Choices

3:

"I got everything I wanted,
But I'd be nothing without you.
-escape from L.A."

Madison:

Before we arrive to the hospital we all come to the agreement that we need to keep this on the down low. I texted James the change of plans and he didn't even question my choices. He did as he was told and the clinic on the side of the hospital was open for us. I managed to lie to security that I left my textbooks behind and my friend's were bringing me in to fetch it. Lying about why I was at the hospital, after hours, was the easy part. Making up an excuse for a shirtless man in the backseat of Drake's SUV was the hard part. Thankfully Dave bought into my drunk excuse and let us though.
The five of them place the man onto one of the available beds as I begin to turn on and adjust the lights to only one half of the clinic.
"What the fuck is going on?" James howls from the doorway of the supply closet with supplies in his hands.
"Bullet to the right shoulder." I mumble out and my eyes find his. His blue eyes widen in shock as he rushes over to the patient and I stick to the desk. I am not involving myself in anymore of whatever is going on.
"Do you know a Jake and Jamie Black?" The younger one is back and I pull myself away from the new patient file that I just pulled up on my iPad.
"They are among the other residents I work with." I haven't noticed how stunning his eyes are. Probably because I was too worried about the fact that he's a dick. They are a hazel brown colour with specks of black in them, surrounded by thick and dark lashes.
"Are either of them here? Could you maybe call one of them down here?" He has high cheekbones, that's what I notice when he speaks. Then I see the worry in his eyes, something isn't right here.
I just know that the man being treated by James is the driver of the car from earlier. My only question is how isn't he dead as yet? Taking him through the emergency room would involve contacting the police, the older looking man with green eyes knew it. That's why he suggested a low-key profile.
"Your brother is a suspect to a crime, involving others will lead to involving the police." I state with a frown. Why am I helping them? The real question is why is Drake friends with a criminal?
"Please can you get one of them?" He repeats the question, this time with much more sincerity in his tone.
"Jake's shift begins tomorrow at 6. Jamie is the only one in tonight." I notify him without actually telling him that I am about to do what he just asked of me. What the hell is going on with me?
I have to admit that it might have something to do with those mesmerizing hazel brown eyes, even if it's just to myself. The brother of the stranger, both of who's names I am yet to find out, leaves me with a 'thank you' and a small smile.
Jamie Black took ten minutes to answer my page, by then Lawson had already got the bullet out and was preparing to stitch him up. It was a dangerous move but they wanted to keep it on the down-low. All I can do is cross my fingers and pray that he doesn't get an infection or that the bullet hasn't hit any major arteries.
"The clinic isn't supposed to he open and your 48 hour shift ended not so long ago, you're going to be in major shit for this Evans." Jamie snarls as she walks into the poorly lit clinic with her eyes on her phone. I am not surprised that Jamie is trying to get me fired, this residency is a great learning experience but it also brings out the worse in us. Our competitive side. Some of us know how to control it, others not so much.
Apart from James Lawson, I don't really include myself in engaging with the other three residents. That included Jamie Black, her twin brother Jake Black and Sadie Prince. In total there were five of us and you would swear there is a number one spot waiting for us at the end of this residency program.
"A few of your friends are here for you." I say at the same time the younger one, who's name I have gathered is Zak, says 'Jamie, thank God.'
"Zak? Christopher?" Jamie pockets her phone with sparkling almond brown eyes, I don't think I've seen that look on her face. She's always had a resting bitch face, well around me at least. "What are you guys doing here?" She reaches the pair within four strides, her and her dumb gorgeous long legs are the reason she beats me to most cases during morning rounds with our attendings.
"It's Luke." Zak starts. "He's been shot." Christopher cuts to the chase when the hazel brown eyed one begins to stall.
"What the fuck." Jamie curses as she makes her way over to the patient and James. I ignore them and begin to type in Luke's name into the patient file, this guy is going down. One way or another.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." The green eyed Christopher throws down a stack of pounds with a rubber band holding it together. Definitely involved in criminal activity. "I am sure we can all find a way to get out of this without causing a scene." I knew exactly what he meant, if I say a word to anyone I will not be alive to say another. Too bad all I am doing is updating a patient's file and ensuring he stays the night for observation. By morning someone will figure out he's the guy from the car crash in the E.R. By then I will still be comfortably asleep in my bed.
"You're going to pay off James and Jamie also?" I raise a brow, genuinely concerned about this man standing in front of me. He's wearing a pair of black jeans and a blue t-shirt, he doesn't look like the kind of guy who carries around money wrapped in rubber bands.
"I don't have to, Jamie is a family friend and your boy knows to keep his mouth shut." He raises a brow and that's when I begin to notice the fact that he looks like some random guy walking down the street. He only happens to carry around wards of cash. He doesn't have a Rolex watch on, no fancy shoes. Just a pair of black sneakers with his outfit. "You on the other hand, I'm not so sure about." He has an accent, it's faint but it's there. There's the hint of an Australian accent that peeks out when he says the words to me, I can't believe he masked it so well for so long. Perhaps I was too distracted by the fact that a man was dying on my rug. He doesn't trust me because I am new here, my American accent says it all.
"Keep your money. Your secrets are safe with me." I state with an eye roll before turning around and walking off with the iPad in hand. It is while I am deleting Luke's patient file do I realise that I just made myself part of a crime. Again.