Human Blend (9 page)

Julie paid her bill, and politely declined
Anthony's suggestion to use the hotel's facilities for her laundry.
She got the directions and poked her head outside, grateful the
rain had abated. After a short walk, she arrived at the laundromat.
Entering the place, she spotted Austin right away. He was wearing a
sleeveless shirt and worn jeans. The heat of the place was shown
heavily in the perspiration on his face. He had an opened tool box
next to him, and was busy working on one of the washing machines.
He hadn't seen her enter.

Julie crept up next to him and said “There is
something about a guy who works with his hands.”

Austin turned quickly towards her, his face
breaking into a big smile. “What are you doing here?” he asked,
surprised.

“What? Can't a girl wash her clothes once in
a while?” she asked. “But, that's not the only reason I am here,”
she added. Austin grabbed a nearby towel and wiped his hands and
face.

“And,what would the other reason be? Not that
you need one; I'm happy to see you anytime,” he said, leaning back
against the washer.

Julie smiled, and reached up, grabbing his
chin. “This is for the rose,” she said, before kissing him. The
kiss was short, but powerful, and caught him by surprise. Before he
fully recovered, she asked, “So, how did finals go?”

“Um... good... yeah, they went good... I
think,” he said, and laughed. “How, um, how was your first day? Was
it everything you were hoping for?” he asked, finally composing
himself.

Julie hopped up and sat on a nearby table
used for folding clothes. “I think it is. I think it's gonna work,”
she said.

“So, does that mean what I think it means?”
he asked, stepping closer to her.

“It means I have to get my butt moving and
find a place to live,” she said, grinning.

Austin couldn't contain himself. He placed
his hands on her face and kissed her passionately. Julie wrapped
her arms around his neck and lost herself in the moment. The sound
of clapping and cheering broke them apart. Apparently, they had an
audience. Julie blushed a bright red, and hid her face in his
chest. Austin laughed and held her against him. “Okay, go back to
your washing,” he ordered the audience, most of whom he knew
well.

During the next hour, Julie did her wash and
talked with Austin, as he repaired the machine. She enjoyed
watching him work: the way his hands moved when he tinkered with
the motors small parts. She knew she was getting attached to him,
but couldn't help herself. She'd never felt this way about anyone
before.

Julie's wash was done. “I'd better head on
back,” she said. The clouds looked threatening again. The
laundromat had cleared out, as it was close to dinner time.

“I'll walk you back, just let me wash up;
it's closing time,” Austin said. Julie waited for him to wash up
and secure the building. He slung her laundry bag over his shoulder
and reached for her hand.

Along the way, they stopped at a deli to
order a couple of club sandwiches. They ate them before continuing
on. Julie paid before Austin could object. “It's my turn,” she
reminded him. They ate quickly, as the sound of thunder ebbed
closer. Julie and Austin ran the last two hundred yards to the
hotel, as big fat raindrops began to soak them.

They were laughing and dripping as they
entered the building. “Does the sky just spontaneously combust on a
regular basis around here?” Julie asked.

“Sometimes,” Austin replied, shaking his
head, spraying water in all directions.

“Stop,” Julie laughed, backing away. Austin
reached for her, pulling her closer.

“Why? You're already wet,” Austin teased. The
dampness of their clothes seemed to act like a magnet, pulling them
closer together.

“If I have to be wet, I want it to be for a
good reason,” Julie stated.

“And what would constitute a good reason?”
Austin asked, his voice lowering an octave. Julie leaned up to kiss
him, illustrating her point.

“Couldn't have thought of a better reason
myself,” he breathed, after the kiss.

“C'mon, let's get dried off,” Julie said,
tugging on his hand. Together, they headed up to her room, unaware
of eyes following their every move.

Up in her room, Julie retrieved two towels
from the bathroom. “I should have gotten you a vase,” Austin said,
looking at the rose in the ice bucket.

“Oh, shoot. I meant to pick one up, too,” she
said. Julie draped the towel around his neck, drying his hair as he
stared at her. “What?” she asked, curiously.

