Connie glanced to the clock above the office door. Fifteen minutes. Time was up.
She drew her hands in towards her across the desk, inhaling as she let her fingernails just scrape the surface. Her heart seemed to flutter with every beat. She stood up slowly, swallowing, reminding herself to breathe evenly...slow deep breaths that took her mind off what it was she was about to do. She looked to the door. Through the window she could see the backs of various staff members all assembled at the nurses station, some turned and glanced towards her office – could they see her? She couldn't tell. She let her eyes close for the briefest of moments, lowering her head and holding her hands across her face. Her mind was blurred and smothered by anxiety...she felt like a lost child–wandering an empty house, sitting on the bottom step to cry...
Her voice sounded odd, as though she was hearing herself back on a recording, was this really her own voice? Could she really mean to say what she was going to say? Rita looked up at her, her cheeks were flushed and she shifted her weight from one foot to the other and folded her arms across her chest defensively.
"Could you join me please?"
Connie asked gently, and Rita glanced about herself, hesitating for a moment, unsure as to what was about to happen. Surely Connie wasn't going to address the photo?
Silently she stepped forwards, moving awkwardly, aware that all eyes were upon her as she stood next to the clinical lead.
Connie sucked In a breath and relaxed her shoulders. She interlaced her fingers and stood, looking about at the gathering before her. This was it, she realised. This moment.
"I'd like to thank you all for taking time out to hear what I've got to say."
She began, her voice surprisingly steady and calm. She could feel Rita's eyes upon her, she knew she was there, right beside her...
"I know it's busy, so I'll be as brief as I can. Now, I'm aware that a picture was accidentally sent to various members of staff from Rita's phone this morning."
There was a shift in the silence, suddenly the gathering tensed, she could feel it, and she saw the sudden drop of Rita's gaze to the floor, and the darken of her cheeks.
"I would like to start by saying that this photo is a private photo, and because of the nature of the photo I am sure you will all understand why I'm asking you to delete the message, and any saved copies you have of that picture. If I find out that anybody has shared the image, or is still in possession of it, action will be taken against you."
She paused again, she noticed the flicker of a smile at Cal's lips.
"Now. There is another issue which I would like to address. A personal issue..."
The top of her mouth ached, and she longed to look away, to break the gaze she held so waveringly...
"I'm sure you are all aware now that because of the photo that was circulated this morning, a lot of gossip has been spread regarding nurse Freeman's private life."
She paused without really meaning to.
"I would like to set the record straight, for want of a better phrase. I'm sure you're all aware that the relationship between Rita and I hasn't always been favourable. However, over the past few weeks we have managed to put our differences aside, and have entered into a relationship...a romantic relationship."
Nobody spoke. Nobody moved. She held her breath as she looked between the faces she knew so well. Zoe's frown, Lofty's confusion, Dylan's look of vague disinterest...
Eventually Cal cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry...I think I speak for everyone when I say, 'what!?'"
He asked, almost laughing, and Robyn glanced between him and Connie.
"Is this a joke?"
She asked quietly to no one in particular, and Connie shook her head ever so slightly.
"No."
"A sexual relationship...?!"
Cal spoke again, and Rita laughed suddenly, unable to hold in the bubble of amusement that burst within her.
"Yes..!"
She bit her lip.
"It's not a joke, everyone. I imagine you're all as surprised as I was..."
She added quietly, still smiling, and for the first time since she had spoken, Connie looked at her, her hazel eyes clear with relief, her lips down turned with amusement.
"Wait...so the woman in that picture was you?!"
Cal asked suddenly, taking both women by surprise, and all of a sudden a hushed murmur began to rise once more as the realisation dawned upon them, and Connie flushed a brilliant scarlet – the only answer that he needed...
"Oh God I've seen Mrs Beauchamp's..."
"Alright! Cal..."
Rita cut in.
"It was me."
Connie confirmed quietly so that everyone had to hush in order to hear her. An awkward silence followed, nobody seemed to know quite what to say, and yet it seemed odd just to walk away...
"Well!"
It was Dixie who spoke first, who raised a hand to gain attention to herself.
