A Tangled Web We Weave (Completed)

11. Coffee Places Always Get My Name Wrong

Regan

After my family left my room, I sank further into my pillows. Tomorrow I was going home. It would still be awhile before I could go back to school, praise the Lord, but I would be at home. The conversation from only moments before still confused me. While my family was in the room, Tony had come in and set my requested/sneaked coffee down on my table. I went to drink it only to see "Fight me?" written on the top, which sent coffee spewing out of my mouth onto my dad. Which prompted my mother to make a comment about "that boy's unhealthy interest in you", to which I replied, "he's my nurse, Ma. He's paid to do that".

But what she said made me think. Tony had been occupying a lot of my thoughts lately, which sounds completely stupid but it's true. I'd be sitting in my bed, watching T.V., and all of the sudden, Tony's shaved face was just... there. But I'm sure that's normal. Tons of patients are infatuated with their nurses. It's just the fact that I'm starved for company and he's very nice and attractive, but that does not mean anything is gonna come from it at all. Nor does it means I want anything to come from it. At all. All he did was come in everyday and smile with those perfect straight teeth. Oh my God, I liked Tony. Too much. Way too much

Tony walked in and I let out a little yelp, which prompted a strange look. Smooth, Reg. Why don't you just scream and send him running?

He smiled at me and I smiled back, which I never did as a rule. His eyes widened a little bit and the dimple in his cheek basically became a crater. "How is my favorite patient today?" He asked, setting my lunch tray down. "I hear tomorrow I'll finally be rid of you," he winked as he checked my stitches.

I shook my head, putting my smile away. "Fight me."

He just laughed and left. Huh. Not really the reaction I wanted but what could I do? Why was I thinking like my little sister? Just because a guy smiles at you doesn't mean he actually cares or likes you. I knew that better than most.

And the best part? My Lupus was acting up. At the exact moment I'd love to have rash free, beautiful skin. Though with my freckles, I'm not sure you could tell. And my head hurt and my heart hurt. Actually hurt. Not in the "I have a crush on someone out of my league" sort of hurt, but in the "my heart feels like its having literally palpitations".

Elena walked into my room, successfully distracting me. "Regan, you won't believe what happened to me in English."

I smirked. "Lemme guess. Hudson."

She nodded, sighing. "I'm going to his place tomorrow to work on lust."

"Dang, girl, save it til at least the second date, huh?" I joked, giggling

She realized what she had said and gave me a worried look. "Lust is our assigned deadly sin. And we have to go to his place to work on it. And he pinched McKenzie Pyle's butt so now I'm his partner." She looked at her butt. "He's gonna get a literal handful if he tries any of that shit with me."

I laughed out loud. "Ellie, how are you guys gonna keeps your hands off each other? In both senses."

She narrowed her eyes. "You know very well I don't like him. I can't hate him because-" she stopped where she was and looked at me. "I can't tell you why."

I gaped at her. "You're keeping secrets from your best friend since kindergarten."

She looked at her hands, avoiding eye contact. "It's not my secret to tell."

I rolled my eyes. "That's never stopped you before."

She gave me a look. "This is important, Reg. I really would if I could."

I sulked a little. "It's fine, then, I guess." I shrugged, even though it hurt. "I guess our friendship just isn't that important to you anymore."

"Excuse me?"

"I guess I'll try replacing you with Sabrina. I doubt she would keep secrets from her best friend-"

She gasped. "Woah, there, chica. Wanna run that by me again?" Her sass was coming out full force. I could sense the Spanish creeping up her throat and she waited patiently for an excuse to chew me out in two languages.

I rolled my eyes. "You know I was kidding. Overreaction, maybe?"

She pursed her lips. "Ok, fine. I know, but I've had a rough day." Glancing at my neck, which I knew was covered in a ridiculously scary-looking rash, she sighed. "Lupus acting up again? How are your joints?

"Yeah, it is. My joints hurt, my neck itches, I'm losing weight like nobody's business, I want to get out of this bed, my leg needs a good scratch, and I sort of want to die."

"No, you don't," She smiled, tucking my blankets up higher. "You can do this, Reg. I believe in you." She picked up her purse. "I've got dance, so I have to go, but I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"

After her hips sashayed out of the room, I reached for my phone, but the cord pulled out the socket. I sighed and leaned/contorted my body so I could plug the cord back in without actually leaving my bed.

"Ahem," and with that, my day crashed officially into a bad day.

I settled myself back in my bed and looked up at Tony. "Yes?" I asked, quirking my eyebrow.

I could see him smother a grin and handed me my second requested cup of coffee of the day from the gift shop. "Here you are. Tomorrow is my day off, so this is goodbye, I guess. Take care of yourself." He turned and almost bolted out the door, which was bizarre.

I went to take a drink of said coffee with a smug smile plastered permanently on my face but once again he had written a message on the top.

"Fight me?" and his number