Weightless

9) Losing Weight and Friends Too

10th of February 2017

"Morning!"

Lily hardly looks up from her paperwork. "Morning, Ethan."

Ethan swallows nervously and rubs the back of his neck, standing as close as socially acceptable to her. It's extremely challenging to not feel like a pestering child when people take that tone.

"So, uh, how are you?" Ethan asks. "I haven't spoken to you much recently."

Lily places her paperwork down on the desk in admin and ponders this. "I believe I'm okay, thank you. I've been busy thinking about ways to advance my career - it keeps you up at night if you're unsure of what your future has in it."

Ethan nods in acknowledgement. Lily's favorite subject has always been her own career and ways she can further it, that's something that'll never change. "Right. Have you come to any conclusions?"

"Yes. I'm going to sit my consultancy exams as soon as possible and become a consultant. I've officially decided."

There's a pause as Ethan can't find words to formulate a response. He certainly wasn't expecting her to come out with that. "Wh... what, really?"

"Really," Lily says. "It makes sense, doesn't it? I've gotten to that point where I've realized that I'm an exceptional registrar and it makes so much sense to further my career. It'd be a travesty not to."

"Yes, certainly. I don't, uh, disagree with that. But, well, don't you feel as though it's a little soon? You haven't really been a registrar for very long."

Lily shakes her head in confidence. "No. It's not too soon at all. In fact, I'm off to speak to Connie about it right now."

"Oh."

"I've also got a paper to write for Henrik Hanssen upstairs. It's just about decoding medical lingo - it'll be used as an example piece for students."

"Why?" Ethan asks, hoping he isn't sounding nosey. "It's a little unfair to ask you to do extra work which isn't necessary-"

"I asked to do it. Admittedly, I probably shouldn't have - now I'm rushed off my feet and I have no time."

"Ah," Ethan shifts his weight from one foot to the other uncomfortably, unable to think of what to say in condolences. "Right."

"Anyway. I'd better go and see Mrs Beauchamp," Lily says, looking at him. Ethan gathers that this means he should go away.

He ignores the hint shamefully. "I'll just walk you there, then," She doesn't look too pleased but doesn't protest. Ethan follows her as she walks to Connie's office. He doesn't want her to go - he doesn't want to be lonely. "Can we, uh, do something later? If you're free?"

Lily's brow creases in confusion. "Like what?"

Ethan feels his skin go all hot. He had expected her to downright refuse him, but she hasn't gotten to that point yet. Damnit, he hadn't thought this far. "Well. Uh. You know, I... I can start writing the paper for you! We could, well, do it together?"

This seems to be a good idea as Lily stops and looks at him in interest. "Really?"

Ethan leaps at the chance. "Yeah, really!" If this is the only way he can get her to pay attention to him, then so be it. "I mean, I could write bullet points and get it started... saving you some time, perhaps, as you talk to Connie. Then, you can do the rest yourself or we can do it together."

"Yes. That'd be fantastic, actually. Can you write the bullet points and everything so it's done by lunchtime?"

Ethan nods eagerly. "Of course. By lunchtime sounds good."