“She’s done this before?” I look back at Edith. If it is even possible, she looks more waxen and pale. I wonder what would make Edith have to give plasma like this.
“Like clockwork, sir. Oh, and before I forget, here’s the twenty dollar gift card we give all our plasma donors.”
“Donors?” I look between the two of them. Edith looks like she barely weighs the minimum to donate anything.
“Zip! I’ll be takin’ that!” Almost drunkenly, Edith grabs for the gift card twice before dropping it and just blankly staring at it. I pick it up off the floor and pocket it. We are definitely going to be talking about this later. Suddenly, her eyes roll into her head and it is lights out for princess pain in my ass.
“Whoa, there. Let’s get a cot for her. I think this might take her awhile.” I pick up Edith, who weighs pretty much what I thought she would…delicate, feather light, and enough to piss me off because she obviously isn’t eating enough to sustain herself properly. “Damn it, Edie. What are you doing to yourself?” I bring her into one of the triage rooms that had a cot in it and place her down. As I brush hair back from her face, her shampoo fragrance drifts to my nose, scented like sweet summer honeysuckle.
I watch Edith rest for about a half-hour before she starts to come around. “Here, drink some juice.” I help her sit up on the cot and give her the juice box, like she is a little kid. Edith is definitely not a child, but I feel like a total pervert thinking the thoughts I do about her.
“Thank you.” She is quiet and I’m curious, surely a bad combination for us both.
“Edith, I probably shouldn’t ask, but…” I hand her the donor gift card. For all I know, it is her beer money for some frat party.
“Please. Don’t.” Edith slowly pockets the card in her jeans and looks around the curtained off room. I walk over to the chair and pick up her bag for her. She looks at her phone. “Ugh, crap. I’m late for work.”
“Where do you work?”
“A dry cleaner over on Main Street.”
“Well, come on. I’ll drive you over.” I give her my arm to help her get up. Her fingers are soft and cool to the touch…and causes an almighty zing right to my pants.
“It’s not necessary.” she mumbles, not looking at me.
“I’ll take her over,” a deep voice behind me says. I turn around. Ah, the medical student friend.
“Aiden? How…?” Edith takes a step and stumbles. I grab her and push her back onto the cot. I stand over her, my hand on her shoulder, keeping her there.
“The nurse told the girl checking everyone in and she called Shelby, since they have class together, and Shelby called me. Come on, rock star. Let’s get you some dinner.” Aiden tries to brush past me, but I hold my ground. “Mr. Hamilton, don’t you have a Math Fundamentals prep course this evening?” Her smartass friend must have been doing his homework.
“Not this semester. Miss Willows, I hope to see you in class on Tuesday.” Clearly, I am being dismissed.
“Y-yes, Mr. Hamilton.”
I put Edith’s purse on the cot next to her. “And no more skipping class to donate plasma. I’m willing to overlook it this one time. Surely beer money for frat parties comes easier than this.” Pissed off, I walk out past her friend and make my way to my car parked on the street. I was mad. Considering I’d spent time getting off with Amanda earlier, it is weird to be so angry at her friend for merely coming to pick her up. A green haze of jealously overcomes me for a moment, but I push it aside. Shit like this will get me fired.
Edith
“It’s not beer money, jerk,” I feebly yell back at him, but he just throws his hand up in the air, like a dismissive wave, and keeps on walking away and out of sight. If I had more energy, I might have contemplated following him to give him a piece of my mind.
“I can’t believe that asshole just said that.” Aiden stands with his arms crossed and his muscles bulging under his t-shirt that says “Nerds are Hot”. “What the hell is going on, Edie?” he says pissed, his hands on his hips.
“I don’t know, Aiden. I really don’t know.” Shaking my head makes me dizzy so I just put my head in my hands and lean forward, hoping the dizzy spell will pass quickly.
“You know Shelby is going to ask. Prepare for the interrogation.”
“Please, Aiden. I can’t take another inquisition right now.”
“Let’s get you a greasy burger before I drop you off at work.” My stomach rolls thinking about food, I push the feeling down and focus on getting out of here.