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Chapter 4: State of Affairs
As Sean was busy with work the next day, neither of them could feel uncomfortable with the situation and the guests could stay another day. The entire thing was just so damned disturbing. Sean didn't know how to act around his best friend anymore. It might have been just the illness, or it was the fact that they haven't been on the best of terms, but Christian certainly wasn't the bouncy and childish friend he once knew anymore. Not to mention that apart from that short conversation they had in the guest room, they still didn't seem to be able to relax in the company of each other and disclose anything important about their lives. Maybe if they would have the chance to be alone again. He would have offered him to go out for dinner or drinks, just the two of them, but Christian's stomach couldn't take either. So they settled for an evening walk on the shore instead. The sun had almost reached the horizon by the time Sean stopped the car at South Beach and they started walking casually, staring at the view, rather than talking.
"So what did you do in San Diego?" Sean tried.
"Specialised in hands."
"Hands?"
"Yeah. Management of the burned hand presents special challenges, you know that, from acceptable appearance to a durable cover that can tolerate injury from the activities of daily living. In addition to acute and long term reconstruction of the burned hand I was also involved in reconstruction of other scarred areas that develop tight scars," he said in a very professional and distant tone, "groins and neck. Did skin grafts, focal flaps, Z-plastics, tissue expansion, free flaps…you know the drill…"
"Interesting."
"You mean boring."
"I actually have a burn patient just now. She will come in this week. Would you like to take a look?"
"What for? I'm sure you know what you're doing."
"You just said you specialised in hands. I didn't. I…can give you a consultation fee."
"Hah! Do I look that broke?"
"Well, Gina said…"
"Gina talks mince. Actually she doesn't talk mince. She says whatever it's necessary to turn the situation to her advantage. But…I can take a look on the basis of our…uhm…frien…for the sake of old times…any weird cases lately?"
"Strangely, not as many since you left…did a couple of sex changes, you know cutting balls off, also chopped somebody's toes off because he hated the sight of them and did that on psychiatric recommendation, performed a groin enlargement for a pro basketball player so he looks better in his shorts…what's wrong?" Sean looked at his friend as Christian leaned on the barrier in front of him and closed his eyes, "come on, we can sit down on the bench," Sean said, stepping right next to him, putting a hand on his back.
Christian leaned against him, "I need to throw up," he then ran off towards the beach's restroom facilities nearby.
"Hey! Christian! Wait!" Sean had to sprint to catch up with his companion, but he already disappeared behind a door, "Christian? You here?"
"Yeah," Christian said weakly.
"You ok?"
"Yeah."
"Could you finish up then? I find it kinda find it disturbing to stand in the women's toilet."
"Women's?"
"Yes, women's. Did you not know that?"
"I was in a hurry…"
"Then be in a hurry now as well."
"I'm...hurrying," Christian said between heaves into the toilet, "wait outside," he said pitifully.
"Hi, sorry, I can explain…" Sean said to three women that walked in chatting and gave Sean curious looks.
Christian came out as well, but got a queasy look on his face and ran back again, giving unmistakable noises that made the women go after their own business.
"Thanks," Sean expressed his gratitude to his friend for his contribution in scaring people away.
"You're welcome…" Christian said with a whiny note and slowly walked out of the booth. He looked really white as he sat down on the ground, with his back to the wall and closed his eyes.
"Come on, Christian! Not in here!" Sean panicked, "we're not perverts," he explained to some other ladies that entered, "my friend is not feeling well. I'm a doctor," he fumbled with his wallet to show his identification, then sat down next to his companion to take his pulse, "can't examine you here very well. I'll get some blood samples when we get home, whether you like it or not. How's the pain?"
"I will be ok. Really," Christian said, "Sean?" He added a few seconds later.
"Something wrong?"
"Thanks for helping me."
"Anytime. Just don't do more puking, cause you'll get dehydrated and I will have no choice but to take you to the surgery, let alone take samples…"
"I know. I'm ok," Christian attempted a smile, "imagine, friends like us, not even knowing anything about each other for years…"
"Yeah, well, we did it somehow…"
"It's odd."
"Yeah."
"You and Julia are my best friend, I had no desire to hurt either of you, believe me Sean."
"I know."
"You said you didn't wanna be my friend anymore. That made me understand so many things. I messed up and I can't stop condemning myself for that. I'm no longer the vicious asshole that I used to be. So if you can find it in your heart to trust that what I am saying to you now is the truth, please do so. If not, then I can only blame myself for the loss of the only true friend I ever had."
"Was becoming thick one of the personality changes you're talking about? Or what a minute, thick you always were. Look, I don't know whether things between us will ever go back to the way they were, but I'm damn sure I hope they will, partner…as a start, why don't you do that consult for me then?"
"Ok. Yeah," Christian got up and gave a hand to Sean, "if I'll be in any state…don't you think we should get out of here?"
Tbc.
