Choices

Chapter 6: Three Day Suspension

That entire night I found it hard to bring myself to sleep. Lucas Parker’s kiss sobered me up and left me with swollen, tingly lips and a giddy smile. Dean ended up taking up all the space on my bed with Jamie curled up into a little ball on the edge of my bed. I lay on the couch until the light begins to peak in and Brooke has left for work, the entire time she spent looking for her keys I pretended to be asleep. I pad over to Drake’s room and push the door open. When I walked back in he was sitting on the couch with a beer in his hand and Zak and Christopher were watching television. He didn’t even look at me let alone speak to me and I hate leaving things off with him. Drake and I have been friends since elementary school and there is no way I am going to let this one slide. It was irresponsible of me to switch my phone off and to forget that I had plans with him. I should have known better considering the way he worries about Brooke and I. His back is to me but I know he is awake. I slip into his bed and under the covers before wrapping my arm around him.

"I’m sorry.” I whisper as I place my chin on his shoulder.

“I was worried. Jake called and said he couldn’t find you and that someone had died yesterday.” His words bring back terrible flashbacks of yesterday.

“I’m fine. You were worried and I am sorry.” I cut straight to the chase because there is no point in him bringing up things that only hurt.

“Sorry enough to make me breakfast?” This is why I love him, he knows when to drop the topic. He peaks up from under the covers and I roll my eyes.

“I’m late for work. How about dinner and drinks when I get back from my shift?” I offer. It’s my weekend off this week and I figured that a dinner and a few drinks wouldn’t kill anyone, especially me after the huge screw up I nearly cause between Drake and I.

“How about we skip dinner and just do drinks and clubbing instead? I know it’s your weekend off.” He suggests and before I can decline he cuts me off. “You owe me for the three months you have turned down drinks and clubbing and plus you hurt my feelings last night.” He gives me his best Drake Harper puppy dog eyes and honestly I’ve never been one to say no to that look.

“Fine, but just a few drinks.” After last night I am sure that drinking is not for me. I woke up with a pounding headache and a feeling similar to death.

“I’ll ask Nicolas and Daniel if they are up to it.” He begins planning and I begin to wonder what on earth have I got myself into? If I know Drake well enough then I know that everyone who works at the airport will probably be joining us for drinks.

“Invite Brooke and Ethan.” I say as I rise to my feet and he turns around and gives me a flabbergasted look.

“Why would I do that?” He throws his hands behind his head and gives me a frown.

“Because your sister needs to know that you aren’t actually an asshole.” Drake has made no attempt to get to know Ethan and every time he comes over Drake stays very far away from him. “You’re her idol. She looks up to you, everything she does is to make you proud of her. Just get to know the guy.” I shut the door behind me and leave no room for him to argue because if there is one think I know about Drake, it’s that he can argue his way out of anything.

“Rise and shine alcoholics.” I announce as I open the curtains in my bedroom and allow the light to pour in. Dean let’s out a masculine groan before pulling the covers up to cover his entire face and Jamie throws a pillow over her head.

“Suddenly regretting those shots Jamie?” I tease and she flashes me the middle finger.

“Brooke has already left for work so her shower is available and so is mine. You guys have twenty minutes to get ready before morning rounds.” I slip out of the room and decide to give the two some time to process the fact that we have work in twenty minutes.

When we arrive to the hospital we are all late. It took Dean an extra ten minutes to get out of bed and take a five minute shower. We walk in and Chief Saxton is already assigning residents to their attendings. He gives is a disappointed look before we manage to make our way into the locker room and on top of feeling like death, I know feel embarrassed. James stands at the back of the room with his hands folded against his chest and a frown on his face. The black eye is evident and that makes Jamie smile a little.

“Evans, you’re with Edwards.” Just when I thought my day couldn’t get any worse. “Jamie Black, please report to my office while the rest of you go do the morning rounds.” That wipes Jamie’s smile right off her face and James frown is replaced with a smirk. Of course he used his power to do everything possible to get Jamie into trouble.

