NOAH

Ch. 2

Chapter 2

"I don't get to know strangers."

He chuckles. "You have a response for everything, don't you?"

A sigh escapes my lips. Why can't he just bother someone else? I clearly don't want to talk. My obvious disinterest should ward him off.  Besides, once he lays eyes on Camry and her squad of perfection, I'll be traded in like a Toyota at a Mercedes dealership.

"You don't like me, do you?"

"Wow, you're very smart."

"So I've been told."

Camry's bright pink scrubs whip around the corner, her eyes searching the area. "Sorry, I left my...phone. Noah?"

Her hands fly to her curls, smoothing them back. Her almond skin whitening as she clutches the device. "I didn't know you applied."

I knew there was something about him other than my dislike for him. He used to hang out with all those other fascinating people in high school, including Camry. Glad, I never hung with them. Seeing Camry's desperation up close might've been too much for me. The way her body jerks when she forces out laughter at one of his snarky comments. How loud her, already sickly sweet, voice gets when she compliments him.

"Well, maybe I can work with you guys."

I thought she didn't want to work with 'awful Dr. Marsh'.

Dr. Marsh shakes his head. "Oh, no. I have enough estrogen on my team."

I relax as Camry frowns. Oh well, at least that's one less live wire I have to deal with.

Camry runs off, calling Henna. "You won't believe who's here!

"OK, now it's time to actually interact with patients. Are you guys ready or do you need to wait this one out?" He asks, his eyes lingering on mine.

I scoff. "You might want to look at him."

"Nope, I'm good. I'm ready."

Dr. Marsh holds up his chart. "OK, Noah Roberts and Arcadia Raine."

Noah turns to me with a grin. "Arcadia Raine? You sound like a superhero."

I groan. "It's Nicole."

That's clearly what I put on file. Nicole Raine, not Arcadia. God, what kind of name is that? Arcadia Nicolette Raine. Ridiculous. I couldn't imagine my mother naming me such an outrageous name. I wonder if my father had anything to do with it, whoever he is.

Dr. Marsh sighs, walking down the hall. "Does it really matter?"

Noah bumps my shoulder with his elbow. "I look forward to working with you, Arcadia Raine."

His grin provokes my glare. "Don't call me that."

"Sorry, Raine."

A dull ache warns, in the side of my skull, that a long day is surely ahead of me.

"We'll be working with Edice, a seventy-five year old women who needs a blood transfusion due to a mild kidney infection." He says, stopping outside of her door.

He mumbles to himself. "They bleed and then need blood. Ironic."

I scowl in his direction. "Can we go in now?"

"Impatient, too."

He pushes the door open and I smile as four women come into view. Three younger versions of, who I assume to be, Edice sit beside her, all favoring one another. Dr. Marsh greets them with a smile, shaking Edice's hand before clearing his throat.