The door signaler flashes. I look up from the hospital’s extensive patient counseling materials and glance at my clock. Had I really been studying for three hours straight? With my pharmacy clinical rotation at St. Louis Children’s Hospital starting next week, I plan to be more than prepared; I want to be at the top of my game. I’d have to be. If that means spending hours reading and rereading the hospital pharmacy’s patient counseling literature, then so be it. I’ll gladly give up my Friday night.
Tossing the binder to the floor, Bobby—my little white-haired West Highland terrier lifts his head, not pleased that I interrupted his twentieth nap of the day. He is the laziest dog I’ve ever met, and I love him for it.
I stand and stretch, climbing my hands up an invisible ladder, my back realigning.
LED lights flash again. Someone’s at my door.
Reaching for the knob, I pull it open. My roommate, Chloe stands on the other side, a beatific smile on her face and her hands on her hips. Wearing a tiny denim skirt, cowboy boots, and a hot pink shirt that hangs off one shoulder, it’s no mystery she has big plans for the evening. She’s braided her hair to the side so the dramatic transition from the black tresses at the top of her head transform into a trail of blond perfection near the end. How she gets away with such an extraordinary dichotomy, I’ll never know; I couldn’t pull off an ombré look if I tried.
The way she’s dressed and the look on her face, she’s up to something…and I’m certain she means for me to be involved as well. “What?” I sign, palms up.
Bobby uncurls himself from his bed and trots to the door, greeting Chloe. Crouching on her heels, she scratches Bobby on the head as he sneaks in a few licks on any patch of skin he can reach. Glancing up at me, Chloe stands back up, leaving a tail-wagging Bobby dancing at my heels.
Chloe raises her arms, and in a flurry of motion, her hands form words in impeccable American Sign Language. “Don’t say no, okay? Promise me you won’t say no. There’s this hot band playing at Mississippi Lights tonight. They’re my new favorite, and I really want to see them. Will you come? Please?” She juts her lower lip out and bats her eyelashes. “Oh, and I heard T-R-E-Y is supposed to be there tonight,” she adds, sticking her tongue out. “If he sees me having a good time, maybe it will make him realize what an idiot he was for breaking up with me.”
I love Chloe. She’s my best friend. We’ve been roommates for the last three years, but to be honest, she falls in love with a new band every other week. Her enthusiasm over this new group doesn’t have me psyched to give up on the intriguing world of hospital protocol and patient care. And the fact that she wants to make her douchebag ex-boyfriend jealous doesn’t light a fire inside me either. I’ve always known Chloe is too good for his cheating ass; I only wish she could have beaten Trey to the punch and dumped him first.
I cock my head, irritated. Why is she such a softie for him? “Chloe, we’ve been over this, you can do so much better than T-R-E-Y.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She rolls her eyes. “I just want him to see that I don’t need him. That I’m getting along just fine—better even—without him.”
Yes. Yes she is. I just wish she believed that.
“Mississippi Lights?” I ask. There are worse places to see a band. At least the venue is small and they crank the volume. If I stand near the side of the stage, right in front of the speakers, well, I still wouldn’t be able to hear the band, but at least I could feel the music’s pulse.
Chloe’s eyes widen, waiting for me to cave. She is the master of the sad Puss in Boots face. When she brings out the eyes, she could persuade the Pope to commit homicide. Hand against her chest, she makes a slow clockwise circle. “Pleeeease?” Her lower lip pops out again.
“I guess.” I drop my hands to my sides and let out a long breath.
An enormous smile breaks through the pleading look she just heaped on me. Bouncing on the balls of her feet, she throws her arms around my neck and squeezes. When she pulls away, she’s beaming. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she repeats, tapping her chin with the tips of her fingers.
I nod. “I’ll be ready in a few.”
“Great!” Turning around, she bounds down the small hallway and disappears into her room.
