Love Sick

Symptoms

Eva

I chewed on my lip as I rushed into the on call room, praying that this shift would pass quickly, my cheeks now hot with embarrassment as I passed the nurses station, knowing that gossip had been spread from ear to ear.

I felt flustered tears begin to brim my eyes as I rushed into the room and slammed the door shut, holding it closed with my back pressed against it. "Hi." A small voice echoed from one of the swivel chairs, making me jump and glare at the young girl sitting in a pair of oversized scrubs, her dark hair pinned back in a twist, with an intricate braid crowning her head.

Her angular features shifted into a smile as she looked up at me, a hint of nerves shining through as she stood to approach me. "Who are you?" I asked abruptly, opening my locker and tossing my belongings inside.

"I'm the new nurse, Teresa Ortiz." She said in a nervous voice, her eyes wandering towards the giggling group of women who sat at the front desk. "I'm sorry, I know you wanted to change, it's just, they weren't very welcoming, and I just wanted to fix my scrubs, but one of them accidentally spilled their soup on my lap and I had to change into some of Chris', but they're too big." She rambled, smoothing the material against her stomach.

"Its fine, I know how catty they can be, you can stay in here, I just have to put my scrubs on, if you don't mind me stripping in front of you." I said with a smile, extending my arm towards her, getting her to eagerly take it and shake.

"Dr. Eva Zambrano." I said pulling my shirt off, slipping into my scrubs, looking through the hole to find the young girl star struck.

"I've heard of you! Your father was a wonderful surgeon, and you! You're a fantastic one as well!" She gushed, making my cheeks flush at the mention of my family.

"Well, you're too kind." I managed, feeling my pager buzz against my hip, notifying me that a gun shot victim would be in soon, and needing my assistance.

"GSW, want to help me?" I asked as we began to pick up speed towards the ambulance bay, rushing the victim inside.

The medic began to spout the vitals and information, letting us rush the young woman inside and begin working on her.

"Eva! Why didn't you page me?! I had to hear about this from Proctor passing in the hall!" Chris complained as he pulled a pair of scrubs on, scooting past Teresa who was continuing compressions for the paramedic who was filling a nurse in at the station.

"Because I didn't need you at the time!" I snapped, swallowing thickly as I began to asses the young woman who was groaning and clutching her stomach painfully.

"Okay sweetie, you're going to feel a poke." I informed, turning my attention to the young woman, taking her hand and sticking it with an iv catheter, peeling the bloody gauze away to find a deep gunshot wound.

"Alright, get her up to surgery, get her prepped and page me when she's ready!" I yelled, watching the team nod and rush off, I made brief eye contact with Teresa and saw her lead the group into the OR.

"Okay, now I'm going to need you to stop bringing my personal life up while we are at work." I growled towards the blue eyed doctor who chuckled and crossed his arms at me.

"Eva, I just want to know what happened last night." He shared, but I just grumbled and began to stomp away, running my fingers through my short waves.

"I'm sorry if I came on too fast, or if-" He tried, but I held my hand up and watched him silence immediately. "I'm not dating anyone. It'll only distract me from my work, and I'd appreciate it if we could just remain what we were." I snapped, watching his face fall instantly.