First Impressions
So I really have to apologize for not updating in so long. I know that it's really not needed but to me I feel the like I should because I don't want to let you guys down. Last month I was spending a lot of time with my family and then this month I've been crazy sick (stupid immune system lol) I love writing this story and not being able to update was horrible. You guys are amazing and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
I don't own the Walking Dead!
Beth woke up the next morning with a headache, a text message from an unknown number, and another from Maggie. After showering and getting food into her system Beth looked at the messages while nursing a cup of coffee on her way out the door. The message from Maggie was reminding her that she would be at the hospital for an appointment to see how far along her sister was. Beth was surprised at the other message on her phone, Harley had put Beth's number into Daryl's phone and he sent a text. It was clear that it was from last night and Beth hoped that he meant it. Daryl's message promised next time they wouldn't be interrupted.
"Nurse Greene, are you okay?" Michonne asked with a slightly knowing look on her face. Beth felt her cheeks warm as she snapped back to attention, throughout the morning it had been difficult to stay focused and it seemed that her boss noticed.
"Yes I'm sorry." Beth managed to get out. "I guess I was just lost in thought."
"Well we're seeing your sister next so I think you'll want all your attention towards her." Michonne smiled. Beth nodded and grabbed her sister's chart, reading it as she walked towards the waiting area. There she saw Maggie as she sat nervously by herself. Beth was surprised, she thought Glenn would be right next to her ready to crack a joke or embarrass the both of them but he was nowhere to be seen.
"Maggie, come on back." Beth smiled. Maggie smiled brightly and followed as she picked up her bag. "Where's Glenn?"
"He went to the bathroom a couple of minutes ago. I hope he doesn't get lost." Maggie rolled her eyes at the silliness of her fiancé. Beth giggled and went over to Patricia who was at the desk, asking her to make sure Glenn knew where they were. Beth led her sister into one of the rooms to start the exam.
"How did he take the news?" Beth asked as she wrote down Maggie's height and weight.
"Before or after he fainted in the middle of our apartment?" Maggie laughed remembering Glenn's shocked expression at the news. Beth's eyes widened at hearing that. "We really weren't planning to have any kids until at least a year after we've been married. I think that's really why I was so freaked out. Once he was awake though we talked it out and he's excited."
Beth smiled as she took her sister's blood pressure, noting that it was normal. She was happy Maggie had found someone who was so great for her and they complimented one another. Beth continued through more of the routine things with the check-up. They chatted about small things that had happened since the last time they saw each other. Glenn came bursting through the room about half way through, panting, causing the girls to look at one another and double over laughing.
"Alright now guys, it's time for my favorite part." Beth always enjoyed the part where she did the ultrasound. "Lift up your shirt Mags and I'll put the gel on so we can see if we can get an ultrasound of the little peanut. It'll be cold to the touch."
Maggie shivered at the contact of the gel on her stomach but her eyes never left the screen that would show her the baby that would be growing. Glenn grasped her hand tightly as tears seemed to come to her eyes, Maggie couldn't imagine anything better than sharing this moment with her sister and fiancé.
"Now I don't know if we'll be able to see much but I can tell you're at least five weeks along and both mommy and baby are healthy. We want to keep it that way so I'll be prescribing some prenatal vitamins and giving you a list of things to avoid eating." Beth wrote down the prescriptions. "Dr. Thompson will want to come in and talk to you, so if you have any questions then she'll be happy to answer."
"We do have one question for you." Maggie spoke up as she took the goop off her stomach. "Did you manage to get the days off for the rehearsal dinner and wedding next week?"
"Yeah I did, everything is all set." Beth was excited to finally be a part of her sister's marriage.
The blonde left the two so that she could go get Michonne. She had more patients to look after and a lot more things to do during her shift. It was going to be a long day but Beth was looking forward to it. Before going to see another patient, Beth checked on the Scotts baby. David Scotts was in the ward, sitting next to his daughter who was in the incubator. She saw that the baby was named Claire. Smiling to herself, Beth knew she'd have to come by again before her shift was over.
With a heavy sigh the young girl sat in her car, she hadn't bothered turning it on yet but knew that it would soon be important to do so. She followed up on her promise to herself and before clocking out Beth went over to the NICU and checked in on Clair Scotts, she wasn't surprised to see David still there but what did surprise her was that he apologized. The two ended up having a long conversation and before Beth knew it she had to leave. Shaking off any negative thoughts about what had happened with Clair's mother and the bittersweet conversation Beth made her way back to her apartment. When she arrived she was surprised to find that it was quiet. Harley was supposed to be home and they were going to have take-out plus watch a movie.
"Harley, are you home?" Beth called out hesitantly. She heard something from Harley's room so she walked back there and knocked on the door. Beth was surprised when Chase opened the door, he was wearing pajama pants, a tank top, and looked like he just rolled out of bed.
"Hey Beth, how was work?" Chase asked quietly, Beth looked at him slightly confused. She was still unsure what to think of him. Usually the boys Harley has brought around were only there for one thing then they were gone. It was rare for Beth to see the same guy twice or any guy at all for months.
"It was good, is Harley in her room? Is she okay?" Beth asked, becoming worried about her best friend.
