Orange is the New Way

Chapter 4-Is it Room 103?

Samantha

I looked down at the slip of paper and groaned. Was that Room 103, Room 108, Room 703, or Room 708? My dyslexia kicking in again. After pondering what I should do and studying the paper carefully, I decide to take my chances with Room 103. Mostly because it was the first floor and I didn't want to have to run up seven floors. As I opened the room I stand face-to-face with the hottest guy I've ever met. His brunette hair is casually messed up and even sitting it in the hospital bed I can tell he's well-built. His eyes are the most beautiful eyes I've ever gazed into. They are dark green, deep and I let his eyes bore into mine for a while. My first thought is, "thank god I'm wearing the orange dress. At least I don't look like a scullery maid." Everything seems to stop at that moment when I look at him. My worry about my day at work, the anxiety, my heart...

"Oh god! You scared me! If I was a heart patient, I could've sued you..." He started off angrily then paused. Was he staring at me? Suddenly, I started feeling self-conscious. Ok, well it wasn't like an unattractive guy was staring me down. I mean, when that happened, it was just weird. But a hot guy... that was a different story. Finally I snapped out of my daze, knowing I probably looked like a dork staring back so I blurted the only reasonable response I could think of for startling him.

"I'm so sorry!"

More awkward silence ensued. The staring contest continued. I looked down, the pressure of his blue eyes making me feel more nervous. Maybe he didn't want me to be in here. He did sound pretty annoyed. I knew it'd probably be best to excuse myself. Reluctantly I say after quite some silence:

"....Ummmm, I see you would rather have another worker come, you probably don't trust me since I told you I was an intern..., I can call someo---"

He cuts me off anxiously. "NO. No, no- uh, it's totally fine.... Hah, I was just joking."

The way he said it with such urgency and apology in his tone made me think maybe he did want me to stay. As a matter of fact, I kind of wanted to stick around. Wait... what was I even thinking? I was here to work, not waste my time with boys. With that in mind I form an appropriate response, asking him more of what he wants to do, still feeling bad about startling him.

"If you want I could check your pulse.. If you want, of course. You told me your heart hurt...?"

"Well... if you want to... then I want to."

His response kind of leaves me at a dead end here. But I don't know if I want to. Honestly I've never checked a pulse. Of course I've had training on how to do it, but I've never actually done it before. I was nervous all of a sudden, like what if I messed up. Worse, I'd mess up on this hot guy who I didn't find out his name yet! And he was so sweet. I've done plenty of practice tests on patients and they usually weren't that nice to me. I've learned to deal with the most unbearable patients. I've had ones that would lose their head even if I suggested doing something they disagreed with. I've dealt with "If you even think about this treatment plan I will sue you!" I was so relieved to be working with someone who would respect me. I knew I couldn't mess up with him. Seeing I was struggling with an answer he quickly saved by saying, "I mean... well, I already got my check up," what? That only meant one thing... I got the room number wrong! I started feeling like a complete idiot as I muttered to myself, "Oh shoot." I consider asking him to help me with the room number and tell me what it says, but I remember Derek and decide it is better I try each room until I get the wrong one. I start walking out, but something holds me back. Mainly because I don't want to have to try three different rooms and have the same feeling of humiliation, plus I feel awful walking away from him and not even knowing his name. Suddenly, I get an idea. I walk back into the room, confident this should buy me some time.