"More Drinks?" Parker asked Lily, Meredith and Derek who were seated in a booth at Joes. They had finished a meal at a restaurant near by and were now enjoying a few drinks.
Meredith signalled her and Derek's empty glasses and smiled at Parker in thanks.
"He's cute," She said to Lily as he walked away. Derek scoffed and Meredit squeezed his hand lightly.
Lily looked in Parkers direction admiring the view. He was every inch the quintessential Aussie guy. The one you read about and see in movies. Tall, tanned blondish sun kissed hair and a crooked smile that would melt your heart. His voice was warm and his accent thick and appealing.
But she wasn't interested at all. He was her new friend and her colleague.
"Not my type" Lily simply said and smiled at Meredith who seemed to look at her in disbelief.
"I should go help him with the drinks though" Lily stood up from the booth. As she did the bell above the door jangled and she looked over to see George and Christina standing in the doorway. Christina continued to walk, as if not noticing that George had stopped still, staring straight at Lily.
She stood for a moment returning his gaze, before managing a smile.
She slowly walked over to where he stood.
"I don't bite George," She said warmly when she reached him, resisting the desire to embrace him.
Looking at him she couldn't remember the reason she had ended it. His deep, caring eyes erased the memories. But looking at her now they were cold.
"I just wasn't expecting… you, here" He said in his usual way.
"Well, here I am" She stretched her arms out.
He walked around her towards the bar.
Lily stood for a moment still facing the door. Should she follow him? Maybe it was better to leave it. She was after all the one who convinced him to put his heart on the line last time, only to be the one to break it. She hadn't left for lack of love though. In the short time they had been together she had fallen in love. But she knew that they were moving in two different directions, in the end that pulls you a part and it's a whole lot more painful. She was based in New York then, him in Seattle, both at pivotal places in their careers, who should've been the one to give.
So she had done what she knew how to do. What she had done when she moved to College in San Francisco, away from the pre destined path of her family, she put distance between her and George. She left him a note and she ran home to New York.
She had thought the distance had made her see things clearly. She had thought it was the right thing for them and that the distance had eased the pain.
But as she turned around to look at his back she knew the distance had only numbed the pain. It had served as a poor anaesthetic and now in reality, the pain… and the love were still there.
She walked to him.
"Can't we be friends?" She leant slightly over his shoulder and said.
"I'm seeing someone" He turned to say to her and it was like a slap in the face.
"Of course you are," She said sincerely. Why wouldn't he be? He was fantastic.
"She's great, really nice, a psychiatrist at work" He said, faking self-confidence.
"OH George, you're seeking a shrink" She tried to tease, thinking of her sister Audrey who was a psychiatrist too. He flared at her, hurt by her teasing.
"I'm sorry," She said.
"I should go," He said and started to walk out, she grabbed his arm.
"Wait" She said and he seemed to give in, just as Parker came over.
"You're drink's waiting, I just have to go to loo" He said.
"The bathroom" Lily laughed a little at his Aussie slang.
Lily returned her gaze to George who was watching Parker walk out.
"Who's he… the crocodile hunter, didn't see him as your type" He said, with a nastiness that surprised Lily.
"He's a friend," She said as George shrugged off her arm.
"I should go" He said more firmly and walked out the door.
ResearchParker drank his coffee at the cart in the hospital. Lily was meeting him so they could make some notes for the film. He was going to observe in Neurology to help with inspiration for White Lily.
He looked around and watched the hustle and bustle of early morning at a hospital. Taking it all in he saw it as if looking through a screen.
"Morning Parker" Derek came up behind him and ordered an espresso.
"Morning" Parker said.
"You're here early," Derek said.
"Research" Parker held up the script.
"Oh right, with me later" He turned and said, Parker nodded.
Over Derek's shoulder Parker could see Addison in the distance.
"Where's Lily?" Derek enquired.
"She should be here soon… ah, excuse me, I see someone I need to speak with" Parker said, side stepping Derek and heading in Addison's direction. Out of curiosity Derek turned to see who he was headed towards. He was surprised to see Parker greeting Addison.
"Hi" Addison was caught of guard when she saw Parker, both by him coming up to her and by the butterflies in her stomach. She pushed some hair behind her ears and smiled.
"I was hoping I'd see you" Parker's voice oozed charm and he lightly touched her arm.
"Really?" Addison asked, surprised by his sincerity.
"Can I help you with research, or something?" She asked.
"You can help me… by going out to Dinner with me, tonight" He said straight out. She looked at him, amazed by his brazen invitation.
"Um… I'm not sure what to say," She said.
"Say yes" He stepped in slightly closer, and she felt giddy for a moment. This was stupid, Addison told herself. She hadn't had a man make her feel like this since… Derek.
She looked down at her feet for a moment, and then up into his eyes stopping herself from letting out a small giggle.
"Why not?" She said.
"Good, tonight, meet at the bar across the road, say 8.30" He said looking over to where Lily now stood with Derek, both of them looking on disapprovingly.
"Sounds great," She said, and Parker leant in and kissed her cheek.
"I look forward to it," He said in her ear before leaving her standing, holding her cheek, amazed that she felt like a teenager again.
