Chapter 1
It was only quarter to five in the morning, but the streets of Chicago were already bustling with activity. People heading off to work, school, even daycare made the city quite the crowded place. Sidewalks were overflowing, streets were jam packed with cars, and El seemed to be crowded with more people than usual.
Battling against the strong winter winds, a young woman made her way to work in the early hours of the day. That woman was Neela Rasogtra and she was a twenty-two year old med student at County Hospital in Chicago.
Walking into the ER, Neela shivered and headed into the lounge where she found her best friend, fellow med student and former nurse, Abby Lockhart, pouring two cups of fresh coffee. She turned around and handed a cup to Neela.
"You know I love you, right?" Neela smiled.
"I figured you'd need it." Abby replied.
"You were right. Ray and his band mates were over last night. I feel like I didn't sleep at all." She explained. "Are you just getting off?"
"Two more hours. Graveyard shift sucks. It was so dead last night." Abby said, sitting down on the couch.
"Great, the calm before the storm. This is going to be one busy day." Neela yawned, taking a seat next to Abby and resting her head on her shoulder. "Think they'd notice if I didn't go out there?"
"It's Morris. Do you really need an answer for that?" Abby laughed.
"Very true." Abby sighed.
There was a moment of silence between the two of them, both thinking about the same thing but not sure how to bring it up.
"Neela? Can I ask you a question?" Abby finally broke the silence.
"Sure, what's up?" Neela looked up at the brown-haired women.
"Why haven't you told Ray?"
Ray Barnett was Neela's twenty-two year old roommate. He was also a med student at County.
Neela sighed. She knew this would come up sooner or later. She had tried to keep this to herself for a while now, but Abby knew her too well.
"I don't know, Abby. I mean, I'm scared of it."
"Scared?" Abby looked confused.
"Yeah." Neela readjusted herself so she was facing Abby. "I've never, ever felt like this before. It's scary. I'm not sure what to do."
"Well, talking to him would be a start." Abby joked.
Neela looked down at her hands. "What if he doesn't feel the same way? What if all he sees me as is his roommate?"
"Neela. Look at me." Abby took her hands in hers. "I've seen the way he looks at you. He has feelings for you. I've seen how his eyes light up when you walk in the room, how he blushes when he catches himself checking you out, and how he can't think straight or form coherent sentences when you're around. You can't be scared of it, Neela. He isn't going to say anything; he has no idea what you're feeling. You guys belong together. You need to tell him."
"I know, Abby, I know. I just don't know how to." Neela shook her head.
"Okay, what time are you off today?"
"Two."
"All
right. I know Ray's got the graveyard shift tonight, so he's
probably going to be sitting at home, watching TV, all day." Abby
told her. "Call him, and see if he wants to go out, for dinner or
something casual. It will be easier to break it to him in a public
place where you know he won't go crazy."
"I don't know, Abby…" Neela looked very unsure of herself.
"No, Neela, if you don't tell him yourself, I'm going to. I can't sit back and watch my best friend miss the perfect opportunity to get a great guy."
Neela didn't respond. She just moved her head to avoid Abby's gaze, but in a typical Abby fashion, she lowered her head further to keep her gaze.
"Neela? What's wrong?"
"That's just it. He is a great guy, who deserves someone great. Not someone like me." She said quietly.
Abby was shocked. "Honey? What do you mean?"
"Abby, look at all his groupies. They're beautiful and sexy, they know how to dress just right, they always know what to say… I could never compare to them." Neela responded.
Abby knew that she didn't know everything about Neela, but she never thought she was so self-conscious.
"Neel, don't even think that." Abby pulled the crying girl into her arms and stroked her hair. "You are more beautiful than any of those girls. Sure, you may not dress like them, but that doesn't make you less attractive. Those girls mean nothing to Ray, trust me on that one. I've heard his stories. As for always knowing what to say? I'd say you got that down pat. I mean, I've seen you flirting with some guys, whether you were joking or not. You've got that, and if you don't believe me, ask Pratt. Some of the things he has heard you say make him want, well… I'm not going to go into details on it."
"Abby, it's not just that…" Neela squeezed her eyes shut, hoping this was a dream and she wasn't about to admit her biggest secret. "There's something else, something I've never told anyone before."
"Neela, you're starting to scare me, what is it?" Abby questioned.
Neela opened her eyes and took a deep breath. "It's going to sound ridiculous, but… I'veneversleptwithanyonebefore." Neela said so quickly that all her words ran together.
"What? You've never?" Abby was in awe. "But what about those things…?"
"I was just going along with everyone else. I didn't want anyone to know. My parents raised me very religiously. I was barely allowed to date, let alone anything else. When I came here, I was so ashamed that I ended all my relationships before they got that serious. I'm sorry." She explained.
"Why are you sorry?" Abby looked down at her and wiped away the fallen tears. "This isn't a bad thing, you know."
"Yes, it is." Neela said. "Ray has been with a bunch of girls; he's far more experienced than I am. Why would he even want to waste his time with me?"
"Neela!" Abby exclaimed. "Take that back right now! You know it isn't true."
"Yes, it is, Abby. I'm nothing compared to any of those girls."
"Neela, you are not nothing. You are the most beautiful, sensitive, caring, person I've ever known. You are an amazing person and Ray sees that. He isn't going to push you to do anything you aren't ready to do." Abby said. "You need to talk to him. Tonight."
"Abby –." Neela started to protest.
"No, you are going to do it, even if I have to dial the phone myself and drag you to that restaurant."
Neela didn't say anything.
"Please, Neela?" Abby's voice grew softer. "Please?"
Neela hesitantly sat up. She nodded her head slightly. "Okay, I will. I'll call him before you leave."
"Pinky promise?"
"Pinky promise." Neela smiled as they linked their pinkies together.
"Thank you, Neela." Abby pulled the girl into her arms again and hugged her tightly. "I just want you to be happy."
"I know, Abby, and thank you." Neela sighed and stood up. "You think Morris is wondering where we are yet?"
Looking down at her watch, Abby realized the two girls had been talking for just over an hour.
"Wow, time flies. You only have forty-five minutes before I leave. Let's go see if it is still dead out there."
Taking Abby's hand in hers, she nodded her head in agreement. "I love you, Abby."
"I love you, too, Neela."
The two women linked their arms and walked out of the lounge.
"Where have you two been?!" Morris asked, trying to sound stern.
"Shut up, Morris." They said in unison as they walked past him to find some charts.
Morris sighed and walked away. No one ever respected him, and he was the Chief Resident of the ER!