Chapter 36: KISS

Maya's POV

As weeks go by I go more into myself. I avoid Deeken at all costs, only speaking to him when he brings in patients. He's annoyed at the fact I've blocked him but I don't care. I get closer to Mario and we go on more dates but I'm afraid to let him in. I know he senses it but he doesn't say anything.

Christa becomes over protective whenever Deeken comes near me acting like an older sister. Doctor Rorish watches from a distance observing that I've started back again on more medication. She doesn't know the type of medication I'm talking but she knows it's due to Deeken.

I take the normal medication. My anti-allergy, ferrous galfer, low dose antibiotics and so on. But I also have had to start back on my anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medication. I ignore my sleeping tablets though. I hate them. They make me over tired. However if I didn't get proper sleep soon I would need to start them again to at least get my sleep cycle into a vague routine again.

I hated this. I hated that Deeken still had the power to do this. I thought I'd got over him but obviously I hadn't.

Gosh I haven't got over him.

"So we both have a day off tomorrow and I was thinking…" Mario says but trails off. We were at the nurse's station.

"Thinking what?" I smirk.

"That we could get dinner or catch a movie or something. We've only really been able to do breakfast so I though why not," He smiles.

"Sounds good."

"So say I pick you up at six and we catch a movie and get dinner after?" He suggests. He was cute when he was nervous.

"Perfect," I smile.

Before he can respond I'm grabbed by Doctor Rorish who's being followed by Christa and Mario is grabbed by Doctor Hudson who's being followed by Angus. And dragged into centre stage.

Here we go again.

I stand in front of the mirror smoothing down my skirt. I was dressed in a powder blue skirt, white jumper and brown lace-up boots. I had light makeup on and my hair was lightly curled. I was nervous and had butterflies in my stomach.

Stay calm. It's just a date.

I look towards the door when I hear a knock and take a deep breath. I open the door and find who I was expecting, Mario, but his style surprises me. Gosh he looked handsome. He wore a pair of black jeans, a v-neck white t-shirt and black jacket. A pair of sunglasses hung off the collar of the t-shirt and wore a pair of black lace up shoes. It takes me a few seconds to release he's also gaping at me.

"Hi…" I stutter out.

"Hi," He smiles back. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah," I say clearing my throat. I quickly grab my brown leather jacket and handbag. "Where are we headed?"

"I was thinking of seeing The Martian then dinner. But only if you want to," He says as I lock my door.

"Sounds good," I smile as we make it down to his jeep.

The drive to the cinema is quiet but it's not an awkward silence. It only takes us about ten minutes to get there and we take our time as the movie isn't for another twenty minutes. With a lot of arguing we split the price between us. Mario pays for the tickets and I pay for the snacks. He's cute throughout the movie doing the whole yawn and stretch move so he could put his arm around me. I respond with a smirk and snuggle against him.

A warm feeling settles in my heart. It had been a while since I'd felt like this or allowed myself to. But I felt safe to let myself relax around him. Mario felt different. He wasn't going to hurt me on purpose and I knew he wasn't. I felt I could trust him and I did. I did.

"I had fun tonight," I smile.

Mario and I were standing outside my apartment's door. It was late but I wasn't tired. I did have fun. The movie had been good and it had been a nice meal.

"Me too," He smiles. "We should do it again sometime."

"Definitely," I smile back as we fall into an awkward silence. Well I wouldn't call it awkward. I would call it him trying to gauge the moment.

Within seconds his lips find mine in a soft gentle kiss. I hum happily against his lips as he grabs my waist and I loop my arms around his neck. My eyes drift close but the kiss was over as soon as it begun.

"Sorry I should have asked if you were ready…" He says pulling back and I look at him confused. "I know how protective you are…"

I silence him by putting a finger on his lips.

"Mario I would have pushed you away if I wasn't ready," I say surely. "What's wrong?"

"Sorry, I freaked," He says quietly. "I don't know what it is about you but I feel different. I feel vulnerable."

"You would be glad to hear I feel the same way," I whisper. His lips quickly find mine after that and I grin against them. This time he grabs slightly lower than my waist and I knew it was going to go further than just kissing.

"Do you want to come inside?" I mumble as the kissing intensifies.

"Definitely," He says as I turn in his arms and fumble with the door distracted by the hands moving up and down my waist and back.

We're barely in before he pins me to the wall burying his head in my neck.

"Just a quick thing before we go further," I whisper causing him to stop. "I've only done this with one other guy and I'm not experienced. So please take it slow. My scars… my scars are ugly. They're on my torso and chest…"

"Hey," He says cutting me off. "I don't care. You're beautiful and I couldn't care less if you were experienced or not. The speed is completely up to you. Okay?"

"Okay," I nod. I then kiss him with a smile.

It was going to be long night.

I wake up slowly to Mario's arms wrapped around me, strong and protecting. I look up to find him watching me. I smirk at him.

"Morning," I smile.

"Morning," He smiles back running his hands up and down my back.

"Last night was…" I begin but I trail off. There were no words.

"Exactly," He chuckles.

I chuckle back and lean in to kiss him. It's slow unlike last night and it takes all I have not to get carried away.

"Want some coffee?" I ask pulling back.

"That's all you think about isn't it?" He chuckles.

"Maybe," I smirk getting up and pulling on some underwear and a t-shirt.

Before I can say anything else I hear a buzzing and the song American Idiot. That would be my phone. I quickly grab it off the dresser.

"Hello?" I say.

"Maya it's Doctor Rorish," The caller says. I inwardly groan. "There's been a massive road accident on the highway. All hands on deck. I know it's your day off but you're needed."

"Is Mario needed too?" I say.

"Yeah…"

"I'll save you a call," I say and I can see the raised eyebrow from Doctor Rorish now. "Mario we're needed at the hospital."

"Thank you Maya," She says. "See you shortly."

"See you soon."

I hang up the phone and Mario smirks at me.

"Duty calls," I sigh. "Dibs on first shower."

He rolls his eyes as I give him a quick kiss and leave the room.

It was going to be a long day.