by Nova Rain
Luckily for me, the wait didn’t last long. Just seconds afterwards, he joined me in the café, with a shrewd smile on his face.
“Hey, man,” I said with a nod, gesturing him to the seat across from me. “What’s with the smile?”
Ryan let out a snort of amusement. “I know what you want to see me for.”
“How?” I wondered, pitching my voice higher.
“Oh, come on, Sean,” he chuckled, seating himself. “You haven’t shut up about that redhead since Tuesday. Trust me, guessing wasn’t that hard.”
“And why is that funny?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest.
“Because I didn’t know you were into ‘street’ chicks,” he stated, assuming a more serious tone. “Personally, I love them. Most of them are pretty loose and don’t say ‘no’ to much. Just one thing, though.” He raised his index finger at chest height. “They don’t make good girlfriends.”
“Slow down, will you?” I requested with a touch of anger in my tone. “Whoever said I wanted a relationship with her?”
“You didn’t say it, but you sure as hell act like you do.” Ryan’s voice retained its firmness. “I mean, why else would you bring her up twelve times in the past three days?”
“Twelve?” My eyebrows shot up.
“That’s right,” he affirmed. “I’ll repeat this, in case you didn’t hear me the first time. Don’t expect her to be a good girlfriend. You want my advice? Have some fun with her for a week or two, and then ditch her. Don’t treat her like a lady. She’s not.”
“I figured that out for myself the other night,” I maintained. “I just don’t understand why you’re so prejudiced against her.”
“Because, unlike you, my dear boy, I’ve dated one or two street girls,” Ryan’s ironic smile returned to his face. “They’re great in bed. They do things that can drive a man wild, but that’s about it. Last but not least, they get bored fast. Don’t be surprised if she ends it with you because she met someone else.”
“We’ll see,” I gave a quick nod as a blonde waitress strode to our table.
“Good evening, gentlemen,” she greeted us with a toothy smile, Ryan’s eyes settled six inches south of her face. Her purple t-shirt had a hard time containing her ample cleavage. “What can I get you?”
“Black cappuccino for me, and double macchiato for my friend,” I ordered, holding in a chuckle.
“Okie dokie!” She chirped, turning away from me.
“Very subtle,” I giggled, scratching my jaw. “A little more of that, and she would have kicked you out.”
“Nah,” he shook his head in disagreement. “You worry too much. And how can you not look? For me, it’s practically automatic.”
“I did, the first time I came here,” I admitted with a nod. “Then, I realized that Maya isn’t really my type, if you know what I mean.”
“Always the same excuses,” he reprimanded, narrowing his eyes at me. “She’s not bright, I can’t have a proper conversation with her, and so, she’s not for me. When are you going to wake up and see that you don’t have to talk to them to have a good time? Some women are made for things other than conversation. Like your burglar, for example.”
I parted my lips, willing to give him my response, but, just then, the sound of sirens rose above chatter and music alike. Intrigued, I looked out the window to my left. Two sets of headlights, one behind the other were speeding up the road. The red and blue lights of police car sirens were on the horizon, hundreds of yards behind the cars in question. A few yards from the café, tires squealed in protest as their drivers stepped on the brakes. A gray Mercedes CLK and a black Nissan GTR swerved left and into the alley, kicking out their back ends. Their rear tires were still smoking when I jumped from my seat. I didn’t speak to Ryan. He might have been a good friend over the years, but he didn’t share my passion for fast cars. I was sure he would tell me to leave this alone and try to brainwash me some more.
I jogged parallel to a row of tables, the ear-piercing sound of sirens growing stronger by the second. Jerking the heavy door open, I found myself outside. The smell of burning rubber was still in the atmosphere. I stood still, watching as the two police cars drew nearer. They both flashed by, their engines rumbling in the night. Neither of them even considered stopping. On the contrary, they continued on the uphill road, in search of the miscreants they had been chasing.
