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Javadi was tired, the heaviness of the shift was resting on her shoulders. Taking a seat at one of the computers, she prepared herself to begin her charting. Focusing on it for the most part but her eyes searched the area closest for a glimpse of Mateo.
They rarely worked together since Mateo had moved to the night shift but this was a rare occasion that she saw him for longer than a few hours between changeover.
It wasn’t like they were together, she had been trying all day to invite him to the cinema. There was a film playing that she really wanted to watch, in particular she thought that Mateo would enjoy.
Maybe then, she could class it as a date?
Mateo didn’t linger around the nurses station, rushing between patients as she continued to work through her charting. He did give her a little head nod and smile, something that got her heart racing and make her ears feel hot.
Mel was on the next chair over, humming along to something that wasn’t playing. Javadi didn’t press her, even if she did find it slightly distracting. She loved Mel, they had been to a few after work get togethers. Which had been fun.
As the time rolled on, her charts began larger and thicker in content. Javadi was not one for minimising her work, whilst writing her assessments for school she always exceeded the word count. Mateo had once peered at her charts and mumbled
“You’re incredible, how can someone write so much about something as boring as the removal of a fingernail? ” his tone was flirtatious, a glint in his eye when Javadi looked at him.
Since that day, she had prayed for him to lean over her shoulder and comment on her charting. But that had yet to happen again and today they had spent some time together with a patient. Javadi needed more than a few seconds, constantly looking up from her charting was even noticed by Mel.
“umm Javadi, are you alright?” Mel’s voice was full of concern, her eyebrows pinched together as she studied Javadi.
At the sudden awareness, Javadi’s eyes widened and a nervous smile on her face as her eyes met Mel’s. Feeling rather hot, had Mel seen her look at Mateo? Was she really acting that weird?
“I’m, uh. Fine. Why? Are you okay?” Javadi asked, the heat was making her cheeks feel tight as the embarrassment crept up her body.
Deflecting the question back onto the other person was a technique that Javadi had spent her whole life practising, especially when the questioner had asked her something embarrassing or something she’d rather not give the answer too. Being shy and secretive had it’s flaws but it worked well for Javadi. Since her mother was particularly nosy about her daughter’s life.
“Uh, yes I am good. Ready to go, I was just asking you because your head kept lifting and I thought you weren’t feeling 100%’’ Mel was taken back by the deflection but it didn’t stop her from prodding further.
Javadi was very grateful when Trinity slumped into the chair beside Javadi and Mel didn’t get a chance to ask more questions. The heat began to fall away from Javadi, relaxing into the hard and uncomfortable chair she turned her attention to finalising her charting.
Sandwiched between the two women, Trinity speaking into a voice recorder and Mel sat on a swivelled chair with no back. Javadi kept her head down to avoid any further examinations, she’d never live it down if Trinity caught wind of it.
After what felt like an age, Mateo finally appeared at the nurses station with his nurses scrubs and his grey rucksack hung over one shoulder. Javadi had completed her charting and was replaying the question over and over in her head, nerves made her voice squeak as she edged closer to him.
Though, Mateo was the one to speak first.
“Hi, Victoria. How is the charting queen?” he asked, a suggestive nature to his voice.
They were standing shoulder to shoulder, his fingers digging into the strap of his head as he looked down at her. His curls falling slightly out of his head band, she thought he’d looked gorgeous even if exhaustion was also heavy on him.
The familiar feeling of heat raising up her body as she bowed her head for a second, trying to compose herself enough to respond. She could dodge the question well when it came to anyone other than Mateo because she didn’t want to ignore him, she wanted to talk his ear off. Though it never really came to that.
“I’m good, tired. Need something strong to drink” she chuckled, hoping that he didn’t assume she was some form of alcoholic. Her realisation made her stutter more, words falling out her mouth with nerves.
“I don’t drink that much, I have been to bars but I don’t get drunk. I have been drunk once though, I’m not a loser” she spoke quickly, trying to overexplain herself as she felt herself twitch.
If she was embarrassed earlier, it was nothing compared to how she felt now. There was a gap in her ramblings, a pause in the conversation where she thought of all she said and prayed to take it back. For a hole to appear and for her to fall into it.
But Mateo responded softly and with reassurance and if anyone was looking they would have seen Javadi melt on the spot. Especially since he leant a little closer, so that only she could hear.
“ Relax Victoria, you’re all good” he smiled, holding her gaze a moment longer.
She smiled, listening to the smoothness of his voice. How her name sounded in his mouth, how he was the only one who addressed her by her first name. Pulling herself out of the trance, she realised that it was now or never and she needed to ask him now.
“So, what are you doing now? Like after the shift?” she asked, shifting her weight between each of her feet.
The smile was still tugging at the corner’s of his mouth, her eyes fell to his lips before hurriedly placing them back onto his eyes. If he had seen that, she hoped he didn’t bring it up.
“I was probably going to go home, eat something and go to bed” he disclosed, holding her eye contact for a second longer.
“Oh—okay. Well, I don’t want to interput your plans or force you to come but I was, wondering if you—umm wanted to see a film with me” she hesitated, her voice quiet trailing off towards the end of her question.
How awkward, she was practically pleading for Mateo to watch a film with her. If he wasn’t put off from her before, he must be by now.
