Chapter 21 - Hello
Monday came around and Riley was dreading work. She hadn't talk to Lucas ever since they returned from Texas and she was afraid that the incident would ruin their professional relationship.
Riley recalls the afternoon that they separated ways when they arrived at their apartment building. Lucas reassured her that he wouldn't do anything to ruin their friendship and Riley was grateful for that. Hastily, Lucas bid farewell and thanked Riley once again, telling her that he will get the massage certificate he had promised her. He turned on his heel without giving a chance for Riley to say a word.
Riley walked towards her full length mirror and nodded to herself. "It's going to be okay Riley. Don't let this get to you. You have to be professional."
"Giving yourself a pep talk now are we?" Maya appeared at her door way. "Poor guy. You never even gave him a chance."
Groaning, Riley grabbed her bag from her desk and walked passed Maya out her door. "You're supposed to be on my side! You're my best friend."
"I am your best friend which is why I am scolding you about this!" Her blonde best friend followed her tracks to the kitchen. "Plus you never said you didn't like him. So I am assuming you have some sort of feelings for him."
"Isn't it too early to talk about this?" Riley poured some coffee into her travel mug. "I'm nervous enough already."
Maya shrugged, "Stop freaking out over it. If anything he should be the one who's nervous."
"Yeah but I feel horrible!"
"Then ask him out on a date and see how it goes!" Maya suggested as she takes a bite of her toast.
Riley raised an eyebrow, "You're crazy."
"You're making yourself go crazy about this which leads me to believe that..."
"Don't go there," Riley pointed a finger. "I'm going now. I'll see you tonight." The nurse grabbed her belongings and headed for the front door.
"Have a nice day Riles!" Maya waved. "And tell Dr. Friar I said hello."
Riley glared at her one last time before closing the door behind her, "You're actually a bitch."
Riley exhaled loudly before stepping into the elevator. She had been gone for a week and who knows what had happened at the unit during that time. Plus, seeing Lucas again added to her worriness. The elevator dinged indicating that she had arrived at her floor. The doors opened and Riley was greeted by her friend grinning at the Nurses' Station.
"Welcome back Matthews!" Emily anything but screamed as she walks around to give her friend a hug. "So what did you get me?"
"I've been gone for a week and that's all you care about?"
Emily laughed, "How was your trip?"
"It was..." Riley paused. "Eventful. How's everything while I was gone?"
"You didn't miss much," Emily returned to her computer station while Riley set her things down at hers. "Dr. Friar still isn't back from his vacation though so you probably won't see him for a few days."
Riley furrowed her eyebrows. He's not coming back to work yet? She thought. "Oh?"
"Yeah," Emily responded, as she returned to reading over her patient's charts. "Heard he extended his vacation. Anyways, I already printed out your assignments. She didn't give you that many patients today so you can transition with ease."
"That's so nice," Riley smiled. "Well, vacation over."
Riley went throughout the day with occasional thought of Lucas. Actually, they were more than occasional to the point that it bothered her because all she could think about was him. She tried pushing him out of her thoughts but nothing was working. During her lunch break, she decided to find out why he wasn't back at work.
Riley Matthews: Hey Luke, I'm back at work today. Emily said you won't be returning for a few days because you're still on vacation. Is everything okay?
The nurse sent the text and waited for a response. Her break ended and she still hadn't heard from him that she began to get nervous. Her nervousness had become a distraction while at work and one of her coworkers noticed.
"Riley?" Carol, their certified nursing assistant, asked as she walked past Riley who was leaning against the wall staring into space. "Are you okay?"
The brunette pulled out of her thoughts, "What?"
"You've been standing there for a while. I probably took vitals from 6 patients already and you're still there. " Carol said. "Something the matter?"
"No," Riley shook her head. "Not at all. Thank you though." She gave her a small smile and went her way. When she returned to the Nurses' Station, she checked her phone. Four o'clock in the afternoon and still no text from Lucas. That's when she decided to ask Zay.
Riley Matthews: Hey Zay. I'm back at work but Luke isn't. My friend said he's still on vacation and won't be coming back for a few days which I know is not true. Is everything okay? I texted him but he hasn't responded. I'm getting worried :/
She locked her phone and sighed. She then finished up her charting so she could head back home. She thought about knocking on Lucas' door later but didn't know if it would be appropriate. Once she completed her work, she fixed up her things and left the hospital. While on her way home, she felt her phone buzz.
Zay Babineaux: Hey Riles. Just called Luke. Said he's not feeling well. He'll text you back.
Riley Matthews: Thank you Zay
Lucas Friar: Hey, sorry for worrying you. I was asleep all day until Zay called. Not feeling well. I'll be back in a few days. Thanks for checking up on me.
Riley Matthews: Oh I'm sorry :( Feel better! Let me know if you need anything.
Lucas Friar: Thank you Riley. See you in a few days.
