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ISABELLA

"She shoots, and she scores!" Addy screams as the bowling ball hits all the pins, knocking them all to the ground. I roll my eyes while she does her fifth victory dance.
Addy and I are bowling because we have no better way to spend our Friday night. I've been counting the days that Miles and I haven't talked, and I'm at seven.

According to Addison, Jasper stopped over his house the other day, and they chatted. But I do not understand what about. Whatever it was couldn't have been about me because nothing changed.

"You're cheating somehow," I say, picking up the shiny purple ball and walking up to the alley.

"You wish I was," she says back, shoving candy into her mouth.

I take my grand old time lining myself up so I can get a strike. I don't bowl often, but when I do, I am a try-hard. The same goes for Addy, so it's a pretty intense match.

When I feel I'm at the perfect angle, I swing my arm back.

"Cute boys at ten o'clock!" she whispers to me, but it doesn't come out as a whisper. Instead, it startles me, and I lose grip of the bowling ball, causing it to roll into the gutter.

"Addy! What the heck!" I shout, watching it roll, only to hit nothing.

She grins. "I was only warning you that there are cute boys over there." She nods her head towards the group of guys walking over. I look over to see what she's talking about, then look back at her like she's crazy.

"Addy," I pause, which catches her attention, "those 'boys' over there are grandpas."

"Exactly, maybe you need a sugar daddy!"

I stare deadpan.

"You know what? Why don't you go suck Jasper's dick!" I snap, causing her mouth to fall open. "See, just like that!"

She quickly shuts her mouth and makes a pouty face. "You'd know, huh?"

"Addison!" I shout in disbelief while pulling my shoes off. She chuckles to herself before leaning in to whisper something.

"Just so you know, he doesn't deserve his dick sucked by you."

I can't help but burst out laughing. If you are ever sad, find someone like Addy to make it better because she sure knows how to.

Since I'm losing by a ton of points and the game is almost over, we pack up our things and head back home. Since it's Friday, I don't have to wake up early tomorrow, thankfully. Instead, I plan on going into the city to stop by the hospital and grab some paperwork.

"You sure you don't want me to come with you?" Addy questions as I grab my keys off of the counter.

"No, it's alright, go do something with your man." I smile. "I need some time alone to think, anyway."

"Okay, well if you need anything call me, babe." She winks and I hurry out the door, blowing a kiss in her direction. She pretends to catch it and puts it up to her heart.

Thirty minutes later, I arrive in the city as the sun sets, which looks beautiful. Since it's a Friday, the city is crowded. The streets are bustling with upbeat people. I saunter down the sidewalk to the enormous building and head inside.

I head over to the reception desk where a little old lady is sitting. "Hi, I'm Isabella Gallagher, I'm with Greenoak university. I'm stopping by to pick up papers."

"Yes, of course, Ms. Gallagher. The head of the ER department is bringing them down. You'll get to speak with him if you haven't yet." She smiles. "Just take a seat right over there." I oblige, thanking her. I'm confused why the head of ER is bringing me paperwork, but I push it aside. Instead, I prepare to introduce myself.

As I sit waiting, I look around and really take everything in. The first thing I notice is how incredibly busy it is. I guess that's not a very good thing if you think about it. If people are coming to the hospital, it more or less means something's wrong. Good thing we have some of the best workers here.

I look to my right and see Max walking down the hallway, staring at me with a smile.

Shit.

Male interaction.

I stand up and that's when I notice he is walking directly towards me with papers in his hands. Wait, oh no... Don't tell me he is...

"The head of ER?" I say out loud in disbelief.  

"At your service," he says, bowing his head. Then he holds his hand out with my papers, waiting for me to take them. I knit my eyebrows together, not breaking eye contact with him as I grab the papers.

"I didn't know you were the chief resident, Max, or should I call you Dr. Duncan?"

"That's because I didn't tell you and I wasn't wearing my lab coat, and Dr. Duncan," he says, laughing like it's the most obvious thing in the world.