Without wasting any time, I hopped off the steps and landed on the sidewalk. Different feelings were coursing through me. On the one hand, I was excited. I had just caught a glimpse of a high-speed pursuit, which wasn’t over yet. It could resume in seconds. On the other hand, I disliked street racing and every moron who engaged in such a dangerous activity.
Turning around the corner, I saw the cars, their lights switched off. Their interiors were pitch-black. Light coming from the highway at the far end of the alley was bouncing off the hood of the Mercedes. Threads of smoke were oozing out of its brakes. Parked right behind it, the Nissan seemed to be in better condition. Yet, if I had learned one thing about supercars, it was that they could have an ugly surprise in store for you.
Shortening my strides, I peeked into the Nissan. As I did however, excitement and dislike were vaporized in a flash. In their stead, came a feeling of absolute shock. A woman was at the wheel. And I had seen that figure much too recently to make a mistake about her identity. Her dark-red hair was cascading down her denim jacket. Her olive skin seemed several tones darker in the pale illumination.
“Sean?!” she exclaimed, squinting up at me. “Sean, is that you?”
“You must have a thing for my neighborhood,” I scoffed, leaning over towards the car as I placed my hands on the windowpane. “Or, perhaps I should say for the cars in it. Who did you steal these from? I haven’t seen either of them around here.”
“We didn’t steal anything,” she rejected that notion, an expression of disapproval spreading across her face. “We…”
“Can we get the fuck out of here?” Another, high-pitched female voice interrupted her. A brunette had just stuck her head out of the driver’s window of the Benz, and was staring right back at Monica.
“In a minute!” shouted Monica, her eyes still on mine. “Look, I know it’s hard for you to believe since I stole your car the other day, but…”
At that point, the powerful engine of the Mercedes growled into life. For a moment, I savored the noise that resounded through the alley. The front end fell into a puddle and splashed water to either side as her friend drove off. Nonetheless, it was impossible for her to see what Monica and I could see. The threads I had witnessed coming from the brakes earlier, had turned into large puffs. No matter her skill, that Mercedes was not drivable. Smoke was billowing from the vehicle, reaching up to the first balcony of the apartment building further down the alley. Monica honked, in an attempt to grab her attention. Sadly though, the noise of the engine didn’t allow her to hear it.
“Kate!” Monica screamed at the top of her lungs, turning the key in the ignition. I sprinted off down the alley, not taking my eyes off of the fancy car. Glass windows of stores and the café were suffering in the deafening noise. They were rumbling so hard that I thought that they would shatter. Within moments, the Nissan flew past me as the Mercedes approached the end of the alley. Just as I thought, its taillights never acquired that intense red shade. She continued onwards, into the path of a white, moving van, until the car rolled into Collins Avenue.
“Sean!” I heard Ryan’s voice behind me. A quick look back revealed his figure, just twenty yards away, racing towards me. The horrific sound of metal smashing against metal forced my gaze back to the two cars. A loud, banging noise resounded through the avenue and the alley. Shards of glass and chunks of plastic were thrown across the road. Most of the black bumper of the Mercedes now littered the pavement. My heart sank, when the twisted side of the van entered my line of sight. The hood of the Mercedes had also been twisted and bent in the middle. Steam was pouring out from
the engine, completing this scene of horror. Once again that night, Monica hit the brakes. The Nissan came to an abrupt halt, just feet from the Benz.
“God, no!” she cried, jumping out of the car. I passed her by, fear slicing through me. As I reached the driver, that dreadful feeling intensified even further. The airbag had deployed and was still smoking. Kate had been thrown back into her seat. Tendrils of her whiskey hair were all over her face, covering her right eye. Her red blouse had been ripped at the shoulder and the chest. Blood was dribbling out of a gaping wound, just an inch over her heart. I reached in and placed my thumb and index finger on her neck to the side of her windpipe.
“She’s alive,” I informed, feeling her—weak—pulse. Ignoring my remark, Monica gripped me by the hip and attempted to push me aside. “Don’t,” I advised, my feet bolted to the ground. “There’s not much you can do for her. We have to wait for the ambulance.”
