The double arrangement

8

The conversation with Chloe was a long one. When she returned from her lunch break and found me trying to save the dog Jonah had brought in, she didn't kill me on the spot—instead, she came to help. I was nearly finished with the stitches when she took over, acting as if I hadn't been handling everything until then. Though Chloe didn't speak, her anger radiated off her in waves. Looking at the dog now, she seemed almost peaceful in her sleep. Outside, I could hear Jonah's nervous pacing as he waited, his stress evident in every step. I wanted to go out and comfort him, but Chloe's piercing gaze kept me rooted in my place.

After finishing, Chloe peeled off her surgical gloves and washed her hands with the bar of soap that was casually displayed before she turned to face me. I braced myself for the explosion of anger, for her fury to hit me in waves like a thunderclap. I'd defied her orders and acted recklessly—she had every right to fire me on the spot. She should have, given how I had ruined everything. Instead, she just fixed those bright brown eyes on me and adjusted her surgical cap. The blue one with little ducks on the sides. I usually found it charming, but right now it felt like anything but that. There was the sound of the air conditioning, but nothing followed.

“"I'm going out there to talk to Jonah, tell him his dog will be fine. You will stay here."

"Chloe... let me talk to him. I'll explain everything. I can tell him his dog is fine—"

"No. Not another word from you. I will not have you having any contact with Jonah or the patient. You will stay here. And you're suspended for a week. You're lucky I don't fire you right on the spot. Now stay."

With that said, Chloe walked out, leaving me alone in the dark room with its blank walls and my thoughts. I felt like a scolded child—which, in a way, I really was. Though Chloe hadn't fired me, I wasn't sure if that was really such a blessing. A week's suspension would hit hard, and Quinn would definitely have something to say to me about it. I could already hear her calling me "recklessly stupid” for days on end. A week without pay would hurt our finances deeply , though maybe not as badly as I had feared. Quinn still had her job at the restaurant-bar, so we might just manage to scrape by. I just hoped she was smarter than I'd been today and managed to keep her job. Not that anyone would ever fire a pretty girl like her. (Her words not mine)

I find myself home after an hour, the apartment empty. I sigh in relief when I confirm that Quinn's not home. The last thing I was in the mood for was another Quinn lecture. As her brother I get enough of those to last a lifetime. I listen for any sounds in the hallway but there's nothing. Just the sound of the neighborhood kids and that one dog that always likes to bark at everything. I head to the kitchen, my stomach making so much noise that it leaves me no choice. I was so busy being a hero I forgot to eat something. Of course I had forgotten to eat, too busy playing hero today.

A few hours later I'm woken up by the sound of the doors loud bang. At first I thought I had imagined it. I get up from my place on the couch, my sister standing in the kitchen. Her arms are crossed, but she's not upset. She seems more.. sad almost. I walk over to her, unsure if I should approach her or not. It was still okay to approach Quinn if she was mad or angry. That I could still control. But if she's sad… that's a definite no. Not just because she's vulnerable but because I hated seeing her upset. Even when we were children and she cried over some kid stealing her doll, it made me want to do anything to help.

She looks up at me, her brown eyes staring up at me. I could tell she had been crying, maybe even when she left work. All the fear for myself seems to fade in that moment when I realise that she's hurting right now. My protective instincts kick in and I immediately turn to hug her. I don't know how long it takes for her to register what's happening but she returns my embrace. I smile, resting my chin on her forehead. Quinn was never the strong one, no matter how hard she tried to hide it from the world. She was my sister. I knew her better than anyone. Her black hair is tied up today, the curls tucked back.

I lead her to the couch, crossing my legs as I give her some room to sit down. Whatever happened, I knew I'd be there for her. And kill the person who made her cry.

“What happened? You didn't see another stray did you? Because you can't save all of them you know?

That seems to make her smile, although only for a split second. Not long enough. Her thoughts are still plagued and I want nothing more than to know what they are.

“It's Max. He came by the restaurant today. Not alone. Had a date with him obviously. Some blonde girl.

I could feel my whole body tense. *Max? When the hell did he get back? Wasn't he supposed to be in New York for at least another year?* I tried not to let the thoughts bother me but yet there they were. Max was back in town. Which meant that this year was off to a bad start.

“Did he try to talk to you? I swear if that bastard thinks he can just start a conversation with you like nothing happened-

“No. He didn't even try to talk to me.. He just.. There was..” Quinn covered her face between her hands, as if she was unsure how time describe it. I give her a moment before she continues.

“There was eye contact. And he smiled. It was so beautiful.. As if the last year didn't even happen. Like he was happy to see me.. And my heart.. Ugh.. It started beating rapidly!

I can hear the pain in her voice and it kills me. I want nothing more than to stop the hurt that she feels, just to make her feel anything but that emptiness. Yet I can't. I can't do anything but hug her and tell her that it'll be okay. Yet I don't even know that. She was in love. This boy, my best friend, he was her everything. The kind of love they talked about in books, movies and even short stories. She was happy. And now, she's not that girl anymore. She's a shadow of once was. I remember how she cried about Max for months, how many days I had convinced her not to go back to him because he felt familiar. I hated reminding her of what he'd done, but I had no choice.

In the end, she fell hard. So hard that when reality hit, it was almost instant death.