You Love Somebody

4 (Anna)

Becoming part of the Eddie Wilde tour crew was more difficult than Anna had imagined. She was focusing hard on being professional, and it wasn't easy to be herself, when she potentially had to diagnose people with hemorrhoids, STDs or other very private matters. If she was joking by the water cooler one moment, how could she be examining a lump behind closed doors the next? 

"Just remember that this isn't like working at the clinic. You'll be around these people around the clock for months at a time. That's a long time to keep a lid on yourself." Alice, Anna's best friend was luckily only a FaceTime call away. 

Anna was lying on her bed at the hotel she was staying at. All travelling crew was booked into rooms at hotels. Not the same hotel as the band and Eddie, which was probably only for the best. There were so many people waiting outside, desperate to catch a glimpse of Eddie and his green eyes, beautiful curls and those dimples. It would drive Anna crazy not being able to come and go as she pleased. Once they hit the road they would be travelling by tour buses, which would be a completely new experience. She knew she would have her own bunk in the sleeping quarters, and that it was a secluded area, but not a big space. She had no idea, who she would be sharing a tour bus with. 

"I'm just so nervous to cross a line. Eddie is very friendly. Not in an inappropriate way, but he's impossibly attractive, and it's really difficult not to stare at him. I feel so unprofessional." Anna said as she thought back on the awkward moment in her office, where he had looked at her in a way that made her blush like a 12-year-old school girl. 

Alice nodded on camera and thought for a moment. "Well what are you allowed to do? Like does the contract say that you can't be friends with him?" 

"No, it's only a contract against sexual relations." Anna said and shrugged. 

"Of course, but that was out of the question anyways, he's with Hailey." Alice chuckled. 

Anna knew he was linked to someone, but she hadn't read up on him, so she wasn't sure if it was a thing. "Right, yeah. I forgot about that. I guess that means being his friend is safe enough?" 

Alice gave her a thumbs up, and encouraged her to try and be herself around him. 

***

She spotted him sitting in the lounge area backstage, reading a book with airpods in. She was going to go get a cup of coffee and figured she might ask him to join her. No harm could come from having a normal conversation as colleagues. 

She walked up to him, and he lifted his gaze from the book he was reading. He smiled and removed his airpods. 

"Hey Doc!" He said as he shut his book. 

"Would you like to drink a cup of coffee with me?" She asked and gestured towards the coffee machine. 

His face lit up in a big smile, as he nodded. "I'd love to. I'll take tea though, but I'd love to join you." 

It was a good start, a simple and easy way to start a conversation and to show that she wasn't as uptight as she came off. They sat down with their cups, and she decided to ask about something that wasn't medically related. "Where did you grow up?" She asked, feeling a little awkward, but she knew she just needed to get the conversation going. 

"I grew up in England, in the Greater Manchester area. Have you ever been to England?" He said and sipped his green tea with a slice of lemon. 

Anna shook her head. "No unfortunately not. I haven't really been anywhere," she shrugged. 

Eddie looked surprised. "Really? Well it's about time then! Good thing you're with us now," he smiled and looked away for a moment. "Where are you from?"