“I just called 911,” Ryan interjected, Monica glaring up at me, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Do something!” she barked out, her eyes wide with terror.
“I can’t,” I responded, maintaining my composure. “I don’t have any…”
Halfway through my sentence, I froze. There was no point in telling her anything else. She squeezed her eyes shut, hanging her head in despair. Monica raised her fists and banged them into my chest, bursting into tears. I glanced over at Ryan, at the same time wondering how to handle this. Dealing with friends and relatives of injured people was part of my job, and yet, I had no idea what to do. Feeling her small fists on my ribcage, I decided to stand there and let her take her frustration out on me. However, it wasn’t long before Monica collapsed into me, her body shaking. I curled my arms around her waist and eased her into my embrace, in the hope that I would manage to help Kate stay alive.
Chapter Four
Monica
Nothing that night even indicated that things would turn out the way they had. Kate and I had been having a blast. Just an hour later, after we’d gotten those cars, fate was laughing in my face. Why? Because I thought that we’d go out for drinks, have a few laughs, and call it a night. Instead of that, I got to experience dread and horror.
I had to see my friend on a gurney being rushed along the hallway of the emergency ward of Metropolitan Hospital. Sean and Ryan were describing her injuries to their colleague in a detailed and gruesome manner. Okay, I knew they were just doing their job, but I couldn’t stand hearing them. One of the most precious people I had on this earth was fighting for her life. Listening to everything she had suffered was like someone driving a knife into my chest. I wished I had brought some earplugs along, so that I wouldn’t have to go through that torture.
To my liking, Sean and Ryan didn’t sit it out. Both of them changed clothes and went into the operating room. Kate was guaranteed to get plenty of help, which was a bit of a relief. Furthermore, I would be all alone in the waiting room, and that was most welcome. I had enough about which to worry. If Sean hadn’t decided to work that night, he would have started asking the same old questions. They had upset me once. I couldn’t even imagine the effect they would have on me with Kate’s life hanging in the balance.
I kept pacing up and down the room, glancing at the closed blinds every now and again. As the minutes rolled by, the realization that hit me filled my heart with guilt. I was to blame for Kate’s mishap. She and I had been close since kindergarten. I had put her in trouble more times than I could count, but she had never been so close to death. Just like in the past, she had followed me that afternoon. Poor girl… She was looking at death in the eye, because she liked to please me.
At the sound of a door clicking open, my heart skipped a beat. The graying nurse approaching me looked absolutely exhausted. Black circles had formed under her eyes and she even rubbed them one at a time while her slow footsteps closed the distance between us.
“Ms. Townsend, I presume?” she asked, her voice firm.
“Yes, that’s me.” I gave an emphatic nod, holding my breath.
“Your friend is going to be fine,” she announced, remaining expressionless. “I’m afraid you can’t see her at the moment. She’s heavily sedated. Dr. Granger will fill you in on her condition. He’ll be in his office in ten minutes. Now please, excuse me. I have to get back to the ward.”
“Thank you…” I sighed in relief. “Where is Dr. Granger’s office?”
“Second floor, third door on your left off the elevators,” she added, offering me a polite smile.
I tilted my head back and held my forehead, feeling a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. At that moment, it dawned on me that Kate’s savior was the same man that I had mistreated the other night. He had also been kind to me, and I had given him yelling and rude comments in return. I was a lot of things, but ungrateful wasn’t one of them. I owed the guy a huge “thank you.”
Striding along the wide corridor, I couldn’t stop smiling. Some of the hospital staff were staring at me, probably wondering why I seemed so happy. I didn’t like when people stared. I thought it was weird and offensive. If this had happened just twenty-four hours ago, I would have told them to mind their own business. Still, the nurse’s words were still echoing in my brain. Kate was out of harm’s way. I couldn’t care less about prying eyes.
