A Face in the Crowd

by Christina Kirby

  “We could pass her a note in the hall,” David fluttered his eyelashes like the youngest of their fans did when they signed autographs.

  Oliver glared at him while he tried to work out a real way to smooth things over. He could meet her in the parking garage, but that was hours away and he was desperate to apologize.

  “A note could work,” Sara picked up the thread of David’s idea.

  Oliver sighed. He really needed to get Lexie’s phone number. “Anybody got any paper?”

  “Hey, Lexie, how’s it going?” David leaned over the side of the tall nurse’s desk.

  Pleasantly surprised, Lexie stopped what she was doing and stood. “Hey, David, I didn’t know you were back in town.”

  “Just got in today and this beautiful lady is my girlfriend, Sara.”

  Lexie shook hands with the beautiful blonde standing next to him and found he wasn’t overselling. Sara was model gorgeous. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “You, too.”

  “So,” Lexie nodded toward David’s head, “what do you think of his hair, or lack thereof?”

  “I had to adjust to it, but now that I have,” Sara smiled and leaned into him, “I kind of like it.”

  “Did you show her the Mohawk picture?” Lexie raised an eyebrow in question.

  “Yeah, she said she likes it better bald.” The two grinned at each other. “Oh, hey. Oliver wanted me to give this to you,” he held out a folded piece of paper and winked.

  “Thanks,” she turned it over in her hand, curious as to what it might say, “I think.”

  “Well, we’re off to get some dinner. Take it easy, Lexie, and uh, don’t be too hard on him. He’s a guy and you know how thick we can be sometimes.”

  Sara nodded in agreement.

  “Okay then. Good seeing you, David, and nice meeting you, Sara.”

  “You, too.”

  As they disappeared into the elevator, Lexie sat and stared at the piece of paper from Oliver. She was both eager and wary, but more curious than anything. What more could he possibly have to say to her at this point? After the way he’d acted earlier she should’ve wanted to throw it in the trash, but she didn’t. Curiosity won out.

  Chapter 10

  Lexie unfolded the piece of paper bearing the hospital’s logo and took a deep breath. Torn between wanting to read Oliver’s words and trying to avoid what could potentially make her feel worse, she hesitated. The truth was, she hated how she’d felt after he’d laid into her in the hall. Maybe he’d over-reacted, but she wasn’t exactly innocent, either. She quit stalling and opened the note. She had to know.

  Lexie,

  The truth is, I feel a little silly writing you a note, but it’s the best I can do until you forgive me and agree to give me your number. I’m sorry about how I treated you in the hall this morning. I had no right to speak to you the way I did. Can I make it up to you? Dinner maybe? Forgive me.

  Your friend from down the hall,

  The bald musician

  A giggle bubbled out of her chest as the stress of the day slipped away. The argument with Ashley faded, the guilt she felt toward Oliver gone.

  She glanced around to see if anyone was looking at her and re-read the note, this time paying attention to the cramped handwriting. As much as she wanted to convince herself she would be better off avoiding him, she knew she couldn’t. She wanted to see him.

  Decked out in a T-shirt and jeans, she headed down the hall without worrying about being watched. She was on her own time now and she would choose how she got to spend it. The words from the note stayed with her as she knocked on the door. Dinner? Was it possible Oliver really wanted to spend time with her? Should she let him?

  The lights in Bailey’s room were off, but the TV was on, painting the room in its faint glow. Bailey lay asleep in the bed, but Oliver was there, sitting on the two-person foldout couch with his laptop balanced on his knee. One look at him and she knew. Knew she would go out with him. Knew she wanted to spend time with him. Touch him.

  “I got your note.”

  His head snapped up and he blinked twice before nodding at her clothes. “I take it you’re off the clock?”

  “I am, and I’m off for the next two days.”

  They looked at each other for a moment, as though trying to decide how to proceed. The air between them felt almost thin, like climbing a mountain where she felt each fragile breath.

  “Hey, have a seat. There’s something I want to show you,” Oliver patted the seat beside him.

  “Okay,” she set her messenger style bag on the windowsill and slid into the small space beside him.

  He adjusted the screen and there, displayed on the band’s webpage, was the picture she was in with the band. The words ‘Strive to Survive’ were printed under it and following the headline was a running stream of pictures of fans who had shaved their heads in support of Bailey.

  “Wow, there’s so many,” she watched in wonder as the endless stream of pictures rolled by. “I mean, I know you guys are popular, but this is amazing.”

  “And, it’s all because of you.”

  “Not me,” she leaned closer to the screen as fans of all ages and from all corners of the world continued to pass. “They’re doing it for Bailey.”

  “For him, yes, but you inspired him.”

  Lexie looked away from the screen and into Oliver’s eyes, which were mere inches from her own.

  “You made him see he couldn’t just sit in here alone pretending not to be sick. You’re the one who convinced him to accept what’s happening. It should’ve been me, but who was I to tell Bailey how to handle things when I’ve barely come to terms with it, myself?” A flicker of sadness crossed his face.

