The Sidewalk Incident

7. The Spinning Incident

Once in the staff locker room, and making sure we're alone, James is abruptly shoved against a row of lockers by yours truly. His eyes flashed dangerously for an instant and I hate the jolt to my gut that that look initiated.

"What the hell are you playing at!" I yell, my face all contorted from the anger finally bubbling over.

He rolls his eyes at me and that only infuriates me further. "You are welcome, Charlotte."

"You're welcome? I wasn't thanking you, Numb Nuts."

"You're tactless, you know that?" He gives me a few moments to catch on, to no avail. "Fine. When I told you I had thought about the other night... I wasn't implying in like a weird way."

Great, I'm the only one having risqué dreams.

But that's beside the point.

So, I continue to glare at him to egg him on.

"Look, first off we really are lucky the board didn't just sack us after we fought in the O.R..."

"James, if you don't get to the point–"

"No one is buying it, Charlotte."

"Buying what?" I shriek.

"That you and I are going to be able to work together and essentially run the surgeries at any given point at this hospital."

"What does this have to do with what just happened in Meera's office?" My voice is pitchy and panicky.

"Everything," he sighs regretfully. "Look, I hate to admit it, but I'm desperate and willing to do pretty much anything to get this position. I'm by no means trying to flatter you, but ever since you've started dressing the part and being a tad easier to reason with, you've won over a number of people. Suddenly, you are not just feared, but respected, too."

This is actually favourable news for a change. "That's a good thing though, and will bode well with the board, right?"

"Not quite. I've heard people say they think you're the best person for the job. Period."

"Well, that's BS because I've heard the same about you," I have to admit.

"Perhaps we've gone about this the wrong way. We've both played to our individual strengths but we have failed to realise that we have to win them over together. Which is why no one is buying it."

"Okay..." I edge him on and my anger has somewhat dissipated, and I sit down facing him from across the bench he's found a spot on.

"Until... the other night. With Jarryd. On the sidewalk." His eyes do that dark flicker again.

Clearing my throat, I force us back to reality. "Continue."

"We managed to convince someone who has known us for years that we are together; like a fully-fledged, functioning couple. Jarryd and I were roommates for four years and you dated him during that same period, yet he bought it. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels."

I start to nod, slowly catching onto James's train of thought.

"But Jarryd isn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. I mean, he's awfully gullible and naive outside of being a plastic surgeon." I argue.

"True. I thought maybe we just got lucky, but then Meera bought it, too. And not only is she one of the smartest, most intuitive people I know, but she's also known me since I was a teenager."

I can't say anything because I now know exactly where this is going. So, James makes an attempt at his closing argument.

"Think of it, Charlotte. They're going to push us to breaking point over the next few weeks. And let's be honest, as much as we've tried to convince people, no one is entertaining the remote possibility of us working together. Not even during or after we pulled off the triple bypass, ten-hour long surgery. You heard them in there? They thought they were being Punk'd. We need the backing of the nurses, the other surgeons, the board members. So far, they're not buying it. Unless..."