The rest of them make their way out the room and it’s only Dean, James and myself left. “Evans” James called out for me and my eyes meet his electric blue ones. I was praying that he would just leave me alone. Yesterday I saw a side to him that I didn’t like and now I am trying my hardest to steer clear from him. “Do you have business with Lucas Parker?” He questions with his arms crossed against his chest.

“No.” My words come out through gritted teeth and he gives me a look that tells me that he doesn’t believe me.

“So why did you message me and ask me to help him out. He called me on Sunday but I didn’t take his calls.” Why did Lucas lie to me when he said that he didn’t call James but he called Jake instead? For some reason, this new piece of information pisses me off. “Listen to me carefully Madison, he is a dangerous man and people only do favours for him if they really need something back in return.” I roll my eyes at his words and he takes it as a sign to continue talking. “He’s not a good guy and if he was then Jamie Black wouldn’t have helped him escape from the police.” My eyes widen in shock at his words and he offers me a sympathetic smile. “I know it was you who helped them also and I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to get in the middle of it. I also know that he was here to see you yesterday. You need to stay away from him.” He turns around and walks off as the realisations begins to seep in. I grip his arm and force him to turn back around.

“You gave security the heads up yesterday.” I state and the guilt is evident on his face. “An innocent girl died because of you.” I have the sudden urge to slap him across the face. I ball my hands up into fists and I can feel my nails dig into the flesh.

“I couldn’t have predicted that you and Jamie were going to be in that situation.” I see the look of remorse cross his face but that isn’t enough to make my anger disappear.

“You still had the audacity to come in here and throw it in our faces when you knew good and well that you were partly responsible for her death. You make me sick.” I release his arm with a deadly glare and without another word he walks out of the locker room.

I take a seat on one of the benches in the locker room and just like that the tears begin to pour out. There was a reason why Drake was so concerned about my well being this morning and I know that I told myself that I am strong enough to face it, but it seems like I am unable to deal with my own personal emotions. Death and I have a terrible past and I hate it when it catches me off guard like the way it did yesterday. I finally father myself together before changing into a pair of my scrubs, I am already late for morning rounds so I don’t bother rushing. Jamie walks back in when I am done with a sad look in her eyes and I already know what she is going to say before the words leave her lips.

"Three day suspension and they are looking for Dean Andrews.” The latter part was unexpected and she catches the surprised look on my face.

“I think James Lawson twisted the story and now Dean is probably in trouble as well.” That’s the last thing Dean needs on his first day.

“Drake and I are having drinks tonight. You should join us.” I suggest when I take in the glum look on her face.

“I’ll see how I feel. I’ll text you.” She has five minutes to gather her stuff according to the Chief and I am already late. I barely have time to comfort her but at the same time I don’t know if she even wants to be comforted.

The rest of the day flashed by, Edwards gave me enough work to have me on my toes all day. I barely spoke to Dean or even saw him but when I spoke to Sadie that afternoon before our shift ended she said that he had he dismissed for the day. She said nothing about a three day suspension and I hope he isn’t punished for something he didn’t do. His involvement in the fight was nothing worth a suspension or a dismissal but it is clear who holds the power in this hospital. Zero connections here get you nowhere when you are thrown into the deep end, if anything it pulls you further in. When I arrive back home that afternoon, I am surprised to see Brooke and Ethan lounging on the couch. “Hey, Drake says we’re going out tonight.” Bless his soul, he is so excited that Drake invited him and the excitement is evident in his gleaming eyes.

“Hey, is he back from work?” I question as I throw my keys onto the table and remove my shoes.

“He’s next door.” Brooke’s answer is short and sweet and I don’t really force a friendship with her. We have never really been friends and I never really tried with her. I find myself headed to my bedroom because Brooke, Ethan and I is a recipe for awkward silence. I also don’t want to be around when Drake comes back because Drake and Ethan is a recipe for disaster. I am sure all of us would prefer to be separated rather than awkward silences and death glares.

