the doctor

Dillon took a moment to eye Adrian, only to shake her head seconds later. “Gosh, I can’t believe I know a doctor. That’s so weird to say, you know? Like… sometimes it feels like just a few days ago, we were all in school,” she goes on, smiling a bit. At his offer, though she truly does consider it for a moment, the woman quickly shakes her head, letting out a light laugh. “Thank you, but I’ll have to pass on that. I already annoy Felix enough, I don’t want him to kill me or something.”  

“Yeah, it does,” he said with a crooked smile—at least he could get some kicks out of this whole ordeal, even if no one else could share them with him. “The time really flies by, huh?” Adrian laughed, tilting his head back—the first genuine laugh of the morning. He did have a sense of humor, it just didn’t come out too often. “I think that’s exactly the reason to do it.” 

“Yeah, for once. It’s a miracle, really.” Gio noted, knowing how busy Adrian was on a normal basis. “Well, I mean, if you want, we can always surprise him after the show ends. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.” Watching the balls move on the table, he winced at the missed shot, frowning in confusion at his friend’s seemingly dismissive answer. “Okay.” He moved around the table to retrieve the fouled cue ball from the other end. “Is it fine fine or just, fine, Gio, don’t ask, fine?” 

“You’re telling me. I’ve been working three overnights a week, at least, for the past month,” he said. At least Adrian could glean that information from his personnel file at the hospital. Adrian shrugged a shoulder. “Myles wants to cancel our trip to New York. Apparently things are weird, but I don’t think they’re weird.” He leaned back against the wall behind the table. “I don’t know. We’re not talking too much right now.” 

“Please and thank you, doc.” Gio was just having his fun. He wasn’t expecting anything, and would not even entertain the idea, because they were all friends and he was the first against anything and anyone standing between Adrian and Myles. He was a sucker for happy endings, as big as a surprise as that may be to many, and he was loyal to a tee. He also loved to poke at Adrian’s serious demeanor, laughing at his deadpanned expression. “Well, at least I can say I tried. Where’s your hottie anyways? How are you two doing?”

“I’m off the clock,” he replied, wrinkling his nose slightly at Gio before he leaned over the table again to take another shot. “He’s working tonight. Told me not to come since it’s the same set as last night,” he said, sinking the ball before shifting to try another shot at a different angle. He shrugged a shoulder. “Fine.” It was a noncommittal answer because Adrian really wasn’t sure where they stood. It seemed like no matter what he did, he always ended up in some sort of conversation he couldn’t really carry on. Adrian was a mess and a half, that was for sure, and it was getting increasingly difficult to keep it all under wraps. He missed his next shot.

“Yeah, yeah, it’s always excuses with you, Adrian.” He dramatically shook his head and let out a loud sigh. As he began eating, his brows shoot down together. “What? You don’t want to see me every day? That’s what our relationship has become to you? Right to the heart, man. I’m gonna need surgery to recover from this.” He then chuckled at Adrian’s statement, Felix could clearly remember their times as students, all memories were still fresh and his friend was right, he hadn’t been much of a fan of their own peers, something that Felix always found weird because Adrian wasn’t like that with him. At least not that much, it seemed that ten years later, the now doctor was stil las sarcastic as in the past. “And I like it because I know how to get them, most of them are not half of the pain in the ass I was in high school so, I can talk them when other teachers can’t.” He shrugged, popping a couple of fries into his mouth. “Well ,if you put it like that, of course you’ll feel the preasure. If it helps, I’d trust you my legs.”

“It’s not my fault if....literally nothing is my fault,” he replied, a small smirk at the corner of his lips the only sign that he was joking. He took a swig of his water, a frown curving at his lips. “You know, I think that’s a pass from me,” he said, nodding seriously for a moment before another smirk curved up at his lips. He tilted his head to the side, listening to what Felix said carefully, cataloging it in the back of his mind as he tried to relate, but Adrian had never had that kind of compassion for others that Felix did. The reason he had gone into medicine was not because he was obsessed with finding out how things worked, with being able to reverse time, to stop the inevitable, to expand what was humanly possible. It hadn’t come from humanitarianism. “If any of them are half as bad as us, I feel bad for you,” he teased lightly. Adrian raised an eyebrow. “You probably shouldn’t. I’m definitely not qualified.” 