I cannot believe this, all this time I've been talking to the head of ER like he was some random worker. And I've trying to avoid him because I thought he was trying to flirt with me! Holy hell, Bell, you are so stupid.

"I didn't want people freaking out when I was around. I also didn't want people kissing up to me since I was the head of the department. I wanted to see what you all were capable of when you didn't know someone important." He points to himself. "Was watching. And you were the person who stuck out to me the most." 

Someone defibrillate me.

"Well, thank you." I laugh, not knowing what to say. "It means a lot though."

"I can tell it does," he adds as we step in sync out of the way for a gurney to go through.

"Thank you again for this opportunity, I have to get going now, but I'll be back here Monday." I smile, adjusting my purse. It may not seem like a big deal, but talking to another guy right after a breakup makes me feel weird. Right after Jake and I broke up, I got close to Miles. And now, after Miles and I broke up, I met Max.

But just because I find him cute does not mean I like him, he's not my type.

Miles is my type.

Before I turn to go, he grabs my arm. "Well, my shift's about to end, do you want to go grab food?"

"I already ate," I say apologetically. Nasty bowling alley food.

"Well, let's get a coffee then! It's on me," he says excitedly. Shit, how else can I get out of this situation? "Come on, can a free coffee hurt anyone?" he adds.

"I guess not." I sigh, and a smile spreads across his face. For being chief resident, he sure is playful. I mean, I'm sure he is incredibly smart, but I would never have guessed it if he hadn't told me.

He even saw me cry.

I wait in the hospital's lobby while Max changes out of his scrubs, then we walk to a cafe in Philly called Sweet Brew. He asks about school, and how clinical is. I tell him everything and ask a lot of questions. He smiles and answers them all.

It's nice to talk with someone who understands the medical field. And the sheer amount of knowledge he has blown my mind. "How'd you become head of the department at such a young age?"

"Slow down Izzy, I feel like I'm being interviewed."

I laugh nervously. "I'm sorry, it's just really impressive."

We enter the cafe, and he explains how he was young for his grade and graduated early. My eyes grow wider and so does my respect for him. He has achieved so much at a pretty young age, it's impressive.

After I order my coffee, I say, "I feel like that doesn't happen with many people."

He shrugs. "I was just lucky that I knew what I wanted to do from a young age." Max hands the barista his credit card, telling her he'll pay for my drink too.

"Woah, no. Sorry, that's not happening."

The barista looks between us, unsure who to listen to, while Max stares at me. "I forced you to come out for coffee, it's on me. Anyway, I'll just make you bring me coffees now that you work for me."

I narrow my eyes at him, and laughter pours out of me. He really is something else.

We pick up our drinks and head for the exit, but my eyes briefly scan the room and that's when I see him, Miles sitting at a table alone, his eyes already fixated on me. My feet stop in their place like I've seen a ghost.

Max says something, but I don't hear him. All I can focus on is the boy who left me behind as if we're the only two in here. I bite my lip, trying to hold in all the emotions I've bottled up within the last couple of days.

Then, my feet carry me out of the café faster than the speed of light.

Oh,my God.

I didn't think my heart could break again, but it did.

It's difficult going from talking to someone every day, to not speaking at all. It's like death and seeing him was like pouring salt into a wound.

I feel a hand on my shoulder. For a quick second, I wish it was Miles coming to talk to me but, it's just Max.

"Are you alright? Who was that back there?" he asks, pulling me toward a bench.

I take a deep breath and wipe the tears away with a chuckle. "Fresh ex."

He chuckles too. "I know the feeling."

"Did you just go through a breakup too?" I look up at him curiously. Trying to forget about what just happened in the cafe.

He sighs, still holding my hand. "Yeah, it wasn't pretty either."

"Oh God, was she a bitch?" I wipe another tear away with my free hand.

He pauses, staring at me with a gentle smile. "He, he was a bitch."

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QOTD: What is your favorite drink? 

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