At exactly ten o'clock under the moonless night, all exhausted interns spew out of the colossal hospital, Santa Monica General Hospital, downtown Lewiston, Maine. They had visible blue black bags under their eyes. Some headed straight to a bar called Dollies' fifteen minutes walk away from the hospital to down some shots before changing route to their homes. Others who loved their sleep went straight to their homes or hostels. One intern who got an invitation to Dollies' turned it down and requested for an Uber.
As soon as her buttocks connect with the leather seats, she dozed off. She wasn't one to give the actual address to the driver but today had to suffice. She gave him the address to her homey apartment for two. She didn't even bother to change out of her scrubs. At the arrival at the said destination, the driver carefully woke her up aware of how unruly tired women could be when their sleep is disturbed.
"Mademoiselle," He lightly taps her shoulder. She had lain her head backwards on the headrest. As luck would have it, she opens her eyes after five taps.
"Mademoiselle, we have arrived at your destination." He said. Sleep a bit off her eyes, She gathers her things and step out.
"I am sorry. Hope I haven't made you feel uncomfortable." She raved. " how much do I owe you again?"
"$35 dollars Madame."
"Here take a forty for the trouble." She hands the notes to him. "By the way, you have a nice accent." The man's face flushed. He mouths a thank you before driving off. She saunters towards her apartment.
As soon as she made it to her apartment at the top of the building, she gulps down a glass of cold water. The door opened to a spacious living room, a fully equipped kitchen to the left of the hall, a master bedroom and another room reserved for guests which she probably won't receive. She drops her bag on the couch then makes way to the master bedroom where she occupied. She hastily remove her sneakers and plops her self onto the bed, dozing off into Dreamland, never caring to take a bath or shower.
At nine thirty the next day of Saturday's morning, alas her alarm clock blared signalling her of another day. Raising her hands to hit the snooze button, roar by Katy Perry blasted off her phone. Forgoing the alarm clock, she reached out for her phone which rested on her left side drawer of the queen size bed. She answered the call showing the caller how excited she was to pickup the call.
"Hello," She began drowsily. Trying to stifle a yawn, "who is this please? If you're after a five eight, lustrous jet black curly hair, olive skinned, mischievous blue eyed English homo sapien, this is a wrong line. Kindly call the operator for assistance. Good day and farewell." She almost hit the end button before the other end responded
"Morning to you too turnip. Never heard you so excited to receive a call especially from me."
"Ugh… what do you want shrimp?" She sneered rubbing her face.
" Tsk, tsk, tsk. That's not a very nice thing to say on a bright day. I must say, the sun is doing a good job warming up your atmosphere. Come pick me up."
"Are you dumb? I can't do that." She says running her fingers through the knots in her hair. She was still displeased at his ignorant ass for disturbing her sleep.
"Why?"
She yawns, "Because dumbass you are in Kiev with whatever shit you're doing there and I in Lewiston. Ask Google for the difference in distance since your brain cannot calculate that. Any case, I wouldn't risk my money for you."
"Am I?"
"What do you mean?...look here if you haven't got anything important to say, I'm cutting the line. Moreover, you are never, ever supposed to call me." Her eyes begin to drop.
"Cant? or won't?"
Both." Her voice turn groggy.
"Okay then text me your address."
Her eyes go wide, "Hell no! Why should I? What if they've tapped into my phone Although I have changed my number."
"Cause darling, I'm waiting at the arrivals of the airport in your state. And how can mother tap into your phone when your old sim is gone."
"Yeah right I believe you and it's called technology. Ok, bye" She slurs.
"I know you don't believe me but seriously I'm tired of overdressed women gawking at me for all you know one could be a spy. Please, save me!"
" Do you want me to believe that?"
" Yeah. Is it working? C'mon Nitz."
"No it's not. Describe one thing there for me to believe you. You have just thirty seconds."
"Gosh, Women!"
"Twenty-five."
"Calm your tits."
"Twenty. It is best you start talking instead of complaining. Fifteen."
"Ok…ok…there's a…Aha a Starbucks shop opposite the airport, two escalators one seems broken. Darn they should fix it." At the beginning her eyes drop. "Also…a big pair of wings and the name of the airline company on it or under it I don't know… and the stewardesses are dressed in blue and brown attires. I got it, right?" She was out as light.
