"I'm Tris, come in," I say, my voice wavering ever-so slightly. They file in, all of them heading straight for the kitchen, where Tobias leads them. I close the door behind them and dash into the kitchen. The apple pie sits, steaming, on the counter. A few murmurs come from the group about how nice the penthouse in, and they all explore for themselves. A gasp escapes me as I remember the pregnancy test still on the floor of the main bathroom. I speed-walk over and throw it in the trash before reentering the main living area. Nobody seems to have noticed me, as they're all occupied searching drawers and cabinets. Tobias gives me a sort of apologetic look and I walk over to him.
"So how do you know all these people?" I try to make conversation to ease the feeling in my chest that makes my voice come out strained.
"Well, I've known Zeke and Uriah," he points to two similar looking, dark-skinned boys, brothers I'm guessing, "since preschool. Their mom ran the daycare I went to and that's where they were all the time. We ended up being together all through high school except Uriah was a grade behind and is two years younger than Zeke and I." I nod in understanding so he knows to continue. "And I met Will," a shaggy blonde with celery green eyes stands across the room, admiring the view from the window behind my piano, "in college, we played football together and he was in the same fraternity as Zeke and I. Somehow we came to like him, probably because he could help us with any of our homework." We both chuckle, and I find that the feeling in my chest has subsided tremendously. Part of me wonders if it is the doing of this dark-blue-eyed boy, and the other part already knows it is. He points to the same mocha-skinned girl with dark hair I spoke with earlier, "And that's Christina, who basically forced her way into the group. She used to constantly flirt with Will until we finally told him she liked him. He may be book smart, but he's definitely not girl smart. And beware, Christina is overly-talkative. Don't call her unless you want to be on the phone for hours." He points to the other girl, with long brown hair and wild eyes that scope everything in the room as if it were a playground, "That's Uriah's soon-to-be girlfriend Marlene. They've been making googly-eyes at each other since sophomore year of college, and both are too chicken to make a move." Next, he points to a girl standing next to Zeke with short brown hair. "And last but not least, Shauna. She and Zeke have been in the same situation as Marlene and Uriah for about a year. Zeke and I both majored in nursing at NYU and Shauna went to Columbia, but somehow we all ended up working in the same hospital. They met during our first few days and she's become friends with Christina and Marlene, so she's part of the group now too. Oh yeah, and she has a younger sister, Lynn, who's in the same grad class as Uriah and Marlene. She hangs out with us sometimes but she's not really social." She sounds like me.
"Wow, looks like you've got quite the gang there. So what hospital do you work at?" I decide to resume small talk.
"Lenox Hill Hospital, why?"
"Well, that just so happens to be the hospital where I just accepted a job offer," I say, not quite proudly, but almost.
"Oh, really? Are you a nurse, too?" He asks this with a kind of excitement and for a moment I wish I were, as that would mean I would probably get to be around him. I find myself growing in affection for this boy.
"Actually, no, I'm mainly a cardiologist, but I'm also practicing in anesthesiology currently." I finish and look up to find him look down at me in astonishment. This is a look I've become accustomed to when people ask my profession, but I usually don't enjoy the look like I am right now. Something about this boy has got me going crazy.
I served everyone a piece of apple pie and cut the smallest of slivers for myself. I've barely gotten to the crust when the oven dings, signaling that it's time to get out the chocolate cake. Grabbing my oven mitts, I extract the cake and set the timer yet again so the cake has time to cool before I ice it. In the cabinet, I search a little until I find a little container of chocolate icing, and set it down next to the stove. I sit down on the barstool and start cutting up the remaining pie on my plate, buying myself more time before I delve back into the dessert.
"Tris," Uriah starts, his mouth full, "whatever your job is, you need to quit it and open a bakery." The others mumble in assent and I giggle.
"What is your job anyway? You can afford this nice place and you've got tons of clothing and shoes, I looked in your closet earlier when we were all snooping," Christina inquires.
"Tris is actually going to be working at the same hospital as Shauna, Zeke, and I. She's a cardiologist and is also studying anesthesiology." Eyebrows rise to this and put my head down, attempting to forget that all attention is on me now. Tobias either realizes that I'm uncomfortable, or just likes to talk, as he speaks again. "She makes Zeke and I look bad," he chuckles. I let out a light laugh that dies before it's escaped my mouth completely. My curiosity gets the best of me and I begin to wonder why he didn't say Shauna too, just Zeke and himself. I wonder if he has thing for her. My heart sinks and regret fills the empty space my heart left behind. I should never have had them over. I should have waited for another night or my appointment to speak with Dr. Eaton. Now I'm becoming attached.
Hours later, Dr. Eaton has given in and gone to sleep in the guest bedroom. The rest of us sit in the kitchen, casually sipping wine, which I had to miss out on, or taking the occasionally bite of chocolate cake, which I also did not partake in. This lack of food or drink to nonchalantly refer to when things got quiet left me an awkward outcast. We'd made conversation about work and heard several college stories all through the evening, and were beginning to run out of things to talk about. Nobody has asked why I'm not eating or drinking like them, so I figure I should walk away while I'm still good, and while they're still only mildly buzzed. I force a yawn and hop down from my perch on the barstool.
"I think I'll set up your guys' beds and retire to my own for the night. Anything I can do for you before I go?" I ask the question almost timidly, hoping they say no. They look amongst each other, none of them seeming to need anything. I silently thank the lord for that. "Alright, well goodnight." I give a smile and turn, walking toward the living room. When I begin pulling pillows away from the main couch, I see Tobias walking over out of the corner of my eye. I continue what I'm doing, expecting him to say something to get my attention, but he just starts helping me. Together, we get the two couches and single loveseat converted within a few minutes. Staying silent, I head over to the closet and extract three sets of sheets and three blankets. I hope that if I don't say anything he'll keep helping because even though I hate to admit it, it's nice to have some help. I don't know what I'll do when I don't see him anymore and when my belly swells to the point where I have trouble getting around. I don't want to think about it.
Pushing the thought from my mind, I sort through sheets and put two sets on the coffee table as I start putting one on a bed. Yet again, Tobias silently joins me taking the other corner and stretching it over. We finish all three in silence, and I smile to thank him. He gives a small half smile, and I walk over to him, wrapping my arms around him. It takes a moment, but when he does wrap his arms around my small frame, I am filled with warm. I find the perfect place in his chest to nestle my head and then stay there for a while. We sway and his hand caresses my hair delicately. I could stay in this moment forever. Finally, I force myself to let go and back away.
"Thank you," I whisper, smiling, as I retreat into my room. He just smiles back.