Lives Collide (Collide #1)

by Kristina Beck

  What adds to the danger today is that the slopes are overloaded with skiers. That’s the one downfall with coming here during Christmas week. It’s always too crowded. Listen to me! I do sound like I’m scared! I’m tougher than this.

  My fear quickly turns into an adrenaline rush as we approach the top of the ski lift. The panoramic view of the snowcapped mountains is breathtaking. I secure my goggles properly. My ski boots are attached tightly. I look at Alexa to check she is okay. We hop off the lift and proceed to the top of the slope. She gives me a thumbs-up and takes off before me. I quickly follow, with an instant feeling of flying. I glide smoothly, side to side, snow shooting out from under me.

  This slope is steeper than those I’ve skied before. I’m navigating properly, but I’m still cautious. Skiers crisscross from every direction. Little snow crystals hit my cheeks, filling the air from others’ skis. A sharp right curve comes up, so I slow down and lean toward the right. A blinding glare reflects off the snow from the sun—I can’t see anything.

  Out of nowhere, something strikes me hard from the right like a freight train. I fly to my left. The wind is swiftly kicked out of my lungs. My body is airborne, and then gravity takes over and slams me back down. I land hard on my left side—head, left shoulder and arm impact as I plow through the snow. Agonizing pain shoots down my left shoulder all the way to my fingertips. My bones feel like they have been shattered like a glass pane. I’m having trouble breathing. My legs tangle with my skies.

  In the distance, I hear skiers shoot past me. Finally, I stop sliding when someone pulls me gently to the side of the slope. It hurts to move, but the cold snow helps.

  “What happened?” I cry in pain.

  I hear a girl’s angelic voice. “Someone was out of control and smashed into you at a very high speed. My sister went for help. You’re lucky you were wearing a helmet. The other skier isn’t wearing one and hit his head hard on the ground. He isn’t moving.

  “I’m going to take your skis off so you feel more comfortable. You need to lie still. We don’t know what injuries you may have.” She has a soothing voice, or maybe I hit my head too hard. The pain pulsates through me, so I know something, if not all of my bones, are broken.

  “Does your neck hurt?”

  “No. Just my shoulder down to my hand,” I say through gritted teeth.

  “Okay. I’m going to gently move your head onto my lap.” She places my head onto something soft. Much better than snow. “I hope your head is comfortable now. You’re shaking. You are most likely freezing or in shock.” I hear her unzip her jacket. “I’m not sure how much it will keep you warm.” She lays her ski jacket over me. It smells nice.

  “Your voice is soothing. Like an angel’s.”

  She giggles as she carefully takes off my goggles. I can’t see her, because of the sun’s glare. I shut my eyes tightly.

  I hear someone yelling, “Lisa! Lisa, is he okay? The ski patrols are on their way.”

  “Did you hear that? Help is on the way. Please try to relax and not move. I know it’s not easy to do when you’re in so much pain.” Her fingers tenderly stroke my cheek.

  Suddenly, I hear Alexa screaming in the distance. “James! James, are you okay?” Fine snow shoots onto my face as she drops to my side.

  My mouth is dry like the desert. It takes every ounce of energy to answer her. “I don’t know, Alexa. Help is on the way. I can hear the sirens.” She touches my arm. I recoil in response. “Fuck, don’t touch me. Do you know how much fucking pain I’m in?”

  “I’m so scared. I’m sorry I made fun of your helmet. It probably saved your life. I can’t live without you. Please be okay,” she pleads in hysterics. I hear people yelling and shuffling nearby. Seconds later, the ski patrols are at my side and bombard me with questions.

  In the middle of the chaos, I only hear the girl’s voice. “They will take care of you now. You’re going to be okay.”

  I can’t focus properly, because it feels like someone is hammering the left side of my body.

  I hear her voice again. “They will prepare you for evacuation along with the other skier.” She leans over me to take her jacket. “Good luck, James,” she says as she rubs my cheek one more time.