"…Snores…"
"Vine Nitzveh Marylis! Did you just sleep on me?" The scream jostled her awake and she realised she was caught. How to make it up to him was a problem particularly he being an egotistical dumbass.
"uh…uh…I'll come pick you in thirty minutes tops. Stay right there." She smiled sheepishly only to find out he can't see her.
"I am waiting." He was pissed. This is terrible.
She scampered out of her bed, put on her sneakers the way the came off and flew to the kitchen to pick her car keys off the counter. She raced for the door, almost there and soon trips on her laces sticking out of the shoe. She lands on her front on the homey wooden board floor kissing it good morning. She lifts herself up and brushes off imaginary dirt from her scrub shirt afterwards pampers her injured part- her face. She descends the flight of stairs to get to the ground floor because the elevator was occupied. She locates her Jeep then take off to Portland Airport.
>>>>>>>>>>Huyton, Knowsley, Merseyside, England<<<<<<<<
Lavinia narrows her eyes. All what he had been saying for the past hour infuriated her more for no apparent reason. She should be delighted over the news that the deal and the shipping came off successfully despite the meddlesomeness of Héctor and the police. Yet her mood was getting sour every passing minute. A lanky figure barges into the conference room. She almost snapped if it weren'tfor his loud panting and the news he delivered.
"…found them…" He exclaimed. A big grin drew on his face as if he had won a complex battle. Only Lavinia understood what he meant. She neglects her current meeting and follows him to his station. She realized that her sour mood was beginning to dissipate. Her powerful aura fills his cabin as she occupies the main seat in the room. It enveloped him causing him to shiver in his boots. He began speaking in gibberish with the laptop towards her. He stopped when he received no reaction from her after his complex explanation of how he got to where he was now.
'It could be that she was not interested.' He thought.
Lavinia returned her gaze from the oblique painting pasted on the wall opposite the chair to him. He was beginning to speak a language she understood. She found out that after their stay in France for two years, one of them left for the states whiles the other took to Germany. The one in the states has been living there since but the others soon dispersed to Albania, New Zealand, Philippines and Ukraine. References were based upon their last phone call and plane tickets. Manny had warned her from contacting her own kids. Her own kids! She had given them enough space now they need to come home!
She smacks her palm on the mahogany table."So where are they now?" He flinched. He dreaded this question. It was good news he finally have been able to track their movements but they weren't enough. She needed to know their current whereabouts.
"I am sorry, Boss. But I… it'sbeen difficult trying to trace their current movements in an especial manner whereby they have changed their numbers and probably their phones." He stutters. But Lavinia paid no heed to his lament.
"I want the status of their current whereabouts within two weeks. Two weeks is all you've got or else… you know I can do." With that she strides out of his cabin leaving traces of her fragrance as she went. But poor boy gaped at the open entrance. She gave him two weeks! When he used about three months to find out that they were in Germany!
>>>>>>>>>Portland Airport, Lewiston, Maine<<<<<<<<<
It took her sixty minutes to get to the airport due to the traffic jam. She walked briskly to the arrivals unit bracing herself for her imminent doom. She scans the crowd for a brunette with a workout body and emerald eyes whose tallness was visible even amongst giants. She hoped at least she got to his shoulders. It was no surprise to find the airport full making it difficult to navigate through.
Once spotted, she gulped, drew in amounts of air in and out and made way towards him with the best innocent look ever. He waited patiently for good ninety minutes. So much for a surprise entry! Fury was an understatement. He was beyond that.
An elderly couple sat on the next bench behind him looking disturbed at the incessant taps his feet did on the tiled floor. He didn't look like he was stopping anytime soon. They were fed up with the new generations attitude. Already, they had accounted a brawl with one of the stewardesses on the aeroplane. When he caught sight of her, he rose to his full posture, took his suitcase and dragged it towards her. His prey was ready to be eaten!
"Wow, you are on time as always." He said still towering over her.
"Really? Oh my…" she begins to rave.
