who could stay?

“I wish I couldn’t whistle because it would make things a lot easier in my life,” Florian sighed as he scanned the menu, he was supposed to avoid caffeine, but it also sounded really good right now, “You’re alright. I have tourette’s, so I have tics, and they’re all involuntary. Some of them are kind of cute, but some of them are also rather vulgar, which isn’t my favorite thing.”

“I know it might seem that way, but you are able to do things for a reason, you know? Like I run right into doors for some apparent reason. Hopefully I’ll figure that part out soon,” she smiled softly, almost to relax him. “Oh, okay. Yeah, I learned about it my first year in med school. At least it’s not in your control, you know? I’m horrible with saying the right things, but if you ever need someone to talk to, you can come to me?” She smiled up at him.

When Florian noticed her curiosity, he mimicked the ‘sexy whistle’ and hoped it wouldn’t set his tics off. “That one,” he chuckled, “Oh I’ve done worse…so much worse. The combined most uncomfortable for me, was winking, making a kissy noise, and then telling some random stranger they have a nice cock. All involuntarily.”

“That’s actually an impressive whistle. I can’t whistle at all. I tried it so much as a kid and i was just blowing air. Nothing ever happened,” she smiled, trying to help keep the positivity. “Involuntarily?” She couldn’t help the curiosity. “Sorry, if I’m like barging in on anything or you don’t want to talk about it. Totally cool.”

“In that case, you may buy me a meal. I hear Oriole is one of the top places in Chicago and I have yet to prove this theory myself.” It was one of the most top rated and expensive restaurants in the city, but Chen was all about the high life.

“I can do that and have been there. Sadly, it’s not the best that everyone says it is. I was mildly disappointed, but I guess everyone has their own taste,” she gave a shrug. She remembered being dragged there for random meetings that her parents had for their job. It was more of her just watching and wishing she was somewhere else. But it was food. So why should she complain?

“I mean potentially, but that doesn’t stop people from looking at you funny and wondering what the fuck is wrong with you. Not that I blame them, that is how I would look at myself as well.” Florian shoved his hands deep in his pockets as he felt the urge to reach out and do something that he would consider stupid. It felt bad, but it still felt better than the other option. “My accidental go-to is whistling, so…not great.”

The redhead couldn’t help the curiosity that formed on her face, as much as she tried to hide it. She was never good at hiding expressions. “It could be a lot worse, actually. I had a random homeless guy ask if the curtains match the drapes. I was close to pepper spraying him.”

Shaking her head, she tried to offer something nice to say, “Hey, it’s fine. Look, nobody even noticed your little clumsy moment. If anything, they’re all too busy on their phones.” She then widened her eyes, “Oh my gosh you sound so busy. Yes, congrats on your semester success. When I was in college, I don’t think I had it as hard as you.”

“True. I guess that’s the one good thing about technology. People are too busy to notice any of my clumsy moments,” she smiled as she nodded. “Honestly, my bachelor’s was a breeze compared to this. But it’s more just all the information thrown at you at once. Once the semester moves a little towards the middle, it calms down till finals. It’s just how professors throw everything at you when you first start their class.”

James grinned over at her. “I mean, is anyone truly graceful? I’ve fallen down the stairs so many times at my apartment that I’ve lost count.” He laughed, though truth be told, he couldn’t remember just how many times he had fallen down them. That damn top step always seemed to sneak up on him. “I was just about to head into the coffee shop, we could see if they could give you some ice for it? Just in case there’s a bump- might help a bit?” He suggested, the gentle look remaining on his face the entire time.

“Oh lord. My finest moment was falling up the steps in high school and the quarterback of the football team helped me gather my things. It was embarrassing,” she smiled as she shook her head. “I clearly did not grow from that moment.” It was still a little embarrassing for the redhead to admit. “I might need ice. But I should be fine. It’s not that big of a deal. Just in a visible spot.”

“Second year? Oh, honey, this is only the beginning.” Stella shook her head, her tone slightly sympathetic. “If you think your social life is suffering now, just wait, it’s only gonna get worse.” As much as she’d enjoyed med school, it wasn’t something Stella missed at all. “That sounds about right. What are you looking at specializing in?”

