Chapter 5 – Toilet Paper Blues

Abby entered the lounge and walked to the coffee maker. Picked up a mug and poured herself a drink. She sighed and heard the door opening. She doesn't look to see who just came in to the room. She thought. God, can't I have five minutes peace?

A male voice asked "Are you ok?"

Abby turned round "Jake!"

"You seem to be on edge today? Are you avoiding me?" Jake asked looking serious for once.

"No"

"Then what's wrong?"

"I'm just tired," Abby replied rubbing her forehead.

"Hey why don't I drop by at your place tonight, and maybe give you one of my massages?"

"Maybe"

The door opened again and it was Carter "like I said… a lost puppy!" he laughed.

"Back off Carter" Jake growled

"Ha! You think Abby ever have interest in you?"

Jake almost opened his mouth to speak but his lover interrupted him.

"Jake! Just go, I'll talk to you later"

As Jake leaves the room, both guys never took eyes off each other. Carter stood there looking smug.

"Carter, why are you such an ass?"

"Come on Abby, it's obvious that he got the hots for you"

She puts down her mug and walked to her locker "Has he?" Opens the door and her hands rummaged around on the shelf finding her cigarettes, the packet was empty. She sighed and slammed the door shut. She turned around and Carter stood in front of her.

"You were great last night"

Abby doesn't reply, she leaned her back against the locker, biting her bottom lip looking down to the floor. Feeling ashamed, she can't look him the eye. His body leaned forward to press against her leaving her tiny frame wedged between him and the locker. Carter tilted his head down to kiss her. Abby closed her eyes tightly, starting to feel panicky. She felt his soft lips, brushing on her neck, brushing them against her ears and whispered in her ear "I love you…" He continued to kiss down her neck, making his way down to her cleavage. He cupped her breasts. Abby moaned out loud until she opened her eyes realising where they were and he was doing. Anyone could walk through that door!

"Stop it Carter" Abby pushed him away "Are you crazy? Not in here"

"What's the problem Abs?" Carter asked.

"Just… not in here" Abby walked towards to the door and leaves.

Carter just stood there shaking his head 'It never bothered her before when we were a couple…'

Abby rushed into the ladies room, headed in one of empty stalls and locked the door from behind. She puts the toilet seat lid down and sat on it. She grabbed hand full of toilet paper and started to cry.

A female humming away entered the room. Abby stops sniffling, listened to the footsteps in to the next stall. A minute later Abby lets go again when she heard the loo flushing. The noise drowned her cry.

The woman came out of the cubicle reached for the tap and looked at herself in the mirror. It was Dr. Susan Lewis. She is inspecting her face making sure she looked presentable. She overheard a 'hiccup' from behind and swung her head round. Susan stepped back and tapped on the door.

"Hello? Are you ok in there?" She asked.

"Go away!" Abby shouted.

Susan narrowed her eyes, suspecting that the voice did sound familiar.

"Abby, is that you?"

Abby unlocked the door and stood there with mascara smudges down her face.

"Abby! What's wrong?" Susan asked worriedly

Abby shrugged her shoulders and blew her nose. She walked to the sink and looked at herself in the mirror. 'Uh! What a state!'She turned on the tap and bent over to bathe her face with cold water. Reaches for the paper towels and dried her face. Abby turned to Susan and cried again. Susan puts her arms round Abby to embrace a hug. Giving her a gentle squeeze.

"You want to talk about it?"

"I did a really stupid thing last night" Abby nodded "I went for a drink with Carter after work, he needed a friend to talk to"

"Yes, as you would" Susan nodded in her reply.

"We got quite drunk, went back to his place and erm..." Abby shrugged her shoulders at Susan feeling embarrassed to say the words.

Susan carried on nodding until it dawned on her what Abby was implying.

"Oh god! Abby you didn't!" Susan laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"Well… I knew you guys would get back together again"

"No we're not," Abby said, defensively "I feel so ashamed… because I'm seeing someone else"

"Who? You never told me?" Susan looking shocked and surprised

"Well it's not serious, we're just having fun"

"I'm surprised you never told me considering we're best friends? Who is he? I'm intrigued!"

"I really don't want to say…" Abby looked away, knowing that she'll be in trouble for seeing a med student.

"Oh don't tell me its Dubenko!" The pretty blonde laughed, nudging her arm.

"Eww Susan!" Abby laughed back.

"Maybe you want to talk more over a drink?"

"Yep, this isn't the time and place,"

"Chuck going to his parents tomorrow for a few days taking Cosmo with him, obviously I can't have the time off" Susan said with her arms folded "I could do with the company"

"Ok" Abby's pager goes off and looked down "Chuny… I've got to go"