  Her fingers twitched as she fought the urge to reach out and touch his face. It surprised her how much she wanted to comfort him. When he turned away to set the laptop on the table, she breathed a sigh of relief, thankful he’d moved before she’d reached out.

  Between the smell of his soap and the heat radiating from his body to hers where their knees were touching, her head started to swim.

  “Are you okay?”

  Lexie jerked her legs to the side. “What?”

  “I mean you’re not going to get into trouble being in here, are you?”

  “No.” Why would he think she would get into trouble? She hadn’t told him about Janice, hence the guilt she’d struggled with the entire day. “What makes you think I’d get into trouble?”

  “David told me he saw you arguing with another nurse at the desk today.”

  She sucked in a sharp breath, embarrassed.

  “I’m sorry if the picture got you into trouble.”

  “Ah, so that’s why you sent the note.”

  “Yeah, I didn’t realize you’d been told to stay away from us.” He touched her arm with the tips of his fingers. “You could’ve told me, you know?”

  She hesitated a moment, hoping against all hope that David hadn’t told Oliver everything he might’ve heard.

  “I meant what I said, though,” Oliver ducked his head to catch her eye. “It’s not the only reason I sent the note. I really am sorry for how I acted.”

  “It’s okay, and I’m sorry I didn’t stop by and at least tell you I wouldn’t be coming by. It’s easy to go crazy being stuck in here.”

  “I meant what I said about dinner, too.”

  Heat crept up her neck and into her face as she struggled to string a sentence together.

  “Maybe one night when you haven’t been on your feet all day.”

  “That would be nice.”

  They sat together and watched some television, each smiling when the other would glance their way. It was comfortable being with him, easy.

  “Lexie?” He
waited for her to turn her attention back to him. “How do you do what you do? I mean, here, at the hospital. How do you deal with all of this on a daily basis?” he gestured to the IV stand and then toward the hall. “Every day people are sick or possibly dying, and you keep coming back, helping people as best as you can. I don’t know how you do it, over and over again. Don’t you get attached to people? Or, is it just all in a day’s work?”

  “Wow, a serious question.”

  “Sorry, if it’s too personal. I’ve wanted to ask for a while and I guess since people are always asking us about every aspect of our lives, I’ve picked up some bad habits.”

  “No, it’s okay. Um . . .” She was quiet for a minute as she thought about her job and how to respond. “It’s some of both, if I’m being completely honest. I do get more attached to some patients than others. Some patients are in and out, but others are here often over the course of several months or even years. When it happens that way, I usually get to know them and their families pretty well.”

  She clasped her hands together and caught a glimpse of Bailey who was still sleeping in the bed beside them. She understood why Oliver was asking. He needed reassurance, some shred of hope he could hold on to. Regardless of what the doctors said, it was easy to fear the worst. She would know, it was one of her own struggles.

  “You know, I’ve spent more than one night sitting with a family as they said goodbye, but I’ve also celebrated with others. Some people go into remission and they go home. They go on to live for a long time and those days remind me why I’m here.”

  “It just seems like it would be hard.”

  “It can be. There are some patients who are a real pain in the butt, and their families, geez, don’t get me started,” she smiled at him.

  “Hey, now,” he laughed, the sound warm and welcome.

  “That’s enough of that, tell me about you. How about touring and all the screaming fans? Doesn’t it get old?”

  “It can, but performing is fun and the fans are what give us energy. Watching thousands of people get excited over something you’ve created makes being away from home for long stretches bearable.” Oliver leaned back, a thoughtful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “My favorite part of my job, if you can call it that, is when the guys come over and we just play. The four of us hanging out and writing new stuff, it’s what I live for.”

  “That’s kind of surprising.”

  “Why?”

  “You strike me as the kind of guy who would like the lifestyle and all its perks. I always see you on the covers of magazines. You seem to enjoy going out.”

  One of his shoulders raised and then dropped. “Sometimes it’s fun, but usually we go out because the publicists from the label want us to. They like for us to make appearances, but I’ll admit that part wears me down. It was fine when we were starting out, but now . . .” His breath quickened. “What we want is to be able to get out from under our label and produce our own album. You know, take control of our career and make more of the decisions.” His whole face lit up. “You know what the first thing I did was when we made it?”

  “I have no idea.” She touched her finger to her chin, thoughtful. “Did you buy a Ferrari or a Porsche?”

  “I bought a house and then put in a recording studio. That way the guys and I can play more like in the old days when we used to play in my mom’s garage.”

  “That sounds nice, but what about your new house? Didn’t Leo mention you bought a new house?”

  “I did, and they were putting in the new studio while we were finishing up the tour.” He nudged her with his shoulder. “You’ll have to see it sometime.”

  Her smile faltered as her heart lurched against her ribs. He was just talking, caught up in his excitement and the moment, but it didn’t stop her heart from tumbling over itself.

  The nightshift nurse entered the room and Lexie stood. “Well, I’d better get going. It’s late.” She stood to leave. “Is there anything you need?”