"I'd like to be the first to congratulate you both, and to wish you all the best. I think we'll all be relieved to have you two getting on..."
She smiled as she spoke, and Connie noticed for the first time how her eyes sparkled as she looked upon Rita.
"Thanks Dix..."
Rita murmured, relieved to have the silence broken, and even more relieved to see that the crowd that had gathered to hear what Connie had to say seemed to be naturally dispersing.
"Thank you..."
Connie echoed, feeling the need to gain Dixie's attention before glancing back to the few staff members who still stood before her.
"Well, I think that's everything..."
She smiled as she spoke, she couldn't seem to help herself, she felt as though she had taken some sort of illegal high...she felt as though she was floating.
Dr Knight's shuffling of a patients file on the opposite side of the nurses station caught her attention and she looked pointedly at him, raising her eyebrows, noticing how he glanced up at her occasionally, his eyes never quite making it to her face.
"No patients in need of you today, Dr Knight?"
She asked, folding her arms deliberately across her chest.
Cal cleared his throat and widened his eyes, looking across at her before letting his eyes fall back down to her chest, he couldn't help but think of that photo...
"Look at me when I'm speaking to you."
She spoke sharply and a groaning noise emanated from somewhere deep within his throat . Did she realise that when she stood with her arms folded like that, that her shirt was just ever so slightly see through?
"At my face, Dr Knight."
"Sorry! Sorry..."
He rubbed a hand across his face and adjusted himself, standing taller than he had been, an odd look crossing his face as he pressed himself against the nurses station.
"Perhaps you would be so kind as to help the trainee nurse in the store cupboard seeings you seem to be having so much trouble concentrating today?"
She asked, sighing as she spoke, this man just seemed to be able to infuriate her, no matter what he said or did.
"Uh..."
He paused and shifted slightly on the spot.
"I would, but..."
He glanced from Connie to Rita and then back again, watching as Connie sighed once more and made her way over to him. She placed her hands palms down on the surface of the nurses station, feeling the cool smoothness of it at her fingertips. She knew very well why he didn't want to move, she had noticed the flush of his cheeks, the way he looked at her, and Rita...and how he pressed himself up against the desk to hide himself...
She leant forwards ever so slowly, her heels just slipping from her shoes, and lowered her gaze so that she could look down towards the tell-tale rise within his black jeans.
"Oh I wouldn't worry too much."
She said softly, leaning back into her shoes and crossing her arms.
"It's barely noticeable."
She said, and Rita made an odd choking noise from behind her, and when she turned, she saw the nurse had her fingertips at her mouth, her teeth biting her lip against a laugh, her dark eyes shining.
She smiled slightly, she turned fully, adoring the way Rita struggled not to laugh out loud.
"Is it wrong of me to find you really quite attractive right now...?"
The nurse asked quietly, the laughter in her voice making Connie smile even more, and she glanced over her shoulder as she heard Cal mutter something under his breath before turning away from them.
She raised an eyebrow and held out a hand to the nurse who paused for a moment, biting down on her lip just that little bit harder before reaching out and accepting Connie's hand, allowing herself to be pulled in closer...closer...until she stood just millimetres from her, the other woman's breath against her face.
"My office."
Connie whispered.
"Now."
-.-
Hope you all enjoyed this update, sorry it's a bit late, and it's not my best writing...at all, unfortunately. I'll update again tomorrow. Thank you ALL so much for the reviews, and WowStars, thank you so much for what you said, it means a lot, especially coming from you, I've read your fiction young lady – incredible! I'd recommend anyone reading this to go along and read everything 'Wowstars' has written. xxx
She drew her hands in towards her across the desk, inhaling as she let her fingernails just scrape the surface. Her heart seemed to flutter with every beat. She stood up slowly, swallowing, reminding herself to breathe evenly...slow deep breaths that took her mind off what it was she was about to do. She looked to the door. Through the window she could see the backs of various staff members all assembled at the nurses station, some turned and glanced towards her office – could they see her? She couldn't tell. She let her eyes close for the briefest of moments, lowering her head and holding her hands across her face. Her mind was blurred and smothered by anxiety...she felt like a lost child–wandering an empty house, sitting on the bottom step to cry...