"I was being sarcastic. I thought you'veheard of sarcasm, Einstein?"
"You haven't given up that loony attitude of yours. I thought the therapist was helping you. It appears it is all a waste of time and money."
"He pokes her forehead. "I am not in the mood to argue with you. At least let me retain my lost energy and possibly rejuvenate. Take me to the underground bridge." He demanded ignoring what she said.
"She yawns. "You know you can hail a cab to that place."
"Don't you live under the bridge." He asked with feigned innocence.
"huh…you think I live under a bridge?"
" Oh! Good then. Take me to wherever you live. I'm sure I will have to rent an apartment for you." She pinches her nose bridge at his stupidity.
"For you info, 1. You are never supposed to contact me in any form. Did you forget the rules we made. And 2. I earn quite a lot to be able to afford six apartments fully furnished at Manhattan. Above all, Manny paid afull year rent for me so I got no problem. 3. You are cooking for the whole week for ruining my sleep."
She mentally rubs her palms satisfyingly. 'He is a good cook. I can have him for myself for the whole week.' She thought evilly.
'This damn girl doesn't know what's coming'
"If I were to be followed let them follow we will lose them anyways. Also, in your dreams princess. Lead the way!"
'She thinks she can fool me.' He had his own thought.
It seemed like an hour or two had passed however only twenty minutes of swimming in their own thoughts. They continued their comebacks all the way to her house making sure to check for any trailers.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"Is that condom I see there?' He questioned with disdain when they entered the room assigned for him to use. The said thing lain on the side drawer. She so much wanted to strangle Sage right now.
"Uh…I…um…" it was pretty awkward for her when it got to matters as these. Ironically, she meets patients with even worse sexual problems than the condom over there. Here goes nothing.
"You broke your promise! You dishonor the family. " He yelled , disgust shown on his face. " How could you do this?" He didn'teven let her justify herself. So much for independence!
"Will you quit yelling and listen?" She snarls.
"What do you want to say for yourself? That it was a one night stand." She nods. This fuels his anger.
"it is not mine."
"Quoi?" (what). He was confused. If it'snot hers then who does it belong to? And she wasn'tone to make friends.
"J'ai dit que ce n'est pas le mien. II appartient à meilleur Sage. Elle a été ivre et branché là-bas avec in homme ne me demande pas pourquoi, comme c'est ça . Elle a une clé de rechange. Elle dit aussi que je devrais garder des préservarifs supplémentaires ici pour Elle devient excitée à certains moments inhabituels. (I said it is not mine. It belongs to my best friend Sage. She got drunk and hooked up in there with a man don'task me why but it'slike that. She has a spare key. Also, she says I should keep extra condoms here for she gets horny at certain unusual times.) She said something about it been nice to get fucked here… said something about it been breezy and cozy here… I don'tknow… do you know the weird looks they gave to me when I went to buy a whole box at the department store?"
"You let your 'best friend' get fucked in your own home and you do nothing about it." He says bewildered.
"is that all that you picked in whatever I said?" smoke flew out of her ears. "She's the only friend I'vemade so the best of friends."
" You could have ordered those for delivery, you know." He stares at her ignorance. "since when do you have friends? She could die."
"I know. I figured that out too late."
"I…so it's not you then?" He asked relief seeping through his shocked features and she nodded in answer. "Merci Dieu, or it would have been hell. He dois rencontrer ton ami fou." ( I have to meet your crazy friend.) He really needed her to get rid of the said 'best friend' of hers if she didn't want another person to lose their life.
"Oh, you would love her. She's a pain in the ass but she'sworth it. " She winks. "Go freshen up. There's leftovers in the fridge. You stink!"
"I stink? Have you got a good grasp of your stench." He retorted. "Im not surprised you are still single."
"What has this got to do with my relationship status?"
"Everything."
"Go…just leave…go take a shower or bath, whatever." She dismissed him and walked towards her bedroom.
"Mmm, I'll go…freshen…wait…Vine?"
"Yeah?"
"Isnt that your scrub or whatever they call it?"
…Sighs…"Yes it is…Any problem?"