“I can't believe you are staying,” he said.
“But, I have to ask,” he continued. “Is the only reason you are
staying because of the hospital?”

Julie knew what he was asking. She would be
lying to herself if she didn't factor in her feelings for him in
her decision making. She also knew, if there was even an inkling of
danger, she would leave to keep him safe. At least, that was what
she told herself. Her own safety suddenly seemed trivial. “No,
Austin, It's not the only reason,” she replied, wrapping her arms
around him.

He leaned in to kiss her, his lips gently
brushing hers. “Julie,” he breathed her name, his lips traveling
along her jaw. Julie's body seemed to melt against his. A heavy
sigh escaped her lips, as her fingers grasped his hair. Austin's
mouth traveled back to hers, passion fueling the need. She would
not pull back this time. The longing would not be denied.

Chapter Four-- The Cure

The next morning, Julie stretched, her hand
making contact with Austin's bare shoulder next to her. She rolled
on her side, lightly kissing his exposed skin. He rolled over and
looked sleepily at her. “Don't tell me you are one of those morning
people,” he said, rolling back over.

“My, aren't we the bear?” she teased,
snuggling against him. His movements caught her by surprise as he
was suddenly on top of her, staring into her eyes.

“Wanna hear my growl?” he asked, before
kissing her.

Neither of them had an early morning
schedule. Austin's first final of the day wasn't until eleven, and
Julie didn't have work until twelve. They used the time getting to
know each other more intimately.

Austin left before Julie, stopping in the
lobby briefly to help himself to a bagel and orange juice. “Did you
have a good rest?” a man loitering asked him.

“Yes, I did. How about yourself?” Austin just
figured the man was making conversation.

“I did. Probably not as good as you did,” the
man replied.

“What do you mean?” Austin narrowed his eyes
at him.

“I saw that hot number you came in with last
night, must have been some wild night,” the man winked at him.

Austin felt his blood boil. “Who the hell are
you?” Austin asked getting in the man's face.

“Just an observer,” the man replied, not the
least bit intimidated.

“How about you mind your own business?”
Austin said, through clenched teeth.

“Is there a problem, gentlemen?” Patricia
called over to them from behind the desk.

“No. No problem,” the man said, with a smile
at Austin. “Just making conversation,” he finished, then headed out
the door.

Austin was taken aback by the incident with
the man. He wasn't sure what to make of it. One thing he did know,
however, was that this guy was one to be mindful of. He walked out
the door and looked down the street in both directions. He did not
see the man anywhere. He pulled out his cell phone and called up to
Julie in her room.

“Hello,” Julie said, answering.

“Jules, it's me,” he said.

“Hey you. Didn't I just see you?” she asked,
smiling into the phone.

“Yeah, listen. Do me a favor? Be careful.
There was this really strange guy in the lobby,” Austin said.

Julie immediately heard the change in his
voice. “Strange guy?” she said, then knew exactly who he was
referring to. “Was he like forty something and really nosy?” Julie
asked him.

“Yeah. You know him?” he asked.

“Not really, but he has been a real busy
body. Did he bother you, too?” Julie asked.

“Yeah, sort of. I just didn't like what he
was saying,” Austin said, going over the strange conversation in
his head.

“What did he say?” Julie asked.

“It's not important, just be careful and be
mindful of who's around,” he told her.

“Yeah, of course,” she said. She thought she
had always been aware of who was around, maybe she had been
slacking on the job. She was curious as to what he said to Austin
that got him so worked up. “I'm a big girl, Austin. Don't worry
about me, but thanks for the warning,” she said.

“I do worry,” he said. “When you care about
someone, that's what happens, you worry,” he said.

“I know,” she said softly. “And now I am
worried you are gonna be late for finals, get going,” she said,
trying to lighten the moment.

“I'll see you later,” Austin said.

“Later,” Julie replied and hung up.

Austin made his way home to change and then
headed to school. His mind was preoccupied the whole way.

Julie didn't have time to focus on the
strange encounter. She got herself ready for work.

She was glad that the man was nowhere in
sight as she walked out of the building. The day was clear and
bright, and the air was fresh with the scent of the previous day's
mountain rain. It was a lovely walk to the hospital.

