17 Conversations

"Hello Beth." I smile as I enter Lances mom's room, taking the seat at the foot of the bed, that looks out the window.

"Lirael! This is a welcome surprise, how are you doing today dear?" Beth's face lights up, happy to see me.

"I'm doing well today, I hope you got some good news today?" I raise a brow at her but she gives a sad smile my way.

"I wish, I'm going stir crazy in here." She laughs it off and leans back. "So have you seen Lance since we talked?"

"For a moment, he just dropped some items off that I had left." I push my hair behind my ear, awkwardly clearing my throat.

"Oh? That's it?" She asked as if I would divulge more information with some prodding.

Confused, my answer drawls out of me, "Yes?"

Beth quickly composes herself, tsking, " Oh well, I'm just being a nosy ninny, sorry. So, tell me how has your week been going?"

We chit chatted for about an hour, before I bid her good night and went to leave.

"I'll see you soon, BE-!"

I walked into a solid chest and nearly got knocked on my ass.

Strong arms were quick to steady me as I looked up the hospital blue scrub uniform, sporting the tell tale, long, white lab coat of a resident physician, caught me.

I looked up into some gorgeous amber eyes of Dr. Patel, one the hospitals easiest on the eyes, male doctors.

"I'm so sorry, Ma'am!" He quickly checks me over.

"Not at all Dr. Patel. I was not paying attention." I turn to Beth, "I'll see you later." I turn crimson as I mouth, ouch, to her and turn back and exit.

I'm walking down the hall and just entered the elevator, when I hear footsteps and the sudden smack of a clipboard on the sensors to keep the door open.

"I need some signatures for your mothers paperwork." It's Dr. Patel.

"Uh... Okay, but I'm not related. I can contact her brother, Mr. Henderson from Medical billing for you if it's urgent?" I offer as he steps in letting the doors close.

"Oh you're not related but you know the family?" He smiles, " My mistake, I merely assumed."

I awkwardly laugh it off, "It happens, Dr. I'll get Mr. Henderson on for you." I quickly dial him up and he answers.

"Lirael? IS everything alright?"

"Yes, Mr. Henderson, I have Dr. Patel here with me, he needs some signatures for some of his paperwork for your sister."

" Let me speak with him, Hello? Dr. Patel, it's Jim."

I hand my phone over and we exit the elevator together, and can gather tidbits that we need to leave the paperwork on his desk to attend to in the morning.

"Sure thing, Jim. Oh really? No, I didn't realize that." Dr. Patel smiles knowingly at me and I can't help but feel that his statement included me. "Sure thing. Bye." He hangs up my phone and hands it back to me.

"Thank you, Dr. Patel, is there anything else?" I ask him before I go to leave for the night.

"No... well..." He blushes and seems to second guess himself before nodding, "Would you care to grab a coffee tomorrow at lunch? I'll be coming off my shift so I will need a little caffeine, but I just realized you worked here and are not related to my patient."

I smirked, my lips twitching at how awkward, but cute, that sounded coming from such a drool worthy guy.

Wouldn't hurt anything, it's just coffee....

"Sure, I'll see you tomorrow for coffee, Dr. IF you haven't passed out after your shift by then." I grin, leaving an even bigger smiling Dr. heading for the elevator.

I go to walk out and almost collide with Lance.

damn, I'm almost two for two today, running into hot men.

"Hey, Lirael! What are you still doing so late at work today?" He reaches out and gives me a quick, little, one armed hug in greeting.

"Hey Lance, I... Oh!" I stop and call out, "Dr. Patel?!"

A second goes by before, "Yes?" His face pops around the corner from the elevator.

"Dr. Patel, Lance is your patients son. You can get him to look over the papers too, then you won't have to wait till tomorrow for Mr. Henderson to arrive." I take Lances arm motion him towards Dr. Patel.

"Paperwork for my mother? Is this about her going for the trial treatments?" Lance inquires, and I wave them bye before trying to head home..... again.

As soon as I'm behind the wheel, I let out a satisfied breath.

*le sigh*

Let's go home! I have a bath calling my name!

I'm driving, singing along with the radio when Brian calls.

"Hello?"

"Hey Lirael, I've got your evaluation sent to the club, did you want a copy? I can email it, if you do."

"Sounds great. I'd appreciate that...." I say rolling into my driveway, only to stop, leaving the car running.

"Shit." I mutter as I see Carson, sitting on my porch swing.

He casually waves at me, and I groan to myself.

"Lirael? Everything alright?" Brian, who's clueless to what I'm seeing, inquires.

"Carson's sitting on my porch swing." I mutter. "I better go handle this once and for all. I'll talk to you later Brian, thanks." I turn off the car and head to the front door.

"Carson." I fidget with the skin and cuticle of my thumbs while I stand there, waiting for him to say something.

"Lirael. Long day?" Carson examines me from top to bottom with his gaze. "Did you cut...no... What did you change about yourself?" He looks at me hard, causing my nose and forehead to scrunch, perplexed by his question.

"Nothing, why.. No, that's not the question I want to ask." I pinch the brow of my nose, ready to go take a bath and relax, and steel myself for why he's here.

"Why are you here, Carson?"

He stands, shuffling his feet, "Well, I found a pair of your earrings with my stuff from the club. I thought I would return them to you and also," He pauses, taking in a giant breath before continuing, "I also want to apologize for my actions at the club. It was uncalled and immature of me to behave in that manner." He holds out a small box and I accept it.

He sticks his hands in his coat pockets and shrugs, "Well, I'll get going. Bye, Lirael." He walks down the steps and heads down the drive to the street.

Internally, I groan, but quickly shout, "Thank you, Carson!"

He doesn't look back just raises a hand in acknowledgement and continues on his way.

I head inside, take off my shoes, grab a bottle, glass of ice, and practically jump up the stairs to my bathroom. I turn my radio up, set the comfortably, squared bath to fill, bubbles forming quickly as I add in salts and then pour me a tall glass. I pin my hair up and strip out of my clothes, sliding in to the nice hot water.

I don't know why I felt the need to have a bath like this today, but damn I am glad I did.

I relax, my music up for me to sing along with, and just breathe.

I wish it was Friday instead of Thursday. I would get ready and play with Kim...

My mind wanders off, I continue singing off and on with the music, "I light the match to taste the heat...."

I feel... good today.

"My pleasure is their pain.."

The music plays on as I relax, lazily, washing my body, filing my nails and spending some quality time on me.

By the time my glass is empty, my water is cooling down, my bubbles are coming upon rapid extinction, I decided to pull the plug. While the tub drains, I turn the shower head portion on and rinse any soap or suds that still cling to my body down the drain.

I grab my towel, pat myself dry, and begin to lotion up my body, still singing away. "Am I beautiful, as I tear you to pieces?"

I dance in the mirror, rolling my hips to the music, running my hands over my body, feeling sexy in my own skin as I touch myself.

I turn around to go grab my clothes and get dressed.

"OH HOLY HELL!"