Ever so slowly she opened her eyes and looked back up to the clock. Sixteen minutes past. She was late. She was never late...
Forcing all thoughts from her mind she pushed back the chair and stood up, 'better late than never', she murmured to herself, and she smoothed down her skirt before making her way to the door.
Outside on the ward the staff members greeted her with a sudden hush that made her breath catch, and she licked her lips, they were dry from the cold and she wished just for a moment that she could go back for her lipstick...
She placed her hands upon the nurses station, facing the crowd. She saw Zoe glance at her watch, Robyn who was folding up a piece of paper, and Lily, ever present Lily looking so serious...if only she could realise that it didn't matter...none of this really mattered, unless you allowed yourself to feel...
She cleared her throat and the low murmur of voices subsided. They were all there...all the faces, the staff...her staff. And Rita, standing to her left, her blonde hair tucked behind her ears, her arms held awkwardly by her sides as though she would rather be anywhere, anywhere but here, surrounded by all these pairs of eyes, everyone that knew...
"Sister Freeman..."Her voice sounded odd, as though she was hearing herself back on a recording, was this really her own voice? Could she really mean to say what she was going to say? Rita looked up at her, her cheeks were flushed and she shifted her weight from one foot to the other and folded her arms across her chest defensively.
"Could you join me please?"
Connie asked gently, and Rita glanced about herself, hesitating for a moment, unsure as to what was about to happen. Surely Connie wasn't going to address the photo?
Silently she stepped forwards, moving awkwardly, aware that all eyes were upon her as she stood next to the clinical lead.
Connie sucked In a breath and relaxed her shoulders. She interlaced her fingers and stood, looking about at the gathering before her. This was it, she realised. This moment.
"I'd like to thank you all for taking time out to hear what I've got to say."
She began, her voice surprisingly steady and calm. She could feel Rita's eyes upon her, she knew she was there, right beside her...
"I know it's busy, so I'll be as brief as I can. Now, I'm aware that a picture was accidentally sent to various members of staff from Rita's phone this morning."
There was a shift in the silence, suddenly the gathering tensed, she could feel it, and she saw the sudden drop of Rita's gaze to the floor, and the darken of her cheeks.
"I would like to start by saying that this photo is a private photo, and because of the nature of the photo I am sure you will all understand why I'm asking you to delete the message, and any saved copies you have of that picture. If I find out that anybody has shared the image, or is still in possession of it, action will be taken against you."
She paused again, she noticed the flicker of a smile at Cal's lips.
"Now. There is another issue which I would like to address. A personal issue..."
The top of her mouth ached, and she longed to look away, to break the gaze she held so waveringly...
"I'm sure you are all aware now that because of the photo that was circulated this morning, a lot of gossip has been spread regarding nurse Freeman's private life."
She paused without really meaning to.
"I would like to set the record straight, for want of a better phrase. I'm sure you're all aware that the relationship between Rita and I hasn't always been favourable. However, over the past few weeks we have managed to put our differences aside, and have entered into a relationship...a romantic relationship."
Nobody spoke. Nobody moved. She held her breath as she looked between the faces she knew so well. Zoe's frown, Lofty's confusion, Dylan's look of vague disinterest...
Eventually Cal cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry...I think I speak for everyone when I say, 'what!?'"
He asked, almost laughing, and Robyn glanced between him and Connie.
"Is this a joke?"
She asked quietly to no one in particular, and Connie shook her head ever so slightly.
"No."
"A sexual relationship...?!"
Cal spoke again, and Rita laughed suddenly, unable to hold in the bubble of amusement that burst within her.
"Yes..!"
She bit her lip.
"It's not a joke, everyone. I imagine you're all as surprised as I was..."
She added quietly, still smiling, and for the first time since she had spoken, Connie looked at her, her hazel eyes clear with relief, her lips down turned with amusement.
"Wait...so the woman in that picture was you?!"
