There was nothing important for her to do anyway, she was just an unimportant volunteer, she thought bitterly. She wanted excitement, she thought again, as she looked down at her pink and white uniform of a nurse volunteer, which in her opinion was quite ugly.
She was in the middle of all these thoughts when someone interrupted her back to the real world.
“Hey, you, get up. We need you to go to Room 206 and check on the patient there,“ said a tall, blonde nurse, with anything but a smile. It was Lauren, the head nurse in charge of assigning her jobs here. She always acted like she wished Rye wasn’t there.
“I need you to get me the chart at the foot of his bed and just see if the patient is all right."
"Who is it?" asked Rye.
"No one you know,"said Lauren with a smirk. "He came in here a couple of hours ago because of a minor heart attack."
Rye grumbled a 'fine' and turned to the elevator, which would lead her into room 206.
When she got there, it was dark, and it looked like the person was sleeping. She tiptoed in, trying not to make any noise. She got to the foot of his bed and picked up the chart there. She couldn't help but sneak a look at the person sleeping, and she was surprised to see that he was so young! When Lauren had told her about a heart attack, she had just assumed it was some really old guy, in his 60's or something.
This guy couldn't be more than 24. It was dark so she couldn't really see, but with the light coming in from the hall, and as her eyes started adjusting to the darkness of the room, she recognized him immediately. She gave a little gasp as the familiar features she saw were of Brian Littrell, from the backstreet boys, someone she admired very much. she had nothing else to do there so taking small step back, she turned to leave. Her foot hit a chair, making a lot of noise. She groaned as she pulled it back up and then, ready to make a quick exit, she heard a voice say, "Hello."
She slowly turned and saw Brian had already waken up, due to the noise, and was smiling a weak smile. She froze to her spot and managed to squeak out a nervous, "Hi..."
"Come closer, I don't bite, you know," he said, still smiling.
She smiled and relaxed as she thought that he was right, she was acting ridiculous, he was just an ordinary guy, who just happened to be really cute and in a group called the backstreet boys. She got closer and sat on the chair next to him.
"See, I told you I was harmless," he said in a kidding voice.
Then he straightened up to a sitting position, when he put his hand over his heart and sort of keeled over on his side. Ryan Ann automatically stood up, not knowing what to do.
"Are you in pain?" she asked. Duh, she thought! Then she said, "I mean, do you need anything?"
"No, no..." said Brian, holding up his other hand. "Just a little sting, I'm used to my heart being this way, though..."
Rye still had an uncertain look on her face, so to get her to stop worrying, he reached for hand, now shivering, and placed it over his heart.
"See," he said. "It doesn't hurt at all, now sit down, ok?" he said, smiling a weak smile.
Ryan Ann sat back down, still aware of his warm hand on hers, feeling the shivers all over her.
"Tell me your name," he said, obviously changing the subject from his heart problem.
"My name? Oh, it's uh..." she said, getting nervous once again.
"Ryan Ann?" he asked.
"How-how did you know?" she stammered.
He pointed to the name tag on her shirt, and she smiled and said, "Oh yeah. People usually call me Rye, though."
"Ok, hi Rye. My name is-"
"Brian," she finished, with a smile.
He laughed and said, "Oh, ok, so we're even now. I was wondering if you'd recognize me, dressed in these funky green hospital rags."
Rye laughed along with him. Then a voice behind her said, "Well, well, well, I thought I made myself clear when I told you what you were supposed to do, not flirt with the patient for God's sake..."
Ryan Ann groaned, and got a little red in the face. She could see Lauren gloating for embarrassing her like this. "Yes, Lauren, I'm coming...." she stood up, and letting go of that hand that was still on his heart said, "Well, bye, I guess."
Brian tightened his grip on her hand and said, "You will come again, right?"
Rye looked at him for a second before answering, and with a smile she answered, "Of course I will."
Nicole swallowed the sweet scent of the fresh air around her, watching her little cousin Jeremy playing with the other kids. She had to baby-sit him that day but she truly didn't mind, she didn't have anything else to do, and besides, it was so relaxing sitting underneath that willow tree, doing nothing in particular. She would take herself to another place there, dream up things that could happen. She concentrated on thinking about what kind of guy she'd like to meet. Hmm, he'd have to be tall, definitely tall, at least 6' maybe? She was 5'6 and she always thought tall guys were the sexiest guys alive. Hair color? Blonde, maybe? A voice interrupted her dream, "I'm sorry, but can I sit here?"
She turned her head slowly to look up at the person who had just talked to her. Am I still dreaming, she thought, as she swallowed in the features of the person standing next to her, knowing exactly who it was. That blonde hair, those blue eyes, it was him all right. Nah, she thought, it must be the sun, either that, or I'm really going crazy...
"Hello? Once again, is it asking too much if I sit down here?"