[ text → AR 💖 ]: yeah but if things are weird

[ text → AR 💖 ]: i don't wanna force it

Nodding in the most understanding way she could manage, Dillon gave him a sad smile. “I know this wont make you feel any better, but I will talk about it…” trailing off, the female’s nose scrunches up, as she proceeds to shake her head. “Yeah, never mind that, that’s too corny. But–that still sucks,” she adds, giving a shrug of her shoulders. “I can’t imagine being a doctor of any kind could be very fun when your patient isn’t doing the best,” she begins, tilting her head. “That’s probably true… but the naps you get after? Gosh–!” Dillon lets out a laugh, her eyes widening at the idea. 

“Thanks for the support,” he replied, a slight smile starting to quirk up at the corner of his lips for a moment before his expression dropped back to his usual neutral look. He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. You get used to it after a while. And my speciality can get pretty dicey,” he said, nodding a few times thoughtfully. He seemed to get lost in his thoughts for a moment before he shook himself back to reality, an easy grin spreading across his features. “How about I put you under sometime and then you can see for yourself?” 

“Let’s pretend that didn’t happen them, hm?” She says lightly, lifting her cup and blowing on it for a few seconds, taking a small sip right after. “Really? The nerve of some people,” Dillon rolls her eyes, smiling sadly to the other. “The only acceptable shove from any kind of patient is a little animal wanting attention. Veterinarians are really living the good life… getting to spend time with dogs, cats and all the other fun animals,” she begins on a tangent, smiling to herself. “That sounds like the scariest but also most fun part of surgery. You have to be put to sleep, but… who doesn’t love a good nap?” 

Adrian nodded. “Sometimes, when people come in and they’re tweaking out or something, the aggression is unavoidable. Health service worker abuse is a real problem but people don’t really talk about it,” he said casually as he took a sip of his coffee, making a face as he burned his tongue. “Yeah, but veterinarians spend all their time with sick and dying animals. For whatever reason, being around sick and dying people sounds a lot more appealing to me.” He scoffed lightly. “I never thought about it that way. I’m not sure anesthesia naps are all that restful, to be honest.” 

“I think the scrubs are underrated.” Gio shrugged perfectly casual, his eyes mostly on the balls spread across the table, trying to find a semi decent shot and opting to go with what seemed to be the easiest. “I think he’d have a problem if he thought it was working, but I don’t think it is, is it?” Gio grinned, expression quickly falling as he scratched. “Don’t worry, I promise I won’t tell.” He teased, shrugging, resuming his drink.

“I’ll make sure to wear them the next time we get drinks,” he replied. Adrian watched Gio for a moment, wondering if he had noticed Adrian’s crummy behavior. He hoped he hadn’t but Adrian had the sinking feeling that he wasn’t as good at hiding what was going on as he thought. He wasn’t going to say anything, obviously, but he was starting to get worried about the possibility that Gio could say something to Myles. Then this house of cards would really come down. Adrian paused, looking like he might contradict Gio for a moment before he replied in his usual deadpan. “Not even a little.” 

Don’t be mean. Of course I’m asking for a friend. Why would I want advice on my engagement? I never ask for advice. Never. Now do you have anything useful to say or not?

UNKNOWN: You're a 4th-year surgical resident, aren't you?

UNKNOWN: Fail your next test, paper or physical, and we're even. Your boyfriend will be safe.

UNKNOWN: Dealing with your boy toy would be so much fun. Shame.

UNKNOWN: Your next exam? I want you to fail it.