  With every ounce of energy I have, I grab her hand near my face. I press it against my cheek. I don’t have the strength to open my eyes. “Thank you,” I reply as she pulls her hand away.

  “Miss, please move. We need space in order to treat him properly.” I try to move but freeze in place because of the throbbing pain. I don’t hear her voice anymore. It’s like she vanished. Was she real?

  Chapter 3

  James

  I place the canvas bag on the old table assigned to me. It’s overstuffed with an assortment of different pamphlets, pens, notepads or coupons for a free coffee at the campus cafeteria. It’s the first day of the one-week orientation program for the new medical students at Clarion University of Physicians and Surgeons. I can hear the buzzing of faculty and students as their voices echo off the walls. The students wander around this big white modern auditorium, their eyes wide open. Absorbing their surroundings, not knowing where to start. Asking themselves, which clubs or organizations should I join? Are any of my teachers here? Is there free food? Some look terrified, holding their notebooks close to their chests like security blankets. Of course, there is always a handful of students who act as if they know everything and everyone. Walking with their heads held high, raising their hands up to say hello, like a politician. Meanwhile, I’m sure they are ready to wet their pants.

  When I think back to my orientation, I acted just like these students. Excited, nervous, anticipatory, proud… It seems so long ago. I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. I’d finally made it to medical school and was moving forward with my dream.

  I graduated from Clarion last June and started my residency program in July. I’m officially an MD. Medical school emotionally and physically drained me. I studied countless number of hours every week. Lived off little sleep and a high intake of caffeinated drinks. When I started med school, I cut out socializing and dating. I had done enough of that during undergraduate school. I missed out on a lot of fun while I locked myself in my room or the library here—but I met my goal.

  My residency program is at the university hospital that’s connected to Clarion. My former goal to become a surgeon was cut short because of the ski accident, when I dislocated my shoulder, broke my left arm in different places, bruised some ribs, and broke two of my left-hand fingers.

  I’m left handed. I went through every kind of physical therapy to regain full function of my fingers as well as my arm and shoulder. I gained full function back in my arm and shoulder but not my fingers. My middle and index finger can’t properly grip small objects such as medical instruments or tools used to perform surgery. Writing with my left hand is a catastrophe. Something so easy that I took for granted. My handwriting resembles a child’s. I guess I fit in with the other doctors, who also have horrible handwriting.

  I’ve opted instead to specialize in emergency medicine. I will need to complete three years of residency before I can apply for a medical license.

  I’m attending Clarion’s orientation today because I was asked to answer miscellaneous questions about this medical school and/or share my own personal experiences with the new students. It’s 12:30, and only a couple of students have visited my table during the past hour. They asked questions I couldn’t even answer. Of course, they took the coupons for free coffee.

  Here comes a student now. “Hi. How can I help you?” I say with enthusiasm.

  “Can you tell me where the bathroom is?”

  My face drops.

  Are you kidding me?

  “Sure. See the sign about twenty feet away from us?”

  “Oops. Sorry. Thanks.” He walks away as I growl.

  Another half hour passes. I love to organize, but how many times am I going to reorganize the buffet of pamphlets? The time is dragging, and
I’m hungry. Do I really need to be here? I hope it gets busier, because I’m constantly yawning. I would rather be at the dentist having a tooth pulled.

  Finally, more students visit my table. As I finish with one, I notice a young woman approaching. She is looking down, so I can’t see her face. She stops and looks through some pamphlets.

  “Hello. Can I help you?”

  She lifts her head and looks at me. I am not bored anymore. I freeze and can’t stop staring at her. She is breathtaking. She has beautiful hazel eyes with long, wavy auburn hair flowing over one shoulder. Freckles lightly dust her face. A pure Irish treat. I’ve never believed in love at first sight until this moment. I feel like I’m in a movie when everything is in slow motion and sappy music is playing in the background and birds are chirping.

  Speechless is an understatement. I hear her laugh. Is she laughing at me? She asks me questions, but I’m not answering them. She has me in a trance.

