AN: Hey! Hope everyone had a great Christmas. And an early Happy New Year to you all! :D Just to let you know, it is purely coincidental that this chapter is running the same time as Christmas. I didn't mean it, which is why it is slightly behind. Hope you all enjoy regardless! Please let me know what you think! :) Thanks for all the previous reviews!
My Blackmail
There is a place that no Sacred Heart Hospital staff member ever wants to be; and that is sat in Dr Kelso's office asking for time off. But, alas, that is where Elliot and I are. You see, last night Elliot's dad left this message:
"Elliot, it's your father. I was calling to invite you, Alyssa and… JD to Connecticut for Christmas. I've booked you all flights for the 20th December. Call me back for the final arrangements. Bye."
So, that's why we're in the Devil's Lair. Trust us, we'd much rather not be here, just like we'd much rather not be going to Connecticut in the first place. Seeing Elliot's parents in October was enough to last two years, without spending Christmas with them too. That is, of course, providing Dr Kelso gives us both the time off. It's iffy.
"So you're telling me," Kelso says in his intimidating, condescending way, "that you would both like a week off over Christmas?"
Nervously, Elliot and I nod. "Yes," we simultaneously answer.
He cocks an eyebrow inquisitively. "You are aware that Christmas is that busiest time for the hospital, right?"
Elliot glances at me, as if to say this isn't going well.
"Yes, sir," we both answer again.
"And why would I do that?" He sadistically asks.
Elliot courageously sighs. "Sir, my parents invited us out to Connecticut for Christmas, and it's really important that we go out there."
"Ah yes, I suppose to tell them about the little hatchling the pair of you are expecting."
At the same time as Elliot's, my eyebrow shoot upwards. Aside from Turk and Carla, we haven't told anybody Elliot's pregnant.
"How do you know about that?" Elliot shrieks, in her painful high pitchy way. "We haven't told anybody!"
"Dr Reid, you have worked at this hospital for nearly seven years," Kelso says. "You know should have learned by now that the nurses know everything, regardless of whether you tell them."
Elliot rolls her eyes.
"So, sir, about the time off…" I tentatively continue.
"Well, there are many affecting factors here. The increased Christmas workload, the amount of cover we'll need, and Dr Reid's possible increased sick leave and eventual maternity leave…" Dr Kelso bobs his head from side to side, as if he's thinking. "Okay. I am willing to consider your request."
"Thanks you sir," we say at the same time.
But then Dr Kelso gets a mischievous glint in his eyes, which is pretty scary. "Providing you meet certain conditions."
"What kind of conditions?" I nervously question.
Monday morning. I hate Monday mornings even on an average Monday. But today, my hatred is even more so because I am once again selling the freaking disco tickets. Seriously. It's like nobody else can do it. There's something physically preventing them from doing so. Well there must be, seeing as I've done all the work. The disco is on Thursday, so I am out of it completely then. Although ten-ish days later, I'm going to Connecticut to spend Christmas with my wacky family. From one hell to another…
It hasn't been so bad though, this selling tickets thing. Michael's been a sweetheart and helped me sell them, even though the girls have been glaring at him if they walked by. But whatever.
"So when are you going to Connecticut again?" Michael asks, as he sorts some change he was given by someone who bought a disco ticket.
"The 20th," I answer, rolling my eyes. "Until the 27th, I think."
"That should be a barrel of laughs," Michael sarcastically states.
"All sarcasm aside, it could be. My aunt hasn't yet told them she's pregnant. There is an ever-so-slight chance that my grandfather will hit the roof. And his 'through the roof' reactions are so melodramatic, it's hilarious. You know, expect from the one where he's trying to murder JD with a shovel for knocking up his daughter. That one probably won't be as funny."
"Probably not."
"Alyssa." How the hell did Rebecca Mackenzie get her way over here without either of us noticing? "Tomorrow, we need you to talk in the assembly about the disco. We need more people to buy tickets. Write a quick speech tonight."
"What?" I say incredulously. "There's no way I can do that. I have dance class and a driving lesson tonight. I don't have time. Isn't there somebody else who can help?"
"No, there isn't," she cruelly. "Sorry." Then she walks away.
Before I have a chance to react, Michael speaks. "Okay, relax. It's fine, don't freak out. I will write you something for you to say tomorrow. It'll all be okay."
"Thank you so much," I say sincerely. "I really could kill her."
"I know. But it's Monday today, ad it's only up until Thursday. Three days. Think about that."
I smile. "Thanks."
"Dude," Turk says, as he and Carla approach the cafeteria table I am sitting at. "I heard about the in-laws. That sucks."
I sadly sigh. "Yeah. A whole week out there with them. Talk about torture."
"So how did the meeting with Kelso go, then?" Carla asks, tilting her head to the side in that sympathetic way.
Carla's question is answered by the sound of folders being dropped full force on to the table. "Kelso just gave me all his damn paper work to do," Elliot angrily exhales as she sits down next to me at the table.
"Not well," I dryly answer Carla, looking straight at her. "He says he'll give us both the time off, providing we meet certain conditions, which we're taking to mean we'll basically be his bitches for the next little while."
Elliot nods in agreement, as she opens one of the paper folders and begins writing on the forms inside.
"Aren't you gonna have something to eat?"
Elliot raises an 'are you kidding me?' eyebrow. "Have you seen this pile of paper work? I have to have this done by three o'clock."
"You should have something to eat, though."
"I will," Elliot answers me. "Later, once I've finished this.
"This is going to be a fun few days for us, isn't it?" I mutter sarcastically.
"Oh yeah," Elliot deadpans. "It's going to be a blast."
Elliot's become a lot snappier since she fell pregnant. Oops.
"Heads up. Here comes Kelso," Turk quietly alerts us.
I mentally prepare my self for more sadism (most likely directed at me), while Elliot gets her head down and hurriedly fills out the paper.
