Honey
Honey approached the ED with what seemed like a heavy weight pressing down on her chest. She'd been gone months, leaving Ethan with a sour taste in his mouth. She didn't mean to really pull him along like that, it just happened and Honey tried to break it off as painlessly as she could. Like pulling off a plaster. Ethan could understand that, couldn't he? Anyway, she had bigger fish to fry; much bigger stuff to face, and she knew that her dad wouldn't be pleased to see her at all after this.
Walking inside, she was attacked by a wall of noise, mixed in with demands, screeching and through it all, Honey could make out Mrs. Beauchamp's aggravated yelling, clear as day. A smile tugged at Honey's lips, as she got closer to Noel's desk, she could make out her father. Swallowing her pride, she walked up, hoping Ethan wasn't around at all to see her. Honey knew how awkward that would be.
"Hey dad, I'm back," Honey stated, trying to sound cheerful, though her words cracked at the end. Noel's head snapped up, and he gaped at the sight of his daughter, as if she had never left. Honey look virtually the same as she did when she left months prior. Noel wasted no time in walking to the front of the counter and pulling Honey into a hug.
"Dad, let go, you're gonna smother me," Honey giggled when the hug didn't finish for nearly twenty seconds "anyway, I'm back!" The whole situation felt a bit deflated in Honey's opinion, but it was nice to see her dad looking happy. Honey looked around, but was surprised to see that Louise wasn't there to annoy her father.
"Oh Honey…Louise is a nurse now! She's still here, I'm just at reception by myself," Noel said and even though it was with a smile, Honey could sense a bit of sadness in his tone "anyway, you must be starving love! You need a cup of tea, or…?" Honey nodded graciously. A cuppa sounded very good right now, after everything.
Honey sat down in the staff room as Noel prepared the drinks quickly, unable to contain his smiling. Honey felt endeared, however every time someone walked in she became quickly on edge, in case it was Ethan. However, Noel informed Honey that Cal and Ethan had gone on their break earlier, and there was no danger of them intruding on their chat.
"So what brings you back to Holby," Noel asked with a warm smile, and Honey's stomach turned cold. Honey was scared to tell him, truth be told. If she told him, would he abandon her? Would he be angry? Would he be sad? Honey didn't know, and inhaled deeply, trying to calm her nerves, before staring into Noel's now curious eyes.
"Dad, the reason I'm back is- Lily!"
Honey jumped up when she saw the Asian woman standing in the doorway with her default expression, which seemed to be one of anger and contempt, however Honey couldn't help but feel like those were the feeling Lily felt for Honey. Lily breezed forward, not giving any indication that she wanted to talk to Honey.
Noel was sitting, and watching apprehensively as Honey approached Lily, hand outstretched to catch Lily's attention. The Asian woman was vaguely aware of this, and wasn't startled when Honey prodded Lily's arm. Lily turned her head slightly, eyes not leaving the mug where she was making her tea.
"Lily…how's Ethan?"
Honey could see Lily's hand clench around the mug, and Noel looked away, cringing at Honey's inquiry. Lily didn't respond, instead choosing to turn away, and look for the sugar. However, Honey wasn't deterred, and stood beside Lily, facing the Asian woman's ear. "How is Ethan, Lily? I need to see him-"
Honey was cut off when Lily drew her hand back and smacked Honey swiftly, sending the bubbly woman to the floor, clutching her cheek, and Noel was striding forward, an expression of utmost fury on his face. He stopped short, glaring intensely at Lily, who was staring back at her coffee cup.
"Don't even try to act like you care now," Lily spat, throwing Honey a side wards, spiteful glance "he was devastated when you left. All the work he'd put into the relationship for you..was for nothing! You left him on that bench, like he never mattered to you at all! And he's been through so much, and he doesn't need you messing anything up for him again, alright? Stay out of his way, Cal's way, and my way."
"I promise, it's not like that-"
"Then what was it Honey?! What was it that made Ethan almost comatose for a week?! What was it that made you think of him as disposable?! Like he was just to give you the boyfriend experience," Lily exclaimed, and a few people outside the door stared at the normally serene woman now in a rage "because all I know, is that he doesn't need you mess anything up for him, he's been through enough!"
"Hey Lily, alright now-"
"NO NOEL, IT'S NOT ALRIGHT," Lily screamed, her eyebrows furrowed in rage, however at that moment Mrs. Beauchamp walked into the staff room, her eyes cut into slits, and her face unimpressed.
