Me Before you {Peter Hale}

II

As I expected, Beacon Hills wasn't any different from any other village. I've met a kind and stunningly beautiful women called Melissa McCall, no pun intended.

She had the sincerest chocolate brown eyes someone could ever imagine, her hair being the same colour happened to be tied up in a low ponytail suiting her very much.
I wish I was that beautiful or at least not that puffy or red. Couldn't have anything you wanted, aye?
" Hey, I know it's not in my place to ask personal questions since we've only known one another for a week or so ", Melissa stepped closer to me " But are you okay? " Her eyes let her seem so innocent, so trustworthy, so comforting.

"I'm perfectly fine. Thanks for asking. I'm allergic to..." lies, betrayal, sadness,
"I'm allergic to dogs. Every time one comes near me, I eventually start to cough like a maniac or depending on how dry the air is suffered from an asthma exacerbation. "

Yet, every first impression had a high likeability to turn out wrongly.

" My son also had the same condition, nonetheless recently it got so much better. He even made it on the team this year. Don't lose hope. " She put an arm on top of my shoulder,
" Let me tell you, Beacon Hills is a miraculous village. I usually don't believe in this supernatural stuff, but everything's possible here. Seriously. "

A smile found its way onto her lips and I couldn't help myself to return it. Before answering her, an emergency call disrupted our conversation loudly.
" I'll go", I quickly said after locating the patient's room. Melissa simply nodded. Silently I made my way to the first floor by taking the stairs. The elevator was occupied by the nurses gathering the dirty laundry, gave me enough time to think again how stupid I was for not putting on any make up that is.

Although I knew nothing as always has happened, I hurried to come to the patient's room. Partly because I'm currently sick of myself and my own stupidity. Yeah, this man still monopolized my thoughts almost entirely. Why couldn't he leave me alone?

The other half of my mind paranoidly thought about all worst-case scenarios happening if I didn't run as fast as I could to help. A pet peeve.
I didn't want anyone to suffer like I did. Such crappy experiences shall no one had to go through. Not on my watch.
My hands reached the door handle which was to my surprise open, my alarm senses automatically arose. I rushed inside.

" Are you ok -" my eyes widened in horror. This patient hadn't needed to go the bathroom. He had been on the verge of dying trying to reach out for help. I was too late.
His ECG mere a straight line, the ugly beep reminding everyone that this man will never open his eyes again. As a nurse, you were trained to deal with those kinds of situation but it was every time like a punch in the face. Those people were one's responsibility. And then they died sometimes making one feel so damn guilty.

I stepped closer, pressing the red button once again. But before I laid my finger on top of the bright red beaming chimney. My gaze scanned the man from head to toe. Cause of death: Sudden heart attack. It was somewhat easily to determine since his hand still hold his shirt firmly on the left side of his chest.
Without thinking twice I put mine on top of his cold. With the other one I pressed the button once again, so Melissa would understand that this call was serious.
And another life lost.
This man could have been my father, perhaps that's the reason why my vision became teary. The moment mine died, my world fell apart. I loved him so much, why did he had to use this rope?
Not crying. Not crying. I wasn't crying. No. my mind didn't allow me to show weakness once again.

After some mere minutes, a bunch of other — male and female — nurses as well as a doctor stormed inside the room.
" Death, heart attack, ECG not measuring any cardiac muscular activities", I explained the situation as neutral as possible while clearing the way for the more experienced staff.
Melissa wasn't here.

They asked me some questions before I was allowed to leave the room. Before my shift ended, I checked the other patients and made sure everything was prepared for the following nurses.
At 8 am I was free to leave, saying goodbye to my colleagues and find the way to my white Toyota agyo. The sun already climbed towards the pick of its day. Sun rays heated my otherwise pale skin.

"Miss, wait a minute," a too familiar voice echoed right behind me. How? I closed my eyes, gathered all the strength one could have had left after a night shift with a death.
I turned around, was this a dream? Was I hallucinating?
It was indeed him. The gorgeous man from the parking lot.
" What do you want?" I asked emotionlessly, ignoring his gaze intentionally. I'm so done with him. Act coldly. Act coldly. Act coldly, so he doesn't get a glimpse of my turbulent feelings.
" I have to apologize to you not introduce myself back there in the parking lot ",
Just like he did back then, he stepped elegantly closer to me. This time I didn't take one backward. This time I was facing him.

" I'm here to make it up to you, I'm Peter Hale, the most handsome and stunning man in the world. Since when do I act so humble? Of this whole galaxy. "
A cocky smile appeared on his face which lasted for some seconds until it shifted into a real one. He started to laugh causing me to do the same, so much for acting cold and tough.

" Ava Banner, synonym for miss world 2011. Nice to meet you with something called appropriate personal space", I answered by imitating his gesture and facial expression, even holding my hand out to shake it firmly.
Cool move, Banner.
I didn't expect such a non-akward and smooth response from myself.
Peter took my hand and interlocked it with his, "Well, Miss Banner, although I forgot to tell you my name back then, I surely haven't forgotten about our reunion today. "