I shut the door and turn around, sighing. “What did I get myself into, Bobby?” He may not know sign language, but my little guy gets me. He cocks his head, his ears perked up in understanding. As much as I didn’t want to go out tonight, I know Chloe needs the distraction, and knowing Trey will be there, it’s best that I go, just to keep Chloe as far away from him as possible.
Walking back to the bed, I bend over and pick up the hospital’s book and toss it onto my desk before heading to the closet. Flipping hangers from one side to the other, a blue, mid-thigh bodycon dress catches my eye. I yank it off the hanger and lay it on the bed. As I wiggle out of my yoga pants and T-shirt, I reach for the dress and bring it over my head, mourning the loss of my comfy clothes.
After touching up my makeup and taming my red curls, I’m presentable and club-ready…well, at least I look club-ready, my mind-set anything but.
The door signaler flashes again—Chloe’s subtle way of telling me to hurry up. I grab my keys and purse from my desk, give Bobby a goodbye pat on the head, and open the door.
“Ready,” I sign, before she has a chance to chastise me for taking too long.
Her smile grows and her eyebrows pull up as she takes in my outfit. “Holy shit, girl! Why didn’t you tell me you’re looking for a man?”
“Is it too much?” I gesture to my ample assets and cringe. There is no hiding in this dress. If my parents knew I had a dress like this, I’d get a lecture on modesty and be sent back to my room to change. I bought this dress because I knew my parents would disapprove if they ever saw it, not to draw male attention.
Chloe shakes her head. “No freaking way! You look hot! I’d give my right arm to have boobs like yours.”
I roll my eyes and squeeze past her, walking down the stairs. Once we’re in the living room, I turn and face Chloe, “And I’m not looking for a man,” I tell her. I do not have time for a man.
“I hate to break it to you, sweetie, but that dress is going to be like a lighthouse in a dark sea.”
“Well, it’s a good thing I have you by my side.” I smile. “You and those sexy boots, and your legs that go on for miles will distract all the guys before they even lay eyes on me. I pale in comparison.”
“You’re delusional.” Chloe rolls her eyes this time and picks up her keys. “I’ve been dying to see Mine Shaft!” With a little shimmy of her hips, she opens the door and I follow behind.
I walk to the passenger side of Chloe’s purple Jeep Wrangler and wait for her to unlock the door when I notice she’s waving her hand, trying to get my attention.
I adjust the thin strap on my purse and sign, “Yeah?”
With a sincere look that melts my heart, she says, “Thanks for going out with me tonight. I know you’re worried about starting your clinical rotation next week, and I know you didn’t want any distractions, so this means a lot to me.”
I walk around the backside of her Jeep and stand beside her. I won’t vocalize how much she means to me, as I gave up trying to verbalize a long time ago, but I squeeze her in an all-consuming hug. I hope she knows that I would do anything for her.
Four years ago, I was a deaf girl in a sea of hearing pharmacy students. So many people told me I’d never make it, and I’ll be the first to admit, nothing about school has been easy. But, Chloe was the first person who believed I would make a great pharmacist, and she told me so on a daily basis our first year, after I’d had three different interpreters quit before the end of the semester. She also learned to sign for me…something my own parents struggled to do. If putting down some boring hospital procedural textbook in order to support my best friend and help her find her confidence again, then I was glad to do it.
I pull back and look into Chloe’s eyes, letting her shoulders go. “You know I’d do anything for you, Chloe.”
“Yeah, I know. Now scoot.” She directs me back to the passenger side with a hip-check and a smile. “I want to be close to the stage. Have you seen these guys?”
I shake my head as I climb onto the passenger seat.
“Well, I have.” Chloe drops her hand to the ignition, and I feel the Jeep rumble to life. Before she pulls out onto the street, she adds, “And let me tell you, we have some serious eye candy to consume this evening.”
I squint my eyes and give her a questioning look. “What are you waiting for then? My sweet tooth is hurting!”