"Doctor Chao, when I hired you, I appreciated the fact you could keep your cool," Mrs. Beauchamp stated, her voice eerily calm "but clearly I can see you are having trouble keeping that quality- Mrs. Wright? What are you doing here?" Honey sheepishly jumped up from the floor, smoothing out her clothes with an awkward smile.
"Hello Mrs. Beauchamp," Honey greeted, rubbing her neck, which was red with embarrassment, same as her face.
"Um..hello," Connie was shocked to see her back, but she swiftly recovered, now falling back into her façade which was reminiscent of a true consultant "Mrs. Wright, I think you'll find this is for staff, not visitors. Could you -and Mr. Garcia- please leave while I talk with Ms. Chao?" Honey and Noel both stood up, nodding feverishly, and almost fell over each other as to not expose themselves to Ms. Beauchamp's anger. As soon as the door was closed, Connie fell into a rage, her screaming audible even behind the doors and walls.
Honey, with a sigh, turned around only to be met with the stunned face of Ethan.
"H-Hi Ethan.."
Rita
"Rita, all I'm sayin' is, if I went around, I could probably, y'know, keep him away from you," Iain was struggling to convince Rita to let him threaten Mark to stop him threatening Rita "just think: if he's out of our lives, we can go off, do whatever we want, because there's no threat of him doin' anything.." Rita shook her head with a smile.
"Iain, firstly we can't, because we have jobs, secondly, I'll go to the police later, ok? I have texts from him, proof," Rita tried to placate him, however, she cringed when Iain whipped around, his face one of shock. She forgot to tell him about the texts Mark had sent her.
"Wait, he sent you texts," Iain said indignantly, his eyes now filled with anger "and you didn't tell me?! Why not?!" Rita shook her head, and took Iain by the shoulders, her eyes boring deep into his.
"Listen Iain, firstly, I didn't tell you because I didn't want you goin' around there and wreaking havoc, even though that would've been nice," Rita tried to joke, but Iain was still filled with rage "and secondly, you could've gone to prison if you'd done something you regretted, alright? Let me handle it, I know him." Iain looked like he wanted to protest, but Jez then came up to them.
"Iain, we gotta go, c'mon," Jez stated, and jogged off, forcing Iain to give Rita a quick kiss and follow him without question. Rita rubbed her forehead and sighed. She really wished she could go to the police, however she had deleted the texts as soon as she'd got them.
But she really wasn't planning to go to the police anyway.
With a sigh, Rita walked off, ready for the incoming patients.
Honey
If someone had told Ethan that today he would come face to face with Honey while Lily was being shouted at by Mrs. Beauchamp, he would've laughed and told them that was impossible. But despite all odds, Honey stood there before him, looking at the floor in embarrassment. Ethan didn't know what to do, and simply held his hand out in front to shake hers, however she found it to formal and launched herself into his arms with a simple "great to see ya, Ethan."
"H-Honey, what are you doing back," Ethan said softly, confused as to why she'd leave Manchester "I mean, you have a business, don't you have to support it?" Noel nodded in support of Ethan's statement, however Honey was looking at the ground sheepishly, avoiding their gazes.
"Listen, I'll explain at my apartment," Honey said with a sigh "come around at eight?" Noel nodded instantly, but Ethan looked a little apprehensive. Honey took his hand in hers and gave him a sad look "please Ethan?"
"O-Ok I suppose," Ethan sighed, and Honey beamed.
"It's a date then!- I mean, it's not literally a date, but it's just two people hanging out- I mean three! Like I wouldn't go out with you after what happened- I-I mean I'm not saying I wouldn't go out with you, because you're very attractive!...just be there, please," Honey found herself rambling, and both Ethan and herself found themselves blushing heavily.
"Ok, I'll see you there," Honey stuttered, humiliated, and almost ran out of the hospital to her comically pink car, fanning herself to make her face look less red "Christ Honey, you were a flippin' idiot.." Honey shook her head and started to get into her car, when she noticed a large scratch across her car. The more she examined it, the more it seemed to lead on to more of a pattern, and after a few minutes, Honey eventually deciphered the words.
'Where's my money?'
