Update day! This chapter focuses on Robyn, but Max is included too :D Please review if possible with your thoughts! -Sophie x
The next morning, the sun shone brighter than usual, waking Robyn earlier than she had hoped at 7:00am. She turned on her side and tried to drift off again, but it was no use.
Sighing, the nurse got up, grabbed her clothes and went into the bathroom to get changed and brush her teeth. Even after all the noise she had made and how bright their room had become, Max and Lofty were still snoring away.
She decided to go for an early breakfast, and maybe sit and read her book at a table outside. Robyn grabbed her keycard and book from the table next to her bed and left the room, closing the door with a quiet click. She rubbed her eyes as she went to the lift and pressed the button.
She stepped out at the bottom into the cool reception, where a new party had just arrived, laden with bags and suitcases. Keeping her head down (she was then aware that she hadn't bothered to put on any makeup or do her hair), the nurse walked through the doors and into the dining room. She settled herself down at a table for two by the door then went to get herself some food.
On her way back from the buffet, she peered out of the window at a man cleaning the pool- and ended up walking straight into someone!
"Oh, oh god I'm so sorry!" She said, horrified. The person she had bumped into was a man slightly taller than she was, with a messy mop of brown curls. The sun light bounced from his glasses as he pushed them further up his nose.
"No no," he replied quickly, "I wasn't looking where I was going, I do apologise."
"It was my fault honestly." She smiled slightly, suddenly becoming slightly shy.
"No it wasn't." He smiled back. "I'm Ben, by the way." He held out his hand for her to shake.
"It was. And I'm Robyn. With a y." She added, tucking an unruly curl of ginger hair behind her ear.
"I have a friend with it spelt the same way." Ben's cheeks flushed slightly as he pushed his glasses up his nose again. "So Robyn with a y, are you here alone?"
"No no, I'm here with my colleagues- and friends I guess, we're on a department holiday." She explained. "How about you?"
"Sounds lovely. I am here alone yes, I was meant to come with my sister Elsie but she bailed- apparently her current lover is more important than her own family." He sighed.
Robyn looked around. "We're sort of stood in the way here, how about you come sit with me? None of my lot are up yet so it's just me."
Bens face lit up. "That would be nice, thankyou."
Robyn made her way back to the table, with Ben just behind her. They sat down and began to chat.
"By the sounds of your accent, I'd say you're British?" He asked, hands cupping a warm cup of tea.
"I am. I'm from Holby, south west. You sound more like an Oxbridge man?"
"You got me." He grinned. "I live in Oxford, though ironically went to Cambridge university..."
"Do you live alone?" Robyn asked, picking at her bacon and sausage.
"Yes, a little semi just for me." He smiled. "I'm a lawyer you see, so I guess I can afford a bit of luxury. Do you live alone? Or with a husband perhaps?"
"Oh god no, no no, I live with my half brother Max and our lodger Lofty, who both work at the same hospital I do."
"You're in the medical profession? Very impressive!" Robyn's cheeks reddened slightly at the compliment.
"Yeah. Me and Lofty are nurses, and Max is a porter but our old boss Zoe made him go on a life support course so he can do first aid. I'd like to stay he's better at cleaning floors but he's not too great at that either." She laughed and Ben started to chuckle.
It was then that Max decided to walk in, obviously still half asleep and still wearing his vest and shorts he used for sleeping in. He glanced round until he found Robyn and went over to her.
"God sis you could have left a note! Everyone's wondering where you are!" His eyes flickered briefly to Ben, then back to Robyn, suddenly glittering. "Are you going to introduce me to your friend?" He asked, grinning, but held his hand out before she could say a word.
"Max Walker, half brother to my dearest Robyn." He said in his most flamboyant tone of voice. Ben shook it politely.
"Yeah, she's just been telling me all about you." He replied, looking at Robyn who had her head in her hands in despair and embarrassment.
"Max?" She said, faking the civil tone, "why are you still here? In your pajamas? Acting like this?"
"Well actually they're pretty expensive design-" he started before she interrupted him.
"I don't care if they are made from solid gold, you have been sleeping in them for the past week and two days and they stink. Go back up to the room and change." She said firmly.
"Bu-"
"NOW."
Max put one finger up to argue another point, but Robyn's face was so stern that he put it down again. The porter turned on one heel and walked out of the dining room, sighing as he did so.
"I am so sorry about that, he can be such a nightmare sometimes." Robyn groaned.
"Don't worry about it. That's nothing, you should meet my sister." He grinned. "Max acts like a king compared to her!"
"She sounds... Delightful."
"She is." He winked before noticing her empty plate and cup. "Well I only got here yesterday so I'm staying by the pool today. Will I see you there?"
"Oh." The nurse replied, surprised. "Yeah probably. We leave tomorrow so I don't imagine we'll be going too far."
"Brilliant. I'll see you around then I guess, at least for today?"
"You will." Robyn smiled before getting up and picking up her keycard and book. "It was nice to meet you Ben."
"Likewise, Miss Robyn with a y." He nodded his head slightly, smiling. "See you."
"Bye!" She then walked out of the dining room and practically ran back to their corridor, ready to tell everyone about what had just happened.