She changed in the locker room and checked
the schedule. She had been assigned to the pediatrics ward. She
wondered if Doctor Elsworth had anything to do with that.
Eli
, she reminded herself of his name.

On the fourth floor, she checked in with the
nurses' station. They immediately put her to work running patients
to and from the infusion room for treatment. As soon as she got a
free moment, she checked in on Michele. The child looked as if she
hadn't moved an inch from yesterday. Julie lightly touched the bald
head.

“What do you need to do this?” Doctor
Elsworth had come up behind her.

She looked up at him. “Time. I'm not sure how
long it will take for me to recover, and privacy, of course,” she
said.

“What time are you done here today?” he
asked.

“Six,” she replied.

“I'll have her moved into a private room near
my office,” he said. Julie nodded.

He started to walk away, then said, “Oh, your
boyfriend is looking for you,” he said with a grin.

“Austin?” Julie asked, and saw a strange
expression cross his features.

It was at that time that Billy came running
up to her. “Doc Julie! I'm all better!”

Julie bent down and picked him up, he had his
coat on and was holding pictures.

“I'm so glad you are all better,” she said,
smiling.

“I made you these pictures,” he said, waving
them.

“Wow, they look awesome!” Julie exclaimed. A
woman came up and smiled at Julie.

“Billy hasn't stopped talking about you. He
keeps saying you fixed him,” the woman said. “I'm Billy's mother,
Maureen,” she said, rubbing Billy's back. “He kept saying 'Doc
Julie', I didn't realize you were a volunteer,” Maureen
explained.

“No, she's a doctor, she fixed me,” Billy
insisted. Julie and Maureen just smiled.

“Whatever you did, thank you,” she said.

“I'm just glad he's all better,” Julie said,
putting Billy back down and accepting the pictures from him. “You
just stay healthy, okay?” she requested of him.

“I will, I promise,” he said and took his
mother's hand. Julie watched them walk off and felt a sense of
accomplishment. This was what she loved.

She turned around, but Doctor Elsworth was
nowhere to be seen. “Why does he keep doing that?” she asked to no
one. She tucked the covers around Michele. “Today, little one. You
are gonna get better today,” she said and went back to work.

The day was flying by. On her lunch break,
she checked the bulletin board for rentals. There was only one
posted. It sounded too good to be true. It was a one bedroom
apartment a block from the hospital. Even the price was reasonable.
Julie called the number listed. She talked to a woman who seemed
very anxious to show her the place. “Have you gotten a lot of
calls?” Julie asked her.

“Yes, but nobody I liked,” the woman
said.

“Oh,” Julie said, wondering what kind of
screening process the woman used.

“Can anyone vouch for your character?” the
woman asked, pointedly.

“I think so,” Julie said, uneasily.

“Good then. Stop by tomorrow morning to take
a look at the place,” she said.

“Um, okay. Thank you,” Julie replied, and
hung up the phone.
That was a weird conversation
, she
thought.

Back at work, the rest of day passed as
quickly as before. It was almost six o'clock by the time she saw
Doctor Elsworth again. She was in the supply cabinet re-stocking
some supplies when she felt him behind her. “I think I am getting
used to you sneaking up on me,” she said, without turning
around.

“Did you call about the rental?” he
asked.

“Actually, I did. The woman is a bit...
unusual,” Julie said. “She wants character references,” Julie
finished.

“Mrs. Gosley is wary of people,” Doctor
Elsworth said. She turned around to face him.

“How did you know which apartment I was
talking about?” Julie asked.

“It was the only one advertised when I
checked,” he stated, looking at his chart. “Don't worry about it,
I'll take care of the reference,” he added. Julie stared at him
until he met her eyes.

“I'm sure I can handle it,” she said.

Eli folded his arms. “Julie, we are going to
be working closely together. You are going to have to trust me,” he
said.

“You don't trust me enough to tell me about
yourself,” Julie argued.

Eli thought for a moment. “You can ask me one
question, per day,” he said. “I will answer as honestly as I can. I
will expect the same in return,” he added.