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Jack Dawkins knew all too well who Belle Fox was. Hardly anyone wouldn't know that. She was the daughter of the dean, Edmund Fox, of The University of Queensland where both of them studied medicine. Jack was good at it, truly good and he had no other option than to be good if he wanted to get the best scholarship so he could continue studying there.
Jack was in his third year and that meant spending more time in the hospital, more specifically in surgery which was something he wanted to do one day. His good spirit fell when he found out that his partner would be Belle Fox. She was in the same year as he was but she had always been in different classes, so this would be the first time they would officially meet. Jack had his opinions about her. The daughter of the dean, he didn't believe that she got in and stayed there without nepotism. And she had the air that she was a big-headed know-it-all. Their training doctor was Professor Alistair McGregor. The man used to be a legend, one of the best of his time but Jack heard rumors that nowadays he was drunk half of the time.
“Oh you,” Belle said as Jack entered the hall and he was immediately shocked. What did that mean? Belle was sitting on a bench in the hall, clothed in a white coat and with a bag next to her.
“Yes me, I am Jack Dawkins, I think we haven't had the pleasure to meet yet,” Jack tried to be nice despite her attitude. What else was he expecting of her? She probably hangs out only with other nepo babies.
“Oh we already had the pleasure, Jack,” she almost spitted his name and now he was truly lost.
“We had?”
“Yes, a few weeks ago, at the Christmas party,” Belle nodded and started to play with the hem of her coat.
Oh, the Christmas party. He was so drunk that he couldn't remember anything from the evening. Shit.
“What have I done?” he asked embarrassed in advance.
“You just told me your opinion on me and my father, nothing too shocking, just that he is the worst dean in history and that he is a chump and that his daughter is just another nepo baby at this university. Then you puked,” she said calmly and Jack truly felt mortified.
“I am sorry, I shouldn't say that. I don't know you or your father, I shouldn't make such statements.”
“You shouldn't but who cares. It's just a shame that we have to be mortal enemies now that you insulted my father. We started so well…” she shrugged and Jack was just more confused. Was she serious? And how did they start? He just wanted to remember that evening but his mind was completely empty.
Belle started to laugh.
“Your face, it's priceless. I'm kidding, obviously. I think we can be perfectly professional,” she said and offered him his hand which he accepted. Her hand was warm and soft in comparison to his cold palm. She smiled at him sweetly and then let go.
“You are both here, great. I'm Professor Alistair McGregor, you can call me professor. Come to my office,” he said and waved at them. They followed him and sat down on the opposite side of his desk. Professor poured himself a drink and Jack and Belle exchanged a quick look.
“I think we should start with some theoretical learning before we go for the practical part, so I'll tell you some stories from the real world,” he introduced his two-hour lecture filled with his personal stories. It was dreadful but they had to endure it. They had never been happier than when the door opened and a nurse came in. A nurse that Jack was all too familiar with.
“Professor, we have a new case,” Hetty said warily and glanced at the two of them.
“Oh, fine,” the professor nodded and staggered to the door.
“Shouldn't you bring us with you?” Belle asked spiritedly and Jack was amazed by her.
“Hmm, maybe, but just one of you. But which one, I truly lost a lottery with the two of you. Girl and son of a prisoner who is applying for every scholarship that exists,” the professor muttered and both of them were shocked by his words.
“You can't…” Belle was interrupted by the professor.
“Dawkins,” he decided and she just watched them leave.
Jack felt awful, it was unfair but what could he do?
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Belle wanted to be a surgeon since she was a little girl. She read medical books, she listened to lectures from all around the world and she was sure that it was her destiny to become one. It was easy for her to be on top of her class, simply to be the best. So, she was rightly pissed off when the professor chose Jack Dawkins instead of her. She didn't want to make a scene. It was their first time there and maybe the professor would take her in next week. She calmly breathed in and out and left the hospital. Surely it will be better next week.
It wasn't.
When Belle entered the hall where they were supposed to wait for the professor, Jack was already there. And he wasn't alone. The nurse Hetty was standing there with him. She was touching his collar mindlessly and they were caught in personal conversation.
“Hello,” Belle said and Hetty stepped aside.
“The professor isn't here yet, I am going to try to get him,” Hetty announced and disappeared.
“Hi,” Jack smiled at Belle and she returned him the smile.
“So, you and the nurse?” Belle asked and he blushed a little.
“We know each other but I haven't seen her for the last few months, it's nice to meet up again with an old friend,” he shrugged.
“An old friend?” Belle raised her eyebrow and in that moment the door opened and the professor came in.
“Sorry for my lateness, Dawkins, you can join me in the operating theater,” the professor said and disappeared.
“He chose you again?” Belle asked in disbelief and Jack just shrugged again.
This time Belle waited in the hall. But after the operation, only Jack returned.
“Where is the professor?” Belle asked furious.
“He already left, through the other side of the hospital,” Jack said.
“It's so unfair that he chose you again. Are we in the 19th century or what? Medicine shouldn't be so misogynist,” Belle ranted and Jack just lifted his hands.
“I agree with you, it was your turn today.”
“Then why haven't you said anything?” she asked him.
“Because I don't have the privilege to say everything on my mind. If I pissed off the wrong people then I'll lose my scholarship. The professor was right last week, I need every scholarship I can get,” Jack said heartedly and Belle sighed. It made sense. But still.
“Anyway, the professor uses such old-fashioned methods that it's a complete waste of time,” Jack said after a moment of silence.
“Still, I'll complain.”
“You should, it's unfair,” Jack nodded and Belle smiled at him.
“So you won't mock me for running to my dad to resolve all my problems?” she teased him and he just rolled his eyes.
“No, but I thought about the Christmas party and honestly I can't remember a thing. How did we start our conversation? You said last time that the start was quite positive….” Jack asked and Belle immediately blushed when she remembered it.
“What?” he asked when he noticed that she was blushing.
“Nothing, you just came to me and you were really happy and…”
“And?” he prompted.
“And a bit flirtatious and then we talked and then you started insulting my family and that was it,” Belle rambled. She liked that moment. She knew about Jack before all this happened. He was handsome and she heard that he was really smart so when he started flirting with her she liked it a lot.
“Oh, I see it as I am the only chump on this campus then. I shouldn't drink so much,” he said, a bit embarrassed.
“Well, we have a great role model of sobriety in the professor,” she winked at him and he laughed and she noticed that she really liked his laugh.
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The third time Jack came to the hospital, Belle was already there again. She was standing near the professor who looked somehow destroyed.
“Great, you are here. This time both of you can join me there,” the professor waved and they followed him.
After an hour they were leaving the hospital together.
“You were right, he really uses old-fashioned methods,” Belle sighed and Jack nodded.
“Yeah, it sucks. Why won't your dad choose a different doctor for you?”
“The prof is the oldest and that means the best in my father's eyes. But he truly used to be a great doctor at the time of his prime. It's just a long time ago,” Belle confessed.
“That really sucks.”
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A few days later Belle was studying in the library when she noticed Jack.
“Hi Jack,” she waved at him to join her.
“Hi Belle,” he smiled at her as he stood next to her.
“Are you here to study pathology?” Belle asked.
“Exactly.”
“We can study together if you want?” She offered it to him and he accepted happily.
That was only the beginning of their relationship…