"I...I...yes! I mean, no, of course it's not asking too much! Sorry...." Wow, it definitely was him, Nick Carter. The only time she'd ever seen his face this close was with her fave poster of him. She just could not believe that he was actually here...
"That's ok," he said with a smile, as he sat down beside her. "It's just that I really like this tree, I'm always sitting under it."
"Yeah, it's very nice, isn't it? I just saw it today and I just couldn't resist the chance of relaxing and forgetting everything altogether. I would just lie down and let it take me-" she stopped talking as she saw Nick looking at her with an amused smile. She suddenly blushed and said, "Whatever, it's crazy, no?"
"No, the funny thing is, I get the same exact feeling." he said with a grin.
Then she remembered something she had heard on the radio that morning, and blurted out, "I'm really sorry about Brian. I mean, I heard about what happened and all."
He quickly lost his smile and said, "What do you mean?"
Oh how she wished she hadn't said anything! "I mean, uh, I heard he fainted during last night's show or something? Is he ok?"
"He's alive, if that's what you mean," he said bitterly. "But yes, I guess you could say he's ok."
"Well, I'm glad, I mean, that he's ok. I'm really sorry and I hope you don't think that I wasn't minding my own business or something." Nicole realized she was talking way too fast, probably because she was nervous...
"Who are you?" asked Nick.
Nicole could feel her cheeks going red. "Um, my name is Nicole." and feeling too embarrassed to stay anymore, she stood up and said, "Well, it's been nice talking to you and all but I've got to take my little cousin back home."
"See ya around, Nicole?" said Nick, feeling a little guilty.
"Yeah, sure, I guess..." she wasn't sure she could face him again, she was sure she had just made a fool out of herself during the whole conversation with him.
Ryan ann got up a little late the next day, showered and dressed. She was really looking forward to going back to the hospital that afternoon, which was weird because she always hated it. She was about to go out when the phone rang.
"Hello?'' she said, as she picked it up.
"Rye? Oh my God, you will not believe who I just met and who I just made the greatest fool of myself to!" screamed Nicole. Without waiting for Rye to say anything else, she said, "Nick Carter!! I know he thinks I'm an idiot, though, I just know it. I asked him about Brian and he got a little cold but otherwise he's really nice! Rye, are you still there?"
"Yes, I'm still here. I was waiting for you to stop for a breath... anyway, wow, that's unbelievable. I'm sure it wasn't that bad... are you sure you weren't in one of your dreams?" she said in a kidding voice.
"Ha ha... no, this daydream came to be reality! Anyway, I'm sure I'll never see him again. So how was work yesterday? Witnessed any deaths?"
"Actually..." she started, ready to tell her about meeting Brian, but then decided against it. Lauren had told her that Brian wanted to remain anonymous in there, and she was not supposed to tell anyone. "It was as boring as ever. And if I don't go right now, I'm really gonna get it! So talk to you later, ok?"
"Ok, bye!"
Ryan Ann hung up the phone and then looking at her watch, she realized she was going to be late if she didn't hurry.
Rye was exhausted. As soon as she had come, Lauren had assigned her lots of little jobs... she just couldn't stand it anymore. She didn't see how she could find any way of seeing Brian again, after all, she was here working, and as far as Lauren was concerned, there was always a little job here or there which she'd give her, when there were obviously lots of other volunteers.
Just now, she was on her way back to reception, to see if dear old Lauren wanted anything else. She was stopped by a hurried looking doctor, who said, "Oh, thank God, a volunteer. Listen, I need you to draw some blood samples from a patient, do you think you could do that?"
"Uh, sure!" said Rye, trying not to sound too excited. It was not the kind of thing they'd give her to do, she only got little odd jobs, or things like reading stories to the younger patients...stuff like that.
"Ok, it's in room 206. You know what to do," and with that he hurried off down the hall.
"I do?" Rye echoed. Well, it shouldn't be that hard. She had seen the other nurses do it and she'd always wanted to herself. Room 206? She had been to so many rooms that week and she was sure she'd been to that one already. Then her first real smile that afternoon formed as she realized it was Brian's.
She was standing right outside his door, and through the window she could see him staring off into space. He looked so cute, she thought... he looked up then and his eyes met hers, and she felt so embarrassed that he caught her looking at him. She saw him smile and make a gesture with his hand for her to come in. She took a deep breath and opened the door.
"What were you planning to do? Stay out in the hall all day?" he asked with a smile. "Anyway, I'm glad you could come."
"I did promise, no?" she said with a smile. He could always make her feel comfortable. "I am here, as grotesque as it sounds, to draw your blood."
"Ugh," groaned Brian.
"I'm sorry, I know it's awful," she said with a sympathetic smile.
"Nah, it's ok, I guess. Anyway, I'm glad it's you who is doing it, maybe you'll have some mercy on me," he said jokingly.
"Well, you know, I'm sorry to say this, but... this is the first time I ever draw anyone's blood so you're doing a big mistake in trusting me!"