Kelso is whistling as he moves towards our table, so we all know trouble is looming. And then he stops at the table. Here goes. He's looking down at a sheet of paper.
"Ah, Dr Dorian. Just the pair of scrubs I was looking for."
Oh great. "Yes, sir?"
"I see you don't start tomorrow until two PM?"
I think I just felt my heart sink. "Yes."
"Excellent. I need you to do something for me tomorrow morning. My dog needs to go to the vet," he smarmily smiles.
"Sir, I thought Baxter passed away."
"Oh, jeez," Elliot mutters suddenly. Okay, that wasn't a smart thing to say.
Dr Kelso's face drops and his eyes go beady. "I got a new dog, moron!"
"Yeah, you did." Stupid mistake. "What time do you want me to take your dog to the vet?"
"Pick him up at eight!" Dr Kelso grins, before walking away.
"Yup, Carla mutters. "You're definitely his bitches now."
Tuesday. Two days until the hell is O.V.E.R. I cannot wait. Except right now, I'm standing in front of easily five hundred people telling them about the disco on Thursday. Thank goodness Michael wrote this speech for me, because I never would have thought of half of this stuff off the top of my head. I just have my closing sentence to say now and them I'm done.
"Tickets cost two dollars fifty and all proceeds go towards the senior charity. Thank you."
As I step away from the podium, the principal step to it and begins instructing the different classes to leave the hall. While this is happening, I have my back to the auditorium, putting on my coat.
"Hey," I hear from behind me. "Not bad for a speech you'd never seen before," Kate says. She's standing with Michael.
"Thanks," I reply. "I didn't seem to nervous or jittery, did I?"
"No, you were… you were great," Michael smiles.
"Thanks."
Hmm. Kate has a very weird look on her face. "Anyway," she says, "I gotta get to class. See you both later." She hurries off.
"Bye," I respond, but I'm not sure if she heard me. "So I really wasn't that bad then?" I ask Michael once Kate is away out of the hall.
"You weren't bad at all. Oh, heads up, here comes trouble."
I turn around and walking towards me is Rebecca. Oh joy. And she's got her little vindictive face on.
"This will end well," I quietly mutter to Michael, under my breath.
"Not bad," Rebecca reluctantly says. "You could have projected you voice more."
"No, I didn't. I had a microphone." Seriously.
"Well, I just wanted remind you that you've to do the accounting after school today."
"What? Since when?" I ask resentfully.
"Always. Make sure you're there." Then she walks away.
"You know, you're welcome for the speech," I sarcastically say as she walks away. "Can you believe that?"
Michael is looking at me weirdly. "Why didn't you stand up for yourself?"
"It's not worth it," I answer honestly. "No matter how much I protest, I still get nowhere. It's not worth wasting the energy."
"If you say so." It's clear from his tone that he doesn't agree with me.
"So, you wanna help me total up the money tonight? Keep me company?" I ask.
"Yeah, sure."
Something I've discovered today: the nurses' station is surprisingly comfortable to rest your head on, especially when you got up at the crack of dawn to take your blackmailing boss' dog to the vet.
"Ow…" I mutter quietly.
When I glance up, Carla is looking down at me, shaking her head. "What happened with the dog?"
"Well, first, it threw up in Elliot's car, then in the vets' office the dog tried to maul a cat."
Carla's eyes go really wide. "It tried to maul a cat? That poor kitty."
"I know. The cat's owner wasn't exactly happy either."
"And it threw up in Elliot's car? That's disgusting."
"Yeah. And she doesn't know about it yet, so keep schtum until I have a chance to, um, de-vomit-smell the car."
"Ew." Carla responds, scrunching up her face.
I nod in agreement.
Before anything else is said, Elliot walks to the nurses' station. "Well, there goes my day off," she resentfully says. "Dr Kelso wants me to take Enid to an art exhibition for seniors tomorrow."
Carla rolls her eyes and shakes her head.
"This sucks," Elliot continues. "I was so looking forward to having a relaxing day at home."
"I'm really sorry," I say, hugging her.
"Hopefully, it won't go on for too much longer," Carla optimistically says.
"Yeah." Then Elliot's pager beeps. "I gotta go," she says quietly, before walking away. "Hey, hold up," she says, turning back around. "I went down to my car to find a sweater earlier, and I could have sworn it smelled like vomit."
"Really?" I ask incredulously. "I didn't notice anything this morning."
"Hmm," Elliot says slowly. "Weird. Anyway, see you later."
"Bye." When I turn around to face Carla, she's shaking her head at me. "Oh, shut up."
"So, would you rather be eaten by a vampire, or freeze to death, lying on the North Pole ice, in the scud?"
Michael raises a sarcastic eyebrow. "Could you have picked a more random question?"
Instead of counting up the money, we're sitting in the study room having what is quite clearly the weirdest conversation ever. It's fun.
"Just answer the damn question!" I instruct him with mock intimidation.
Rolling his eyes, Michael shakes his head. "Okay…" he ponders. "I would rather freeze on the ice?"
"Why?"
"Because maybe then I'd, like, help an animal or something," Michael answers. "Like, maybe a polar bear might wander by and feast on my carcass."
I laugh. "How very noble of you."
"Okay then, Sarcasma Reid," Michael replies.
"Sarcasma Reid. What the hell?"
"What would you pick?" Michael asks. Ha. Ignored.
"Hmm…. Definitely eaten by vampires."
Michael looks like me as if I'm strange. "Why?"
"I hate the cold," I shrug. "And plus, there's something oddly hot about vampires."
"Vampires?" He repeats incredulously. "Okay, then at the next fancy dress event, remind me to dress up as a vampire then."
"Fair enough," I laugh. "God, this accounting is so boring."
"Then don't do it," Michael simply answers. "It's not like you haven't done enough for them already."
"I guess you're right," I tentatively agree. "But won't Rebecca send her fleas to attack me?"
