about, and she set her cell phone on vibrate. She listened to the rain pounding on the roof and the thunder booming, the storm was a mirror of her feelings. Crazy and unpredictable.
Mal's alarm clock went off, sounding that it was five. She tossed it at the wall and got up. She pulled a pack of cigarettes out of her purse and lit one up. She breathed in the sweet aroma and let out a heavy sigh. Thank God for these bad boys, she thought. Mal showered and got dressed in a sexy, tight, black dress that fell about halfway down her thigh. She decided to leave her hair how it was naturally, curly as can be. She grabbed her ID, making sure she had cut out her last name, slid on her peep-toed black heels and grabbed her pea-coat. She locked her door and headed for the hospital on foot. A cool spring breeze flowed through the air, carrying the scent of cherry blossoms. Couples walked down the streets, hand-in-hand. Bahhh, that'll never be me. That's disgusting, she thought. Mal's heels clicked and she walked, it helped her get her mind off the many men admiring her extreme beauty. After an annoying bluster of whistles and flirts, she finally arrived at the hospital.
The courtyard was absolutely stunning. Oh my Lanta, she thought with a smile. Mal showed the security guards her ID and headed inside, and the outside was only a small prep for what was inside.
It was extremely intimidating, but extraordinary. Mal couldn't help but gaze at everything. It was breath-taking! She was so tempted to take off her sunglasses; she reached up and touched them, then quickly put her hand down to take off her jacket. She teared up and cursed under her breath. Dammit! Nevertheless, she went to the front desk to ask to speak with Chief Esha Patel.
Mal soon found herself walking down a long hallway of offices, and at the very end was a huge one. This was Chief Patel's.
"Oh my goodness! Hello, hello! You must be Malory!" she enthused and shook her hand.
"Ummm, hi Chief, that's me," Mal said softly with a smile.
"Oh I can see you're a fabulous dresser! We're going to have to keep the male doctors off you with a bat, hahaha!" she chortled and made a gesture to Mal's dress.
"Ohhhh, thanks, I think? I guess I could have dressed up a little more," Mal said sarcastically. Another interesting trait of Malory's was sarcasm, which she expressed to anyone and everyone.
Mal soon understood what the chief meant, damn, she looked good. The dress showed off her thin figure and busty chest very well.
"Hmmmm, I guess you don't know you're way around yet, do you? Well, we'll fix that! MARIA!"
"Holy shit Chief, relax! I'm coming!"
Maria Torres, the spirited and fun loving EMT, entered the room. She wore her usual green and yellow, Mal noted its tackiness, EMT jacket, black shorts, and combat boots.
"Oh wow, who are you?" she said with a smirk.
"Hi, I'm Frank. I'm the new plumber," Mal said with a grin and a laugh.
"No need to be an ass!" Maria scowled.
"I'm Malory, call me Mal, I'm the new diagnostician."
"Ohhhh, well, Gabe will be pleased, haha! Come on! I'll give ya a tour!" she said and grabbed Mal by the arm and pulled her along.
"Wait, who?" Mal questioned. But before she could get an answer, Mal and Maria were flying down the hallway.
"And this is the OR!" Maria gestured, "But, I'm not sure how much you'll be in there, ahhhh, who gives a damn!"
Mal chuckled at Maria's joke; she enjoyed her company, even though she could be quite obnoxious.
The duo walked down the hall confidently, Mal's heels clicking all the way.
"You know, those damn shoes of yours - wait! There's Gabe! GABE! WAIT!" Maria called and ran after him.
"Who? Maria! Jeez, wait up will you?" Mal called and jogged after Maria.
As Mal rounded the corner, she almost ran straight into Maria and some other guy.
"Dammit, slow down! See! It's those god awful shoes!" Maria said and shoved her.
"Sorry, maybe if you weren't the size of a bull I wouldn't run into you," Mal spat flatly.
The man chuckled and Maria's face got flushed.
"Yeah, haha, Maria. If you ask me, I like the shoes," he said and looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
"Nobody asked you, dumbass. Mal, this is our other diagnostician Gabriel Cunningham. Gabe, this is the new diagnostician and you're partner in crime, Malory, or, Mal," Maria said, sounding annoyed.
Before Mal could speak, Maria's pager went off.
"See ya later kids, I gotta run!"
"Well, well, well, aren't you something else?" Gabe said slyly.
This was the first time Mal really looked at Gabe. He had disheveled hair that was tied back in a ponytail, and a suit and tie under his doctor's coat. His face was a little scraggly, but he wasn't full on beard or anything. But most importantly, he had mischievous, sly, gorgeous brown eyes that Mal could get lost in.
"I'd like to think so, but, I could say the same for you," Mal said in a foxy way.
Gabe found it extremely difficult not to stare at Mal. She was the most beautiful women he'd ever seen, and boy, he'd seen his fair share. She had long legs that went up to heaven and back. She was very thin and toned and had big boobs (which also were hard not to stare at). Her eyes were hidden behind sunglasses, though, so who knew what that issue was. He decided not to press it because he just met her.
"So, what's a gal like you doing in Portland? Where are you from?" he asked offering a smile.
"I've been to hell and back. But, I'm originally from Kentucky. I've been to 16 different hospitals in the past 3 years, they claim I'm not "suited" there, so then they ship me off somewhere else." Mal said.
"Oh yeah? I don't blame 'em, you're quite the handful," Gabe said as a sly smile crossed his face.
Mal blushed and punched him in the arm, and giggled soon after. Wait, where is this coming from? she thought. Am I flirting?
"Hey, how bout tomorrow we rearrange the office and get you situated, maybe grab some coffee after?" he said with a raised eyebrow.
"Hmmmm, I'll think about it. I don't make promises though, too hard to keep," she said and walked to the door.
Gabe followed her, and damn, did he love to watch from behind.
"Oh dang it! Someone stole my coat! Great, freaking great!" Mal said and kicked the coat rack. "I guess I'll just go home without one," she muttered.
"What? You can't go home without a coat! Hold on, I'll be back," Gabe said and jogged away.
Every part of Mal's brain said run, run, run! Leave! But her heart screamed stay, stay, stay! Wait for him! So she stayed and waited for him to return. Gabe soon jogged back with a worn, tan jacket in hand.
"Here," he said softly and put it on Malory.
It was the first time today he'd been, well, sweet Mal thought. Oh snap out of it dammit! What are you thinking?
The warm jacket had the most amazing aroma in the world, it smelled like cigarettes and Gabe. It was like a shovel hit Mal in the face, it made her knees weak and she blushed.
"Thanks Gabe," she smiled and blushed. Oh my god, am I blushing this hard? Dammit! Snap out of it you moron!
"Anytime, let me know if you need anything else, ok?" he said and winked.
Mal adjusted her aviators and walked out into the cold spring night. When Gabe had winked she melted, but oh god, what was this feeling? She hated feeling so. . . . helpless. But she loved it more than anything too. Mal thought, damn, am I confused! She lit up a cigarette and drew in a deep breath and let out a huge sigh. Mal's tired legs carried her back to her new house where she got undressed and crawled into her pile of blankets and pillows. She set her alarm again, this time for six, and went to sleep. What is this? Who am I anymore? I don't need anybody, especially Gabe she thought before falling asleep. But, she was still wearing the worn, tan jacket.