My legs feel like lead as I trudge out of the OR, the only thing that's kept me going for the past 46 hours is the adrenaline rush that saving a patient gives me….that and caffeine, lots and lots of caffeine. I only have 4 hours left until the reinforcements the chief promised me arrive. Two days ago the entire pediatric wing was wiped out by stomach flu. I have my suspicions though – there was cake, a delicious chocolaty chocolate cake that I didn't get to have any of because of greedy residents – well whose getting the last laugh now, their all sick at home and here I am…working a 50 hour shift…damn it!
My grumbling stomach alerts me to how hungry I am. While browsing what's left after the lunch time rush I feel someone step beside me; even before I look up I know who it is her perfume that gives her away – it's fruity and completely intoxicating.
"What did those sandwiches ever do to you?" Her voice is low with a hint of a smile. Is she flirting with me? I glance at her; she has her hands in her scrub pockets and is rocking on her heels, a blush is creeping up her neck and reaches her cheeks – I've just caught her checking me out. I can't help but grin, Calliope Torres was checking me out.
"I hate sandwiches…there all…yucky" seriously, did I just say that - my vocabulary is that of a 5 year old. Its at this point I realize I must look like shit with a high probability of smelling really unpleasant…when was the last time I had a shower? I unconsciously sniff a few times and a look of panic must cross my face because when I look up her eyes look puzzled and she raises a questioning eyebrow.
"Er…I've not left the hospital in almost 3 days. I've barely had time to crash in an on call room, never mind bathe. So you'll have to excuse my unkemptness and err general unpleasant aroma….I'm not normally like this, nope I'm usually fresh…too fresh…they say if you wash your hai…"
"Arizona! Its okay, I heard about the crisis in PEDS. Here I was freaking out because you didn't call me after our date…" Wait, she thinks I was blowing her off? Our first date was Thursday and it was all kinds of amazing; but then there was the cake happened and all thoughts of a life outside of the hospital had been put on hold.
"No! I was going to call, I was definitely going to call" To emphasize my point I flash her a dimple popping grin. Oh my god, when was the last time I brushed my teeth!
"Oh…okay then" she nervously coughs and looks at the floor, is she going to ask me out again? I was sure she'd noticed that I spent 60% of our last date staring at her chest and the other 40% at her ass; she had no reason to be nervous…nope absolutely not, I still "really" like her.
I wait for her to say something else but instead she remains still gazing at the floor lost in thought. I'm about to say something when my pager goes off and she's dragged out of her thoughts. She looks up at me with as I make a silent apology and make my way toward the ER.
"Wait..." I spin round at her request; she's fidgeting with the hem of her scrub top and avoiding my eyes.
"Calliope, did you want to ask me something?" my tone is so sweet even I feel a little nauseated with myself but I need to put her at ease. It's surprising to me how important it is that she be the one to ask me out, regardless of what she claims – she is still a newborn, so I need to know I'm not the only one in this, I need her to chase me, to begin with at least.
"Erm…I was wondering if you'd like to…er eat me…go out to eat with me…if we could have dinner…again…erm soon?" I'm not entirely sure what she just said, but I think it was something about eating her and dinner. I consider taking the flirting to the next level and commenting on her verbal slip but its way to soon.
"I would love to, how about Tuesday- 8'o clock? I'm fairly new in town so why don't you choose where we eat"
"Okay, any no-no's…other than sandwiches of course?" She's smiling now, that wide dazzling smile that makes my heart pump a little harder.
"Nope – just sandwiches" I feel like I'm physically rooted to the spot, just staring and smiling at her. Normally I'd be really embarrassed about now but it appears she's having the same problem.
Its not until my pager goes off again that the spell is broken. I flash her a goodbye smile and rush out of the cafeteria; I feel reenergized – I'm now certain I can get through the next few hours safe in the knowledge that Calliope Torres wants to date me.
