Chapter 2:
"Good Morning Everyone!"
April looked at the group of residents in the locker room. They seemed cheerful. Most of them she knew but there were a few unfamiliar faces. She thought to herself. "You can do this April. You can do this."
"Alright then. As you all know, I'm your new Chief Resident. I would be assigning your weekly schedules from now on. So be careful not to piss me off." A few residents laughed as April continued.
"Things would be a little different from now on. There are rules to be implemented. Rules meant to be followed. I have a checklist with me here and I hope everyone will abide by it"
"Oh look, here she goes with her checklist again."
"Alex, shut up." Lexie stared and gave him a no nonsense look.
"What? We all know why she got this job. I heard from one of the nurses that her boyfriend recommended her to Hunt. So, I'm not surprised she got the job. Just wondering if she took off her pants to get it."
April felt as if lightning had just strike her right on her head. Tears were beginning to fall but she was determined to not let them.
"If you may let me continue, I'm going to read the schedule for this week. Jackson, you're with Dr Altman. Lexie, Dr Bailey. Cristina, Dr Shepherd. Meredith, you're on probation so you will shadow the Chief. Alex, Dr Torres. That's all people"
April left the room as fast as her legs could carry her. She couldn't face the scrutiny of her colleagues in that room. What did Alex think he was talking about? Her Boyfriend? Who the hell was her boyfriend? Did he mean Stark? But that's was impossible. So impossible that it would never happen.
Why would Stark speak for her to Dr Hunt. He hated everyone, nearly. He was like Uncle Scrooge. A 24/7 Scrooge. And take of her pants? What did he think she was, a hooker?
She had her own abilities and merits. Why didn't anyone think of them?
April opened the door to the stairwell and shut it. She leant against the door and let her tears out. Tears that she had been keeping inside of her for so long. So long that she couldn't remember since when.
"Are you alright, Dr Kepner?" April screamed and turned to see who was the other company in this narrow stairway.
"Dr... Dr Stark. What are you doing here?"
"Geez Dr Kepner, my ears. This is an enclosed space you know. I can't even find a quiet place in this hospital to get some air. I have the right to get my own privacy you know. Anyway, saw you crying down there. You ok?"
"Yeah. I guess so. It's my first day being Chief Resident and I guess the stress has just started to toll on me. Alex was being a nuisance and he said something that made me kind of upset."
"Well, what did he say?"
"I can't tell you what he said. It's embarrassing and.. And.. We're not really friends you know. I'm even surprised that you're talking to me."
"Dr Kepner, I'm sorry for the way I talked to you the last time we met. I didn't mean to insult or ridicule. It's just..."
"It's just what?"
"It's just the way I am."
"Oh, so you like to insult people, make fun of them. Is that right?"
"No, I mean. The other time I asked you out of dinner and you rejected me. I felt ashamed. It has been years since I asked a woman out on a date. And to be dealt with rejection, that's something I don't know how to handle."
April looked at him, not sure whether if he was speaking the truth or somewhat being sarcastic.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to speak to you in that manner. It's this Chief Resident thing. It's becoming blurry and I don't know whether I want to do it or not. Alex said that you recommended me to Dr Hunt. He even said that I used sex to bribe you into putting a good word for me for the Chief Resident thing. If that's how people think of me, I might as well quit."
"Kepner, why on earth do you care about what this Karev thinks? He is bozo, who lives in people's misery. His words are unimportant and they certainly don't matter. You are Chief Resident now. Your job is to take care of your residents and impress the attendings and the Chief. Who cares about what Karev thinks? Only you know whether you can do this job right. Only you and nobody else."
"Wow Dr Stark. Thanks for the words of encouragement. I think that was the longest conversation we ever had."
"Just believe in yourself Kepner. Just believe in yourself."
Just then, both pagers went off.
"Kepner, ER. Now."
Just as Dr Stark opened the door, April asked.
"Dr Stark, why did you recommend me to Dr Hunt? I'm just curious."
Dr Stark froze. He never thought she would ask him this.
"Because... I care about you." And he left.
