Oneshot Anthology

Euphoria: Part 2

Sarah was having an absolutely perfect week. One of her long term kidney patients had just been bumped to the top of the donor list, and her latest surgery was a huge success. The man was already waking up from the anesthesia and had, for the first time in six years, control of his right arm.

Nothing made her day like saving someone's life. To top it all off Emma had called, wanting to have lunch and what's more, she actually had the time to meet up. She didn't know who was looking out for her but obviously it was someone nice. Maybe she should add a bit more money to her local charity donation this month, just to show her appreciation.

So Sarah quickly grabbed the small pile of hospital mail from her desk and began her walk down the hallway. Much to her surprise only two people stopped her to ask for help on something, so she made it out rather quickly. Thankfully the restaurant she was meeting Emma at was just three blocks down so she didn't have to hail a cab to come and get her.

"Sarah!" waved Emma from her seat on the patio.

Said dark haired woman smiled and waved at a nearby waiter to indicate she was taking her seat. Both hugged quickly and sat down, desperate for food. "So, what should I expect from here?"

Emma tapped her chin thoughtfully, "Seven point nine on a ten scale. Most of the food is decent, but their bar drinks are what they are famous for, and their servers are pretty good if not fantastically cute."

Emma was a food critic and knew every hot restaurant in town, thus, she was Sarah's go to girl. It was actually surprising considering the near anorexic years the blonde skated on during high school, but then again, perhaps that was what gave her such an appreciation for food. Thank goodness she found this career though, since it was how she met her current fiancé Derek. He was an up and coming restaurant chef, one who was currently holding Emma's heart in the palm of his hand.

"Oh my god!" screamed Sarah as she stared at the paper in front of her. It was a letter from what Emma could tell, one that she couldn't sneak a peek at because Sarah was waving it around frantically. "Emma! Emma! They want me to do the opening speech at this year's neuro conference! Opening speech! As in, the first person! The one everyone remembers! Don't you realize that I will be the youngest person to open? Like ever!"

Emma laughed happily as her friend all but pranced around the table in excitement. "That is amazing Sarah, who knows maybe you'll meet someone there and have brainiac children. Oh, tell me you are bringing a little black dress, just in case. Oh, we could even go shopping!"

Sarah smacked Emma on the arm playfully, "Shut up about my love life and be happy for me." It seemed to be Emma's gift to point out Sarah's lack of a love life. It didn't matter what the topic was, it could be from picking out a perfect pair of shoes to talking about the latest space shuttle launch, the woman never failed.

Both turned to the approaching waiter and gave them their order before turning back towards each other. "So when is this conference?"

Sarah was too busy, and too ecstatic, to notice Emma's eyes as they settled on the table across from them. If she would have been paying attention instead of gushing over the invite Sarah may have picked up on the focus on her job, instead of who she might be bringing.

Sarah took a sip of her water while smiling, completely ignoring her friends wandering gaze, "It's in three months, so still awhile away but I can't wait. I mean, I was already excited but this just tops my day. Oh Emm, you should hear about the week that I have had. Everything has been going right, I swear."

Emma just sipped her drink and smiled, "So you are in a good mood then?"

Sarah happily swirled her drink, "The best. I haven't felt this good since I dumped my chocolate pudding on Kingsley's face."

Emma outright laughed at the memory of her best friend's clumsiness in highschool but also glad for the opening Sarah had just provided for her, "Yeah, that was a pretty good day. But you know, it makes me wonder how the guy is doing. His company seems to be flourishing now that he joined up with his brother. I mean, didn't he make the cover of Forbes magazine last month?"

Sarah stopped swirling her drink, "I wouldn't know, I never read that magazine. Medical journals tend to be more my style."

Emma waved Sarah's closed down attitude away with the flick of her wrist, "Sure, sure. It's just strange seeing someone that we practically grew up with so much success, you know?"

"Emma," spoke Sarah with a raised eyebrow, "He came from a billion dollar family background, and was made the head of the company name, of course he would be successful. He was molded to be on magazine covers like that."

"Well I get that, it's just strange knowing that the guy all the girls gushed over, who we spent years in school with, who accidentally kissed Mark on his damn lips first day of class, is some hot shot making millions everyday. He used to have all the girls eating out on the palm of his hands. Do you remember the crush I had on him? I had hearts in my eyes every time he was even brought up."

Sarah continued to stare at her friend questioningly, "Emma, where are you going with this?"

Emma laughed, "Give me some credit, I am just reminiscing a little bit. Old times you know?"

"Old times? Like when he used to push me down in the hallways and purposefully knock books out of my hands? Or when his psychotic fangirls used to lock me in the Janitor's cleaning closets and spill cream soda all over me?" she asked, once again stirring her drink with her straw while desperately trying to figure out where her friend was going with this.

"Please Sarah, that was ages ago. And he was just mad that you didn't like him like every other girl did," countered Emma.

"In case you are having a temporary memory lapse Emma, I did like him, back in Junior High. In fact, I remember telling him as much at the end of ninth grade and he called me, and I quote, 'an annoying little girl with no sex appeal at all'. I was then blessed with the infinite knowledge that Zen Kingsley was nothing but a man-whore looking for tail," frowned Sarah after putting her drink down. This conversation had turned sour rather quickly and Sarah was more than ready for it to change.

Before Emma could retaliate with her own comment the waiter stopped by with their food, placing their plates down respectively. After she left Emma turned towards Sarah, "You don't even want to see him? A little? Maybe he is fat and bald? Or has some horrible STD or something. You never know."

Sarah took a bite of her food and ignored her friend. "You spoke to James didn't you?"

Emma immediately sobered at her friends realization, "Well, at first I about hung up on him, well, actually I did. The moment he brought up Zen and you in the same sentence I knew nothing good could come of it. But then he of course brought up a good point about closure, which hooked me. Then Mark barged in and-"

"Mark? He's in on this too? Is everyone on Kingsley's side? God, doesn't the man have friends of his own?" asked Sarah while glaring at no one in particular.

Emma rolled her eyes, "I realize this is going to take more effort than I had hoped. I swear, when you get an idea in your head it's the only thing that you think about Sarah. I mean, did you ever even stop to think why he was so horrible to you?"

Sarah cut her off, "Well duh, of course I did, you know that! Really, you were usually one of the people I would call crying about it."

Emma just continued on, "Why he was always so cold, but always was there when you needed someone? You know, it's reasons like this that I had a feeling a one on one intervention wasn't going to work, which is why I came prepared because quite honestly you are a hell of a lot of work."

The blonde snapped her fingers once, in a very dramatic way because it was Emma therefore needed as much flair as possible, and Sarah was quickly surrounded. Her chair immediately tipped back and she stared in shock at Jane's smiling face that was currently looking down at her. When she was pushed forward, and allowed to sit up once again, the little two person table was full of smiling faces. "Renee? Elena?"

Jane quickly slipped in next to her, "Sometimes, a girl just needs to see reason Sarah."

Sarah knew that her extremely good day so far was now going to turn into a long and tiring one.