Dr. Grainger, 29. Oncologist.

Juliette sighed again. “You’re getting soft Jones,” she muttered under her breath. The truth, one she would never admit, was that she’d always been a bit soft. Like most people she wasn’t a fan of pain, even if it was someone else’s. And she did know what he was describing quite well. There were nights she couldn’t go home alone. Even if she was always gone by dawn. Obviously that wasn’t her suggestion for tonight. But drinking your problems away wasn’t the solution either. Juliette knew that too. Really the only thing she didn’t know was how to fix it. “Okay but you have to at least stop drinking,” she said, “At least for your liver’s sake.”

“I’m Grainger, Bradley Grainger, not Jones” His head was starting to hurt with the confusion going on his mind, but he knew it was all the alcohol’s fault and that the fog on his brain would disappear once he fell asleep, only to come back as a real pain the morning after. “And if I stop, then what?” He asked really hoping she would give him some answers, answers to questions he hadn’t asked yet. “You need to drink with me, and we can talk, and not think about things” He said as he had finally reached a conclusion of what he should do for the rest of the night. “Talk to me, about anything” He continued. “Please” He added, more begging than asking, since he really wanted his mind to be distracted.

Juliette had to reach for the guy’s name, Bradley. They’d met on a Ferris Wheel. She preferred the Ferris Wheel. “No sugar like the.. never mind,” she replied with a shake of her head. She had meant the term of endearment, sarcastically but it didn’t really matter anyway. Clearly Bradley was upset. And very very drunk. She turned to the bartender with a look that said why haven’t you cut this guy off yet. He just shrugged at her. Juliette sighed. “Well mission accomplished you’re already drunk. Maybe its time to go home?” she said with a softness to her tone. More of a teasing than a mocking. 

“Like the diabetes?” Brad had no idea what she was talking about, or was he the one who started with the sugar subject? He wasn’t sure, but what he did know was that he was close to a depress state and he wasn’t sure how to deal with that. After the alcohol made him feel stupidly happy, the sadness came and he didn’t want to reach that point yet, specially because he wasn’t sure what he would say or do if he reached that state. Drinking his sorrows again sounded like a good plan at first but now he was just feeling very pessimistic. “I can’t go home” He replied with a sigh “I’ll be alone and when I’m alone I think. Don’t you hate when that happens?”

After hearing the news about Clara, her friend Clara, who had broken her friend Brad’s heart… it was hard. But she at least intended to be there for him, help him in whatever way she could, as long as it didn’t get too personal –– Lucy knew his reputation with the ladies firsthand, but at the same time she knew he was different with her, which was relieving, hence why she felt so secure while she rubbed Brad’s back as he tossed back his seventh shot, having no heart and no vote after all to tell him to stop. Oh, poor Brad. How could she even make it better? And God, where on Earth was Nathan when he was needed? His words made the blonde’s eyebrows knit inwards, as a small smile appeared on her lips simultaneously. “Brad… I’m a woman, you know?”

Clara’s voice surprised him, forgetting for a second her presence. He felt like a bad friend for simply ignoring her for a few seconds but her words made him laugh so he forgot all about it “You’re a mate” He insisted, not wanting to acknowledge Lucy’s gender more than he wanted to admit he had a sister who could have a sexual life, ugh. Just the thought made him shiver. “You’re my mate and we are going to drink because we hate women” He continued “You’re not Lucinda anymore, now you’re Lucius, the mate” 

Juliette looked over at the man next to her, one eyebrow raised. He was more than a little tipsy. That much was clear from his posture and the way he slurred his words. He’d been drinking when she walked in a half hour ago and seemed to be still drinking. She on the other hand was still working on her first rum and coke. She really needed to get a job. And he needed to stop drinking. Especially considering he’d just asked her to drink to women who played with their hearts. “A the only woman who’s ever broken my heart was my mother,” Juliette said. There was no harm in saying it to someone as drunk as this man. He likely wouldn’t remember it in the morning. “And B maybe it’s time for you to stop drinking sugar,” she added, a little concern coloring her tone. 

“Juliette!” Brad yelled when he recognized her, a goofy smile on his face. “I’m not drinking sugar, this is vodka, or tequila... is it scotch? I don’t even know what I’m drinking but it’s good, it’s nice” He said not really sure of what she had asked him... Had she asked something? “What did you say about my mother?” He asked confused. not liking to speak about his mother, since in his opinion, she was a saint. “Did you get your heart broken too? That sucks, come on, let’s get drunk tonight”

Jack heard the other mumble as he was taking a shot.  Juliette had stood him up for a fuck so instead he went for a few drinks to ease his stress.  “Sure, I’ll drink with you.”  He answered the other.  He looked the man over, clearly drunk and on his way to getting even more so.  “It may be the cop in me, but you aren’t driving yourself home, right?“  It was the honest truth, the cop in him always seemed to think first before anything else.  “Can’t say I know how you feel, I don’t mess with women like that to be played by them.“  He then turned to the bartender to let him know the next round was on him.

