They both arrived at work, thankfully on time with ten minutes before the weekly meeting. She had come in her own car as the night before, she had remembered, at the last minute to drive it to Gordon's house.
They walked up the path to the hospital together, he let her through the door first, a hand lightly on her back, and they entered an unusually quiet reception, the only occupant of which was a bored looking Lizzie, leaning, chin in hand on the front desk.
"Thank goodness you're here!" She exclaimed, surprisingly energetically, giving her previous position.
"Why, has something happened?" Jill glanced worriedly across at Gordon.
"No, no. I'm just so bored. You can keep me company now!"
Jill laughed softly, smiling kindly at the receptionist. "Where is everyone?"
"I don't know! Dr Goodwin hasn't arrived yet and all the nurses have like disappeared, so have all the patients!"
Gordon leant an elbow on the desk. "I shouldn't worry Lizzie, be thankful it's quiet for once."
"I know but I'm just so bored!"
"Seeing as you're so bored, here's some filing to do." Mr Harper's irritating tones filled their ears and they turned to see him drop a thick stack of papers on the filing cabinet.
Lizzie grumbled something barely audible, but proceeded to file them nonetheless, a scowl pressed firmly into her features.
Jill glanced at her watch, it was only a few minutes until the meeting would begin. She was about to suggest to Gordon that they sit down ready, when the door to reception was flung open and a man staggered in, one hand pressed to his eyes and the other to his nose.
She stepped towards him, removed his hands so she could take a look, and then guided him to her office. "I'll see you later Gordon." She glanced back only to nearly end up on the floor when the man stumbled into her. She steadied herself and him and tightened her grip on his arms, bearing most of his weight.
"Okay, so what happened?" She questioned when they were both sitting in his office.
"My wife slammed the door in my face when I got home. I didn't even get into the hallway. The door hit my nose, and when I looked through the letter box to speak to her, she shoved a broom handle through and it hit me in the eye; all because I didn't come home last night!" The man sounded highly incredulous and put out.
She sighed; it was going to be one of those days. "Okay, let's have a look." She proceeded to conduct a brief physical examination, the man constantly flinching and groaning as she did so. Once she'd finished, she got up, crossed to the sink in the corner of the room and wetted a cloth. She then sat back down and leant back. "There are no broken bones, your nose has stopped bleeding and your eye will be slightly bruised and swollen for a few days; so I suggest that you clean yourself up," she handed him the cloth, "go home and take it easy for the rest of the day." She waited until he'd finished, then took the cloth from him, placing it in the wash bin, showed him out her door, washed her hands, and then entered reception. The meeting was already ten minutes in, Mr Middleditch on the topic of the inappropriate uses of the patients' bathroom that had been taking place. Mr Harper, who was standing next to Mr Middleditch, glared at her as she entered, causing a few staff to glance her way briefly. She ignored the man, and sidled up next to Gordon who was standing at the back, no seats free. She touched her shoulder to his briefly.
He looked towards her, and then tipped his head her way. "Okay?" He murmured.
"Yeah." She was about to say more but saw Mr Harper was once again glaring her way, so she turned her attention to Mr Middleditch who had turned onto the topic of not taking pure oxygen even to compensate a hangover.
She smiled softly, she loved The Royal.
"Jill!"
Jill turned on her heel; the voice of Doctor Dave Harris reaching her ears. She watched as he jogged up the corridor towards her, narrowly missing a nurse with an armful of bedpans. "Everything okay?"
"Fine. I just wanted to catch you to make sure I asked you." He paused and she raised an eyebrow at him, urging him to continue. "I was just wondering, would you like to go out with me tonight. With Wendy and Neil as well I mean." He stopped and ran a hand over his forehead on which tiny beads of sweat were beginning to appear.
She mulled over his proposition for a few seconds. She liked Dave; he was the one person in the hospital she was close to calling a friend instead of a mere acquaintance, and from the few words she'd spoken to Wendy and Neil, the porter and nurse involved in a seemingly serious relationship, she'd come to the conclusion that they were also nice. She took in the slightly nervous face of the man in front of her and came to her decision. "Yes okay. I'd like that." The idea of returning to her stifling flat wasn't too appealing in comparison anyway.
