One-So Here We Are
Dr Lenny Lyons strolled out of his dirty brick house in a confident manner, headphones in ears, and best friend and fellow doctor Yuki Reid shuffling jadedly next to him. It was 5.30am, and the sun had just come up, giving the sky a pleasant, Turkish delight colour. The breeze was cool and reassuring, the atmosphere was optimistic, and Lenny felt like it was his lucky day as he unlocked his car and got inside.
"Rise and shine, Yuki-man!" he chirped to his friend, messing his thick black hair in the process. Yuki's eyes squinted behind his thick glasses, and Lenny laughed as he adjusted them. He started the ignition and drove abruptly to work.
Upon arriving at the ED, Lenny skipped like a young child across the lino floor.
"Good morning gentlemen!" Noel laughed. Yuki waved and said "morning" bashfully. It took Lenny, on the other hand, a few minutes to work out that he was being spoken to, and upon realising, he took one headphone out of his right ear and laughed back.
"Good morning to you too, Noel!" he said in his strong Stirling accent, before skipping off again to get changed for a demanding 11 hour shift.
By 9.00am, the ED really was in full swing, with phones ringing and people talking in every direction. Partly to keep at bay his languor, and partly to infuriate Adam, Lenny took to swinging mindlessly on a spinning chair.
"Lenny, some professionalism, please" he shouted over the hustle and bustle. Lenny sat up and rolled his eyes.
"Dr Trueman, its Lenny's lucky day!" he cried, arms outstretched.
"Is it now? In that case, you can clean the bedpans in cubicle six. Off you go", said his busy associate. Lenny groaned and got up from the chair. From the desk, Big Mac and Jay exchanged hasty high fives at their friend's misfortune, but Lenny still felt optimistic.
At lunchtime, Lenny was sent to collect lunch orders for half of the ED. After lunch, a hysterical woman came in and Zoë made her his liability.
"No rest for the wicked".
Finally, at 5'oclock, the exhausting shift ended. In the staffroom, Lenny found Yuki tapping away on his phone.
"Is that a lady you're texting, Yuki-boy?" he teased. Yuki looked up and shook his head.
"No. It's no-one really". He hid the phone in his bag and zipped up his hoodie. "You got any plans for tonight? Only Zoe asked me if I was coming for a drink and I'm sure she won't mind if you came too, y'know". Yuki smiled meekly, and Lenny beamed.
"Don't mind if I do actually. Same time as usual then?"
"Mhm"
Lenny threw his bag over his shoulders and the two friends left the ED together.
At 7 o'clock, the young doctors approached the usual bar, and were quick to find Zoe, Adam, Polly, Jeff and Dixie gossiping away.
"Hello boys, come to join us?" Zoe smiled, holding up a pint of lager. Yuki went over to sit down. Lenny went over to buy drinks.
At the bar, a girl of about 20 was stood beside the young doctor, looking around cautiously. She was attractive, with long blonde hair, cerulean eyes and full smile. She was in addition smiling directly at Lenny.
Lenny's lucky day!
"Can I buy you a drink?" he smiled to the girl. She giggled softly in an immature but nonetheless cute way.
"You sure can!" she smiled. The two stared at each other slightly awkwardly. "A G&T please"
Lenny laughed before turning to the barmaid.
"Can I have a G&T for this lovely young lady here, please?"
The girl smiled and held out her hand.
"I'm Emily Rose, you are?"
"Lenny, Dr. Lenny Lyons". The man shook the woman's hand hurriedly.
From across the bar, Yuki was looking on at his friend slightly worriedly. Zoe was quick to notice her colleague's blank stares.
"What's up, Yuki?"
Yuki shook his head and turned to Zoe. "Nothing…nothing really. It's just he's barely known her 2 minutes and they already seem best of friends".
Lenny and Emily Rose had been chatting away and laughing for the best part of 20 minutes now. Zoe shook her head and smirked.
"Oh, don't look so worried! He's just having a bit of fun." She hit Yuki playfully over the head. "Have a drink, chill out. You're gonna have to get used to socialising y'know?"
Yuki nodded and laughed awkwardly. He put worries to one side, until he spotted Lenny leave the door, hand in hand with Emily Rose. He approached the table and cleared his throat.
"Hey Yuki, look, I'm going back to Emily's for a bit, I'll be back later". Yuki nodded, and Lenny waved before leaving in a fit of giggles. Yuki was not feeling so happy as his friend left.