“Come here, mate, you look like you need some drinks” He was glad to know the man was up to share some alcohol with him, feeling the need to be around people and just forget about everything that was going through his mind. If he ignored his heart, he wouldn’t feel as bad as he was feeling now and drinking seemed like the right answer. “Home? Who’s going home? The night is just starting!” He claimed excited, and then he looked at him surprised. “You are a hero, an example. you are... who are you?”

I don’t know. I just feel stuck, like I’m afraid to take any steps, in case they’re the wrong ones.

If you expect nothing from somebody you are never disappointed.

“And that’s a really nice compliment I appreciate it” He liked her bubbling humor and affectionate kiss, chuckling at her words. “Believe it or not, I’m a serious man who doesn’t mix work and pleasure but for you I could make an exception” He winked, slightly comforted by the thought that she was able to tease and smile so much. Maybe this was actually working and she was in the right place after all. The nurses had already teased him a lot, but in a very nice way. Bradley thought they were actually glad he had finally found someone to settle with and finally starting a relationship, one that he was fully committed to. 

I should tell you ( Clara & Brad

He had brought her some flowers, of course, but by the look of the room they weren’t necessary. He smiled, though, because he liked how cheerful the room looked, and how it felt like it was her room instead of just a random place in the hospital. He had made sure of visiting her as much as he could between patients, and he was just happy to know she felt better. She looked better, much more comfortable and less sad, and that was all that mattered, right? Clara being fine, leaving some of her sadness behind, and hopefully finding the best ways to deal with her pain, pain that wouldn’t disappear but one that she would have to learn to live with.

An honest laugh, that’s all he could reply to her in that moment because the comment was hilarious and sad, at the same time, because he just couldn’t imagine himself in jail. He would be someone’s bitch in a second, but with his adorable smile they would at least fight for him and make him feel like a real prize to whoever won. “I’m having thoughts I shouldn’t have right now, I would be the jail’s pretty lady, probably the prettiest of all. Is it wrong that the thought makes me feel special?” He asked seriously. Was there something wrong with him? Or was he just a fan of the attention?  “It’s not the same. On Skype you can’t feel mom’s eyes on you, you can’t feel her expectations and wishes and you don’t feel pressured to tell her that you agree with her and you’ll make a woman very happy by making her your wife and of course, grandchildren, don’t forget about those. Every Friday, Charlie, I have to nod and pretend I think the same, it’s your turn to be questioned and probably set up on blind dates, get ready for those” He had been on a few, with the daughters of his mother’s friends, and it had been lovely, and boring at the same time. He had met a few girls who were too great to believe they were real, and well, it was too good to be truth, of course. He had been disappointed a lot of times and then he just got tired of the game. First - and blind- dates were just food for the ego and he hated disappointing his mother but he was already done with those acts. “I heard she has a line of men already waiting to take you out on a lovely dinner”

“Oh, are you now?” Her arms folded on her chest, a playful grin still plastered on her lips. Bradley was always a joy, even when he wasn’t supposed to be one, even when she didn’t want him to be one. But it happened, every time she even thought about him –– she smiled. Her favorite trait in a friend, that was. Someone who’d bring a smile to her face, even when they’re not physically present. “You know something? I don’t really want to talk about her. Why don’t you tell me about the Clara situation while I go pick out the rest of my list? If you have finished yours, of course. If not, let’s grocery shop together, Bradboy.” She giggled, her analogy of a bad boy was probably only funny to her, but oh well. A slightly fake, yet still very offended gasp emerged from her throat, was he really not getting her flowers? “You pig! You promised me flowers. I’m offended, please cut the friendship cord!”

“Should I give you a demonstration right now in the middle of the aisle?” He asked, both of his arms by his side, ready to lay down if she asked him to. “The floor is cold so you’d probably want me to hold you really close” He raised an eyebrow this time, a suggestive tone he only used to joke, since he was not the kind of guy who would openly flirt with one of his friends, unless said friend was Clara but she was a different story. “I’m done, I can make you some company while you finish” Shaking his head after he heard the nickname, she definitely needed to work on it. “Well, Lucinda, I don’t know what else to say. I’m feeling happy and I hope she’s feeling the same way, that’s all I can hope for, right?” A laugh escaped from his mouth when she called him pig, Lucy was a lady and comparing him to the animal was probably a big insult in her mind. “Hush, you can get your flowers back if you stop attacking me with your words, I’m starting to feel really hurt”