It Takes Patience II: Guarded

*Reagan’s POV*
As I entered the hotel, I couldn’t be more confused. Everything from last night’s unfinished argument and this morning’s kiss leaves me wondering what it all means for us right now. As I got in the elevator I wrapped Harry’s jacket tighter around me and began to daydream, wishing it were his arms and not just a coat, but at the same time, battling the offsetting feeling of having a very serious discussion to continue. Harry wants us to work and I do too, but there is a feeling that loom deep within me that says that this may not be able to be resolved. Everything is still uncertain between us, but as nerve wracking as it is, to know that a flame of desire is still there makes all of the headache seem worth while.

I stumbled off the elevator to be greeted by none other than Dr. Koch who was already dressed and silently judging me by my appearance.

“Miss Stoger, it’s nice to know that you had a good time last night by the looks of it. However, you’re getting ready to run on my time now. You smell like a brewery. I did not bring you to London for trivial matters. You’re here to work and I expect you to act as such. I also expect you to be ready, presentable, and professional in no more than forty five minutes. You will then meet me in the lobby and accompany me to the conference where I will expect you to act as a sponge, listening to soak in everything that’s said there. I’ll be quizzing you afterwards. Are we clear?”

I looked at Dr. Koch and felt the stress of the day already as I answered and apologized for my lack of professionalism. His steel blue eyes looked me up and down before pursing his lips and reaching past me to press the down button for the elevator. I began to walk towards my room utterly embarrassed and red in the face, only turning back around when Dr. Koch called my name again.

“Oh and Miss Stoger?”

“Yes, Dr. Koch?”

“I have your new prescription ready. You can get it from me when you’re presentable...You’ve forty minutes left.” Dr. Koch looked at his watch before the door closed as if he was actually timing me, and I knew for a fact that he was.

I ran to my room removing clothes as soon as the door closed behind me. I jumped in the shower for ten minutes, hoping that the scrubbing done in such a short amount of time fully removed the smell of alcohol and cigarette smoke from the party out of my pores. When I got out I dried off quickly and rummaged through my clothes to find something to wear. I only have twenty minutes left and my hair is still wet. I feel myself get slightly anxious under the pressure, but nowhere near as bad as last night at Harry’s house. I can’t even think about him being in the hospital for too long. The thought of him lifeless on a table while doctors try to pump his stomach and bring the color back to his cheeks makes me feel weak and the anxiety attacks start up again.

I quickly pick my black dress pants, a cream colored sweater, and the black ankle boots from last night to wear to the conference. With only ten minutes to spare, I quickly wrap my hair in a neat bun surprised by the outcome of it. Before leaving my room, I grab my key card, my phone; which is now barely charged, my notebook, and Harry’s jacket instead of my own when I head out of my door. I can see the elevator doors about to shut but Peyton holds them open for me so that I can make it in time.

“Thank you.” I huffed before taking a deep breath. Peyton chuckled and then raised an eyebrow at me.

“You’re winded. What happened?”

“I saw Dr. Koch when I was coming back in the hotel from last night. I looked a mess; I can’t believe he saw me like that. Anyway, he told me I had to be ready in forty minutes so I had to rush. He doesn’t play around with time.”

“From what I hear about him he doesn’t play around at all. He’s a right git, a real stick in the mud according to Dr. Adams.” I nodded in agreement. He’s nothing like Dr. Baker. She was about her work, but she was much easier going than Dr. Koch. I can’t even fathom how the two of them are... friends? I contort my face at the thought causing Peyton to laugh and break my focus to laugh with him.

“What did I do?”

“The face you made. What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing really, just how different Dr. Baker is from Dr. Koch. I wish that I was able to finish my work with her. Not that I’m not appreciative of Dr. Koch taking me in under his wing, I just feel like so much would be different if I could have stayed and finished.” Peyton nodded his head in understanding as we got off the elevator to find Dr. Koch and Dr. Andrews talking.