As she sends reads his text, she couldn't shake the feeling that everything has changed. Yes Lucas said that they're still going to be friends but when feelings are involved, there's no coming back from that.
Maya came home that afternoon to the nice aroma of Riley's cooking, "Watcha doing Peaches? How's work?"
"Work was okay," Riley replied without turning around. "How was your day?
"Colorful," Maya laughed. "What are you cooking?"
"Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup and I'm making paninis too,"
"Oh yummy!" Maya set her stuff on the couch and plopped down herself. "Ugh I need a vacation. Speaking of vacation, when are you going to use that Hampton's vacation of yours and who are you taking?"
Riley rolled her eyes and turned to look at her best friend, "You already know I'm taking you. But I don't know who else to take. Uncle Josh maybe?"
"That's three," Maya smirked. "Hmm... one more person."
"Don't say it,"
"I didn't say anything!"
Checking up on his friend, Zay called Lucas again. After a few rings, the boy on the other end of the line answered.
"Hello?" Lucas answered groggily.
"How are you feeling?" Zay exclaimed. "Did you respond to Riley?"
Lucas groaned, "Yes I did."
"Did you fall asleep again?"
"Yes," Lucas sighed. "I just feel like trash."
"I'm sorry," Zay said. "I did tell you not to drink a lot."
"I know I know. But thanks for last night,"
"Yeah I had to hold your hair back while you threw up," Zay laughed.
"Very funny. Okay bye," After hanging up, Lucas recalled the night before-at least what he remembers and what Zay filled him in with.
~Flashback to last night~
"Lucas that is your 5th shot in a row," Zay warned. They were at a local bar after Lucas dragged him to go out. "You're a doctor and you should know that getting drunk is not going to erase Riley from your thoughts."
"I just want to have fun okay?" Lucas rolled his eyes.
"Why can't we go bowling instead?"
"Because alcohol is better. Now take another shot with me," Lucas urged as he motioned at the bartender for another one.
Zay pushed Lucas' hand away and turned to the man behind the bar, "No cut him off please."
"What the hell man?" Lucas exclaimed.
"Here," The bartender pushed a glass towards the drunken boy. "Chug this water and I'll give you another shot in half an hour."
"Fine," Lucas did what he was told and then slammed the glass on the table. "I'm going to ask that blonde over there to dance with me." He stumbled across the dance floor, with Zay just behind him, and towards a group of girls sitting at a table. "Hi my name is Lucas," He smiled towards the blonde who was clad in a tight black dress. "Would you like to dance?"
"Lexi," The blonde offered her hand and stood up. "I would love to dance with you."
Lucas led them to the middle of the dance floor and the pair began to dance against each other's bodies. Zay leaned against one of the tables and shook his head in disapproval. He pulls his phone out and sends a text to his wife.
Zay Babineaux: Hey babe, Lucas is drunk times 100 and he's dancing with this random chick. He needs to go home now. Can you pick us up?
Vanessa Babineaux: Ugh he's being a dumbass. Okay I'm on my way.
Zay looked up from his phone and saw that the two were now facing each other. Her hands were around his neck and she had a seductive look in her eyes. Zay's jaw dropped when Lucas' hands found their way to her butt and gave it a tight squeeze. The blonde girl was leaning in, pulling Lucas' head down in the process but within a split second, Lucas backs away from her. Zay stares in awe as Lucas says a few words to the girl and leaves her alone.
Following behind his friend's trail, Zay finds Lucas outside of the bar throwing up in a garbage can.
~Back to the present~
Groaning, Lucas slowly got out of bed and walked to the kitchen. Hs throat was so dry and his head was pounding. He filled a glass with water and popped 2 tablets of ibuprofen in his mouth. After doing so, he went to his bathroom to take a cold shower.
Wanting to just relax for the night, Lucas put on sweatpants and a white T-shirt. He was too lazy and hungover to cook for himself so he decided to call for pizza delivery. Grabbing his phone from his night stand, he began to dial the pizza place but a knock on the door interrupted. He made his way to the front door and unlocked it.
"Hi can I order for delivery?" Lucas said to the other person on the line. He opened the door and was taken aback. "Nevermind," He ended the call and dropped his arm to the side. "Hello,"
"I cooked dinner and thought I'd bring you some since you said you weren't feeling well," The brunette smiled with hope in her eyes that the man in front of her won't turn her down.
Happy Thanksgiving y'all!
I absolutely love reading all of your reviews and I'm glad you guys aren't too mad at the route I'm taking. :P This is obviously a filler chapter. But I cannot wait to write the next few ones! I hope you're excited for what's about to come because I am! WOOOOO!
What are you guys most looking forward to? Any scenes, dialogues, etc., you'd want to see? I want to take on a challenge as a writer and see if I could incorporate any prompts into my chapters. :)
Let me know what you think! Thanks for reading! XOXO