FIFTY FIVE | i love you

                                    

                                          
Ding.
The elevator doors slide open, and I'm met with Tony and two unfamiliar people. I flash them a polite smile before getting on the lift.
"What floor?" Tony asks, reaching a hand towards the panel.
"It's already been pressed." I clear my throat.
Fortunately, the elevator ride is short, and the couple is the first one off. Tony and I stay behind for a bit.
"Why didn't you tell me you were going out with Jaiden, Eva?"
"You never mentioned Jeanne either, Tony."
"Is that why you broke up with me?"
His breath is hot against my ear, and I force myself to keep still. Just as the doors are about to close, he and I exit the lift.
We walk to the front desk where one of the nurses, Carly, works.
". . .put a splint on it." The man from before says.
"Is there a problem here, Carly?"
"Everything alright?"
"I don't know." She looks towards the two. "Do we have a problem?"
The man shakes his head while his girlfriend sniffles every other second. "No problem. My girl's worried about her brother, that's all. Wants to see him."
"Yeah, can I see Dee?" She perks up at the mention of her brother.
"That's up to Dr. Benoit."
Coincidentally, both Jeanne and Jaiden arrive. The latter hands a lab test to one of the other nurses before the two of them approach.
"This is Mr. Watson's sister, Dr. Benoit."
"Bernadette." She gives her a small wave. "Um, but everybody calls me Bernie."
"And you are?"
"A friend."
"Have a name. . .friend?"
"Nick."
"He thinks his name is Bobby." Bernie gestures to Tony.
She snaps off her pair of gloves. "Room 331. You have ten minutes."
Nick grabs Bernie's hand and drags her in the direction of the room. The five of us watch as they walk in.
"Well, Jeanne and I are about to take our fifteen minute break." Jaiden walks around from behind the desk. "Want to take it with us?" He circles his arm around my waist.
"Sure. Sounds fun."
So the two doctors and two visitors walk towards the hospital cafeteria. We settle down at a table together after paying for our food, where Tony starts the conversation.
"What's with you calling that loser Bobby?" Jeanne grabs a fork from the pile.
"He was doing DeNiro in the elevator." Tony mimics the actor's character from Taxi Driver. "So I called him Bobby."
"Sometimes, you are so juvenile." Jeanne nudges his shoulder.
He chuckles under his breath. "Yes, but it makes me loveable."
 The pitter patter of the rain draws my attention, and I look out the window. Unlike before, I've associated rain with calmness and peace.
"I hope this stops by morning." Jeanne lets out a deep exhale. "I want you to see the house in the sunshine."
Jaiden snorts quite loudly. "The house leaks, Jeanne. It has bats, too."
"It does not leak." She defends herself. "And there are no bats."