TITLE: Bend and Not Break
NOTES: I felt inspired by a Quentin Terentino article in Rolling Stone that I read this afternoon. He said that he much rather do a movie every five or six years and have a great quality film instead of other directors who do the same type of films every couple of months and you get completely sick of them. So think of this fic, if you will, as my own Pulp Fiction, although without the gore and violence that that movie has (even though it's my favorite movie). I'm going to put my focus on making sure this fic gets finished and that people still enjoy reading it as it continues. A great way for me to be able to do this is for some feedback from you people who read it. So please take the time to click that button at the bottom of the screen. Help me help you!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Susan, Abby, Chuck, Luka, Carter, or anyone else on the show. I just enjoy holding there lives in my fingers when I sit down to write a fic. I don't own Queer Eye For The Straight Guy either, I'm just a huge fan of the show. (
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"It's on!" Susan squeals and comes running into the room carrying two bottles of beer and a pint of ice cream.
"Beer and ice cream?" I ask, eyeing the container in her arms. "That's classy."
"Shh." She jumps onto the sofa next to me and hands me a bottle as she puts the ice cream and two spoons on the coffee table in front of us. As the opening credits to the television show, Susan takes a sip of her beer.
"I'm sorry, but there's no way their going to get that guy to look good." I say and shake my head. I quietly place the beer on the table next to the ice cream.
"I saw the episode Tuesday night. He turns out okay."
"Well why are we watching it if you already know how it's going to end up?"
"Because you've never seen the show and it's the best ever."
"They should have 'Straight Eye For the Queer Eye' and have straight men teach gay men how to act more manly and macho. They could grunt and scratch themselves and drink lots of beer." I say sarcastically and then a figure on the screen catches my eye. "Oh my god, what is that?"
"That is Carson." Susan answers and laughs. "He's the fashion expert."
"Is that really a man? I've never worn as much pink in my entire life as he has on right now."
"Yeah, he's a little weird. He's the funniest though. Except for Jai."
"Which one's Jai?"
"The culture expert. What would you ever do without me?"
"Um, watch shows that don't have the word queer in them." I respond and reach for the ice cream and a spoon. Suddenly, the phone in the apartment rings and Susan reaches to the end of the sofa where the phone is sitting. I hear her groan as she looks at the caller ID. "Who is it?"
"Chuck." Susan rolls her eyes, but I can see a small smile forming on her lips.
"Well aren't you going to answer it?" I ask, as the phone continues to ring.
"Nah, you're here, and besides, the commercial break is over!" The show is back, but I've just got to ask about this Chuck thing.
"So, you and Chuck."
"What about me and Chuck?"
"Are you guys like together now or what?"
"No. Well I don't know." Susan said quickly.a little too quickly. I know for a fact that they are at least in one sense, together. They've been together all over the hospital and haven't been too secretive in trying to hide it. I didn't even want to come over tonight because I hate being third wheel, but Susan swore that he was on duty.
"Well you've done the whole marriage and divorce thing already. Maybe you have it the right way. Get divorced and then get to know the person you only knew for a day before marrying." I shrug and take another spoonful of ice cream.
The guy on the screen says something funny and Susan laughs. I have to admit that the show is humorous, I'm just in a bad mood. It's been a week since Carter left and two days since we found out that Luka is actually alive.
"Has Carter called since he left?" Susan asks as if somehow reading my mind and knowing that I was thinking about him. I suddenly realize I'm frowning and I wonder when it happened that I changed and got upset when his name is mentioned.
"No. I don't really expect him to."
"Luka's coming back when? Tomorrow?" I nod my head and she continues. "He'll be back with Luka and you two can work things out."
"I don't think so."
"Why not?"
"He thinks I still have feelings for Luka."
"Is he crazy? You've been broken up with him for almost two years."
"It's complicated. I asked about him because I was worried. Of course I was worried about both of them, but somehow that got ignored."
"Did he ever say why he wasn't going to tell you he was leaving?"
"Not really. He said it wasn't about me and that he wasn't trying to hurt me. That was about it."
"Well you'll figure it out." Susan said. The lock in the door suddenly made a noise making both of us quickly glance back. The door opens and in walks none other than Chuck.
"Hey baby." He calls as he enters the room.
"What are you doing here?" She exclaims as he leans down and kisses the top of her head. "You were supposed to be working."
"You're not happy to see me?" Chuck feigns sadness and clutches his heart.
"Abby and I were having a girl's night." I watch Susan respond as I stand up off the sofa and excuse myself and go into the bathroom. I can hear them talking softly as I shut the door. I'm not upset that Chuck showed up, just upset with men in general. I walk back out into the living room and fall back onto the spare chair next to the sofa, as Chuck has now stolen my seat.