“Such an irresponsible person,” Felix teased, tsking and shaking his head. “Shame on you, man. You’d think things be different but it seems I still need to drag you to study.” Of course, never during their early years did Felix have to force Adrian to study, he was sort of a genius and on the hand, Felix used to party a bit too much so it was his friend having to drag him to the books. Getting himself more comfortabe, Felix let his body slide on the chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “Told you you should follow my steps.” Not really, he thought. “I’m never wrong. But it’s not too late, you know?” He kept joking because if Adrian got to this place in life, Felix didn’t believe he’d quit; at least the Adrain he remember wouldn’t. “Just think about it, we’d be best buds and collegues. I could easily get you a place at school adn we’d be together all the time. Sounds good, doesn’t it?” The waiter saved his friend from keep hearing his bullshit as he brought Felix’s order which consisted on fries and a grilled cheese sandwich. Thanking the waiter before he left, Felix sat straight again. “You’ll be fine,man. Chill.”

“Hey, listen, the only reason you had to drag me to study is because of those three a days coach had us running in high school,” Adrian replied with a snort. Their high school’s soccer team had been state champs for all four years that Adrian was there—and it was because they never seemed to get a second’s rest. Adrian wrinkled his nose slightly as Felix spoke, shaking his head. “The more you talk about it, the less I want to be a teacher,” he replied. “Not to mention I don’t really get why you would spend all your time with teenagers. I didn’t even like teenagers when we were teenagers.” Of course, Adrian could talk about that with some level of certainty—for him, his teen years were just a few days ago. “Yeah, it’s easy for you to say. I’m going to be the one actually rebuilding this guy’s leg from pretty much nothing. If I mess it up, he’s not going to walk again.”

“Oh, I know what you meant, don’t worry! You just suggested the whole sugar and tongue thing and I thought the more the merrier!” It only took a few seconds before Dillon shook her head, crumbling up the now empty wrapper, gripping it in her hand.  “I shouldn’t be flaunting all this sugar around in front of you then, should I? That’s a little rude of me,” she goes on in somewhat of an over-dramatized tone, referring to him mentioning his profession. “I couldn’t imagine being a doctor, either. Some sick people can be crabby. I know I am, at least… I apologize on behalf of them. I know that doesn’t make it better, but…” she trails off, shrugging her shoulders and smiling in Adrian’s direction.

Adrian felt a soft huff of laughter escape the back of his throat—he was generally a stoic person, so any laughter out of him was something to be proud of. It didn’t mean he didn’t have emotions or he didn’t get happy—he just didn’t wear his feelings on his sleeve. “Yeah, I find that much sugar downright offensive,” he replied. He wrapped both hands around his cup of coffee, nodding a few times. “Yeah, yeah, just yesterday I saw one of the nurses get shoved by a patient,” he said, scoffing. “It’s honestly a little insane sometimes.” He felt a slight smirk curve up at the corner of his lips. “At least the good part about being a surgeon is that they’re asleep by the time they get to me.” 

She bit her lip, making second thoughts about how it was all going to sound. She had no idea if he was going to actually help or if he would just change his mind and check her into a mental facility somewhere. But the need to know won over fear, and Emilia really needed to figure out when her questions were going to be her downfall. Curiosity was going to kill the cat one day. “I don’t remember the past ten years and I need help figuring out if I’m sick. Or something?” Hopefully satisfaction would bring her back a few more times.

Adrian leaned in slightly, speaking quietly. “You’re the second person who has told me about something like this,” he said, his lips pursing slightly. “Third, if you’re going to count me.” He let out a slow sigh, trying not to freak out at the thought that this might be more widespread than he had thought. “I think we’re going to have to...” He shook his head slightly before shrugging helplessly. “I can take you in to get an MRI or a CT, but I don’t think it’s going to show any damage. Are you experiencing any other deficits?” The question left his lips before he could think about what he was saying and his brow furrowed, surprised at himself for even saying something that sounded so official. Maybe it was just a matter of getting himself to remember all this medical training—enough reminders would get him back to where he used to be, right? 

DENNIS: Okay, sure, I'd be happy to meet up. Let's get boba later? Unless you don't drink that...