THE NOTION OF A PERFECT FUTURE
Chapter Four : Reality Sets In, Harsh Reality.
It was a few hours before the sun would rise. The darkness was still there. It was just George, Izzie, and the darkness. They had slept in each other's arms that night. They had been in their own little world. If only things could stay that way forever.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
George stirred and then laid flat on his back thinking to himself, I thought I turned that thing off. Then he let out a grunt.
He picked up his phone, it was Callie. He closed his eyes for a second, knowing that he really did not want to talk to her, but yet did not want to just ignore her either. So, he answered, reluctantly.
"Hey." George answered in a tired voice.
"Hey! Where were you last night? I was worried sick. I didn't call you. I thought you needed some time to breathe after our fight and then you would come home." Callie replied.
"Um, you expected me to come home after that?...I'm sorry I worried you though. But seriously Callie, there were some things that were said that can't be taken back… some of those things I don't want to take back." George said.
Angered, Callie responded, "George, we fight all the time and we always make up, why does this time have to be different? I know you didn't mean those things you said. I know you didn't."
"Yes I did. I can imagine that hurts you, but over the past month it has been hell for me. You don't even know. There are things, just things…" George said, as he sighed and tried to slowly get up from the bed to go into the hall, as not to wake Izzie.
"What things? And where were you last night anyway?" Callie demanded.
"Well, honestly, I went to the church. I told Izzie I would see her there and since I didn't end up going, I had to go see if she was still there. I wasn't expected her to have waited…Then later I went for a jog. I needed it. As for the things, I am not going there, not with you. You have put down Izzie too many times, I can't do this anymore Callie…" he said, his voice trailing off.
Callie breathed heavily into the phone. "Are you kidding me George? You went to her. I mean seriously. I know you two slept together, but it was once George, and you both were drunk. You said it was a mistake George, sleeping with her."
George's voice heightened as he stood next to the bed, heading towards the door. Izzie stirred slightly and rolled over, not noticing the torture George was being put through on the phone or even noticing that he was not in bed anymore.
"Callie! I said don't go there, stop talking about Izzie in that way. Like she is nothing. Like a piece of trash. And I never said that. I never said it was a mistake sleeping with Izzie. I said it was a mistake cheating on you." He yelled.
"Why do you always defend her? Like she is some prized possession, George. How can you stand here and talk to me like this George!" Callie said in disgust, she was yelling as well.
"Callie! I don't have time for this, I gotta go. I gotta go get ready for work!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.
At George's screaming, Izzie awoke. She turned over in George's direction. She could see the anger in his eyes.
"Are you ok? What's going on?" Izzie asked, as she yawned, still half asleep.
The phone was close enough to Izzie to pick up her voice, George quickly moved out of the room.
"Oh my gosh. Is that Izzie? Are you at her place? I can't believe you George, that you would hurt me like this? What, are you like in love with her now?" Callie proclaimed.
George paused. There was complete silence for a minute.
"I gotta go Callie. Can't do this, not now. I will see you later." George said in a perturbed voice.
"So…you are at Izzie's?" Callie yelled.
There was no response from George, Callie slammed the phone down and hung up.
He closed his phone, knowing that he soon would have to talk to her again, he had to end it, once and for all. Why did she have to ruin my morning? He thought to himself.
"George?" Izzie said, from inside her room.
George opened the door and walked back in. He sat at the foot of the bed. His legs lying flat out in front of him, his back against the wooden frame.
Izzie got out of bed and went to join him, sitting close to him, her legs pulled inward towards her chest.
"Who was on the phone? Or do I even have to ask?" she said, eyebrows raised.
"Yeah. It was Callie. I just don't want to keep hurting her Izzie. I don't want to hurt either of you." He said, looking deep into Izzie's eyes, on the verge of crying.
"I know you don't George." She said in a comforting voice, rubbing his arm.
"I just wish I could go back to before my dad died, to before I met Callie. Then maybe I could have seen how much you meant to me, then we wouldn't be…or I wouldn't be in this mess." George said in a solemn tone.
"I know this can't be easy for you at all George. But just remember I am here for you. I always will be. So, does Callie know about us?" she said, hoping the cat was already out of the bag.
"Yes…I just can't stand how Callie treats you. I am sorry it took me so long to see it, but yesterday at the hospital I really saw the hatred she has for you. I just…I just am so sorry I got you in this mess Izzie. I really am." He said, looking at Izzie, wanting her to forgive him.
"I know you are. I know you are George. And it is partially my mess too, ya know. It takes two to tango." She said, hoping maybe she could get George to smile.
George chuckled, but then became serious again. "I'm just…I am just…so tired and with everything else going on, this is just not what I need to deal with. Callie is the least of my worries right now."
Izzie looked at him puzzled, what did he mean by that?, she thought.
"What else is going on George? Something I don't know about?" she asked, in utter curiousity.