"Come on, what can she do to you, really?" Michael stand up and walks towards my chair. Then he bends down to my eye level. "Besides. You could kick her ass any day." As I laugh, he moves to the back of my wheeled chair and starts pulling it across the study room towards the door.
"So where are we going?" I ask, still laughing.
"The mall, the ice rink. Wherever you want." He spins the chair around so I'm facing him. "Come on," Michael says enticingly. "You know you want to…"
"Fine," I answer with mock reluctance. "Just let me lock this back in the cabinet so I don't get eaten alive for letting someone steal all the money."
"I thought you liked getting eaten alive by vampires?"
"Boy vampires, you moron!" I say, as I close the study room door behind me.
Seven AM is a fairly hectic time in Elliot's house. On a normal day, you have Alyssa running around like a maniac trying to get everything together for school, me trying to make sure breakfast is ready for everyone, and you've also got Elliot trying to keep her breakfast down. It's crazy.
Alyssa steps out of her room and looks around hurriedly. "Uh… has anybody seen my Chemistry book by any chance?"
I glance at the table and to the blue hard-backed workbook that sits on it. "This what you're looking for?" I ask, lifting it up.
"That's the one!" Alyssa responds with relief. "Thanks." She grabs the book off of me before rushing back to her room.
"Flying visit," I mutter quietly to myself.
A few seconds later, Elliot walks into the living room. "Morning," she says glumly.
"Hey," I reply. "What would you like for breakfast?"
Elliot winces. "Nothing. There's no way I could stomach any food right now."
"Oh. Feeling that bad?" I sympathetically ask.
"Yeah," Elliot replies. "I could kill for a camomile tea right now."
"One camomile tea coming right up," I quietly mumble.
"I really could just stay at home today, but I have to take Dr Kelso's wife to that exhibit. This is going to be awful."
As I walk through to the living room, carrying a cup of camomile tea, I say, "Maybe it won't be so bad."
Elliot lowers her eyebrows as she sips her tea. "It's something Kelso has asked me to do. It's going to be hell, I just know it." Elliot exhales loudly, and runs her hand though her unbrushed hair. "I don't think I can handle much more of Kelso's blackmail bull. But if either of us says anything, he'll just say we can't have the week off. It's like we're caught between a rock and a hard place."
"It sucks," I agree. "But what can we really do? It can't really go on for much longer. We're supposed to leave in less than a fortnight. He can't blackmail us after that."
"I guess," Elliot says, with a slight hint of reluctance. "Grin and bear it?"
"Yeah."
Elliot sighs. "On second thoughts," she says as Alyssa once again walks into the living room, "Do we really need to visit my parents? Can't we just wait for them to randomly show up in like, three years and explain everything then?"
Alyssa tilts her head to the side. "Jeez, I'm just imaging Granddad's face if you did that," she lowly says. "Yep. It's hilarious and results in you getting your ass kicked," she elaborates, gesturing towards Elliot.
I laugh slightly.
"I don't know why you're laughing," Alyssa mockingly buts in. "He murders you."
"He's probably gonna murder me whenever he gets told," I reply. "I laugh to hide my fear."
Alyssa nods. "Nice."
I glance at Elliot, who is looking curiously at Alyssa's outfit.
"I don't mean to critique the outfit, I really don't," Elliot says, "but won't you freeze in a skirt? It's December."
"No," Aly answers nervously. "It… still kinda feels like summer to me."
"Yeah, sure," Elliot answers, clearly not buying what Alyssa said. "At least you're wearing tights. You're not totally mad. Close to it, but not totally."
Alyssa rolls her eyes. "Quick question: how killed do you think I will be by the end of the day when Rebecca Mackenzie discovers that I ditched my accountancy duties in favour of hanging out at the mall with Michael?"
Elliot shakes her head. "We have no idea what you're on about, 'cause y'know, we've barely seen you all week."
"Sorry," Alyssa contritely says. "I've just had a million and one things going wrong at school. The dance committee has had me do all the work because apparently I'm still the new girl. It's been a giant pain in the ass, so I ditched the work yesterday in protest."
"Good on you," I nod. "You shouldn't let yourself be walked over."
"JD's right," Elliot adds. "It's not fair to you. You did the right thing."
"Then why do I feel totally ashamed that I did that?"
"You shouldn't," Elliot answers. "You worry too much, honey."
"Yeah, what can she do to you, really?"
"I guess," Alyssa semi-reluctantly says. "It's her little gaggle that irritate me too. They're extremely well practiced in the art of the burning."
"Just ignore them, and don't worry about her," Elliot says sympathetically. "I know that's easier said than done, but you just gotta ignore them. They're just kissing the ass of that Rebecca girl anyway."
"Yeah. They probably wouldn't even think to say anything to you if she wasn't around."
"Hopefully."
As the room quietens, there's a knock on the front door.
Alyssa stands up. "I'll get it."
"I certainly do not miss high school," I quietly whisper.
"Me neither." Elliot shakes her head. "Hey, who was at the door?" She says as Alyssa walks back to the living room.
"Mr Kellerman from downstairs. This letter from you was in his mail box," Alyssa explains as she hands the envelope over.
Elliot furrows her eyebrows. "I think that's my Dad's handwriting," she mutters as she tears the envelope open. "It's the plane tickets."
"Oh joy," Alyssa deadpans.
"We're leaving on the 20th of December, returning on the 27th," Elliot says.
"A whole week with your parents?" I question. "Ouch."
"You're gonna get your ass kicked a lot that week," Alyssa shakes her head.
"Thanks," I dryly retort. "Really."
Alyssa shrugs. "I do what I do."
Okay, so you know how Elliot and JD were telling me that Rebecca and her little gang couldn't really do anything to me and not to worry? Yeah? Well that is out of the window. Completely. You see, there was a little note for me in registration. Urgent Dance Meeting. Lunchtime. You must be there. So, clearly I'm going to get my backside handed to me on a plate.