"You came into my life and my world never looked so bright. It's true you bring out the best in me when you're around!"
"Oh no! Don't tell me she has you watching this now too Abby?" Chuck groans as he realizes what we were watching.
"Don't even start. You don't have to be here you know." She stuck out her tongue at him and I watched out of the corner of my eye as he kissed her cheek and took her hand in his. I continue to watch as they do that thing that couples do when they're holding hands. I know this routine because while a year ago I would have thought it was ridiculous, Carter and I used to do it and it stopped being silly. I suddenly realize I'm staring, though neither one of them are likely to notice me, and snap my attention back to the television.
Ten minutes later at the next commercial break, I decide to stand up and walk towards the kitchen to grab my jacket.
"Where are you going? The show's not over yet!" Susan calls.
"I know. I think I'm going to get going. It's getting late and I have to work tomorrow." I shoot her a small smile, but I know she sees me throw an awkward glance at Chuck as well. I pull on my jacket as Susan stands up and walks towards me.
"Here, I'll walk you out." She follows me out the door and leaves it open a crack when she steps outside. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just.I don't know. Bored with my life is how you'd put it I guess. Sometimes I think boring is good, but now it's just dealing with the same shit every day." I shrug which causes Susan to do the same thing.
"You could always go back to med school. That would shake things up." Susan laughs and crosses her arms across her body.
"I thought about it a couple years ago, but I don't have the money and I like being a nurse."
"I could lend you the money."
"What?"
"I have some money saved up. I've never really touched it because I haven't had anything to spend it on."
"Susan, I'm not going to take your money."
"Of course not. I would just be lending it to you."
"No. I don't need to go back to med school. Save the money for something you need."
"Well it was just a suggestion. My offer will stand, so think about it."
"Why would you do that for me?"
"You're my friend Abby. One of my best friends, and I haven't had one of those in a while. I gotta do something to keep you around." She winks at me and steps back towards her front door.
"Thanks Susan." I smile at her and tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. "Bye."
"Bye." She gives me a little wave as I walk out of her building. As I start walking towards the El, I consider once again her proposition. Did I even really tell the truth up there? I don't think I really do love being a nurse anymore. Maybe at one time. I don't know if I want to totally change my life right now though. Going back to school means classes, studying, scut work, and shitty shifts. I'm obviously going to have to think this through a little more.
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NOTES: I felt inspired by a Quentin Terentino article in Rolling Stone that I read this afternoon. He said that he much rather do a movie every five or six years and have a great quality film instead of other directors who do the same type of films every couple of months and you get completely sick of them. So think of this fic, if you will, as my own Pulp Fiction, although without the gore and violence that that movie has (even though it's my favorite movie). I'm going to put my focus on making sure this fic gets finished and that people still enjoy reading it as it continues. A great way for me to be able to do this is for some feedback from you people who read it. So please take the time to click that button at the bottom of the screen. Help me help you!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Susan, Abby, Chuck, Luka, Carter, or anyone else on the show. I just enjoy holding there lives in my fingers when I sit down to write a fic. I don't own Queer Eye For The Straight Guy either, I'm just a huge fan of the show. (
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"It's on!" Susan squeals and comes running into the room carrying two bottles of beer and a pint of ice cream.
"Beer and ice cream?" I ask, eyeing the container in her arms. "That's classy."
"Shh." She jumps onto the sofa next to me and hands me a bottle as she puts the ice cream and two spoons on the coffee table in front of us. As the opening credits to the television show, Susan takes a sip of her beer.
"I'm sorry, but there's no way their going to get that guy to look good." I say and shake my head. I quietly place the beer on the table next to the ice cream.
"I saw the episode Tuesday night. He turns out okay."
"Well why are we watching it if you already know how it's going to end up?"
"Because you've never seen the show and it's the best ever."
"They should have 'Straight Eye For the Queer Eye' and have straight men teach gay men how to act more manly and macho. They could grunt and scratch themselves and drink lots of beer." I say sarcastically and then a figure on the screen catches my eye. "Oh my god, what is that?"
"That is Carson." Susan answers and laughs. "He's the fashion expert."
"Is that really a man? I've never worn as much pink in my entire life as he has on right now."
"Yeah, he's a little weird. He's the funniest though. Except for Jai."
"Which one's Jai?"
"The culture expert. What would you ever do without me?"
"Um, watch shows that don't have the word queer in them." I respond and reach for the ice cream and a spoon. Suddenly, the phone in the apartment rings and Susan reaches to the end of the sofa where the phone is sitting. I hear her groan as she looks at the caller ID. "Who is it?"
"Chuck." Susan rolls her eyes, but I can see a small smile forming on her lips.