"Oh, nothing. Nevermind. I need to get ready for work, though. I need to talk with the Chief today, so I need to be there early." George got up off the floor, moving away from Izzie in a manner that worried her.
"The Chief? What do you have to talk to him about?" she asked. She could not read his face, she knew something was wrong, but could not put her finger on it.
"Nothing important, don't worry about it." George said, smiling. He leaned down and kissed Izzie on the forehead and then helped her up.
He pulled up with a little too much force, so she ended up landing in his arms. He did not mind this, but he didn't want to talk to Izzie. Not about the test results. Not about the Chief. Not about his future that was not looking too bright. Not about the harsh reality of it all.
George's arms were around Izzie, her hands on his hips. She leaned in towards him, "Are you sure it's nothing? You know I love you and won't judge you, you can tell me anything."
He put on a fake smile yet again and in a reassuring voice said, "Yeah. I know. But it's nothing. Do you need to use the bathroom before I get in?" he asked, changing the subject quickly.
"Nope. I will just get ready in here while you're in there. I will go make us a fresh pot of coffee, extra strong! I think we are both going to need it." She replied.
"Sounds good, thanks." He said as he pulled away from Izzie, holding her hand as he walked towards the door. They held each other until the last possible second and finally he let go and went into the bathroom. A few minutes later, Izzie could hear the water running.
Izzie went into her closet to pick out what she wanted to wear for the day. There was this white lacey blouse she had in mind, but could not find it. She looked all through her closet, still not finding it. Then she remembered that just the other day she had spread a load of laundry on her bed that contained that blouse. She went over to the other side of her bed to see if it had fallen off, maybe on the floor or something, she figured. Sure enough it was lying between her night stand and the bed. She reached down for it, but noticed something. It was a long white envelope stuck under the edge of the mattress. She knew she had not put that there, so she grabbed it and sat at the edge of her bed.
She was curious as to what it was. Then she opened it and it took no longer than thirty seconds for her to figure out why George was acting so strange. He had failed his intern exam. She sat there with her mouth wide open, her eyes glazing over. She was hurting on the inside for George. She didn't know what to do. What would she say to him? Should she bring it up? Should she let him tell her in his own time?
Izzie heard the shower go off. She knew George would be coming back in the room real soon. So she tucked the envelope back where she found it and changed really quickly into her white lacey blouse and faded jeans.
It was a quarter 'til 6. They were running a little late, but got to the hospital as soon as they could. Izzie didn't have to be there as early as she used to be, which she was loving by the way! More time with George, she thought. Yet she wished he would open up to her, in more ways than one. Not just about his intern exam, but about Callie too. She wanted to know the thoughts running through his head, she just wanted to have the right words to say, and she wanted him to choose her. To really choose her.
They both got out of the car grudgingly and before they reached the elevators, George kissed Izzie on the cheek and told her he would see her later, he had to go find the Chief.
Meredith was on the elevator when Izzie got on, it was just them.
"So…you weren't alone last night, were you?" Meredith asked, with one eyebrow raised.
"No I wasn't." Izzie said, letting out a giggle of embarrassment.
"So, you and George?" Meredith said, trying to imagine them being more than just best friends.
"Not right now. But who knows what the future holds. Let's just say McYummy has other things on his mind, like Callie." Izzie said in disgust.
"McYummy huh? That's a good one." Meredith said, shaking her head in agreement on George's McName.
Meredith and Izzie said bye to each other as they got off the elevator and went their separate ways.
George was walking frantically around the hospital trying to find the Chief, but was having no luck. All of the sudden Callie came around the corner and grabbed George's elbow and dragged him into the nearby linen closet.
She moved in to kiss George, but he pushed her off him.
"Seriously George. You are not going to kiss me now?" Callie exclaimed.
George just stood their staring at her with his eyebrows raised and mouth slightly open. He was thinking in his head, DUH.
"Callie. I really don't have time for this. I am trying to find the Chief…" he said, starting to head for the door.
"Well, the Chief isn't here today. He is home with his wife. But we need to talk George." Callie said, almost saddened, yet serious, like she had something important to tell him.
"I don't really have anything else to say except it is over Callie. I am sorry. But it is. I just can't anymore. This relationship…this marriage is wearing me down." George muttered.
Callie breathed out deeply. "This is all Izzie's fault. I am so…" George cut her off.
"Stop it. I mean it." He said, looking at her, infuriated.
"Just leave Izzie out of this, it is between me and you. Callie. It is just over. I have nothing more to say. I will get a lawyer to draw the papers up. You don't have to worry about it." George said straight to Callie's face.
Callie just stared right at George and gave him the glare that she usually only had the pleasure of giving Izzie Stevens.
"So, you have nothing more to say. Well George, what would you say if I told you I was pregnant?" Callie asked as she quickly turned around and slammed the door behind her.
Callie sure didn't sound insincere in that instant.
George just stood there with his mouth open, his hands in his pocket. He began to tremble, wondering if he had heard Callie right.