Honey felt her body turn weak and her head spun around several times, trying to see if she catch the culprit, however it seemed they were long gone. Running a hand through her hair, she felt bile rise in her throat, but she swallowed it, shaking. She sped off, almost crashing several times, tears poking out of her eyes.
This was going to be a long stay in Holby.
Ethan
Ethan stood outside Honey's new apartment, trying to slow his pounding heart. He hadn't seen Honey in months, and suddenly she appears out of the blue, inviting him and Noel to the apartment late at night. Ethan's mind was running a mile a minute, but he was forced to stop overthinking, when Honey opened the door, obviously trying to look alluring in some sense with what she was wearing.
In a word, she was breathtaking.
"You comin' in Ethan," Honey giggled, and Ethan nodded quickly, and stumbled on the front step, but Honey caught him with a friendly scoff. Ethan, with a blush creeping up his neck, walked into the sitting area, which seemed very small. Noel occupied the single chair, leaving Ethan and Honey sitting on the love seat.
"So, Honey, you invited us around here for a reason," Noel said sharply, pouring himself a glass of wine "tell us why you're here, and not in Manchester." Honey's smile fell, and she sighed, and her hands fell into her lap, thumbs twiddling. She inhaled deeply, and her eyes flickered between Ethan and Noel.
"Ok, so it a few weeks after I left for Manchester.."
A few months prior..
"Honey, I hate so say this, but this place isn't getting enough revenue," Honey's friend, Coco stated, looking at her flawlessly decorated nails "I mean, to support itself, this place needs at least a couple of thousand a month..and you're pulling in barely a thousand." Honey, rubbed her forehead, eyes closed in thought.
Coco, seeing her friend's plight, rubbed her back. "Oh Honey love, don't cry, c'mon, you can turn this place around..I've seen it happen." Coco's words, although said with warmth, just made Honey feel nasty. She was scared; where would she go? Would she go back as a pole dancer? Would she go back to Noel? Honey merely clutched her head, and fell into a slump, confused at what to do.
"Honey, you want my advice? Go to Jax." Honey's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and looked at Coco.
"Jax? Who's Jax," Honey inquired, and Coco looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, like one of the employee's, because she knew they were looking for a reason to put Honey down after she couldn't pay their wages. Satisfied there wasn't anyone listening, Coco put her mouth close to Honey's ear and began talking.
"Go to the club downtown, it's called Tease..once you're there, go to this guy at the bar, and ask for a shot of vodka, but with a hint of Jax. He'll then bring you to Jax. Jax is a guy, really nice guy, good lookin' too-"
"Coco, I don't care what he looks like!"
"Sorry, sorry. Anyway, if you tell him what's wrong, he might take pity on you, and give you the amount you need to pay the bills for this place," Coco explained "provided that you pay him back of course." Honey fell back in shock, shaking her head despite Coco's please to listen. Coco eventually forced Honey's face before hers.
"Listen Wright, if you don't get a loan from someone, then this place is as good as gone," Coco warned, eyes serious "now excuse me, but Dustin is bringing me out. Don't wait around!" And with that, the blonde woman left, leaving Honey to stew in her thoughts.
Currently..
"And I went to Jax, and he gave me money…but the place still failed..I owe him thousands, and I'm sure he's comin' after me..I have nowhere else to go," Honey said with a sniffle "and I can't go to the police, because he has friends. Lots of them." Noel and Ethan were speechless, and Honey then sat back, sighing at her predicament. It either meant death, poverty or going on the run. And none of them sounded particularly pleasing, if she was completely honest.
"Well you don't really think he's here, do you," Noel said skeptically, eyebrow raised "I mean, how could he track you, y'know?" Honey knew that he had tracked her, but she still smiled at Noel's suggestion and agreed, saying how she wasn't sure if he was really following her. She didn't need her dad worrying about her.
A few minutes later, Noel had left, and Ethan was just gearing up to leave, but Honey caught his hand, eyes wide. "Ethan, can you stay here tonight? I'm terrified Jax will find me.." Ethan was shocked at this admission, and looked outside. It was near midnight, and it would be bad to drive another half hour as tired as he was.
"Ok, ok, I will…I'll sleep on the couch, will I," Ethan sighed, yawning tiredly, and Honey nodded quickly, smiling widely, and went to go fetch some blankets and pillows. Ethan knew it was bad to start to become close to Honey again, but he couldn't help it.
He really couldn't.