The Dental Student

T r e i n t a

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The family reunion/picnic we had basically consisted of everybody talking about my brother's new job, because as my family is usually all just dentists, it's weird when one of us becomes an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Which is why, he was the talk of dinner. 

My mom and my sister basically interrogated Noah, while everybody else was talking to my brother and about random dentist topics.

I sometimes eavesdropped on their conversation, but there was nothing too interesting, except for one time when they complained about patients with their so-called "fears of dentists", me getting a look from Uncle Collins the whole time.

Soon enough, everybody was done eating and just sitting at the table talking, which prompted my mom to help clean up,

I helped my mom while Noah joined all the dentists in their conversation.

As we finished cleaning all the dishes, my aunts and uncles came to say goodbye to me as they left.

Although through the rush of people, I never saw my Uncle Collins.

I went back to the backyard and saw Noah, my dad, and my Uncle Collins all talking, until Uncle Collins saw me watching them.

He walked over to me as Noah and my dad continued their conversation.

"Don't forget! 11, tomorrow!" He said as he hugged me and left my house.

I can't believe this is happening.

———-skip to 10:30 in the morning———-

"Noah, we have to leave soon if we want to get there in time." I said as I grabbed my phone and purse, impatiently waiting on Noah by the front door.

I don't think either of us wanted to go this morning, but if not, then my uncle would legit track us down, he's done it before.

Noah came running towards me with his keys and phone in his hand.

We had to leave now, because my uncle's office is like 2 towns over, which is around a 30 minute drive because my family has offices in different portions of the county.

My dad has the closest office to my parents' house, then it's my other uncle, and then it's Uncle Collins who's office is closest to his house and the farthest from the university.

Noah and I listened to music on a low volume to give both of us a chance to calm our nerves and prepare ourselves.

At 11:02, we pulled into Samuels Dental, where only one other car was in the parking lot, a black BMW.

"I thought you guys were never coming."

"We're two minutes late, big whoop." I knew he was gonna say something about us arriving 2 minutes after 11.

"Wow, somebody is feisty this morning. Come on." My uncle indicated with his head as he walked down the hall towards his exam rooms that I know all too well.

Noah slipped his hand into mine as we hesitantly followed my uncle.

"So who's going first?" My uncle asked as we arrived into my favorite exam room.

My uncle's office, unlike my other family's dental offices, have colored rooms for people with nerves and anxiety.

Since I was younger, my uncle always took me into the green exam room, because green is the most calming color there is so I'm always in this room.

I smiled as I admired the room, it still had the same green tint and vibe to it. It was always so aesthetically pleasing with the variations of green. The only thing that wasn't green was the horrendous black dental chair.

"Come on Willow." My uncle said as Noah sat in a chair on the side.

I slowly walked to the dentist chair and sat down.

"Noah, do you wanna assist me?" My uncle offered, in which Noah gave me a comforting smile and stood up to get gloves and a mask.

They both snapped on their gloves and used their masks to hide their familiar identities.

Why do I feel so vulnerable in front of dentists, even if I know them.