Cal asked suddenly, taking both women by surprise, and all of a sudden a hushed murmur began to rise once more as the realisation dawned upon them, and Connie flushed a brilliant scarlet – the only answer that he needed...
"Oh God I've seen Mrs Beauchamp's..."
"Alright! Cal..."
Rita cut in.
"It was me."
Connie confirmed quietly so that everyone had to hush in order to hear her. An awkward silence followed, nobody seemed to know quite what to say, and yet it seemed odd just to walk away...
"Well!"
It was Dixie who spoke first, who raised a hand to gain attention to herself.
"I'd like to be the first to congratulate you both, and to wish you all the best. I think we'll all be relieved to have you two getting on..."
She smiled as she spoke, and Connie noticed for the first time how her eyes sparkled as she looked upon Rita.
"Thanks Dix..."
Rita murmured, relieved to have the silence broken, and even more relieved to see that the crowd that had gathered to hear what Connie had to say seemed to be naturally dispersing.
"Thank you..."
Connie echoed, feeling the need to gain Dixie's attention before glancing back to the few staff members who still stood before her.
"Well, I think that's everything..."
She smiled as she spoke, she couldn't seem to help herself, she felt as though she had taken some sort of illegal high...she felt as though she was floating.
Dr Knight's shuffling of a patients file on the opposite side of the nurses station caught her attention and she looked pointedly at him, raising her eyebrows, noticing how he glanced up at her occasionally, his eyes never quite making it to her face.
"No patients in need of you today, Dr Knight?"
She asked, folding her arms deliberately across her chest.
Cal cleared his throat and widened his eyes, looking across at her before letting his eyes fall back down to her chest, he couldn't help but think of that photo...
"Look at me when I'm speaking to you."
She spoke sharply and a groaning noise emanated from somewhere deep within his throat . Did she realise that when she stood with her arms folded like that, that her shirt was just ever so slightly see through?
"At my face, Dr Knight."
"Sorry! Sorry..."
He rubbed a hand across his face and adjusted himself, standing taller than he had been, an odd look crossing his face as he pressed himself against the nurses station.
"Perhaps you would be so kind as to help the trainee nurse in the store cupboard seeings you seem to be having so much trouble concentrating today?"
She asked, sighing as she spoke, this man just seemed to be able to infuriate her, no matter what he said or did.
"Uh..."
He paused and shifted slightly on the spot.
"I would, but..."
He glanced from Connie to Rita and then back again, watching as Connie sighed once more and made her way over to him. She placed her hands palms down on the surface of the nurses station, feeling the cool smoothness of it at her fingertips. She knew very well why he didn't want to move, she had noticed the flush of his cheeks, the way he looked at her, and Rita...and how he pressed himself up against the desk to hide himself...
She leant forwards ever so slowly, her heels just slipping from her shoes, and lowered her gaze so that she could look down towards the tell-tale rise within his black jeans.
"Oh I wouldn't worry too much."
She said softly, leaning back into her shoes and crossing her arms.
"It's barely noticeable."
She said, and Rita made an odd choking noise from behind her, and when she turned, she saw the nurse had her fingertips at her mouth, her teeth biting her lip against a laugh, her dark eyes shining.
She smiled slightly, she turned fully, adoring the way Rita struggled not to laugh out loud.
"Is it wrong of me to find you really quite attractive right now...?"
The nurse asked quietly, the laughter in her voice making Connie smile even more, and she glanced over her shoulder as she heard Cal mutter something under his breath before turning away from them.
She raised an eyebrow and held out a hand to the nurse who paused for a moment, biting down on her lip just that little bit harder before reaching out and accepting Connie's hand, allowing herself to be pulled in closer...closer...until she stood just millimetres from her, the other woman's breath against her face.
"My office."
Connie whispered.
"Now."
-.-
Hope you all enjoyed this update, sorry it's a bit late, and it's not my best writing...at all, unfortunately. I'll update again tomorrow. Thank you ALL so much for the reviews, and WowStars, thank you so much for what you said, it means a lot, especially coming from you, I've read your fiction young lady – incredible! I'd recommend anyone reading this to go along and read everything 'Wowstars' has written. xxx