She sighed, "Fine. We can go out. But it's not a date."
I smiled, victorious. "We'll see about that."
"Go now, before I change my mind."
I left the break room with a grin on my face that I couldn't hide at all. Even though I hated being sick, nothing would change the happiness I felt inside. If I'd realized anything during this second hospital experience, it was that caring for patients definitely wasn't my calling. I couldn't wait for this shift to be over.
But more than that, I realized something else: Lily was playing a dangerous game, trying to fix everything she thought needed fixing while refusing to acknowledge what was clearly growing between us again. And I was playing an even more dangerous one, trying to win her back while pretending I'd be fine if she never let me all the way in, even if we fix everything and go back.
If we ever go back,I thought again, the words echoing in my mind with increasing frequency. Because the more time I spent here, the more I wondered if going back was really what I wanted.
Here, I had a chance to be the person I should have been. Here, I could protect Aria from bearing the burden of ourparents' divorce alone. Here, I could save Leo and prevent a tragedy. Here, I could make sure Lily's mother got the treatment she needed.
And here, I might actually have a shot at winning back the girl I'd never stopped loving. Even if she wasn't ready to admit she might still love me, too.
I found Florence Reynolds in the waiting area.
Unlike at school, where she always wore long, unflattering dresses, here she was dressed a little more relaxed, wearing sweatpants and her hair down. In my real past, the boys and I used to joke around about how "old," "sexy," and "mature" our teacher was.
Now I see her, and it's like seeing someone my age, a normal person, not as old and mature as I used to think she was before. It's incredible how someone's perspective can change over the years, especially when you have a different vision about how an adult really is.
She wasn't as intimidating as she used to be when I was little. Although there was no doubt, I still felt nervous in her presence, maybe because she'd always been an authority figure for me.
"Kyle! What a pleasant surprise. I was expecting Lily," she said, standing to greet me.
"She had to step away for a moment. I'll be taking care of your appointment today," I replied, trying to keep my voice professional as I led her to one of the private examination rooms. "So, what brings you here today, Miss Reynolds?"
"Please, call me Florence, at least when we are not in school. It's enough being bullied by all of you little demons. I'm not as old as you want me to feel."
I looked at the spec sheet. She was right. "Oh, you're the same age as me."
The words left my mouth before I could process them, and I looked at her face to make sure she wasn't paying attention to me.
Bad news, she was.
"I may look young to you, but we are definitely not the same age." She said, laughing.
"Yeah, yeah, sorry, I mean... my... mother... when she had me?"What was wrong with me?"Do you have any kids, miss? Sorry, Florence?"
Could this conversation get any worse?
Knowing that her carelessness led someone to leak a video that ruined so many people's lives made me unsure how to act around her. At school, it was easy to pretend I was a kid because there were so many other people around us that the teacher could focus on. But here, it was just the two of us. And it was hard not to act like we were two adults.
"No, I don't have them yet. Why the question?"
"It's part of the general paperwork."
"I'm here for my prescription. I've never been asked that question before."
"It's part of a new protocol to confirm the feasibility of certain contraceptives. I'm grateful they're working for you then."
She raised an eyebrow. "Are you?"
"Ummm, yes?"
"Well, thanks. But my prescriptions are for my blood pressure pills, a health complication due to my family and not because I'm old," she joked, winking at me. "Not for any contraceptive."
I felt my face turn red with embarrassment. Definitely, even with all my experience and maturity, I wouldn't have been able to talk to this woman without making a fool ofmyself. So I proceeded to do what the paper told me to do to get out of it quickly.