"Well aren't you going to answer it?" I ask, as the phone continues to ring.
"Nah, you're here, and besides, the commercial break is over!" The show is back, but I've just got to ask about this Chuck thing.
"So, you and Chuck."
"What about me and Chuck?"
"Are you guys like together now or what?"
"No. Well I don't know." Susan said quickly.a little too quickly. I know for a fact that they are at least in one sense, together. They've been together all over the hospital and haven't been too secretive in trying to hide it. I didn't even want to come over tonight because I hate being third wheel, but Susan swore that he was on duty.
"Well you've done the whole marriage and divorce thing already. Maybe you have it the right way. Get divorced and then get to know the person you only knew for a day before marrying." I shrug and take another spoonful of ice cream.
The guy on the screen says something funny and Susan laughs. I have to admit that the show is humorous, I'm just in a bad mood. It's been a week since Carter left and two days since we found out that Luka is actually alive.
"Has Carter called since he left?" Susan asks as if somehow reading my mind and knowing that I was thinking about him. I suddenly realize I'm frowning and I wonder when it happened that I changed and got upset when his name is mentioned.
"No. I don't really expect him to."
"Luka's coming back when? Tomorrow?" I nod my head and she continues. "He'll be back with Luka and you two can work things out."
"I don't think so."
"Why not?"
"He thinks I still have feelings for Luka."
"Is he crazy? You've been broken up with him for almost two years."
"It's complicated. I asked about him because I was worried. Of course I was worried about both of them, but somehow that got ignored."
"Did he ever say why he wasn't going to tell you he was leaving?"
"Not really. He said it wasn't about me and that he wasn't trying to hurt me. That was about it."
"Well you'll figure it out." Susan said. The lock in the door suddenly made a noise making both of us quickly glance back. The door opens and in walks none other than Chuck.
"Hey baby." He calls as he enters the room.
"What are you doing here?" She exclaims as he leans down and kisses the top of her head. "You were supposed to be working."
"You're not happy to see me?" Chuck feigns sadness and clutches his heart.
"Abby and I were having a girl's night." I watch Susan respond as I stand up off the sofa and excuse myself and go into the bathroom. I can hear them talking softly as I shut the door. I'm not upset that Chuck showed up, just upset with men in general. I walk back out into the living room and fall back onto the spare chair next to the sofa, as Chuck has now stolen my seat.
"You came into my life and my world never looked so bright. It's true you bring out the best in me when you're around!"
"Oh no! Don't tell me she has you watching this now too Abby?" Chuck groans as he realizes what we were watching.
"Don't even start. You don't have to be here you know." She stuck out her tongue at him and I watched out of the corner of my eye as he kissed her cheek and took her hand in his. I continue to watch as they do that thing that couples do when they're holding hands. I know this routine because while a year ago I would have thought it was ridiculous, Carter and I used to do it and it stopped being silly. I suddenly realize I'm staring, though neither one of them are likely to notice me, and snap my attention back to the television.
Ten minutes later at the next commercial break, I decide to stand up and walk towards the kitchen to grab my jacket.
"Where are you going? The show's not over yet!" Susan calls.
"I know. I think I'm going to get going. It's getting late and I have to work tomorrow." I shoot her a small smile, but I know she sees me throw an awkward glance at Chuck as well. I pull on my jacket as Susan stands up and walks towards me.
"Here, I'll walk you out." She follows me out the door and leaves it open a crack when she steps outside. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just.I don't know. Bored with my life is how you'd put it I guess. Sometimes I think boring is good, but now it's just dealing with the same shit every day." I shrug which causes Susan to do the same thing.
"You could always go back to med school. That would shake things up." Susan laughs and crosses her arms across her body.
"I thought about it a couple years ago, but I don't have the money and I like being a nurse."
"I could lend you the money."
"What?"
"I have some money saved up. I've never really touched it because I haven't had anything to spend it on."
"Susan, I'm not going to take your money."
"Of course not. I would just be lending it to you."
"No. I don't need to go back to med school. Save the money for something you need."
"Well it was just a suggestion. My offer will stand, so think about it."
"Why would you do that for me?"
"You're my friend Abby. One of my best friends, and I haven't had one of those in a while. I gotta do something to keep you around." She winks at me and steps back towards her front door.
"Thanks Susan." I smile at her and tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. "Bye."
"Bye." She gives me a little wave as I walk out of her building. As I start walking towards the El, I consider once again her proposition. Did I even really tell the truth up there? I don't think I really do love being a nurse anymore. Maybe at one time. I don't know if I want to totally change my life right now though. Going back to school means classes, studying, scut work, and shitty shifts. I'm obviously going to have to think this through a little more.
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