I expected June to drag on slowly. Time always seems to stand still when you're anxiously awaiting something. But I was relieved to have the distraction of several challenging cases.
Outside of work, I busied myself with preparations for my trip. I managed to get my time off approved, then booked my flight, and went shopping. New clothes, new shoes, new bikini. Everything was in order, and I was in a perpetual great mood. Not even House's criticisms could bring me down. In fact, he and I seemed to finally be getting past the awkwardness that had lingered between us since his fake cancer diagnosis.
On my last day of work before the trip, I was going through House's mail when my cell phone rang, showing Sarah's number on the caller ID.
"Hey Sarah. You finished packing?" I said as I licked an envelope and sealed it.
"Allie, it's Justin."
"Oh, Justin. Hi. How are you?"
"I'm ok, but listen… Sarah's not doing so great. I'm pretty sure it's food poisoning. She spent the night last night on the bathroom floor."
"Oh." The taste of envelope glue was stuck in my mouth, and I licked my lips. I knew what he'd say next. I felt awful for my friend, but my selfish side immediately reared its head. I was so looking forward to getting away from Princeton.
"I'm so sorry Allie, but there's no way she can make it to Tennessee this weekend. I'm actually about to take her in to work with me and get her started on some IV fluids."
"No, I understand, Justin. Take good care of her, ok?"
"You know it. Hey, Allie, Sarah feels horrible about this. In between heaves, she said that you should go without her. Nobody else is going to be using the cabin, you might as well take advantage of it."
"Justin, that's not fair to her. I mean, it's her aunt and uncle's, I wouldn't feel right…"
"Nope. She insisted. Said that you deserve the R&R more than she does, anyway."
He had a point there. I couldn't remember the last time I took a long weekend off work. Not that Sarah didn't work hard too, but she worked a typical 40 hour week with no weekends or holidays. "Well… I mean, if she's ok with me going. I really do want to get out of New Jersey for a while."
"Go, Allie. If your job is as crazy as mine, and I i know /i it is, then you really need this. And hey, maybe Sarah and I can come up there later this summer and visit you."
"That would be great. Yeah, ok, I'll go. It'll be good to have some time to myself."
"Great! Ok, well I need to get back to holding her hair back. I'll have her call you when she's feeling better."
"Thanks, Justin. Tell her I said hi, and I hope she feels better soon."
I hung up, and sat there at my desk, formulating a plan that was so out of character for me, yet seemed to come as naturally as fixing House his morning cup of coffee.