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that–”

“Punctual as I had a feeling you would be Miss Stoger.” Dr. Koch cut Peyton off as he approached me. Peyton shrugged his shoulders and made a gesture saying that he would text me before he left my side and walked towards Dr. Adams.

Dr. Koch reached in his pocket and handed me a bottle of pills then instructed me to put them away. If he keeps up this ‘everything is urgent’ attitude I’m going to need to take one now. I stuffed them in Harry’s coat pocket and felt something else brush against my hand but ignored it.

“What kind are they?” I asked looking up at Dr. Koch.

“Serax, a lesser dosage of what you were taking, still addictive, but not as strong. Now, follow me and be prepared to listen.” I nodded my head and followed Dr. Koch outside to a waiting taxi.

We ended up at the University of London, the school that Laurie was accepted to all so that she could be closer to Niall. I sucked in a deep breath envious of how they turned out, and began to think about how if I could have filled out the application on time and been here too. Things would probably be less insecure with Harry and I at the moment. I followed Dr. Koch into a giant lecture hall full of other people around my age and older. Other students I’m assuming, who aspired to be psychologist or psychiatrists and full of doctors who are already at that level.

I spotted Peyton in the crowd and waved at him. He waved back and then pointed to the lecture stage in front of us. Doctor Baker sat in one of the chairs there and to my surprise; there was a chair next to her with Dr. James Koch written on a seating card holding his place.

“You’ll sit here. I’ll be able to see if you’re paying attention and taking notes from my seat. Just because I’m not next to you doesn’t mean I don’t expect you to be any less professional than I know you are. Be alert Miss Stoger, I’ll be watching you.” I nodded again as Dr. Koch took his seat next to Dr. Baker and as he spoke to her; I could have sworn I saw a smile on his face.

As soon as I take my seat I can feel my phone vibrate against my hip. I want to take it out to look at it, I want to answer, but Dr. Koch is watching me like a hawk. All I can bring myself to do is take out my notebook and pen to prepare for the conference. As it began, a doctor that I didn’t recognize took the podium to speak. I wanted to pay attention, but I could feel my hip vibrate again. What if it was Harry? I don’t want him to think that I’m ignoring him, we’re on shaky grounds enough as it is.

I kept my right arm on my desk and continued to write as I fished my phone from Harry’s jacket pocket with my left. Dr. Koch seemed to be distracted by whatever side conversation that he was having with Dr. Baker and I figured that now would be the best time to see if everything was okay with H.

From: Peyton
Funny how certain aspects of what you want to do can be interesting and boring at the same time. This guy’s a snooze...What did you do last night? I meant to ask you on the lift.

From: Harry! Pleassssse?!
Hi...

I almost turned my phone off and put it back in my pocket remembering the last time I text both Harry and Peyton at once. Instead of having a repeat in history, I decided to only text one of them back for now.

To: Harry! Pleassssse?!
Hi...How are you?

I looked up at the podium trying to keep my grin from going to a full out toothy smile. This is the first time Harry has texted me in months. My whole expression changed however when I saw Dr. Koch staring back at me with ice in his eyes mouthing ‘Put it away.’ I put the phone back in the same pocket that I put the pills in and felt something brush against my hand like it did earlier at the hotel. I grabbed what felt to be a piece of paper out of the pocket and put it on the desk unfolding it discretely, sure not to be caught again by Dr. Koch.

It was a receipt from Louis’ dad’s bar, but when I went to fold it to put it back in my pocket, it showed to be something much more than that. There was a note on the back along with what appeared to be a number, but the writing was too smudged to be sure.

Give me a call if you ever want to hook up again ;)---
Scarlett xx

I felt my heart constrict in my chest and tears sting the back of my eyes as I balled up the piece of paper and dropped it on the ground. How can he be so furious with me when he’s freely given himself to other girls?

I forced my focus on the rest of the seminar trying to get the sickening note out of my mind when Dr. Baker took the podium. She talked about her experience as a psychologist and a practicing clinical psychiatrist. She also talked about the summer internship, which put my mind back Harry and the note I'd just found. I could feel my eyes begin to water and a lump form in my throat as the end of the seminar approached. I tried to swallow it all back as I took the last of my notes. I will not cry while I'm here.