  Finally, my mouth is able to function. “Hi, I’m James Kramer.” I hold out my hand to shake hers. She takes my hand in hers. I am never going to let it go. A soft tingle goes up my right arm straight to my chest. I’m shaking, and my mouth is dry, like cotton. I repeat myself. “Do you need help with something or have any questions about medical school?” Great. My voice squeaked.

  “No, I don’t need any help. I’m just walking around to see what each table represents. I’m a third-year resident in pediatrics at the hospital here. I was asked to help out today. I have a table over in the corner there,” she says as she points in the distance. “After meeting you, I’m happy I agreed to come today.” She grins.

  Is she flirting with me?

  “I’m Jessica Flynn, by the way.”

  “Wow, I’m impressed, Jessica. This hospital is known for its pediatric department. It’s huge. Good for you.”

  She looks at her hand in mine, since I’m still holding it. I quickly let go, as if I’d touched fire. “It’s okay. I didn’t mind. Your hand was nice and warm.”

  “I’m a first-year resident for emergency medicine. You’re way ahead of me. I’m jealous.”

  She leans against the table. I wish she was leaning against me. “The first years went pretty fast. Before you know it, you’ll be done. It’s not medical school anymore. You’re working.”

  My body is drawn to hers. I want to keep talking to her, but I hear students saying, “Excuse me, sir. Can you help us, please? We have been waiting here for a few minutes now.”

  Of course, students line up now.

  As I finally turn to face them, a female student tosses pamphlets back onto the table and storms away.

  “Excuse me, miss. Can I help you?” I call. I guess not, because she ignores me. “Please give me a few seconds,” I say to the students waiting in line. I hear some of them grunt.

  I turn back to Jessica. She leans into me and whispers, “I see you are busy. I’ll come back when it’s slower. You’re welcome to visit me, if you get bored. I can give you some information on the pediatric department, if you are interested. As I said, my table is just over there.” She offers a jaw-dropping smile.

  “I just might take you up on that. Hopefully, everyone will avoid this table. See you soon.”

  She grins as she turns around. I watch her slender hips sway.

  A male student clearing his throat pulls me back to reality. “Yes, yes. How can I help you?”

  It’s 5:00, and orientation is finally over. Instead of being avoided, I was swamped all afternoon. But Jessica and I have been sneaking peeks at each other the entire time.

  After most of the students leave, she approaches and stands in front of the table, facing me. “Hi, James,” she says with a sparkle in her eye.

  “Hey there,” I say softly as I pack up the leftover pamphlets. “The past hours were a lot busier than I hoped they would be. I would’ve rather been talking to you.” I glance at her hand as she traces a heart with her finger on the table.

  “And now we’re finished,” she says as our eyes meet.

  She steps away from the table and saunters around it. She stands a few inches away from me. Her closeness alone makes my pulse race. I unfasten the top button of my shirt. I’m suddenly very warm.

  “James, would you like to go for a drink somewhere?” She bites her lower lip.

  What I wouldn’t do to bite her lip right now. Whoa! What the hell is wrong with me? “I’d love to, but I need to do a few things first, which could take a while. Can we meet at Kerry’s Pub at seven? Do you know where it is?”

  “Yes. That would be perfect. I’ll wait for you at the bar. I look forward to it.” She brushes my arm with her hand. “See you later, James.”

  I watch her walk away, counting the minutes until I will see her gorgeous face again.

  I arrive a few minutes late because I couldn’t find a parking space. Hopefully, she isn’t annoyed. I walk through the doors and see Jessica sitting at the bar to the left. She hasn’t noticed me yet, so I stand there and observe her. She changed her clothes. Damn, I didn’t have time to change my clothes. Do I look okay? I push my hand through my hair nervously. I look down at my shirt to make sure there are no stains and then smooth out my khakis. Good enough.