"so…that means…" He tilted his head in a thinking pose. "You only wear this at the hospital, right? And you don't have a shift today." He didn'twait for a response. "that means…that means you didn'tshower yesterday and this morning." He bubbled as if he had just solved a mystery he had been racking his brain on for a while.
"Yes, that's what happened. I was drained and you didn't give me the chance to take a quick one. What'sthe big deal?"
"No wonder the atmosphere smelt different than how it presented itself." He scrunched up his face. " You are the cause." He sniffs the air. "C'mon Vine how are you going to snag a rich man with this body fragrance."
"Never said I was interested. In any case, if you want to be with me, you gonna have to love my dog also." She grits and mock applaud him. "I am so proud of you bro. Why are you still single then if you use the best of cologne?"
"My relationship status is entirely different from yours." He defended. "No one would want to date someone who doesn'tlike to bath or better still comes along with a bag of disorders." Those words weren't supposed to be out of his mouth but it was too late to take them back.
Her expressions haddened. She turned cold and ruthless. Alva made an effort to get a word out of his mouth but her raised hand made the thoughts dispell into thin air before they could come out as words. She ambled to her room dejected as though in a trance. She locked the door and made no move to open it when he banged on it several times. He was afraid of what she might do since it has been quite a while. He had to open his big mouth to a matter till date no resolution has been found for. She had gone on a camping trip in a village with her classmates and got lost. Only the heavens can tell what happened to her cheerful personality for they had lost their little troublemaker ever since. Even the shambles they found her in was enough to shut her up until now though she has being making efforts to open up and to communicate with the world. At least she no longer had the seizures. Their mother never helped in this delicate controversial mental matter nor acted it. She thought she had gone insaneHe ruffled his hair in annoyance as he sat at her doorpost with his back to the white door.
Lunch passed however no sign of human movement in the room. It was as silent as a cemetery. Dread filled his heart of what she might do to herself. Getting worried, he twists the doorknob twice going for the third when it opened to her rubbing her wet hair with a towel. She ignores him, passes by to do her laundry at the basement of the building. He follows suit to see if she is alright.
"Will you quit staring? It is creeping me out." She snarls."And go take a shower you smell disgusting."
"I won't…unless you forgive. I know I do pretty dope stuffs but I shouldn'thave joked about something like that..it has caused you pain and you'restill…re-recovering…however you are…." He pleaded guiltily. She turned to give him a calm look.
"At least watch what comes out of that stinking mouth of yours. Only if you want to snag a serious girl."
"Yes, I know tha- Wait…what?" He looked at her in wonder not expecting such reaction from her.
"You heard what I said I am not going to repeat myself. But to make it up to me, you are making me Oyako Don (chicken and egg with rice) and spicy meatballs for lunch. I'm hungry and then we'remaking biryani not forgetting desert your choice and…and…" She prattled as his eyes set on her in a fixed glassy stare. He was glad she looked past what he said, amazed she got him to cook for her and relieved old habits die hard.
"Alright, your wish is my command." He bowed mockly. "But you must first smell my armpit for success. Manny says I reek of success and I'm starting to think that'strue." He says trying to lighten the ambience. "Go on, don'tbe shy. You need that for your test next week.
She gagged. "You haven't showered for like two days."
"You still with that?" annoyance seeped through his voice.
"What can I say, I have showered and you have not and besides our scents don't mix making you stand out." She drops the last pile of clothes into the washing machine.
"…hmph…whatever…I have something important to discuss with you kinda important. Also movie night no back out!"
"Darn it, my ears are sensitive. Keep your voice low and leave for the last time."She grimaced.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<
Monday came and if it wasn'ttest day, she would have stayed in bed a little longer. The alarm was loud enough to wake her and her brother up. It was so early that it spoiled his mood. However he also had duties to carry out. He dropped off his sister at the hospital's parking lot and borrowed her car much to her chagrin. Truth is he could not be in charge of anything. He was a careless fellow!
Alighting from the Jeep, she gives him one last warning look before he speeds off. She released a fed up sigh which caught the attention of her warm best friend and colleague, Sage Merlotte. She knew she had to break whatever relationship they have before they find out how she'srelated to her. She could lose her life in the process! She wouldn't let that happen. Vine releases another breath.
