𝐄𝐱𝐢𝐥𝐞 || 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐱 𝐎𝐂

V. The Ghost

Chapter 5

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"I'm not a stalker. Stalkers are discrete with the people they are watching. I flew through your apartment window asking for help."

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"How many times do I have to say it, Claire? I'm not going on a date with him." Holly stated as she typed her patients information into the computer. Claire leaned against the nurses counter, her brows furrowing as she listened to Holly's rather disappointing statement. 

It was a slow night in the ER which Holly was relatively thankful for. She could frankly use the slowness that this time of year brings. The inactivity helped prepare for New Years which typically consists of a bunch of drunk teenagers falling into the ER asking for IV's to flush their hangovers out so their parents don't find out.

"Oh come on!" Claire exclaimed. "He's a nice guy, and he's a doctor. How much more do I have to say?" She wiggled her brows jokingly. "It's like that medical show you watch, Grey's Anatomy." She threw her arms up. "He could be your McDreamy!"

"I'm not interested." Holly smiled as she continued typing, occasionally looking up at Claire. Claire had a look that showed she didn't believe Holly, making her instantly squirm in her words to explain further that she didn't want to go on another one of Claire's set up dates. "Why don't you go out with him?"

"Because I think he would be a perfect fit for you." She argued. "Come on, Liam is a nice guy and it's not like your doing anything after your shift tonight."

"How do you know that?" Holly questioned. "For all you know I could have big plans."

"Oh Holly, one that about you is that your a terrible liar." Claire reached forward as she grabbed a file from the counter. She moved towards the direction of the elevator, still talking to Holly as she did so. "I told him you would meet him at The Eagle tonight at 8:30. So get your best dress on and take a shower." 

"Claire!" Holly's eyebrows raised as she looked to the elevator, "I told you I'm not going." 

"I know you don't have it in you to stand him up." She responded. "Have fun, text me if you get laid." Claire smiled just before she stepped into the elevator, leaving Holly alone at her section of the nurses station. 

Holly faced forward again, pressing her head into the palms of her hands as she let out a deep sigh. 

"Another night of no sleep...great." She took her head from her hands, going back to work as she continued to fill out paperwork. 

The feeling of rejection is one that Holly tries to avoid at all possible costs. 

Whether it's eighth grade when she had a crush on Pietro Maximoff and refused to ask him out because she was afraid he would say no, or in eleventh grade when she went to homecoming alone because she didn't want to get told no by her crush after holding up a large posterboard asking him to go with her, Holly would do anything to avoid the feeling of being told no. 

But at this moment, that feeling starts to creep up on her as she watches the door to The Eagle open and close, without a Liam in sight. 

She bites her lip and crosses her legs under the table to stop the bouncing her knee is doing naturally. Fidgeting with the string of her dress, she uses her other hand to check the time. It was 9:15 and Liam was still a no show.