  She’s older than me, and exudes maturity and elegance. Her hair is the same as earlier today. She’s wearing a dark-green short-sleeve dress with sexy black high heels. Her legs are crossed, and one leg is revealed to midthigh. My head automatically goes to my pants. I shouldn’t think like this. I need to behave and get a grip. It has been a long time since I’ve reacted to or thought about a woman like this. Actually, I’ve never felt this way before. I’m not sure I can control myself.

  I don’t know anything about her, but I’m lucky to be meeting her right now. I’m sure she has men constantly knocking on her door. Especially other residents. I wasn’t expecting this today. I’m a planner by nature. My life has been planned for the past eight years while going through undergraduate and medical school. Structure is a necessity. When something doesn’t adhere to my schedule, it throws me completely off balance.

  I’ve dated occasionally, but there’s never been anyone special. Perhaps in the back of my mind I was always searching for that girl from the ski accident. Alexa confirmed the rescuer was really there and wasn’t a figment of my imagination. I waited for a long time, but I finally convinced myself to give up. I’ll never forget the sound of her voice. The only thing I know about her is that her name is Lisa and she has black hair.

  Jessica swivels on her stool and notices me. In this moment, I forget whom I was thinking about. She’s the only person I see. Her smile grows as I walk toward her, and right then I’m hooked. The bar doesn’t need any lights because her face glows enough. My heart is pounding, and my hands are sweating. Don’t shake her hand. She stands up as I give her a gentle hug. She smells like fresh roses.

  “You look incredible, Jessica.”

  “Thank you. You look quite sexy yourself.”

  It’s going to be an interesting night. Will I be able to keep my hands off her? I never had a woman say something like that to me before.

  I like it.

  A lot.

  “Would you like to sit here at the bar or move to a table?” I ask as I gesture toward the tables.

  “Let’s stay here. We can sit closer to one another.”

  She’s killing me with these little comments. Some come out innocent and some come out downright hot. I’m not sure how to respond, so I just smile and motion for her to sit down. I claim the barstool next to hers.

  “I see you already have a white wine. I hope you weren’t waiting too long.”

  “Sorry. I was a bit nervous. I needed something to relax me. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all. Let me order a beer and some food. I haven’t eaten in a while.” I wave the bartender over and order a Sam Adams as he hands me a menu. “Do you want to order something to eat? Maybe the nachos?”

  “Please, I’m starving. I need to
eat something, or this wine will go straight to my head.”

  I order the nachos and move my stool closer to hers. She shifts in her seat to get something from her handbag. Her hair moves in a way that blows a cloud of her rose perfume my way. I close my eyes as I inhale to savor the smell. I need to make small talk to keep from thinking about how good she smells, how pretty she looks, and how much I long to touch her.

  “You don’t seem like the nervous type. When I met you at orientation, you seemed quite confident. I mean that in a positive way.”

  “That’s how people perceive me, but it’s not always true. Men make me nervous because they only see me on the outside. Yes, I’m tall with a pretty face, from what people tell me, but I’m more than that. I want you to see past my appearance.”

  Now I feel bad. I have been thinking those very things. Tall, sexy, and beautiful.

  “How old are you, James? I’m guessing around twenty-seven. Am I correct?”

  “Twenty-six. Is that bad? Have you ever dated someone younger than you?” I question with slight apprehension.

  She shakes her head. “No. Gosh no. I have no problem with your age. I’m only twenty-eight,” she quickly responds.

  “I’m only kidding. No worries,” I tease.

  She playfully taps me on the arm. “That’s not fair. Be nice. You are supposed to make a good impression.”

  “Okay. Next question then. Where are you from? Are you from New York State?” I ask in a formal tone, still trying to tease her.

  She smiles. “Yes, I am. I’m from a small town not too far from here. I’m the only child, so I wanted to stay close to my parents. Well, close enough that it would take less than an hour to drive to visit. Sometimes a little distance is better. Being an only child can be a bit tough. The focus is always on me. I need some space, which led me to choose this hospital for my residency.”

  “I’m assuming you didn’t go to Clarion? I think I would have seen you at some point.”