"I knew going out yesterday was going to come back and bite me on the ass. I should never have done that."
"Yeah, you should have," Kate replies. "The girl's a bitch."
"But now her and her gaggle are going to eat me alive. They're going to make my life hell."
"No they won't," Michael says soothingly. "You didn't do anything wrong. All you did was take a bit of a stand about the way they've been treating you. All you do is stay strong, explain why you did what you did, and all will be fine."
I raise a dubious eyebrow.
"Okay. Want me to come in with you?"
Yes. Yes, I do. But that wouldn't exactly but on a strong show for the Brat Pack, would it? "No. I'll be okay. I think…"
"Well, Kate and I will be out here for you," he smiles.
"Thanks," I say, as I head towards the door.
"Good luck," Kate offers.
"Thanks. I'll need it." Okay, so the god-luck-wishing didn't exactly do much for my confidence, but nevertheless, I appreciate the sentiment.
As soon as I ajar the study room door, I swear I can feel all their eyes burning on me. It's horrible. When I raise my head, they are glaring at me. Really. The only thing that resembles the level of glare these idiots are giving me is when my granddad uses his Truth Glare to pull the truth out of us. And that glare is terrifying enough without multiplying it by eleven.
And as if the glaring isn't bad enough, Rebecca has just disgustedly looked my outfit up and down. "I was unaware that short skirts were appropriate school wear. I must have missed that letter."
"And I must have missed the letter that said my wardrobe choice was any of your concern," I sarcastically retort as I take my seat.
"Now, on to the real issue," Rebecca says. "It has come to my attention that certain people are slacking on their assigned tasks."
"And since nobody else has been assigned any tasks, I'm going to take a guess and say you mean me. I have been slacking on my assigned tasks." Dear god, those words left my mouth before I even had a chance to think about what I was saying. Oh well.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I was referring to you, Alyssa," Rebecca scornfully retorts. " I specifically instructed you to count the ticket money."
"Just like you instructed me to make and pin up the advertising posters, give an assembly speech, not to mention giving up every break and lunchtime I've had for the last week and a half to sell the tickets, which I also had to prepare, by the by, in case you've forgotten. I've done all that while all the rest of your little contingent sat on their asses and did nothing, and you're giving me attitude about not doing one thing?"
"It's ridiculous that Caitlyn had to give up her free time before registration to do the work that you should have done."
I cannot believe this. "If you'd been fairer when you gave people tasks to do, then I wouldn't have just ditched the work in the first place."
Rebitcha shakes her head. "Since Caitlyn had to take over your job, you'll be the one to get the food. You have to go to Costco and but the potato chips and soda."
I swear, I can just about feel my blood boiling. "No."
"Excuse me?"
"No," I repeat. "I've had it up to the eyeballs with you and your favouritism bull. I'm sick of doing every single task when you have eleven other people doing nothing. And sure as hell you'll take all the credit for this, even though you've basically done bugger all except tell me what to do. I've had enough."
Okay, the evil glare has returned. "You'll do what I ask you to, or I'll report you to the principal for refusing to participate in the senior committees."
"You know what, screw you." I just walk out of the room because if I stay ion there I'll do something I'll really regret later.
I think I'm doing some elephant-esque storming down the corridor again. I round a corner and see Michael and Kate waiting on me.
"I will kill her. I will actually kill her!"
Michael and Kate both have concerned looks on their faces.
"What did she do?" Kate quickly asks.
"Because I didn't do the accounting last night, she's telling me I have to go to Costco tonight to get all the food, and if I don't she's going to report me to the principal for not cooperating with senior committees. Like I haven't done enough work as it already is."
"That's bull!" Kate disgustedly replies. "If I were you I would have decked her one by now."
"Which is exactly why I walked out. Can you imagine the act she'd pull if I had actually punched her?"
"True. But at least you'd feel much better."
I sigh. "What am I gonna do? I'm screwed either way."
"Would you excuse me for just a few minutes?" Michael says quietly. He walks away, in the direction of the study room.
"Hey, where are you going?" Michael doesn't answer me, so I turn to Kate. "Where is he going?"
"How the hell would I know?"
Kate and I follow Michael down the corridor.
"Is he going into the study room?" I tentatively ask Kate.
Kate nods. "I think so."
"Oh dear god."
"This is gonna end well," Kate oh-so-ironically says.
Kate and I hide just around the corner, so as we can still hear what's going on but nobody can actually see us listening.
"Hey, Rebecca," Michael says. He sounds pissed. "Can I have a quick word?"
"Of course," Rebecca responds cheerily. "What's up, Michael?"
"Sure, she's nice to him," I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Shh!" Kate chastisingly utters.
"I'm here about the disco," Michael continues.
"It's turning into such a hassle. I am getting nothing but attitude from Alyssa Reid."
"Yeah, I'm actually here about Alyssa. Now, she's too nice a person to say it to your face, but you are a complete and utter bitch. Who the hell do you think you are telling her what she has to do?"
"Well, I am the chair person of the Dance Committee."
"And the only reason you are chair person is because of a stupid popularity contest based on how much a slut you are."
Kate looks shocked. "Oh, that had to hurt."
"Excuse me!" Yes, Rebecca was offended.
"You know, you could not function without your little posse behind you to make you seem intimidating, but you're not. You're just a sad little cow who gets her kicks out of making someone else feel bad. And this times you chose Alyssa because she's still new around here and you knew she wouldn't be completely able to call you on your crap. But not me. I've been putting up with your malevolence since I was five years old and I've had enough of it, and when you hurt one of my best friends, it's makes me just as mad as if you were hurting me. You might think you're something special because of your false popularity, but let me tell you something. Alyssa is twenty times the person you're ever gonna be. So can shove your dance committee and your bitchy arrogance up your ass. And if you don't get off Alyssa's case, I will make your life so hellish, you're gonna wish you'd never started stealing my lunch money in elementary school."