"What's with that gloomy look?" Sage asks examining her friend's face. Vine shakes her head and gives her an assuring smile then hand in hand they march to the emergency department to begin their day full of compelling cases. It was a really busy week.
Having all of Wednesday to himself and being able to get his sister'sattention. It was time to let the cat out of the bag.
"I need your help." Chauncey stated as he got back from work to find his sister dwelling in her books for three hours now.
"I am proud you do not have anything to do." She says sarcastically.
"You are saying that as if I slack on my duties."
"What kind of help? If it'sme going to a club as your nineties mentality mother to save you from half naked women, count me out." She does not spare him a glance from her book.
"No, no, not today at least. However this time for a business proposition."He saw that he had gained her attention. "I need you to be there to help me secure the deal. You and Enrique are my lucky charms with that persuasive sides of yours."
"Get to the point."
"I want you…scratch that… I need you to convince them and secure that deal for us."
"Why do you want it so badly?"
Chauncey hesitated. "Because…Iwanttorubitinthefaceofher." He rants without a pause.
"English, please?"
"I said I want to rub it in the face of...Taylor Thornton."
"Taylor Thornton, huh? Girl's got your ass working."She teased. Damn! She must be the one who has got him all riled up these past few days.
"Whose side are you on?" He whined.
"Whats in it for me?"
"Ten percent of what is accomplished." He negotiated. He only received silence as an answer so he continued to forty percent.
"Now you are talking. When?"
"Saturday, the twenty fifth of this month which is next week?"
"Mmm…twenty fifth? I can make time for that since by then, I would have been done with all my tests and ready for graduation."
"Graduation? I thought you graduated already." His hands were crossed on his chest as he leaned on one of the dining chairs facing the small study in the corner of the room.
"Forget it." She waves it off.
Silence didn'tseem to be a virtue of Chauncey's as he laid back in the couch. A few moments later, he began humming.
"Are you just going to bury your head in the book?" He murmured.
"Yes." She replies unfazed. Chauncey wondered on how one could get so engrossed in such a boring book as that dictionary in her hands.
"Cmon isn'tthere anything fun you want to do other than reading that dictionary of yours?" He threw the armrest at her but it didn'tget far enough.
"First of, it'snot a dictionary. Second, yes, to kick you out of my house and sleep like there's no tomorrow."
He chuckles. "Like seriously? You would throw your own brother out of your house? That's uncultured."
"Are you teaching me what uncultured means?"
"Anyways, the rest of the gang will be here on the same day." He let out what has been bugging him ever since he arrived. "So one of us will be picking them up from the airport."
"What do you mean the rest of the gang? What is wrong with you guys? We are supposed to have any form of communications for the time been" She asked until it dawned on her. They have been traced!
He smiled sheepishly. "I forgot to let you know. Quique and the others will be joining us in this state, in your house."
She dropped her book creating a loud this which made him flinch away. "No one told me about that!"
" I…uh…I just told you… like now." He grinned as he dodged an incoming book.
"That doesn't count. You know I hate impromptu." Her anger rumbled in her.
She had no problem with Quique coming because he was just like her; calm, composed, organized, minding my own business and manageable. Yet she couldn'tsay that for D-Norris and Nage. They were pests every farmer tries to keep at bay or better still eradicate them. Alva knew this would happen that is why he changed his plans. He was going to have even more fun with their arrival. She returns to her books and tries to keep the new information from distracting her at home and work.
All medical interns and nursing trainees shouted for joy and breath relief at the end . They couldn'tsay the same for the surgical interns. Rich colleagues decided to hold a fête to celebrate their survival. All were invited including the seniors. Dollies' was cramped on that particular Friday. Vine invited Chauncey and sage finally got to meet him. They bashed like there's no morning break. They dispersed at one in the morning while others waited till four since downtown Lewiston never sleeps.
Dropping drunk Sage home, Vine bends a curve on the path to her apartment with a boozed Chauncey at the backseat of Alva, Chauncey's white Tesla. He bought it on Thursday since he couldn'trely on Vine's jeep all the time. She helped him to his room before taking a hot shower. The excessive days were over…..for now.