Resident Rival

Faint Alarm--- Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

"One Venti Caramel Frappuccino, with two Espresso shots please. To-Go."

The smell of coffee filled my nostrils while waiting for my drink. I craved for an ice cream, but would want a pick-me-up drink because I swear if I didn't get one, I'd collapse on the floor and be the patient instead. So I got myself a frappe. I was staring blankly into space when my phone rang. The screen read "Charlotte", and I picked up.

"Yes, Charlie?"

"Umm... you're still at the coffee shop, right?"

I sighed. I so know what's gonna happen next.

"Go on guys, tell me what you want me to get you."

"We're really sorry, Paige. And Thanks! Okay here goes, I want a Tall Caramel Macchiato..." blah blah blah.

Today's curse of being the "Order-Taker" has befallen upon my shoulders. If it weren't for the queasy feeling, I wouldn't go out of the department, because whoever goes out and buys stuff--- will be crowned as the day's errand boy/girl.

After collecting the coffee and food that I bought, with the barista eyeing me weirdly ('what is wrong with you?') I made my way to the Emergency Room.

Twelve hours up, Twelve more hours to go before nappy time. I have been a resident doctor at Crusoe Memorial Medical Center for almost three years already. My bestfriend owns the hospital. Well, my best friend's family, to be exact. Dr. Neri Crusoe, the Young Master. We have been joined in the hip ever since we were kids and we grew up together, because his dad and my dad, both doctors, are bestfriends. So apparently, we inherited that closeness too. I have chosen to work here not because I had connections but because Crusoe Memorial Medical Center is one of the best hospitals in the country, and I'd GLADLY be contributing to it's growth, than any other Medical Centers. EVER.

No, that was no job interview script. It's the truth. I love this place. I love the famiy who owns it. They want me here, so the feeling is mutual.

When I arrived at the Emergency Room, it was pretty much like a battle field. It was as though the number of patients has doubled, tripled even. I have been gone for like, what, ten to fifteen minutes and this is what I return to? Shit just got real."Good Morning Dr. Bryce.", I told myself and let out a sigh. I scanned the patients, assesing what might they need from the ER, and got irritated. Nobody is dying, or is seriously injured. WHAT THE FUCK IS SO EMERGENT ABOUT ALL OF YOU, I wanted to yell. But can't.

Ah, ignorance. Always a bliss for the unknowing, always a burden for the knowing. Oh well.

"Hey Tracy, Charlotte, Neri, Troy! your coffee and stuff is here at the lounge!" I called out to my co-residents as I entered the doctor's lounge. They just waved me off in acknowledgment. Neri-berry didn't even seem like he heard me. Man, this day is going to be really busy. I laid down the food on the table and took one huge bite from my chicken panini. If it weren't so busy outside I would have sat down and finished this peace of relief. But my conscience says that I would be such an insensitive bitch if I did that. I'll let you ensnare my senses later. I told my bread in my head. Okay, seriously. I just had thoughts of talking to a bread. I am so deprived.

Before exposing myself to the war going on outside, I checked my appearance in the mirror. 24 hour shifts every other day for a month has started to take its toll as I notice subtle darkening of the skin under my brown eyes. Perfect. And 12 more hours is going to keep the darkening go on. I finger brushed my long brown hair, to fix it a bit. It was a totally good decision to perm the ends of my hair. I have an excuse to make it look 'messy-sexy'. Otherwise if it were my usual limp straight hair, it won't be too sexy to look at anymore once it gets messy.