Before Michael walks back over to where Kate and I are standing, I quietly say to Kate: "Is this an appropriate time to use the phrase 'holy frick'?"
"It is," Kate responds, with the same tone of bewilderment as me.
"Holy frick."
"Hey," Ted says in his usual gloomy tone. After at least seven years at this hospital, you don't expect anything less from him. "Dr Kelso gave me some more paper work we have to complete."
"Fantastic."
My blackmail task for Thursday, it appears, is to spend all day with Ted doing clerical work. I started at 8.30. It's now 2.00. And while, after a few years, you don't expect anything other than Ted's depressive nature, spending all day with him can make you want to kill yourself.
I look at the pile of paper work that Ted has put on to his desk. "Jeez, how much of this does Kelso have."
"A lot," Ted dully answers. "I think he's been saving it all up for when somebody asks him for something."
"That would explain a lot about this week," I mumble, more for my benefit than Ted's.
"So, you and Dr Reid are having a baby, huh?" Ted asks in omni-monotonous tone.
So much for the 'not telling anyone yet' plan Elliot and I originally had. "Yeah. Yeah we are."
"You know, my ex-wife had a baby with her best friend."
Oh god, it's another ex-wife story. "That's… that's nice…"
"He has an afro…" Ted runs his hand subconsciously over his shiny, bald head. I wonder how depressing it is being him. Really.
After a few minutes of silence, I pick up yet another folder and open it. "What's this?" I quietly say to myself, as I open the binder. "Okay, pretending not to see what appears to a masseuse catalogue. How does that guy get away with being so disgusting?"
"I don't know," Ted dryly replies.
Shortly after Ted speaks, there is a knock at his door.
Ted's eyes go wide. "I never get visitors," he amazedly says. "Okay, just be cool…" The door is barely open when he throws his arms around the person on the other side.
"Um… hi. Hi Ted," Elliot awkwardly says, as she throws me some confused looks. "Okay, Ted, you can let me go now."
He does. "Hi Dr Reid. Thank you for stopping by," Ted says, reverting to his regular tone. He sits back down at his desk and continues with his share of the paper work.
"Hey," Elliot cheerily speaks, semi-waving at me at the same time. "Carla told me you were in here, so I brought you some lunch."
"Thank you," I reply as I take the sandwich from her.
"So you got stuck doing paperwork all day, then?"
"I did, indeed," I say dryly. "It's so boring. But it has answered a lot of questions about where the hospital budget is actually spent." I hold up a leaflet that shows a set of golf clubs.
Elliot sighs. "Trust me, you got the easy job today. I've spent the day taking care of really pervy patients. They keep trying to smack my ass when I give them sponge baths." Elliot shudders.
"Oh my god," I respond.
Before anything more is said, Ted holds out a bag of chewy sweets. "Would you like one?"
"Yes please."
After I take a chew, Ted points the bag in Elliot's direction.
"Oh god, no," she cringes. "Trust me, after putting Enid Kelso's false teeth backing in after they were dislodged by a toffee, I will never eat chewy sweets again."
"I put my mom's false teeth back in once," Ted glumly offers. "She bit my fingers and wouldn't let them out of her mouth."
I think Elliot physically held back vomit.
"That's disgusting," I say.
"It didn't feel right…"
"Anyway," I change the subject, "Your pervy patients."
"Yeah," Elliot sighs, shaking her head. "I think Kelso might have paid all the local perverts to come in today. It makes my skin crawl. Three more hours, fantastic." So much sarcasm.
"You know," I ponderingly say, "Kelso didn't say we had to stick to the tasks he gave us. You want to stay here and do paperwork and I take care of your patients?"
"Gladly," Elliot quickly answers, handing over a stack of charts. "Really watch out for Mr Adams in 206. I don't think he cares who he tries to fondle."
"Thanks for the warning," I uncertainly respond.
A second later, Elliot's pager beeps. "Oh, speak of the devil."
"Well, I guess I should go meet my new patient then."
"Good luck," Elliot says, after she gives me a kiss.
"Thanks. I'll meet you downstairs for going home, okay?"
Elliot says goodbye, just as I leave the room and close the door behind me.
Okay, here goes.
And after two weeks of bitchiness, unpleasantness and general hellishness, it is disco night. And I am loving it.
"Wow," Kate says, impressed. "Someone's in an oddly good mood. I'm surprised you even showed up tonight."
"Hey, I practically organised this thing single-handedly," I cheerily reply. "I am damn sure gonna enjoy myself."
"Nice one." Kate holds up her palm, which I high-five. "Heads up, here comes trouble," she quietly utters.
I turn around and notice that Rebecca Mackenzie (who hasn't spoken to me at all since yesterday, by the by) walking towards me with her head bowed.
"Hi, Alyssa," she quietly says.
"What do you want?" I snappily retort.
Kate raises a pleased eyebrow.
I shrug as if to say I don 't care.
"I just…" Rebecca continues, "I just wanted to say I'm sorry for the way we were treating you on the committee. That was wrong of me, and I apologise profusely. And I like to invite you back to the dance committee if you'd like to come back." She's still looking down at the ground.
"Shove it up your ass," I venomously answer. "Now beat it."
"Yeah…" Rebecca walks away, still with her head bowed.
As soon as Rebecca is out of earshot, Kate starts speaking. "Hells. Yeah. Somebody got her sass on!"
"Oh my god!" I say, laughing. "Did you see that?! She couldn't even look at me!"
"It was awesome." Kate shakes her head disbelievingly.
"I still can't believe Michael stood up for me like that."
Kate pulls a face. "I can."
"Do you think I should get him something in return?" I ask her. "I think I should get him something."
"Looking at your outfit," Kate looks me up and down, "I think you already did."
"Okay, what's is wrong with my little black dress?" I ask Kate.
