Alice ✧ [a. karev]

15. some mistakes get made

"Tell him," Mark dragged the words out, trying to drill them into Jade's thick skull as she stabbed her fork into a salad.

"Noooo," she mocked him, dragging the word out even longer than he had as she rolled her eyes, running a hand through her hair.

"You've been staring at him from across the cafeteria for ten minutes. You need to speak your feelings into existence, I'm tired of your pining," he said.

Jade's ears got hot at being called out but she ignored it and looked at him strangely, not believing those words were coming from Mark Sloan, "Did you hit your head or something? You're also really one to talk, Mr. I moved states for a married woman."

"Ouch," he said emotionlessly, clearly unfazed by the insult, before continuing. "I'm turning over a new leaf," he explained. "This is me new and improved."

She cringed. "I don't like it. Turn the leaf back over," she teased but he just smiled.

She knew he was right but she would also never admit it to his face.

"Besides," she continued. "We're always on and off just as friends. We would never work as a couple"

"Because you're not meant to be just friends," Mark said, tapping the side of his temple.

She paused for a moment. "Okay, but-"

She didn't get to continue when Lexie Grey approached their table. "Dr. Taylors," she started, usual nervous manner evident as she played with her fingers. "Can I talk to you about something?"

"What?" Jade asked simply.

"Well, Dr. Yang has been refusing to teach me and I still don't think Meredith likes me very much and I slept with Alex so that's ruined too," she immediately started to ramble.

"Too much information, Grey," Jade chuckled uncomfortably. She already knew she and Alex slept together. But still.

Mark widened his eyes amusedly, mouthing 'wow' at her from behind Lexie's head as he left the table.

"Sorry. But you're the only resident I haven't screwed it up with yet," she continued, taking Mark's abandoned seat. "So I was wondering if you could maybe put in to have me transferred under you instead of Dr. Yang?" She asked, doe eyes wide and hopeful.

"What specialty are you interested in?" Jade asked even though she already had her answer.

"Um, well, I don't really know yet but, um, ortho seems interesting."

Jade smirked, knowing she was only saying it to please her but it felt good nonetheless.

"It would help because George left me to be the Chief's intern so I'm down one," Lexie's eyes widened a little as she leaned forward. "But sorry, Grey. Suck it up. It's the only way you'll learn, no one's gonna hold your hand. 'Specially not me," Jade broke it to her as she stood from the table, leaving a disappointed looking Lexie behind as she left the cafeteria.

✧

Jade had practically taken up a second residence at Joe's. If she wasn't at the hospital she was at the bar and she really only ever went to her apartment to sleep now.

She was never a huge drinker back in New York but something about Seattle made her drink more. Whether it was the job or the people she didn't really know.

Alex was usually always in there before she was and if she didn't know for a fact that he lived at Meredith's then she'd be fairly certain he lived at the bar as well.

She hadn't seen him much at the hospital but once she spotted him both Mark and Lexie's words rang in her head.

"You need to speak your feelings into existence, I'm tired of your pining."