Born in Black and White

Chapter 4

Kairi spent her first twenty minutes at St. Bart's wandering the halls with a bundle of files in her arms. She was searching for the morgue and too horrified to ask yet another rushing worker where the hell she was going. She turned into another blind hallway leading to ominous unmarked doors. She sighed heavily, wondering how the hell she ever managed to get a degree in anything when she knew she could barely navigate her way out of a paper bag. Somehow a computer terminal seemed paltry compared to the endless labyrinth that was St. Bart's.

She cursed, turning around slowly and wandered back to yet another directory sign with listed names and room numbers, yet no map with a little star saying "You are here." Evidently Europeans were able to divine their precise location within a building and were also able to see the invisible numbering on the doors. Suddenly, she was violently jealous of the English people. They seemed to actually live within Hogwart's with its ever changing hallways and staircases. She imagined if there were pictures on the wall, they would have been mocking her.

Someone cleared their throat behind Kairi and she turned slowly to see a woman, red haired, with a thin mouth, button nose, and dimples Kairi wished she could climb into. Kairi smiled slowly, eye to eye with the lovely woman, who had to be around her age. The ginger's eyes seemed to sparkle and her smile widened, almost shyly, and Kairi felt her heart quicken. She was adorable and beautiful all at the same time. Kairi wanted to cuddle her and be her best friend. She tried her hardest not to be her normal awkward self. She crossed her fingers that she would not end up punching someone today.

"Hello." Her voice seemed to tinkle like a fairy, "A bit lost are we?"

"How could you tell?" Kairi smiled wide, "Am I so obviously sweating?" And then Kairi began to sweat more because it was such an idiotic thing to say.

The woman's eyes widened and she shuffled a bit, her face turning bright red, "No! I didn't mean-,"

"I wasn't trying to-,"

"Believe me you look fine!"

"I'm sorry I'm so lost and I thought it'd be colder today-,"

"OH!" The woman finally shouted, breaking both her and Kairi out of their awkward sputtering.

Kairi straightened, nervous, "Oh what?"

"You're American!" She said amused. "I mean-, Shit. I'm sorry." She stomped her foot softly.

"Wait? Why? I'm American. I'm not... I mean... I don't mind being American... We aren't all so terrible." Kairi finished meekly.

Her face matched her hair again as she squeaked, "No!" She cleared her throat and continued, "I wasn't meaning that. I know there are decent Americans out there!" She almost sounded indignant, and Kairi felt guilty for accusing her, "I just meant you're American! You must be THE American! The one from Scotland Yard." She began snapping her fingers in deep thought, "Something with a K, am I correct?" She smiled wide again.

Kairi slowly readjusted her pathetic stance and smiled weakly, "Kairi. I guess I'm quite the popular topic lately."

The woman smiled wide again, "Oh yes." And then she visibly cringed and grimaced, "Wait, I didn't mean that we all talk about you. Just that, well, you punching Sherlock this past week."

She trailed off and Kairi felt her heart drop. Kairi would never live it down.

"...I mean it was brilliant really." Her smiled beamed and her eyes brightened, "I've never had the guts to actually do it, but I know he more than deserves it." She shuffled again, "I don't mean that he isn't decent man, but the things he says. They can be so horrible."