Once again, he leant forward. Though there wasn’t much distance to close at this point, he was evidently attempting to be subtle with his body language. Javadi was unsure if he was doing it for both their sakes or if he was embarrassed to be this close to her. Not wanting to cause any unnecessary attention.
“Victoria, are you asking me on a date?” he whispered, being more blantly flirtatious now but deciding now to take one step away from her.
Especially since Mel’s head had popped up from behind the counter, her eyes full of intrigue and excitement.
“Are you going to watch that new film that just came out? Oh, can I tag along? Becca is with her boyfriend so I’d just be home on my own” Mel spoke quickly, standing up from the chair now.
She look at Mateo, her eyes widened in shock. Frozen on the spot by both their questions, Mateo shrugged with a slither of annoyance flashing across his face before fixing his gaze on Javadi.
“It’s your choice Victoria” he mumbled, looking at her softly. A reassuring smile on his face.
Flickering between Mel and Mateo, guilt bubbled inside her. She was solely asking Mateo but Mel’s desperation and self pity made Javadi feel bad if she said no. During the few times they had gone to the bar, Mel always checked in and she was kind to Javadi in most situations.
Javadi had grown quite fond of Mel as a friend and so she bit her lip, feeling rather disappointed that her planned date had been gate crashed. But Javadi was unaware that it was about to get a whole lot more crowded.
She allowed Mel to tag along who in turn, rushed forward and aggressively hugged her before disappearing. Presumably to tell anyone who would listen. Which left Mateo and Javadi alone together again.
Neither of them spoke for a second, the time was passing quicker now that the day shift had ended.
“So, what time is the film? Have I got chance to change or do we have to sit in our scrubs?” he teased, loosing the grip on his bag.
She laughed a little at his questions, removing her phone from her pocket and relaying the film details to him.
As they slowly edged closer to the exit, brushing side by side as they walked. Small talk was exchanged or rather, Mateo asked questions and Javadi stumbled and spoke quickly out of nervousness. But Mateo had yet to be visibly repelled by her and so she found herself relaxing.
The pair were too engrossed in their own conversation that neither of them noticed the crowd gathering outside of the ER doors. Their department were enthusiastically discussing something when the doors slide open, Javadi studied them until her eyes fell onto Mel.
She was towards the back of the group, keeping to herself. Javadi could see the excitement vibrating off her, she turned to Mateo with a look of ‘I’ll be back’ before confidently making her way towards Mel. It wasn’t like Javadi to do something so bold especially around Mateo.
But this was Mel and Javadi had assumed that Mel had invited the whole team, and the reality of it was obvious. The noise, the crowd in one place and Javadi was intending to go into Emergency psychiatry. Examining people would be her forte.
“Hi, you okay?” she spoke softly, not wanting to startle Mel.
Positioning herself shoulder to shoulder, her eyes landing on Mateo for short second who sent her a soft wink before she diverted her attention back to Mel.
“I’m okay, what time does the film start? We aren’t going to miss it are we?” she asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
Javadi smiled, relaying the film details once again. Watching as Mel visibly relax, nodding her head. A few moments later the group began to move in direction of the cinema, those that could drive took anyone who wanted. Javadi made her way on foot with Mel with Mateo trailing behind with a few others.
The cinema complex was empty, usually quiet at this time of night. The staff looked somewhat shocked to see the whole department of Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center waiting at the front desk, after a few discussions on how the tickets would be paid for. Robby took initiative and decided to pay for everyone.
Despite coming together, the group separated into their own seats inside the vast and empty screen room. Javadi took a seat towards the back, the other voices echoed across the room. Mel had taken a seat with Trinty and Whitaker, she scanned the room for a sign of Mateo.
Trying to hide her disappointment when her eyes couldn’t find him, as the lights darkened and the compulsory adverts and announcements were projected onto the screen. She accepted that he must have decided to sit elsewhere.
The sound of someone shuffling beside her didn’t phase her until their familiar scent wafted closer and he sat down in the seat next to her.
“You didn’t think I’d watch a film without getting us snacks did I?” he said warmly as he placed the large cup of diet and the overflowing box of popcorn between them.
She gasped in surprise, mumbling a “thank you” under her breath as the trailers began to play and invited more light into the dark room. Glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.
Halfway through the film, their hands grazed between pieces of popcorn and offerings of the drink. Mateo turned to her during a loud scene, he must have chosen the time to avoid being heard by anyone other than Javadi.
Closer than he had been earlier, their closeness then was nothing compared to how his lips brushing against her ear felt. Her breath shuddered, his voice quiet but silky. Eyes focused on the images ahead, his hair tickled just under her earlobe.
“Don’t tell the other’s but I’m taking you out again next weekend” he smirked as she turned to look at him.
Their faces inches away, she stared into his eyes. Forcing herself not to look at his lips. Nodding in respond, as he slowly sunk back into his seat and placed the empty popcorn box on the floor. Their finger grazing as their arms lay side by side on the small arm rest.
Smiling to herself as she focused on the film, despite the bubbling of excitement inside of her at the prospect of going on a proper date with Mateo next weekend and the closeness of their bodies in the cinema seats.
Feeling giddy throughout the rest of the film, she was still able to contain herself until the end. It wasn’t awkward when everyone piled out of the cinema and disappeared to their separate homes with Mateo telling her that he’d catch her later. On her way home, she couldn’t hide her smile or emotions.
Maybe Mel inviting the whole department wasn’t such a bad idea after all.