"Nothing, exactly," she answers. "It's just really little."
"No it's not," I defensively laugh. "It's no littler than what you're wearing."
Kate nods. "Well played."
"Hey, hey!" Michael walks to where Kate and I are standing. "Someone's looking happier," he remarks, looking at me.
"Damn right I am, and you know what, I wanna dance!"
Kate shakes her head. "Oh dear God."
"Somebody come dance with me!" I say, jumping up and down ever so slightly.
Michael rolls his eyes, but he's laughing at the same time. "Fine. I'll dance with you," he answers with mock reluctance.
"And that, my friend, is why you rock!" I grab Michael's hand, and lead him towards the dance hall.
Just before we walk into the dance hall, I glance back at Kate, who's just shaking her head.
I don't know why she keeps doing that.
Friday morning. For today, I've been given Elliot's pervy patients. Kelso had such a sadistic smirk on his face when he gave me the charts. What he didn't know, however, is Elliot and I switched patients, so they were no real surprise to me. Unfortunately they still do disgust me.
"How does a young doctor get such a cute ass?" Mr Adams says, looking at, you guessed it, my rear end.
Exhibit A through Z.
"Mr Adams," I say, completely ignoring what he said, "Your fever has completely stabilised. You'll be discharged today." Thank God.
Before Mr Adams says anything, my pager beeps.
Dr Kelso's office. Now.
Fantastic.
"Goodbye, Mr Adams."
As soon as I turn around to walk out of the room, Mr Adams slaps me on the ass. That was disgusting.
Ignoring him completely as I walk out of the room… And I'm out of there.
"That guy is a freak show!" I explain, once the door is closed.
"Mr Adams?" Turk asks from the Nurses' Station. "What did he to you?"
"He smacked my ass!"
Carla nods. "He groped one of my nurses earlier."
"Why is he still here?" Turk incredulously questions.
"He won't be for much longer. Carla, could you please find the discharge forms for Mr Adams?"
"Why can't you do it?" Carla queries.
"I have to go to Kelso's office. Now."
Turk smiles optimistically. "Maybe he's gonna give you the time off and he'll stop torturing the two of you."
"Hopefully," I respond. "Okay. I better go."
"Good luck, Bambi."
"Thanks."
It doesn't take me long to walk to Kelso's office. It is just a bit further down the hall, after all. When I reach the office, Elliot is already standing at the door. "
"So he paged you too?" Elliot asks. "I don't know whether to take that as a good sign or not."
"Me neither."
Elliot gently knocks on Kelso's door and opens it after she hears Kelso say 'Come in' from the other side of the door.
"Here goes," Eliot whispers as she opens the door.
Dr Kelso looks up from his paper work when he hears the door opening. "Dr Reid, Dr Dorian," Kelso grins. It's quite disconcerting. "Please, take a seat."
Elliot and I do, without exchanging any words.
"Now I suppose you're wondering about that request for time off the two of you made."
"Yes, sir, we are," I answer.
"Ah, yes," Kelso smiles. Wait… or is that a smirk of sadism? Keep with the optimism. "I have thought about your request for time off very seriously. And taking all things into consideration," Kelso pauses. "I can only afford to let one doctor away over the holidays. Decide between yourselves which one of you goes." His smile disappears and he glares at us. "Get the hell out of my office! Now!"
"So word about the school is that we made four hundred dollars from the disco last night," Kate says, as we walk along the school corridor.
"Hmm."
"Uh…. Alyssa, are you okay?" asks Kate. "You've been quiet and weird all morning."
I shake my head. "Sorry, my mind is just a million miles away," I quietly reply.
"Come to think of it," Kate pensively and slowly adds, "you were weird yesterday at the disco."
I laugh nervously. "I was? I didn't notice."
"So… are you okay?" She questions once again.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. I'm… it's nothing."
"If you're sure," Kate replies. "You know how I'm singing a solo in the Christmas Concert?"
"Yeah."
"I have after-school rehearsals all of next week. Are you coming to the concert, by the way?"
"I don't think so. I think I have to leave early for Connecticut."
Kate frowns. "Dude, you're missing out! I don't know what the last day of term concert was like at your old school, but here it's awesome. It's the one day we all get to go nuts and just rock out."
"Cool. Sucks I'll miss it." A thought occurs to me. "Where are we going?"
Kate furrows her eyebrows. "I have no idea. Oh, there's Michael."
"Michael?" Oh god, oh god, oh god.
And she's walking over to him. "Hey, dude," she says. "How's it going? Nobody saw you after the disco last night. Where did you go?"
"I, uh, had to go home early," he answers. Michael glances at me, then quickly looks back down at the floor.
Kate looks curiously between Michael and I. "Didn't you leave early too?"
She knows fine well that I left early. "Yes."
"Why?"
"I, um, wasn't feeling too good."
Kate nods, but her face is contorted. "Right."
"So um…" Michael quietly says, "I have to go to the reprographer. I'll, um… bye." He doesn't look at me before walking away down the corridor. Okay, to be fair, I didn't exactly look at him either.
"Okay, what the hell was that?" Kate asks once Michael is out of earshot. At least I hope he's out of earshot.
"What was what?" I try to sound nonchalant.
"The tension, the awkwardness, the inability to look each other in the eye?"
Uh-oh. Busted. There's only one thing I can do here. "What awkwardness? There was no awkwardness." That's right. Lie.
"Oh, shut up." Kate starts dragging me by the arm down the corridor.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Shht."
"I so do not like you when you do stuff like this," I mutter, annoyed.
Kate hauls me through a door into… the girls' bathroom. What the?
"Okay, there's nobody here," she states. "Come on, there's clearly something going on between the two of you."
I nod. "It was so stupid."
"I bet it wasn't," Kate comfortingly responds. "So, what happened?"