"Oh no, I am leaving my life in the hands of an amateur? hmm...." said Brian, looking really thoughtful.
"Oh stop it," she said blushing, but still laughing. She rolled up his sleeve and could feel him looking at her. She took a deep breath and after cleaning the area, she said, "Here goes nothing..." as she stuck the needle in and tried doing what she had seen the nurses do so many times, except they probably weren't as nervous as she was. Geez, she was so nervous, she thought... probably because she didn't want to hurt him...
When it looked like she had enough, she took it out slowly when she realized that Brian hadn't said a word. She had been too afraid to look at him when she was drawing the blood in case she'd mess up or something so when she finished now, and looked at him, she couldn't help but giggle at what she saw. Brian had his head in a weird position, with his eyes rolled back and his tongue sticking out.
"Ok, Brian, can you please cut that out... and if you're good, I might even promise you a candy," she said, shaking her head with a smile.
Brian rolled his head back, smiled and said, "Oh, really! Gee, that would be great! And since you were good, I might even share it with you!"
Rye playfully punched him in the arm, on the other one of course. Bran acted hurt and said, "Ouch, my only good arm after the torture you put me through here..." Then he said with a smile, "No seriously, you were great, better than those awful nurses who wanted to just get it done quickly. Now, where is that candy?"
Ryan ann laughed and said, "I'm sorry, I haven't got any for you. I have to go back now, to give them this sample before they give me another sermon like last night."
"Oh, well, ok, I won't get you in trouble. But remember, you owe me a candy so you know what to bring with you the next time you come!"
Laughing, she reluctantly went out to the halls of that busy hospital.
"Ugh, I hate the traffic," thought Nicole out loud to herself. She was driving to the hospital as she had promised Rye she'd come after her and give her a ride back until her car was fixed. Besides, she was bored and she felt like making fun of her friend's work. Not that it was bad, she thought, but her idea of work was not taking care of sick people...ugh, she thought again...
She got to the hospital and looking for a place to park her car, she found the perfect spot up ahead. She drove towards it when she saw another car coming from the other side. "No way are you taking my place," Nicole mumbled to herself, getting to it at almost the same time as the other car, almost hitting each other. She rolled down her window and said, "Look, I don't know what planet you learned to drive in but do you mind? I was going to park there first, you know..."
The window from the driver's seat rolled down and a blonde guy with sunglasses popped his head out, "I'm sorry, but I don't see your name on it or anything...," then taking off his sunglasses, he said, "Hey wait, you're Nicole, no?"
Nicole blushed crimson red as she realized who it was. It was just her luck, she thought. "Uh, hi..." Oh great, oh great, she thought, he's going to start laughing at me, shout at me for shouting at him, insult me...
Nick smiled and said, "Sorry about that. What are you doing here, anyway?"
"Me? Oh, my friend works here as a volunteer, just thought I'd come and hang around." she said, looking anywhere but at him, or else she knew she'd get all red. "What about you?"
"You don't know?" he asked her. She shook her head and he said with a smile, "Well, I'll only tell you because you let me sit in that willow tree this morning..." then getting serious, he said softly, "Brian's in this hospital, no one is supposed to know, you know how fans can get... so that's why I'm here."
"Oh," she said, not knowing what else to say. She wondered whether Rye knew?
Then Nick said with a smile, "Well, we're both blocking the way for other cars, so if we're going to talk, I say we park these things and I'll walk with you to the hospital, that is if you don't mind."
Mind? Was he crazy? "Uh, yeah, ok."
"Oh, and you can park there, I think I see another place," he said with a smile. She smiled back and shaking her head, started the car again.
A few minutes later, she slammed the door shut and looked around to see where he was. Then she could see him walking towards her from the other side, and she felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness come over her.
**********************
"Hey, you don't know how glad I am that you came back! Wait a sec, did you bring any candy with you?" Brian asked Rye, who had just entered the room.
"Shh!" she said. "I am not even supposed to be here, I was going to go back home right now when I thought I'd check on you." She smiled at him. "But sorry, no candy for you. I ate my last one," she teased.
Just then the door opened and a doctor came in. Rye groaned silently for she was enjoying talking to Brian. She stood up to leave but the doctor just waved her hands, gesturing for her to stay.
"It's ok, I'm not staying long. I just came to give you some very good news, Mr. Littrell," said the doctor with a smile. "We are kicking you out of this hospital as of now-"
"Really? That's great! I mean no offense to the hospital but I kinda miss the real world!" said Brian, looking really happy.
"Well, there are a few things, of course, I don't want you to get yourself too tired and-" the doctor went on and on, but Rye wasn't listening. Brian was leaving? Of course, she had to be happy for him, but another part of her was feeling really sad at the same time. Get a grip, she thought, as she pasted a smile on her face, and try to be happy for him, it's the kind of thing he'd expect from a friend, which is the only thing I'll ever be to him, she thought...
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