"Depends on what you mean by okay. She called me last night, said she wasn't feeling good then she asked if I could come over. I ended up staying the night, it seems like she's still not doing any better. Hell she may even be a little worse." Chase explained as he let Beth into Harley's room.
Harley was curled up underneath her covers and didn't move as Beth sat down beside her. Beth placed a hand on her forehead, it was easy to tell that her best friend had a fever. There was a light sheen of sweat and Harley's usually tan skin looked sickly. It wasn't very often that her roommate got sick but Beth knew that when she did the first couple of days were usually the worst. There were several tissues scattered around her bed and it was obvious that Harley had only gotten out of bed when absolutely needed.
"Hey blondie, deliver any babies today?" Harley coughed, Beth had to wince as she noted how hoarse her best friend sounded.
"Not today brownie." Beth smiled sadly, Harley coughed more but was slightly surprised at the nickname that she hadn't heard in a while. It was in reference to Harley's hair color since the girl had always called Beth 'blondie.' "How are you feeling?"
"Like shit." Harley put bluntly. "It came on so suddenly, I feel like I'm dying. Maybe death would be a sweet relief from this hell."
Beth rolled her eyes, she forgot how the artist could be dramatic at times when she had the energy. "Have you ate anything?"
"Chase has given me crackers and water that I've kept down recently." Harley grimaced. She withdrew into the covers even more as she started to shiver. Her voice was quieter as she spoke this time. "Beth, do you think that maybe you could call Daryl and see if he could come down here?"
"Of course Harley." Beth got up as Harley closed her eyes to sleep once again. Chase followed the blonde out of Harley's room, closing the door quietly as they went into the kitchen. She pulled out her phone and brought up Daryl's number.
"Hey" Daryl answered after a few rings. "What's up Beth?"
"Hey Daryl, I came home and found Harley still in bed. Chase said that she called him last night and said that she wasn't feeling good. I think it may be a virus. Anyways she wanted to know if you could over."
There was a slight pause and for a second Beth had thought Daryl had hung up on her. "I'll be there as soon as I can, though I may have a tag along."
"With how bad I think she's feeling, I doubt she'll care." Beth couldn't help but feel relieved. They hung up and Beth looked down, realizing she was still in her scrubs. Going into her room she changed quickly into the first things she grabbed.
Heading back into the living room she noticed that Chase had swapped out the pajama pants he had on earlier for a pair of jeans and he was now making himself comfortable on the couch. Beth wondered how many times he had been over here while she was at work or how often Harley had been over to his place.
"So how close are you and Harley?" Beth couldn't help but ask. Chase looked up from what seemed to be his search for the remote.
"I'd say we're close, well as close as two friends can be." Chase managed to get out, his cheeks turning a slight pink color. "Harley's probably one of my best friends, she's the coolest girl I've ever known and has an amazing sense of humor. It's like hanging out with one of the guys except I don't see her that way."
"How do you see her then?" Beth held back a laugh as she made her way into the kitchen. She heard Chase sigh as she got a pop from the fridge, opening it and taking a drink Beth went back into the living room and sat on the love seat next to the couch so that she could see Chase.
"I uh, well see her as a girl." Chase stuttered out. Beth thought it was slightly amusing and slightly endearing, it was clear that he hadn't expected to be interrogated. "Obviously and one who is really pretty. I don't know what she thinks of me but I know that I want to be more than just friends. That's why I try to be there for her and when Harley called me I was over here as soon as possible."
"Harley doesn't let a lot of people get close to her. For her to even call you means that she thinks a lot of you." Beth smiled as she played with the pop tab of her can. "Believe it or not Harley and I weren't really friends at first when we met. I wouldn't call us enemies, that would be too drastic, but we had a mutual dislike for each other."
"How did you become friends then?" Chase asked. Beth took a drink of her pop, thinking back to when it really was that she became friends with Harley.
"Well, I finally told her I was tired of all the hostility and arguing. I had done nothing to deserve her attitude and that I knew it was her way of keeping people from getting close to her." Beth shrugged. "Harley was surprised since no one really confronted her about her attitude. So I guess even if they did, those people didn't care enough to try and go further than just get past the first wall she built up."
"Yeah, it was hard at first to even talk to her." Chase off, thinking about when he first tried to get to know the girl. "I would go to the shop every now and then to try and speak with her, hoping she'd accept my offer to hang out and not kick my ass out instead."
Beth laughed, knowing that's something Harley would do. Picking up her can of pop Beth went into the kitchen so that she could make some tea for her best friend. Hoping that would help the cough and maybe even make her throat feel better. Chase followed the blonde into the kitchen.
"My best advice is to not give up, especially if you're serious about this." Beth said as she set the kettle on the stove. "Harley will push you away and try to find reasons not to trust you but you've got to counter those."
Chase nodded and was about to respond when there was a loud knock on the door. Beth went over and opened it to reveal Daryl and Merle which both had arms full of grocery bags. A sigh escaped Beth's lips. Harley was sick, her brothers were at the front door with bags that contained who knows what, and Beth was working a twelve hour shift the next day. This was going to be an interesting night.
Alright guys, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I view this as a two part chapter because I actually had something different for the ending but I ended up losing it because technology doesn't like me. I'll have the next chapter as soon as possible. Till next time lovelies!