The elevator doors slipped open sideways on the second floor, revealing a sparkling-white wall across from me. Unlike in the emergency ward, there wasn’t an ambient buzz, and it was much quieter in general. Two nurses strode past the elevator, talking to one another. Another, tall doctor was making his way down the hall. A young operator was on the phone and taking notes at the reception area. I found Sean and Ryan in Sean’s office, in the middle of a discussion, their sides turned to me.
“Give us the room,” Sean requested, shifting his gaze over to me.
“See you tomorrow,” Ryan patted his friend on the forearm and strutted out of the room. I pushed the door shut behind him, smiling up at the hunk that had helped save Kate. Standing next to the wide window, I grabbed the cord and drew the blinds.
“What did you do that for?” he wondered, thrusting his arms out to the side. I chose silence over replying. Besides, talk is cheap. I meant to express my gratitude in another way. I sauntered towards him, feeling my heart pounding in my chest. Thrusting my arms up, I cupped his face and leaned in to him. I pressed my lips against his mouth, my body crashing onto his. A gasp of surprise escaped him as he lost his footing. He stepped backwards, my fingers gliding over his cheekbones. Despite my aggressive move, he was gentle with me. His lips caressed mine, his long arms snaking around my lower back. I felt the muscles of his flat stomach through his shirt, his fingers sliding up my body. Understanding that this could get out of control, I eased back and ended our kiss.
“I can’t thank you enough,” I spoke in a near whisper, looking deep up into his eyes. “Kate would have been dead if it wasn’t for you. My God…” I heaved a deep sigh, lowering my head. “I was too shocked to even call 911.”
“I couldn’t let her die out there,” he assumed a soft tone, his breath warming my forehead. “Anyway, Ryan was in that operating room, too. Are you planning on kissing him, as well?”
“No,” I giggled, bringing my gaze back up to his. “I didn’t try to steal his car. I don’t remember yelling at him, either. This is my way of saying ‘I’m sorry.’ So…” I drew in a sharp breath and took a step back. “How’s Kate doing?”
“Your friend’s only life-threatening injury was a shard of glass that was lodged in her chest,” he began, attempting a more clinical tone. “Other than that, she’s suffered three cracked ribs, a broken zygomatic bone, and a sprained kneecap. I’ll prescribe her some painkillers. She’ll be in pain for quite a while. She’ll have to stay in hospital for observation, but that’s just standard procedure. Your friend will probably be discharged in thirty-six hours.”
“I’m sure she’d rather be in pain than dead,” I told him. “Thanks again, doc.”
“Monica…” he lowered his tone. “I know this is probably a bad time, but, uh…” he faltered. “Would you like to have dinner with me sometime?”
Holy crap…
Those two words were right on the tip of my tongue. Yet, I held them in, because I didn’t want to let him know how surprised I was. I had not seen this coming. I was expecting a piece of advice or some lecturing, but it seemed that Sean had no intention of doing either.
“Are you asking me out on a date?” I posed the question, my voice steady.
“No,” he shook his head sideways once. “I just want to talk to you about a few things. If you walk out that door, I don’t think I’ll ever get that chance. So, what do you say?”
“Well, I’m here now,” I emphasized. “Why don’t you start talking?”
“Because we’re both exhausted,” he responded sharply. “Besides, a hospital isn’t the place for such a conversation. There’s a great Italian cafe in my neighborhood, called…”
“Let me stop you right there,” I interrupted him, “nowhere public. I don’t move in the same circles as you.”
“Fine,” he replied, rolling his shoulders. “You know where I live. How’s tomorrow night? Say eight o’clock?”
“I’ll be there,” I gave a swift nod. “Goodnight.”
I turned around and shuffled out of his office, relieved that he hadn’t asked why I didn’t want to be seen with him in public. He would put me in an impossible position, and I would have to lie to him or even refuse to go out with him. I didn’t have the heart to reject his proposal. He had earned it by saving Kate’s life. I suspected what he would bring up at this dinner, but that wasn’t a problem. If a lecture on road safety was what it would take to get rid of him, so be it.