"Good." He took a few steps backwards then stopped. "I'll pick you up at eight."
"No, no, it's alright. I'll drive there myself." She had to stifle a smirk as he started walking backwards again and nearly bumped into the same nurse with another armful of bedpans.
"Well it's at 'The Grass'. Be there about half eight okay?"
She nodded then snorted as he stepped on Mrs Hander's foot, who had just stepped out a doorway at that inopportune moment, her already snooty, indignant face becoming even more so. She snorted again as her eyes met with his wide, panicked ones as he finally turned around and scuttled away.
Mrs Hander turned her attention to Jill and glared at her, blame emblazoned on her face. Jill however, spun round and proceeded down the corridor, feeling quite buoyant.
That feeling stayed with her all day, up until she stood in front of her open wardrobe, realising she had no clue as what to wear. She didn't know what type of place 'The Grass' was, and if she was totally honest, it sounded like it was either a place where people got high, or where snitches went to hide. For all she knew, it could just be a large field. She sighed and pulled out a burgundy floor length dress and held it up before her. She immediately dismissed it as too dressy. She pulled out many more clothes, none of them seeming suitable for the various possibilities of what 'The Grass' was. Finally, she pulled out a knee length navy blue dress. She held it up against her and looked in the mirror. It wasn't too dressy, nor would it look out of place in a posh place, and it wouldn't be too unsuitable if it did in fact turn out to be a field. That settled her mind then turned to her hair which lay softly over her shoulders, brushed from its earlier ponytail. She sighed.
Eventually, after a long deliberation about her hair, she was on her way, although stopping frequently to check her map. Turning a corner on a quiet road, she saw a large illuminated sign heralding the entrance to 'The Grass'. She checked her watch; only a ten minutes late.
When she entered, the blaring music surged at her, the lights blinding her for a second. Once her eyes adjusted to the flashing lights, she began to move tentatively inwards, the gyrating bodies pushing her in various directions as she craned her neck to try and catch a glimpse of Dave, Wendy or Neil. Spotting the bar to her left, she shoved, squeezed and dodged her way through, receiving a smarting elbow to her cheekbone in the process. Needless to say, it wasn't her idea of a good time; she was beginning to wish it had been just a field.
Once at the bar, she finally saw her colleagues; Dave just finishing a glass of beer, and Wendy and Neil seemingly eating each other's' faces. She came up behind Dave and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around, his eyes lighting up, then immediately ordered her a Babycham. Jill absentmindedly raised a hand to her still stinging cheek as she gazed around, avoiding looking at Wendy and Neil. Dave handed her the drink and they then engaged in a shouted conversation.
The evening passed with much of the same. He had tried to get her more drinks but she refused, she was driving after all. Dave on the other hand, became increasingly drunk as the evening progressed. They had taken to the dance floor just once, but even that had been cut short when a wayward hand smacked into her nose. And so, it was very late at night when Jill received the best proposition she'd had all evening- he suggesting they go outside.
Hand in hand so as not to lose each other in the crowd, they made their way outside, the welcome cool, fresh air hitting Jill in the face.
"Sorry, I was getting hot in there." Dave slurred, his hand gripping hers tightly.
"No, it's fine. I'm glad to get out." She tried to gently remove her hand from his, but failed, his grip being too strong.
He laid his other hand on her shoulder and stood facing her. She moved her head back, the strong smell of alcohol on his breath nauseatingly strong. "Jill…. Jill… Do you know what?" He brought his face closer.
She leant back as far as she could, a bad feeling starting in her stomach. "Erm, I think you should go home."
"No, Jill, wait." The hand on her shoulder slid up to her neck. Pulling her towards him, he pressed his mouth firmly to hers.
Shock freezing her for a moment, she eventually pulled herself roughly away from him. Standing, staring at him, her thoughts whirred. "I don't think that was such a good idea, do you."
As her heels clicked away on the empty road, it was painfully apparent to her that those were the same words she'd said when Gordon had first kissed her. The only difference was, she'd wanted to kiss Gordon.
