signifying nothing

  “That’s because Pharmaceutical company decided that it would be better if medicines taste terrible now” he laughed joked, “is there any sweet medicines left?”

“Yeah, but, like, why? I mean, I guess it makes sense in a way, cause people abuse cough medicine badly enough when it tastes like crap.” Darcy giggled and nodded. “Yeah! I mean, like I Said, the strep medicine tasted like candy. Sugary and sweet.”

“Hey, I’m incredibly useful, I’m just exhausted. The school for two presidential terms is probably what’s caused the exhaustion.”

“Aren’t doctors, like, on call all the time? So you should probably get used to answering questions when you’re tired. I’m pretty sure doctors like House only keep their jobs on TV.”

“Anything that ended up with its own song should not be underrated, there must have been a reason, mustn’t there?” questioned Isabel with a smile. “Key lime is pretty great, though, I’m a big fan.”

“I mean, granted, it’s pretty blatantly about sex, but hey, it was the eighties. At least it quite so obvious as Pour Some Sugar On Me.” Darcy grinned and shrugged. “Eh, I mean, it’s okay. I like old fashioned apple myself.”

If Darcy was being honest with themselves, they were a little surprised that someone had actually bid on them. The whole auction thing had been just a joke, a laugh, a chance to dress up and maybe do a little good for charity. But Ben Scott of all people had bid on them, and they couldn’t deny that they kind of liked that idea. From their brief conversations, Ben had seemed smart and funny, and their senses of humor seemed to mesh.

So Darcy had decided on a simple movie date at their apartment. Nothing fancy, no pressure, just an opportunity for them to hang out and get to know each other. They had texted Ben with the necessary information -- first, their address, and then a request to bring popcorn -- and had set up the movie on their Roku. They had selected a few movies from different genres, unsure what Ben would like, and they set up an assortment of candies in bowls on the coffee table. Finally, there wasn’t anything else to do but wait for Ben to get there, so they flopped on the couch and picked up a magazine.

“—Hey, just a heads up, it’s almost last call. Can I get you another drink?” he questioned, tapping his fingers against the counter. “Maybe get you a cab?”

“Wow, really? Time really flies and all that. Oh, no, I’m good, I’m not even drunk. I’m the DD, actually.” They craned their neck. “I’m gonna have to roundup my friends, though. It’s a bachelorette party.”

  “Okay, you have the worst taste in music You should just give it a rest and you are making my hears bleed” he said talking to the person next to him

Darcy didn’t look up from the work they had spread over the counter. “First of all, I didn’t choose the music. My boss did. Second of all, unless you actually need my help with something, you’re more than free to move along. The music only plays in the lobby.”

   “This is the first time that i am hearing someone getting their tonsils out over the age of twelve. I bet it happens often but not a lot”

“Right? Me too. I guess she was tired of getting sore throats all the time. She’s had strep, like, three times and she has a post nasal drip, so I can see why she’d do it, though. I had strep once when I was twelve, and that was definitely enough. The medicine was delicious, though, I can’t see why it doesn’t always taste like that.”

“I’m not going to be a doctor Nixon, I am one, fully fledged. You’re probably right about that though, I should keep my mouth shut.”

“Oh, well, excuse me, Dr. Bauer. Not that it seems like you’re gonna be very helpful as a doctor, anyway, I’ll just have to stick to WebMD. I can’t see why you’d want to keep your mouth shut after being in school for, like, two presidential terms, but that’s just me.” 

“I liked that reference. Don’t cut yourself short.” He flashed a smile, nodding to her gesture as he followed in line with her steps. “Depends on your definition of new. I moved here about a year ago.” He answered. “Marcus. The pleasure’s all mine.”

Darcy laughed. “Thanks,” they said. “Oh, yeah? Well, I’ve lived here for about five years and I’m from Nova Scotia, so I guess that’s pretty new.” They grinned up at him. “How are you liking it so far?”

“Cough medicine’s totally to blame over on this side of the pond,” laughed Isabel. “I don’t know what peoples problem is. Time to embrace the cherry if you ask me. There’s a reason black forest’s so popular.”

“I know, right? Cherry pie is also totally underrated. I mean, apart from having its own song in the eighties,” Darcy laughed. “People act like key lime pie is so great, but no love for cherry pie, it’s a shame.”

“Wait… they said that to you?! That’s kinda weird and verging on disturbing…”

“Really? Your threshold must be kinda low for that kind of thing, no offense. What’s weird about saying I look like Audrey Hepburn? I mean, I don’t really see it, but you know, I don’t think it’s disturbing.”

“Oh thank god, I thought you were going to be another person asking for medical advice. Unless you were wanting medical advice in which case I take back the thank god.”

“You know, I don’t think everyone knows you’re gonna be a doctor. So starting a conversation like that is probably gonna get more people asking you for medical advice, once they know what you do.”

“Couldn’t have said it better myself” A light jeery chuckle trailed across his lis after his words, letting his gaze rest on the other. “Coffee sounds great. And I’d hate to have to leave you having coffee all by yourself.” The light smile that traced his lips gave his expression a warm exterior, as he gently nodded. “I’m Marcus, by the way.”

Darcy giggled. “I’m sure there’s a more, like, worldly reference I could have made, but I’ve been watching The Andy Griffith Show on Netflix, my grandma loves that show.” They nodded and made a little gesture. “Come on, the cafe is just this way. Are you new in town?” They smiled over at him. “I’m Darcy, nice to meet you.”

“They? I’m the they in this situation, so no, definitely not,” said Isabel with a laugh. “Besides, not going to get many people inside by standing in the doorway.” She smiled when Darcy commented on what she’d offered. “Double chocolate and cherry brownie, new this morning,” she said.

“Well, I mean, it’s cold outside, and a bakery is nice and cozy-warm, so it seems to me that people would come in on their own -- and then bam, they’re rewarded with free treats.” Darcy grinned and shrugged. “But hey, there’s a good chance I’m talking out of my ass, what do I know? You know what, I think cherries vastly underappreciated. It’s cough medicine’s fault, I think.”

  “Nope it was not serious at all” he lied, which is something that he has been doing for the last few days

Darcy didn’t point out that odds were pretty good that, being in the hospital for what seemed to be more than a night, that it was bound to be pretty serious, but it wasn’t their business. They had expected him to say it was something like what her coworker was in for. “Well, that’s good,” they said idly. “My friend got their tonsils out. I didn’t know anybody over twelve had that operation.”

A short laugh trailed off of his lips to the words they’d spoken, the sentiment being too true to be able to stop it. “Tell me about it. I was almost positive these had gone extinct by now.” Reaching for the coins, an alleviated softening of his demeanor appeared. “That’s perfect, thank you. If we ever park next to each other again, It’ll be my treat. Unless I can pay you back some other way.”

“I haven’t seen them in any other part of town except here. I think they’re still going for a, like, old-fashioned Mayberry kind of vibe.” They smiled and shook their head. “No, you don’t have to pay me back. Unless you wanted to come in and get some coffee with me. It’s a drag sitting by yourself sometimes.”

She blinked rapidly before realizing what the other had said, “Oh..thank you I probably wouldn’t have even realized,” she said as she took her purse back. “Can I buy you lunch or something as a thank you? I don’t know what I’d do if I lost my stuff,”

Darcy smiled and shook their head. “No worries,” they said. “Yeah, that would be really nice of you. I work at the St. Paul hotel, you wouldn’t believe the kind of stuff I come across that people have lost. A few times, I’ve found a shoe. Not shoes. Just one shoe.”