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[BELLA LEDFORD]
Seattle, Washington

[BELLA LEDFORD]Seattle, Washington

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˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚

Bella Ledford had the worst weekend of her life.

Correction. Bella Ledford had the worst weekend she's had in a while. Let's keep in mind she has had many, though perhaps none to this extent.

Emotionally drained from the extensive crying she couldn't control left her extremely exhausted on a physical level. On Monday morning, she woke up with a pounding headache that no amount of drug could pull back into control, and the coffee that April Kepner shoved in her hand at the sight of her did everything but help.

"You are a redheaded she-Devil," the neurosurgeon muttered as they sat in the attending's lounge with Bella on the sofa, her head rested against the furniture, a pillow balanced on her face, and April opposite to her.

If the coffee did anything, it worsened her headache.

"You know I love Jackson with my whole heart but if he's making you feel like this, I don't think you should be bothering with him at all," April advised. Fair enough, she thought. April didn't know any better which made Bella feel five times worse. "While I do think you two made a beautiful couple, and great friends, your well-being is never worth—,"

"Stop," Bella asked quietly. "Don't talk about him."

The surprise was evident in her tone as she replied, "I'm sorry?"

Bella removed the pillow from her face, put it on the arm rest of the couch and leaned on it, now perfectly facing April. "It's complicated between us. It's not him specifically who's affecting me like this, it's a situation that is much more deep-rooted and confusing and—weird, to phrase it nicely."

"Alright, well, let's go—I'll prescribe you something stronger to help with that headache of yours, and then you can take the rest of the day off," April sighed, standing to her feet at the same time. As Bella's eyes followed her movement, she became dizzy, and she instantly regretted it.

Bella disagreed. The sound came from the back of her throat. A hum. "I'm not taking the day off."

"You are distracted, and as a colleague, I could report this to the Chief at any damn moment," she threatened with such disapproval in her eyes that Bella genuinely felt panicked for a second. "Unfit to practice medicine until cleared by a professional—excluding Dr Ledford."

Audibly gasping, Bella narrowed her eyes to slits, wanting nothing more than to rewind the last five minutes and stop herself from opening up.

"Besides, don't be a hypocrite," April continued while she stood over her, arms crossed. "Shepherd is probably going to be suspended until Christmas, and while I understand your decision, it would be unfair for her to be off when you don't hold yourself to the same standards."

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