At around nine thirty I escape my room, all dressed up for a night around town. I cannot believe I’ve been here for three months and I still have not been out and about. Drake came around and said that we will be leaving at nine thirty and to wear anything besides jeans. I just rolled my eyes at him but still ended up looking through boxes of clothes for the perfect dress, if I’m going out for the first time then I might as well go all out. I found my only black cocktail dress at the bottom of a box filled with books. It’s skin tight and hugs my body like a bandage, the sleeves are long and made of lace and the dress falls to my mid thigh. The last time I wore this dress was to a friend’s twenty first birthday party, that was seven years ago. My light brown hair falls pin straight down my shoulders and all the way down to my waist. I decide to borrow some red lipstick from Brooke to break down the black dress, black heels and my smokey eye look. When I am fully satisfied with my hair and make up, I emerge from my bedroom to many pairs of eyes on me.

Brooke and Ethan are still getting ready and Drake, Nicolas and Daniel are standing around waiting for them. The boys are dressed up all formal and it makes me wonder if we are going to a nightclub or to a fundraiser. I give Drake a questioning look and he rolls his eyes at me. “The princess and her friend are taking a long time to get ready.” He grins out and Daniel let’s out an awkward chuckle.

“You promised to be nice.” I scold him and he lets out a very masculine grunt.

“You look nice.” Drake casually announces and decided to ignore my words. He doesn’t want a lecture on how to be nice to your twin sister’s boyfriend and I know why. He’s so used to being the only man in everybody’s life that when suddenly he is replaced he feels hurt. Him and Brooke share a special bond and for her to not tell him that she is in a relationship is a big thing for him. “Brooke, are you ready?” He calls out and I can tell that he is getting agitated.

The club that Drake took us to was not what I was expecting. It’s a huge building with a long line of people just waiting to get in. Drake leads us through the back and Ethan as volunteered to be the designated driver, I am one hundred percent okay with that but I have also told myself that three drinks is the limit for tonight.

We arrive through a top entrance at the back and we walk into a huge balcony that over looks the dance floor. This place is massive, the flashing lights and pumping music really catches you off guard. Upstairs on the balcony are tables filled with people who are enjoying all sorts of drinks. Downstairs, against the walls are more tables and in the middle is a huge dancefloor. To the left is a massive bar area where they have a massive selection of drinks against the walls in glass shelves. This nightclub even has waiters and waitresses who are floating through the crowds of people with drink orders and I am in awe with this club.

We make our way to the bottom because Drake says he prefers self service. Along the way as we slip through the small crowds of people, we lose Nicolas and Daniel to the dancefloor. When the two of us arrive to the bar with Brooke and Ethan not so far away, Drake sees people he knows.

“I see Zak and Christopher up there. We should go say hello.” He suggests to all of us and I pretend to not hear him. Brooke and Ethan politely decline his invitation, well Brooke does for the both of them, and I am starting to think that she doesn’t really like showing her boyfriend off to her friends.

“You go ahead. I think I am going to order a drink.” Yes, hanging out with Ethan and Brooke is not something I would usually do but where there are two Parker brother’s, there is always a third. I learned that the hard way last night when Kyle, Jamie, Dean and I stumbled into my apartment.

“What’s the name of this place?” I yell over the loud music and Ethan shrugs his shoulders.

“The Saffron.” She yells back and I give her a swift nod as Drake gets his order from the bartender.

“Come up when you are done.” He leaves without another word as he ascends the massive stairway with a drink in his hand and a smile on his face. I look around to see many faces but no familiar faces, I am bummed out that Jamie didn’t make it tonight. I find a spot at the bar and take one last glance behind me before getting the attention of a bartender. I guess this is where I will be spending the rest of my night.