"Well…"
In the hall, Michael and Alyssa are dancing slowly, but not particularly listening to the music. Alyssa has her hands on Michael's shoulders and Michael's hands are around her waist. Both are fairly tired, having energetically danced to anything and everything that the DJ has played.
Alyssa shakes her head slightly. "I still can't believe you stood up for me like that in front of Rebecca," she says, with the same air of incredulity and amazement as she has had for the previous two days.
"It was nothing," Michael replies.
"Shut up, it was not nothing! You knocked the biggest bitch in school down about seventy-two pegs!"
"Yeah, well. She deserved it."
"Thank you," Alyssa smiles.
In silence, the pair continues dancing, swaying gently from side to side. As the song plays, their grip on each other seems to tighten and their bodies move closer together until their faces are mere millimetres apart. Their lips meet and neither breaks away.
"Oh my god," Kate says. "You kissed?"
"Yeah," I nod.
Kate sighs with relief. "I have to say it: Finally!"
"Excuse me?"
"Come on," she states. "Everyone knows you two have been dancing around each other for weeks. Months, even. It's so obvious. You like him, he likes you."
"Oh really?" I angrily question. "It's that obvious. Then why the hell hasn't he spoken to me since last night?"
"He's probably just scared to," Kate replies calmly. "What happened after you kissed?"
"Well, when we both realised what we were doing, we both freaked out and went in opposite directions," I sigh heavily. "What if he never talks to me again?"
"He will," Kate reassuringly replies.
"I doubt it. He wouldn't even look at me in the corridor."
"You couldn't look at him either. You spent the whole time looking at the wall."
"I know."
"Why didn't you look at him?"
Shaking my head, I answer: "I couldn't. When I saw him in the corridor, I got freaked out and embarrassed again."
"You know, he was probably feeling just the same as you. Think about it," she says. "He just kissed his best friend. She got freaked out, they haven't spoken since. He really likes her but he doesn't know if she likes him and he's scared to talk to her in case he gets shot down in flames," Kate concluded. "Sound familiar?"
"Completely."
"See? You're both just scared," Kate quietly says. "So… do you like him?"
"Yeah," I reply. "Yeah, I really do."
"There you go. So you gonna talk to him?"
"I have to. But what if he shoots me down?"
Kate laughs. "Not gonna happen. Trust me."
"Thanks," I smile.
"Anytime."
Elliot and I had dinner with Turk and Carla tonight. Although, it became more of a 'rant about Kelso' occasion.
"We should have seen it coming," Elliot begrudgingly says. "He is Kelso, after all. He's Satan."
We're just home and we're still talking about him. "You know what pisses me off the most? He made us do all that extra work when he knew all along he was only going to let you go."
"He's evil," Elliot responds. "It's probably for the best though. My dad wasn't exactly your biggest fan the last time. Can you imagine what he'll be like when I tell him I'm pregnant? At least this way I'll be able to give you advance warning when he leaves to kill you."
"One advantage, I suppose."
"And get this," Elliot brightly continues, "I'll tell him you're in Alaska when really you'll be in Hawaii." She frowns. "This sucks. It's our first Christmas together and we're not even spending it together. And next year we'll have the baby, so that will be crazy. I just either both of us were going or neither of us."
"Same here." After a few seconds, I ask a question. "Will your family really fly off the handle when you tell them about the baby?"
Elliot sighs. "I don't think my mom will. Of course, she'll be making some sort of reference to me 'finally popping one out' the whole time. My dad will probably be pretty angry though. He'll keep giving me the out of wedlock lecture. That will be fun for me."
"Your dad will be like that?"
"Yeah. It's going to be so infuriating though. My family are just so hypocritical. You're lucky your family aren't as uptight as mine."
"Hmm," is my simple response. "Do you want… do you think we should get married?"
Elliot lowers her eyebrows. "Because we're having a baby?"
"Yeah."
Elliot shakes her head. "No. I don't think we should get married just because we're having a baby. It's too much for us. If we get married it should be because we want to and because we're ready. We're not ready. Not right now."
"That's fair," I reply.
"Look, I'm not saying never," she adds. "I'm just saying not right now. I just think we should concentrate on the baby for now, okay?"
I smile. "Yeah."
"And my dad will just have to accept that it's my life. He'll probably still give me the lecture a hundred million times, but it doesn't matter what he says because I know what's best for us," she explains. "You, me and our baby." Elliot sighs, and then stands up. "I'm going to get a drink. Do you want anything while I'm up?"
"No thanks."
As Elliot walks by, I take a look at her stomach. She has a bit of a bump now. There's no denying she's pregnant, so I'd imagine she'll have to tell her parents pretty soon into the visit.
That makes me think. I reach over and grab the phone.
"What are you doing?" Elliot asks when she walks back into the room and I dial a number into the phone.
"I, um… I'm calling Dan. I thought I'd tell him about the baby."
"Please don't," Elliot quickly replies. "Please, can you not tell your family until I've had a chance to tell mine. My family know a lot of people and I don't want it to get back to them before I've had a chance to tell them."
"You get that that's crazy, right?"
Elliot shrugs. "Yes, I'm clinically insane."
"But okay. I won't tell my family until you've told yours if it makes you feel better. I'll tell my family after Christmas."
Elliot smiles. "Thanks."
"But I do think we should have your insanity checked!
"Sure!"
I didn't see Michael again after the incident in the corridor. There was a lot going on of Friday and I just didn't see him anywhere. That wasn't really a big deal though. This isn't really a conversation I'd have wanted to have at school anyway.
So, I texted him later that night and asked him if I could go over tonight, and surprisingly he replied. And here I am, waiting on somehow to answer Michael's door.
It's weird. I've been here more times than I can count, but I'm so nervous this time. Why does it feel like it's taking an eternity for someone to answer this freaking door? Oh, here we go.
It's Michael's mom. "Oh, hi Alyssa," she smiles. "Are you looking for Michael?"
"Yeah."
