Between Me & You - n.r.

Chapter 7

Hailee's POV

I grew up in Colorado. I have lived here my whole life. My dad is a brain surgeon. Because of my father's history with brain surgery, I grew up immersed in the world of miracle medicine. 

Before I was 6, I could list all the parts of the brain. When I was 7 I could also list all their functions.

I knew all the steps of how to remove a tumor from the outer parts of the brain. Blood clots in the brain were child's play compared to what me and my dad had talked about when he described a normal day at work. 

He always told me I could be a doctor and for my whole life, I thought that's what I wanted. I studied hard and went to work with my dad all the time. 

When I was 15, I sat in the gallery and watched my dad do brain surgery for the first time. It was amazing. A huge rush. The kind of rush I never thought I would feel again until I did a surgery of my own. 

 My dad had a plan for me. First, I would get an internship at the hospital my dad worked at. I would work my way up to residency. Then to an attending position. He said I could be the chief of medicine if I wanted. 

I gave up that dream when I turned 16. My father was disappointed. 

"All the things you've learned. All the opportunities you have. It'll all go to waste", he said. 

I'm 17 now and I don't know what I want to do with my life after high school. 

Becoming a doctor was a long shot anyway. At least that's what I keep telling myself. 

Nick's POV

Drug sales have been really slow. And when I saw slow, I mean really slow. 

This week, I didn't even meet half of the quota. Griffin won't be too happy with me.

I'm totally right. That week when I meet Griffin outside the abandoned warehouse, I expect all hell to break loose.

"How much do you have for me, Nick?", Griffin asks as he puts his hand out. I put the small wad of bills in his hand. He counts them and his face changes from hopeful to hopeless. 

"I don't like this Robinson", he says coldly. "You know the rules."

"I tried-"

"I don't care. You tried, and you failed. You know if you fail me again, there will be consequences."

I shudder. "You know demand is low right now."

"Yeah, but it's not my problem. It's yours. I don't care what you have to do. Just get the money I asked for. All of it." He gets back in his SUV and drives away leaving me penniless and afraid. 

Griffin wants $1500. Today, I gave him $100. It's not looking good for me.

+ + + + + + + + + +

The next day at school I'm not myself. Hailee notices. How could she not? She notices everything.

"You okay?", she asks when I'm driving her home.

"I'm fine", I answer.

"The word fine means the opposite of what it's supposed to mean, you know. When people say 'fine', it's means there's something wrong. Funny how the English language took that turn, isn't it." She says its funny, but she's not smiling. It's not actually funny. At all. 

"Remember how I told you about my-"

"Your drug business? Yes", she says, interrupting me. How does she know?

"Yeah, well I'm behind on sales and my supplier is getting pissed", I say.

"What do you think is going to happen?"

"I don't know. He said there will be consequences. That probably means he's going to beat the life out of me. Literally."

"Lucky for you, I know how to fix all the common medical problems that happen when you've been beaten up", Hailee says confidently. 

"Oh yeah? What medical problems?", I ask.

"You know, clasped lungs, blunt force trauma to the head, broken bones, internal bleeding..." She's listing off all these things, using her fingers to keep track of them all. I'm amazed.

"How do you know how to fix all that stuff?", I ask.

"My dad's a surgeon", she replies. "I know all the steps to those surgeries and how to diagnose them. But I'm not certified. So don't get beaten up because I'm not actually allowed to help you."

Hailee? A doctor? I don't doubt it for a second. She's definitely brilliant enough. 

"I'd trust you to save my life", I say in a subtle flirty tone. I'm trying to get her to realize that I'm interested in her, you know, that way.

I don't know when it happened, honestly. I think I was driving her home one day and she was looking out the window and the wind was blowing her wavy hair in her face. She was laughing at something I had said and her laugh was like candy. Sweet and totally addicting. I think that's when I realized that I wanted her. I mean, really wanted her. 

"If it was life or death, I think you'd trust anyone to save your life", Hailee replied. 

"No. I wouldn't", I said quietly.

At that moment, we pulled up to her house. I parked on the street and twisted in my seat to face her. 

"I wouldn't trust just anyone", I said.

"So I'm special", she said quietly. 

We were staring at each other now. A deep, meaningful stare and neither of us wanted to ruin it. 

"Very special", I whispered. Her gaze intensified, if that was even possible, and I noticed that she was getting closer. It took me a moment to realize that it was me who was leaning in, initiating a kiss. 

Hailee suddenly stopped and backed away a little bit. 

"I-I have to go", she whispered. She quickly grabbed her bag and left the car. I watched her walk up to the front door of her house and disappear behind it.

So close. I was so close to really knowing her. 

*******************

Hey guys,

Here's chapter 7! Sorry it took a while to upload it, I've been kind of busy lately. 

So to explain this chapter a bit: all the medical stuff is because of the TV phenomenon that has captured my attention... Grey's Anatomy! I finished season 1 in 2 days and now I'm almost half done season 2. It's amazing, holy crap. Watch it!

Thanks for reading,

That_Epiphany