“Well, I didn’t really have a social life in general, to be honest. I just try to make myself feel better and say I did have one,” she scrunched her face as she set the red hair behind her ear. “Um, I’m working to be a medical examiner.” 

“I already have my coffee, but if you can afford my expensive tastes…” He left the sentence hanging to take another sip of his dwindling drink within his cup.

“I can afford quite a lot, actually,” she looked up at him, giving a small tilt of her head. 

“Wait, so you’re naturally clumsy?” She chuckled softly. “Oh my gosh, I remember how that was. I hope you get all A’s this semester.” Sara then said, “I’m sure. Don’t feel bad. What kind of coffee would you like?”

“Very. My nickname was grace in school. It’s really just embarrassing more than anything at this point,” she scrunched her face in thought. “I hope. Med school really tests my patience at times though. But so far, I’ve been acing the semesters. Crossing my fingers to keep it going that way.” The redhead looked over at the woman, giving a small nod. “Um, just a coffee with almond milk. Nothing fancy.”

Like most days, James was headed towards a coffee shop around the corner of his house. If anything, he went to them more out of routine, something to get him out of the apartment. He needed fresh air, hated being cramped up inside all day long. As he was heading towards the door, he saw someone run right into it and couldn’t help but wince some in sympathy. “If it makes you feel any better, the odds of me remembering you doing that is very slim.” He joked lightly. “But for now, while I remember it, I saw nothing.” James raised his eyebrow playfully some. “But seriously, are you alright?”

“That might be a good thing as long as I don’t do something else. We’ll never know with how I am. I’m not the most graceful person,” she smiled softly as she looked up at him. “I’m okay. Probably will have a small bump on my head, but I’ve had worse. Or at least I’m telling myself that I’ve had worse so I don’t feel bad about myself.”

Florian was supposed to avoid caffeine because it triggered his tics even in fairly small doses, but he was also a coffee whore. He had been before his diagnosis and it was hard to shake after. So, while he drank far less caffeine than he used to, he couldn’t completely cut if from his life. “Uh, yeah,” he nodded, taking in the whole scene of what just happened, “I will forget that happened as long as you forget that I accidentally cat called three people this morning.” It felt fair to share his embarassment too.

Rubbing her head for a moment, the redhead felt a small bump forming, but it wasn’t going to be as bad as she thought. At least she was hoping so, anyway. “Oh, you’re good. I feel like after you turn a certain age, cat calling makes you feel a little better about yourself, secretly. But it also depends on what is said. I get weird comments because of my hair.” Way too many weird comments. 

“I had to break it to you, love, but you won’t. I don’t think I ever found a spot where I was…used to it.” Of course, he was comfortable with it. He had been performing small duties since he was 16. By the time he was able to touch real patients in school, he was a pro. “Oh yeah? I work for Northwestern right now. I went to med school back in Scotland.”

“I just feel like one of the classes I’m in now is pointless because it’s not going to relate to my path in med school. It’s the class where you lear to talk to patients, you know? It’s pointless for me because my patients won’t be talking. They will be dead,” she gave a shrug, running her hand through her hair. Of course the more she thought about how she said it, it sounded weird, but maybe he would understand the field she’s aiming for. “Do you teach or work for the hospital? Scotland sounds pretty fun. My mom was Scottish. Her parents came to the states from there.”

“Yeah, I don’t miss that shit. What are you studying? Must be one hell of a workload to have you walking straight into doors.” It felt like a lifetime ago that Stella had been dragging herself through med school, and she really didn’t miss it. She was glad that it was all over and that now she could just focus on doing her job.

“I’m in my second year of med school. So, I pretty much no a zero social life. And today, i just feel like my brain stopped working halfway into the day,” she took a deep breath as she rubbed her head. Wow, it really hurt more than she really wanted to admit. “And of course the first day means I have two papers due next week. So, that’s great.”

“Maybe you should come to my class as her in that pretty blue dress she wears. I bet the kids and you would love it.” The woman beamed, picturing such an adorable image. “Maybe for an Under The Sea type of party day.”

“Oh, that would be my dream. Now if only I could sing like her. But I do not have a singing voice. I could kill the cats with that,” she joked. “Oh, you’re seriously making me want to do this. Maybe I should have just decided to be Ariel instead of going to med school.”