"He's upstairs, hon. Just go up," she says, stepping aside to let me in.
"Thanks."
Like I said, I've been here a more time than I can count. I've basically been here at some point for one reason or another nearly every weekend. I know my way round this house like I know the back of my hand. You know, I've never really understood that expression. Because nobody really knows the back of their hand. Does anybody really spend all that much time studying the back of their hands to say they really know them? It's like saying – dear god, Alyssa, shut up! I'm mentally rambling. I tend to do that when I'm nervous. I apologise.
And now I'm standing outside Michael's bedroom door. Seems like I've spent a lot of time waiting outside doors today. Now, three minutes ago, earlier on when I stood outside the main apartment block door because I could not, for the life of me, remember what the code is. Luckily, Mr Masood from the sixth floor was leaving and I'm doing it again. My annoying mental rambling again. I should really work on that.
Anyway. Here goes. I softly knock on Michael's bedroom door. "Michael, it's me. It's Alyssa. Can I come in?"
"Of course." Well, he seems happy enough.
I gently open the door and walk into the room. Michael is sitting at his desk, apparently tidying something up. He puts something into an envelope before turning around to face me.
"Hey," I say, closing the door behind me. "Sorry I'm a bit late. I had a bit of a disaster trying to get into my building. I forgot the key code, so I had to sit outside for a half hour until someone else left," I explain with a slight laugh at the conclusion.
Michael gives me a weird look. "Why didn't you just call Elliot and ask her what the code was?"
"Why the hell didn't I do that?"
Michael laughs. "You are a strange, strange girl. I wonder about you sometimes, I really do."
"Yeah, you probably should," I jokingly reply.
And then it goes silent and kid of awkward again. Kind of like it did in the corridor.
"So… um…you know what, sooner or later, one of us has to broach the subject of Thursday night," Michael quietly says, looking down at the ground again.
"I think you just did," my voice shakes. Damn stomach butterflies. "Can I say something really quickly before I completely lose my nerve or, you know, vomit or something?"
Michael laughs at me, but not in a nasty way. "Go ahead."
Here goes, again. "So, you know how we sort of made out at the disco? Well, not sort of, because that was definitely making out, but you know what I mean, right? Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that, I really like you. And not just in the friend way. Even thought you are my friend. You're my best friend, and you're one of the kindest, funniest, sweetest guys I've ever known. Not to mention that you're really hot, kinda like that guy who was in Harry Potter. But not like he was in that Twilight film. The white make up creeped me out. So anyway, what I'm saying is I like you in not just the friend way, but in that way, you know, the 'I'd really like it if you were my boyfriend way' and I'm really sorry I got all weird and embarrassed in the corridor yesterday, it wasn't because I was embarrassed 'cause it actually happened, it was because I wasn't sure if you would like me in the way I like you and then I talked to Kate who told me some of the things that you said to her about liking me, and I'm really hoping she wasn't just taking the mick out of me then because I really do like you and if you're making any sense of this I will give you a gold star and after all this I'm gonna leave now because you probably think I'm insane. Goodbye. I'll be seeing you later." I turn and head towards the door.
"Alyssa, wait, you don't… you're not… don't go."
"Well, do you have a glass of water or something? I feel like I'm going collapse after that!"
Michael looks around his room, before passing me a bottle of water that was sitting on his desk. "Yeah, when you said 'say something really quickly', you meant saying it really quickly, didn't you?"
"It's a nervous habit, I apologise."
Michael chuckled. "Don't apologise. I think it's really cute when you do that."
"Really?"
"Yeah." Then he does something really weird. He puts his arm around me. It's not the arm around me that's the weird part, because we're always hugging each other. But it doesn't feel the same. It's something completely different, but I can't quite explain what it is. "And if I'd know you were going to say all that first," Michael continues, "I probably still would have spent all afternoon write a similar, albeit more concise, version in this card." Michael hands me the envelope he had when I first walked in.
I carefully tear it open, and remove a small card, which is designed with little pink love hearts and teddy bears. "Aww, that's cute," I quietly murmur, before opening the card and reading it. "Alyssa, I really wish I was actually saying this to you, but I'll get all weird again and chicken out. So I was just really hoping that you would consider going out with me in the boyfriend/girlfriend sense? Because I like you. And I know this card is probably the lamest thing you've ever read, but everything else I've tried writing sounds even more lame. Sorry. Michael," I conclude, having read the card aloud.
"You think it was awful, don't you?" Michael asks, visibly cringing.
"No. No I don't. I think it's really sweet."
"Really? Thanks god, because I must have re-written that thing about sixty billion times and it still didn't sound good in my head."
I giggle. "How many times did you actually re-write this."
Michael simply gestures towards is bin, which is quite honestly overflowing with crumpled up bits of paper.
"My god," I incredulously respond. "That's commitment if I ever did see it."
Michael takes a seat next to me on his bed. "So um, do you wanna do the boyfriend/girlfriend thing?" He asks, with mock-casualness.
"Yeah," I reply in the same tone. "Do you wanna do the boyfriend/girlfriend thing?"
"Yeah."
We both giggle, and I think before either of us realises it we're kissing again. But it's different to the last time, because we both know exactly what we're doing and it's not unexpected, and neither of us are going to freak out. At least, I hope not. It's nice.
"Knock knock!"
Michael and I break away from each other in fright, and notice that Michael's mother has walked in carrying a tray. Oh dear god…
"I thought I'd bring you two some juice," she smiles as she places the two glasses on the table.
"Th-th-thank you, Mom," Michael quickly says.
"So, what are you kids up to?"
"Nothing!" We simultaneously reply. I honest-to-god think I can actually feel my cheeks getting redder with embarrassment.
Michael's mom pulls a sceptical face. "Yeah, okay then." She leaves.
"Yeah, I don't think she believed us," I quietly whisper.
Michael shakes his head. "No, she did not."