Night shift - Completed

Chapter 61

Poppy's PoV

I filled in the band on the news as we all sat and watched tv after breakfast. Every one of them was happy for me and glad that Calum and I were finally going to get some good come to us. After everything that had happened, I was surprised he even wanted to stay with me, but here he was sitting beside me with a childish grin on his face like someone had just told him he was going to Disneyland.

"Crystal, Sierra and Bex will be so happy too! Have you told them yet?" Mike asked as he pulled his phone from his pocket. My smile sunk quickly with guilt. I'd been so excited I hadn't even thought of telling them. Mike let out a small laugh as he dialled a number on his phone and put it on loudspeaker. The ringing sound echoed the room before stopping as Crystals voice cheerily sung a greeting.

"Hey hun!" She said happily.

"Hey babe, you're on loudspeaker." Mike said quickly. "Poppy has some news for you all." She fumbled with her phone and the sounds echoed down the phone.

"Poppy!!" Bex called from the background. Crystal must have put them on loudspeaker too. "We miss you, we need to go out soon!"

"Just let her tell us her news!" Sierra snapped at Bex as they normally did to each other. I almost felt like I heard the slap on the arm too! We all laughed at their comedic double act.

"So..." I began, the smile growing before we'd started. "I've got a new job. I'm now the band's on tour nurse." I tried to play it cool and make it sound like it wasn't a big deal to them so I could get all the reaction out of them. Within an instant, they were screaming and cheering and yelling with glee.

"We need to celebrate!" Bex called out. "Party tonight. Girls only." The others mumbled in agreement.

"Alright fine!" I laughed, making it sound like a big deal.

"Cool, we will pick you up at 7pm. Dress to impress!" The phone hung up on us and left us with the annoying tone. Mike quickly shut it off and put his phone back in his pocket. We all laughed at the way that conversation went and how typical it was of those girls to need to party to celebrate anything in life. Everyone then split off to do their own thing as Calum and I headed to his room. As always, we shut the door behind us and lay on the bed comfortably snuggled up for what felt like the first time in ages. We still hadn't really talked about my shift but to be honest I was fine with that. I'd never been hounded as much as I had then and I really didn't want to start bringing it all up again and upsetting myself. Management had spoken to my managers at work to agree it all and get them to send over any relevant documents which they happily obliged to. They did actually say they would miss my expertise and experience but knew it was safer for the patients this way. Mavis was especially upset by it. I texted her to let her know I wasn't too far away and that we'd have to meet up now and again just to keep in contact and she was more than happy to agree. It was going to be weird, and probably a lot less dramatic than my usual work shifts, but I had a good feeling about it and protecting the ones I loved.

"What you thinking about?" Calum brought me from my thoughts. The room had darkened as it had turned dusk outside and I felt embarrassed that I'd been trapped in my thoughts all this time whilst Calum was beside me.

"Sorry Cal, just about the job... I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine." He cut me off. "Just having you here with me is enough." He smiled as he turned onto his side and cupped my face with one hand. "It's just a shame you're going out tonight, I feel like we haven't had much time together recently." My stomach dropped and tightened with guilt once again. I'd been so caught up with everything that I was just riding the wave, not thinking much about anyone around me.

"I'm sorry..." I said lowly. "How about we pencil in the whole day tomorrow?" A small smile grew on his face.

"That's the best idea I've heard in a while..." he said as he pulled me into a hug. I could feel the world melting away around us as his arms tightened around me. "Some quality Poppy time is exactly what the doctor ordered." I pulled away from him and raised an eyebrow at him.

"So you won't listen to my nursing suggestions but you'll tell me what the doctor ordered?" I said as a smirk played on my face. One fell onto his instantly as he gazed at me. "Which reminds me, you'll have your follow up appointment soon." He let out a laugh that said it was typical of me to start nursing him again.

"Yes ma'am, next week." He teased. I shook my head and slapped him on the arm.

"Good. Make sure you go." I ordered as I sat up in the bed, turning myself to face him. He sat up too, giving me an unimpressed look.

"And when was your follow up?" Calum said in the most serious tone he could muster, knowing he was just as bad. My eyes fell to the bed as I realised I'd never told him the outcome of it. I'd missed my original appointment and then Mr Shine had come to me during a shift and reminded me. We arranged for mine to be done at work instead and he wrote up the notes of it during the shift.

"I had it a while ago, I got the all clear from it and they said it would heal fine. Sorry, it must have slipped my mind..." Calum sighed disappointedly at me. Somehow, I had always managed to ruin the moment and upset Calum and it was beginning to get me down. He was a fantastic guy and meeting me had brought a lot of rubbish into his life, so I knew I needed to be more open and respectful and make sure he felt needed and wanted.

"Well that's good news." He said quietly, looking away for a second to collect his thoughts. "You'd better start getting ready for the party." I stood up defeated, but stopped by the door.

"I am really sorry Calum. With everything that was going on, a bit of good news was quickly forgotten..." I sighed. "I love you. A lot. I don't want to upset you or make you mad." With silence being the only answer I got, I swiftly headed out of the room and towards mine to get ready for a party that now seemed like a less than fun idea.