Scrubs

Chapter 2; t

His name is Grey. He's about 3 inches taller than me with wide shoulders and a slim but athletic build. He has soft brown hair that waves in all directions in a tousled mess on the top of his head, a few strands dangling over his forehead here and there. His sharp facial features and straight white smile are complimented by deep, steel blue eyes that I get lost in and speckles of facial hair around his mouth and along his jaw. Everything about him screams confidence except for the tattoo across his chest that reads 'More than just an option'.

The only reason I know about it is because he questioned my own after seeing it poking out from my shirt and I couldn't drop the subject when he wouldn't tell me if he had one himself because I'm nosey. He's absolutely the most intriguing man I've met, with an interesting past and a way to him that pulls me in his direction but there's a problem... I'm engaged.

I'm engaged to my high school sweetheart of five years, Clayton. He is the exact opposite of the man I desire so deeply. He's the same height as me with dirty blonde hair and hazel-brown eyes. When we were young I couldn't have wished for anything more than what I have now but as we aged, Clayton lost his grace along with his temper. He went from an active man with aspirations to a slug who couldn't be bothered to take out the vacuum on occasion, let alone wash a dish he used.

I love Clayton deeply but our relationship has shifted to the point that I feel when I leave my job as a caretaker, I come home to be a mother to a grown man child. But I cannot leave him. We live together. He's a part of my family and I am a part of his. So I pick up extra shifts and work long hours frequently, and when I'm not at work I go to the library or stay in the facilities parking area studying and doing homework to get my degree in radiology. And when I finally come home I'm greeted with a messy house and a man that snaps at any and every minor inconvenience. Thankfully the worst he has done is throw things or hit the wall but only time will tell if I am to become his punching bag.

This brings me to where I am now. Work. I picked up another shift and called Clayton to let him know that I wouldn't be home until 7am the next morning. Working the night shift can be very peaceful, that is if everyone actually sleeps  Thankfully we are fully staffed for the night shift, or we were until one of the aides called off for the the third time this week. Which brings me back to me sitting and updating patient charts.

Grey has been working side by side with me all evening. Due to his busy nursing school schedule, he hasn't been around as frequently and I've missed him and his cheeky smile and throaty chuckle. He joins me at the nurses station and begins updating his own charts before turning to me.

"You almost finished? I can walk you to your car." Something he offers frequently.

"No, I'm staying tonight. They're short handed and Larson called out again."

"Seriously? I haven't seen him in a while, does he even work here anymore at this point?" He chuckles.

"Not like you would really know if he's showing up anyways Mr. 'I'm too busy with school to come in.'" I tease.

"Hey, not everyone can be as hardworking and dependable as you." He pokes me in the side causing my body to tingle as if I was dunked in ice water.

"You are hardworking. It's just the dependable part that's questionable." I snort at my own joke.

"You're cute when you think you're funny." He smirks at me causing my stomach to flutter. 

"Awe. You think I'm cute?"

"I do... I'll see you tomorrow then." He raises from his spot and gathers his belongings before glacing at me one more time and leaving the building. My heart is beating hard in my chest at the sincerity of his compliment. I know what you're thinking but my relationship is no secret to him. I avoid speaking about it because I'm embarrassed of the condition it's in but he has always flirted and it's never been something he's concealed. Not that I mind deep down anyways. I glance up catching a call light coming on and I rise from my seat diving back into work.

Finally I made it through the night and leave the building as the sun is rising which gives me a lovely drive home. My house is slightly out of the city and I'm lucky enough to live in an area where we are nearly surrounded by mountains giving me a picturesque view from the highway. 

When I get home Clayton has already left for work so I shower and snuggle up in bed. Suddenly my phone dings with a message that instantly makes me giddy. It reads, "I hope you survived the night. I'll see you this evening. -Grey" and I fall asleep dreaming of a different life for myself.

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I wake up in an unfamiliar bed in a room that I don't recognize. The sun is peaking through the curtains and there's a warm breeze drifting through the window. I sit up confused noticing I'm in a silky white night gown and I hear a shower running from behind a door on the right side of the room. I don't know where I'm at but something tells me this is my home. A smooth voice I know all too well calls to me from behind the door. "Rissa. Are you awake yet?" I freeze and slip out of the bed inching toward the door quietly. He's humming something to himself and my fingers tingle as I reach out and grasp the knob. I twist it and pull the door open to be blinded by a bright white light making me block my eyes with my hand.

I sit up confused and take in my surroundings. I'm in my own bed in my house. That was a strange dream. It's also the first dream I've had in so long I don't even remember when I last had one. The clock on my bedside table reads 12:30pm and I decide it's probably best I get up and get ready to go back to work now. I hate being late for anything and I work at 2:00pm so I'll have plenty of time to get everything done before I leave. Once I finish some tidying and eat something, I put on my black scrubs and tie my wavy brown hair up in a low messy bun before adding a little mascara to accentuate my dark hazel-green eyes. Then I grab my bag before heading out the door for another long day of work and self-restraint.