Dr. Baker called her former intern to the podium and I could feel myself get nervous until I realized she wasn’t talking about me. When Dr. Koch stood to take the podium my jaw nearly dropped. I composed myself from my shocked state being sure to write down every important piece of information that I could, knowing that Koch's ‘quiz’ later would probably mostly concern what it is that he’s saying seeing how arrogant he is. How can someone so arrogant be the protégé of Dr. Baker?

When the seminar ended, I made my way out into the hallway to wait for Dr. Koch when I got another text from H.

From:Harry! Pleassssse?!
Okay I guess...How are you?

I laughed humorlessly as I read the message not sure how to respond after the little note I found in his pocket. Did he mean for me to find it? Peyton found me in the hall causing me to put my current issue on a back-burner.

“Hey there, did you get my message?”

“Yeah, sorry I couldn’t reply. I went out with Laurie and ended up...” I trailed off not really wanting to discuss anything Harry related with Peyton. It would be wrong to tell him about spending the night with H. when I know he used to have feelings for me. 'It’s also wrong to talk to the man you cheated with while trying to ‘make things work’ with your boyfriend'. I shook away my conscious before I spoke again to Peyton hoping that he wouldn’t catch my open ended sentence.

“You said that you wanted to tell me something about the internship before we left the hotel.”

Peyton looked off guard before he nodded his head yes.

“What was it that you wanted to tell me?”

“I think I know who told about you and Harry but I’m not sure if you’ll want to hear it.” I looked at Peyton and my eyebrows immediately furrowed in confusion.

“Why wouldn’t I want to know that? I've been trying to figure that out to this day.”

“Because its someone close to you...” Peyton looked down at his shoes and began to kick at a crack in the ground. My curiosity peaked and made me eager to know now even more than I was before.

“Who, Peyton?” I felt my phone vibrate again in Harry’s pocket and when I reached to grab it out my medicine fell to the floor. Peyton bent over to hand the bottle to me, giving me an unreadable look before he spoke again.

“I have good reason to think that it was Laurie.” I looked Peyton and my jaw immediately clenched. She would never do that.

“Peyton how could you say that? Laurie is my friend– our friend! She would never do that to me and the fact that you would even suggest it is offensive!” I turned to walk away from Peyton somewhat enraged by his accusation when he grabbed my wrist to pull me back causing me to gasp.

“Reagan wait! I’m sorry to say it, but I just know things that...What happened to your wrist?” I yanked my hand away from him forgetting that Harry still has my watch and because of the rush I was in this morning I'd forgotten to put on bracelets to cover them up. The reddish purple skin color was beginning to fade and be replaced by an ugly tint of yellow. The bruises were going away, but there were still sore areas there.

“None of your business Peyton. Will you let me go please?” Peyton released my wrist and opened his mouth to speak only to be cut off again by Dr. Koch.

“Reagan, the taxi is waiting. Give me your note book, I’ll quiz you there. I highly doubt you’ll pass seeing as you felt it more important to see what was going on on twitter than listen to doctors in the field you wish to work in talk about the field in which you wish to work in!”

I glared at Peyton before I followed Dr. Koch out of the University. I would rather get scolded by my boss than listen to Peyton grow seeds of deceit against someone who has grown to be one of my closest friends.

Notes

Hey BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE HELLO NEW AND FAITHFUL SUBSCRIBERS!New update for you all yayyyy! First off THANK YOU FOR THE VOTES!! I legit don't think I can thank you all enough! Keep them coming. Its soo inspiring to see rating and subscriber numbers go up and every time I do I write more :). So what did you think of this chapter? What is Peyton doing? And do some of you feel bad for Reagan now? Somebody said Harry is being too mean to her haha! Be sure to leave me loads more comments, feedback and theories below ( I Love replying to you guys as much as I love writing the story.) Also vote vote vote and subscribe if you're enjoying my little story so far! I LOVE THE HELL OUT OF YOU GUYS FOR READING Xx :D!!!