A Turn of Events

Ariyah

"Ms.Clark your 12 o clock is here" my assistant Jillian informed me. "Thank you Jill, but can you give me about five minutes before sending them in please." "Sure thing boss." She was such a polite girl. That is one of the reasons I hired her. As she closed the door I finished writing up the strenuous paper from my previous patient. Gosh who knew filling in for Dr.Nguyen would be so Hectic!

I filled my final prescription just as my next patient was entering the room. My mouth nearly flying open as I noticed who was walking through the door. His skin was caramel. He whore a navy blue jacket with silver zippers, causal jeans, and the Jordan low top concords. Nothing to fancy. But boy did I find him handsome. He was Craig Thomas Crippen also known as "Prodigy" former lead singer of the R&B group Mindless Behavior. I fell in love with him at the age of 16 and here he was standing in my doctor office. "You're not Dr.Nguyen" He joked snapping from my thoughts.

"Uh yes! I will be filling in for Dr.Nguyen this week. My name is nurse Clark. Nice to meet you." I tried to sound as polite and professional as possible. "The pleasure is all mine." He kissed my hand from where I had it extended. I continued with business as usual though I was elated.

"So Mr.Crippen what brings you here today?"

"Oh please call me Prodigy. and 'Im here for a check up." Hmmm he's a charmer. "I see. So Mr.Crippen when was the last time you had a check up?" I was determined to stay professional. "About 6 months ago. Before my tour." If I didn't know any better I'd think he was trying to impress me. "Okay well I'll take your vitals run a few test you know, the usual. Then you should be good to go."

I began preparing my utensils. After taking his vitals it was just an awkward wait. Of coarse he began to hum. One of my favorite Chris Brown songs at that. I did a good job of ignoring him though. "Alright Mr.Crippen you are good to go." I handed him my analysis. "That's it?" he inquired. "Yes. You are the picture of health. Unless you wanted it some other way." I giggled. I could tell he didn't want to leave. "Well no. Uhh thank you. I look forward to seeing you in another 6 months." He took my analysis from my hand and kissed it once again. With that he was gone. Out of the door, and out of my life.

I shouldn't have blown him off. Everybody knows how I feel about him including my coworkers, and here he walks right into my office and I blow it! I needed a break. I began to shed myself of my white lab coat. Underneath I wore a simple outfit. A coral peplum top with a grey pencil skirt, and a pair of nude pumps to top it off. Of coarse I couldn't wear my pumps around the office unfortunately. I hung my coat near the back of the door and grabbed my purse. "Jillian I'm going to lunch. I am in desperate need of a break. Can you hold any clients we may get until I come back." I walked out the reception area not even to await an answer from Jillian.

I press the 'B' for basement on the elevator and thought of the events that had just occurred. Just as the double doors opened I looked up to notice Craig standing there, almost as if he was awaiting me. "Hey nurse Clark! I was just coming back up to see you." I was bemused. "Was there something you needed Mr.Crippen?" I was praying he said yes. "No... well actually yes! What I mean is it was nothing medically related." Uh oh. "Oh okay so what did you need?" My breathing was fast. It seemed as if he was taking forever to answer.

"I know this may seem too forward, but I was wondering can I take you to lunch?" Yes. "I don't know Prodigy as you say. This is all so sudden. I hardly know you." There I go again trying to play hard to get. "I know you don't know me, but I would really love to get to know you." Okay Riyah no more hard to get. Who knows the next time I'll see him. "I guess you can take me to lunch in that case." I smiled. "Come on we can take my car." That was cool it would save me on gas, Atlanta traffic was a killer on my tank.

"This is it" He opened the passenger door to a candy apple red Audi R8. I was impressed. I had always admired Audi's....scratch that I admire foreign cars in general. "So where would you like to go?" He was letting me pick. "We can go to Baì Mính. Its a Chinese place on 3rd and peachtree." "Ohh so you like Chinese. I'm getting to know you already." He was so smooth. After maybe 5 minutes of driving we had arrived. My office was centrally located so the commute there was not bad.

He gave the valet his car keys and quickly came to open my door before I could. I loved how hard he was trying. If only he knew. Before I knew it we were inside, seated, and getting our orders taken. "What will you have today ma'am?" I scanned the menu carefully. "I'll have your Pho with a side of crab rangoon's." I always ate lite for lunch. "And for you sir?" This should be interesting. He doesn't seem like the oriental food type. "I'll have your Lo Mien a side of egg rolls and a water please." Hmm well played. "ma'am I didn't get your drink?" "I'll have a tea thank you." "Okay I'll be back soon with your drinks."

As the waitress walked away I glanced at Prodigy. He was piercing me with his eyes. "What?" Im already nervous as hell and he is staring a whole in my face. "Im trying to figure out where is it that I know you from." Dammit I knew he might recognize me. "Maybe I just have one of those faces you know." He stared a little longer before letting the matter go.

"So nurse Clark, what part of town are you from?" So slick. "Call me Ariah, and Im not from here. Im from New Orleans." "Interesting. In my band days I loved New Orleans." "Loved? Did something change?" I sipped my tea the waitress had brought. "Its a long story... for another time." Aww. It must have been bad. "Well hopefully you'll change your opinion of the Big Easy. That's my city. So what part of town are you from?" I asked any way even though I knew the answer. "Well I'm originally from Philadelphia but my career brought me here to Atlanta. What brought you here all the way from New Orleans?" "My husband" His face froze! "I'm kidding!!" His eyes dilated. "Ahh a sense of humor . I like that." He said quickly sipping his water.

Warming up to him was really easy. I guess it was the same for him as well. We spent majority of our time doing a Q&A session. I was actually having a really good time enjoying both the food and the company, until I noticed the time. "Woah I've gone far passed the time for my lunch break." He seemed disappointed. "Well I guess I'll get the check" As he paid as usual we both received fortune cookies.

"What does yours say?" I knew he would ask. "Mine says Comfort zones are often expanded through discomfort." I thought of what it could mean and immediately pushed the thought to the back of my mind. "What does yours say?" "It says Roses are red and Violets are blue , I know we just but I really like you." It was cheesy but so cute at the same time. "Now I'm sure these fortunes aren't that accurate." He laughed. "It actually says Fortune is in my near future. But already have enough money." There is never a such thing as enough money. "Well I like you too Craig." With that confirmation he leaned in to make his move.I had imagined this moment since I was 16 and here I finally was. I patiently awaited his lips to meet mine and just as they did... BEEP BEEP BEEP

I jumped up from my bed and looked around. I was fully clothe in my satin pajamas, head scarf still on , and my car keys hadn't been moved from the night stand where I put them the previous night. Damn it was that dream again.....