7 MINUTES (grey's anatomy)

01.01

(cw little discussions of not eating enough, mentions of weight, smoking)

×××

SHIT.

Penelope was early.

She fucking hates being early.

And like- okay, sure, whatever.

Being early to the first day of your surgical internship does mean that you're making a good first impression!

But it also means you look like the world's biggest swot.

Can you even imagine how the other interns will react when they find out that Penny had shown up over an hour early, full of nervous energy and post-binge-drinking panic really just messing up every plan she had?

There goes having any kind of friend in her intern year, she's going to have to transfer!

To, ugh, she practically shudders at the thought.

Seattle Pres.

Or, worst of all- she'll lose her position, won't be able to go anywhere else, and have to go back to her mom's 'health store' in Minneapolis...

Let that sink in.

Minneapolis.

Penelope shakes her head, trying to dislodge the thought, before reaching into her pocket to pull out a pack of cigarettes (Marlboro, of course. She's not a complete savage.) and an engraved, silver lighter, a gift that her older brother gave her, before she left.

Between daintily shoving a cigarette between her teeth and fumbling with her lighter, she failed to notice the hoards of people stumbling past each other, filling the sky with the same crackle of nervous energy consuming Penelope.

Closing her eyes, Penny inhaled deeply, trying to quell the rising waves of "oh fuck. What have I done." clouding her mind.

"Uh- hey."

Penelope's eyes snapped open, her inhale interrupted by a stammering voice. His stammering was matched by her sputtering, as her shock caused a violent coughing fit.

"No! No! D- Don't do that." He was pale, previously having been rocking back and forth on his heels, now rushing forwards to slap Penelope on the back.

A few thumps later, Penelope had managed to unfurl herself and regain whatever semblance of dignity she had left.

Penny rasped, "You can stop hitting me now, you know." He paled even further, rapidly backing away.

(Is my RBF really that bad? Penny pondered, observing her 'saviour'. Nah. That's his issue)

And then the ramble began: "Sorry! It's just- I'm a doctor! Or- I'm about to be a doctor, starting my surgical internship today, which is fun! And, you know, doctor see, doctor help! You just looked a bit, well, not sick- but not well either. And cigarettes are-" Penelope raised an eyebrow, scanning him up and down as she tucked her lighter and accompanying cigarette pack back into her pockets. "You not care. Okay- Er. Hi, I'm George O'Malley."

He extended a hand towards her before being jostled by some douche in a green denim jacket. (Green denim. Yuck. Penny does not hate green. But green denim?!)

"I'm Penelope?" She carefully took his hand.

"Are you asking me or telling me?"

".."

"Sorry! Sorry! I'm nervous!" George continued shaking her hand, laughing (nervously).

Withdrawing her hand, Penelope snarked, "You're very sweaty. Did you know that?"