  “Lexie, you don’t have to take care of me. It’s okay if we hang out like friends. David doesn’t usually ask me if I need anything before he leaves.”

  “I can’t help it.” She gave an apologetic shrug. “It’s just who I am.”

  “I noticed,” he stood, too, and waved hello to the nurse who was doing her best to look like she wasn’t listening to every word they said. “So, maybe dinner one night while you’re off?”

  “Sure, I’d like to hear some band stories from the road.”

  “Sounds good. Sweet dreams, Sexy Lexie.”

  She cast him a glance over her shoulder, and smirked. When she stepped out into the hall, the other nurse stepped out with her.

  “Girl, you are in trouble.” She clucked her tongue as she retrieved something off of her cart. “That is one fine looking man.”

  “Don’t I know it.”

  Lexie surveyed Simone’s apartment, which unlike her own, was full of do-dads, keepsakes, and books. “So, where are we starting?”

  “I’m thinking the living room. Aside from the TV and couch, I can live without the rest of it for a while.” Empty boxes lined the far wall by the apartment door ready to be filled. “The trick is going to be whittling it down. I have a ton of junk and there won’t be anywhere to put it in the new apartment.”

  “You can leave some of it at my place.”

  “I may have to. I can’t part with all my books.” Simone plucked one off the shelf and held it against her chest like she was cradling a baby.

  “You need an E-Reader, desperately.” At Simone’s skeptical look Lexie broke in, “I know you like the feel of a book in your hands and reading off actual pages.”

  “You know me so well,” Simone replaced the book and bent down to tape a box marked donate. “So, how was work? I was a little afraid to ask after all the drama with Janice.”

  Lexie couldn’t suppress her grin. “A lot can happen in a day.”

  Simone stopped the tape in mid pull. “What does that mean, exactly? What happened?”

  “Well, yesterday, Oliver got mad at me for ignoring him, and Ashley ripped me a new one, threatening to have me fired. Oliver heard about our little less-than-friendly exchange, wrote a letter of apology, which he gave to me through David, and then we hung out last night after I got off work.”

  “That was some day you had there.” She dropped her butt down the last few inches to the floor and set the tape aside. “I’m going to need you to start from the beginning.”

  “He couldn’t figure out why I hadn’t been around, so he tracked me down in the hall and questioned me about it.”

  “I told you to tell him you couldn’t be Bailey’s nurse anymore.”

  “Yes, yes you’re always right,” Lexie waved her hand absently in the air above her head.

  “I never get tired of hearing those words,” Simone let out a dramatic sigh. “Please continue. What happened after work when you two were hanging out?”

  “Don’t use air quotes. We really did just hang out and talk. He talked about the band and I talked about my job. It was laid back and easy.” Lexie stood and hefted a box of pillows and blankets to the pile of things making the cross-country trip.

  “Huh, so no one got naked.” Simone went back to the box she’d abandoned. “That’s too bad.”

  Lexie started to chastise Simone for her dirty mind, but instead, her stomach gave a little quiver as images of a naked Oliver clouded out all other thoughts.

  “Is he seeing anyone back in L.A.?”

  Lexie let go of the blanket she’d been twisting and dropped it into the open box in front of her. “I don’t think so.”

  “And, he said he wanted to take you to dinner?”

  “Yes, but only as friends. He was just feeling guilty.”

  “Whate
ver you say.” Simone lugged another full box to the door and stacked it on top of the others. “So, what are the odds of us getting free concert tickets out of this friendship?”

  “Are you insane? You know I would never ask.” She wrapped a frame in packing paper. “Besides, Bailey has to get better first and it’ll be a while before he’s able to perform at top speed. And, I don’t want to be like all the people who always seem to want something from Oliver. His manager is constantly trying to play the angle. The fans want to see him. Reporters wait around outside every day.” Lexie paused when she caught Simone studying her, a knowing look on her face. “What?”

  “I was kidding about the tickets. Don’t have a stroke.” Simone bent to retrieve the DVDs in the TV cabinet. “We can always ask Leo. He already offered anyway.”

  “You were just trying to goad me weren’t you?”

  “Yep.”

  “And, I fell for it completely.”

  “Yep.”

  “When are you moving again?” Lexie teased, but the question seemed to suck all the fun right out of the room. They both knew all too well she was leaving in less than two weeks. The clock seemed to be speeding up the way it always did when something bad was looming on the horizon. Not that what was happening was bad. On the contrary, it was a huge opportunity for Simone, even if it was a job at the bottom of the writer hierarchy.

  “You’ll have to come visit ASAP. As soon as I get out there and get a feel for my schedule, we’ll make plans.” Typical Simone, always making plans for everything from their senior trip to which film festival they were going to hit up each summer, which couldn’t have been more different than Lexie’s last-minute-is-best attitude.

  She was more of a just-tell-me-when-to-be-there kind of girl. Knowing what laid ahead too far in the future gave her anxiety and more of an opportunity to be disappointed if it fell through. It was another one of her keep it simple lifestyle choices.