six lazy residents:

"six lazy residents." Miranda's hands rubbed her face as she growled. "i put my heart and soul into this hospital and i get not one, not two, but six, lazy ass residents."

Callie began cracking up. "they are kinda duds."

"girl..." Miranda smirked. "the stuff you and i would have killed to do, they don't ask about, don't even..." she exhaled.

"maybe we should throw this batch out and start over," Callie offered. that made them laugh noisily and Miranda was glad they were the only ones in the room.

the two women high fived as the door to the attending lounge swung open. seeing Ben for the first time in almost a week, Miranda's jaw tightened. "hey, Callie," he said with a bright smile.

"hey, Ben," she said returning the politeness while Miranda stared at one friend, not daring to make eye contact with her other. neither she nor Ben had called off their friendship, so at least that was still in tact—sort of, but it still hurt—definitely. he cleared his throat. "Bailey."

ignoring him all together, Miranda fake scrolled through her phone. "oh, God, are you two still not talking?" Callie asked.

"i spoke!" he chuckled.

"Miranda?"

the quiet doctor began gathering her things and her girlfriend held her wrist. "i have somewhere i need to be," she lied through gritted teeth.

Callie pushed her chair back from the table and stood up. "no, you don't, but i do. i'll go."

"don't. leave. me," Miranda begged out of the corner of her mouth.

"talk to him," Callie said mimicking the action.

before she knew it, she'd been left alone with him.

in true Benjamin Warren fashion, he sat right next to her, avoiding her glares and wants to slap the sandwich from his hands. she played on her phone and he ate in silence and for once, her phone didn't beep and she cursed her residents. of course, they picked this time to be self-sufficient.

Miranda really hated that she was still so mad. at Eli for breaking her heart. at herself for being so angry at everyone. at Ben for still being her best friend even though they hadn't spoken in so long and she missed him. and what made things even worse was that Sanaa was pissed at her, too.

trying to piece them back together and unbeknownst to her mother, the teen had asked him to come over to grill something in the freezing cold. his mere presence made Miranda see red all over again. before he could even light up the grill, they'd gotten into it—loudly.

you're aggravating as shit!

and you get on my goddamn nerves!

the words they'd spoken were harsh and shook her to her core every time she thought about them.

"why would you invite him over?" Miranda had asked Sanaa once he was gone.

"i thought..."

"no, you didn't. and you should have asked me. what is with everyone doing things without—"

"i just wanted you two to..." the teen had stopped talking and sat in the nearest chair.

"i was handling it, Sanaa."

"no, you weren't. he was just being Benny. and you're just being... bitter!" she bellowed.

the truthfulness coupled with the alliteration almost pushed her over the edge. "very. thin. ice."

"sorry. can i go to grandma and grandpa's?"

that request had made the surgeon's brows knit. "we're having a discussion," she'd said.

"no, you're having it. apparently, i don't get a say," the National Honor Society member stated firmly. "and i just want to feed my fish and go. so can i?"

"why don't you ask Ben?" Sanaa had picked up her phone to do just that and Miranda had flourished her hand, waving her from the room. "be safe," she called after her daughter, her voice wavering.

that had been days ago. a lump formed in her throat that damn near made her speak to the man next to her just to get rid of it. he would know what to do.

but the door opened for a third time and one of her residents poked their head in. "uh, Dr. Bailey?"

"yes?" she said, not looking at them.

"um, Mr. Favreau wants to see you."

"about?"

"he wants to see a 'real' doctor," they said and Ben let out a howl.

finally turning in their direction, Miranda sighed. even though the young woman was one of her favorites of the dastardly bunch, she still gave her a you can't be serious look. "just... tell him i'll be there soon."

"okay."

"'a real doctor' is funny as hell," Ben said, drinking his lemonade. "i would have been on Mr. Favreau's ass as a resident," he added. reluctantly, Miranda agreed with a nod. "well, maybe not when we were fresh interns..."

"but certainly by our second year!" she claimed, smiling.

"i'm saying!"

their little exchange had her hopeful that they were sliding back into their normal, effortless, somewhat spontaneous friendship that had kept each them grounded throughout residency and attendingship.

"though, to be fair, they probably don't need to strain themselves when you're around to yell at people for them." Ben spoke quickly and Miranda hated that she knew what that meant—that although he was right, he didn't really mean to say what he said. he was just irritated. as was she. and here comes the sigh."shiii... i'm sorry, Miranda, okay?" he breathed, "truce?"

her phone beeped and she wanted to hug it for saving her and then throw it for forcing her to leave his question hanging in the air.