Scraps - Unusual Check-Up

I had no idea way I was upset in the first place. It’s not like I ever had anyone with me on these appointments. Especially not him. Not once in seven months. Then again, maybe it was just because it was all becoming real now. 

It’s real all right. Getting fat. Fucking mood swings. Stupid cravings. And I’m getting fat.

Really though, it was only after the gender reveal that everything actually became real. Once I found out that I was carrying a girl it started to sink in pretty hard. Seeing Trent going over names made it sink in even further. He was actually kind of cute, trying to come up with ones that we would be both like. The end compromise was Brianna -- my choice -- and Abigail -- Trent’s, all in all didn’t sound too bad if you asked me.

That was probably the last moment where we were still convinced we could do this together. Despite knowing that it was over and it had been for some time, that still stung to consider. It wasn’t just the hormones either. I missed him. I really did.

In the midst of my breakup blues seeping in, I heard the heavy hospital door open and stiffened up immediately. Most doctor’s visits unnerved me but these? These ones got me so wound up I thought I would vomit. I’m sure it was just something about seeing parts of me that were supposed to be intimate or something, though.

If I thought I would be sick before, however, it had nothing on how I felt being face to face with my ex-boyfriend, Oliver Prescott. It had been almost as long as our break up since we had last seen each other, and that’s how I generally liked it with my exes. Barring Trent, of course. My hand came up to my swollen belly unconsciously at the thought of my current ex. That idiot has a special pass though.

“Where’s Tanner?” I asked and crossed my free arm across my chest defensively. I didn’t even think of the logistics of this statement. As soon as Oliver’s face came into view, I went on the hard defense.

“Uh,” Oliver drawled, looking just as shocked to see me as I was to see him. Clearly he’s still remiss at looking at his patients charts, I thought with a roll of my eyes. “He’s out sick today.”

My arm tightened across my chest painfully. “Tanner has always been my nurse with Doctor Greene,” I remarked petulantly.

“Well, unless you want to reschedule your appointment, you’re gonna be stuck with me instead of Tanner.” He shrugged apologetically but I knew he wasn’t sorry. 

Nope. Not even a little bit. He was probably enjoying this, actually. Dick.

“I just don’t think I’m comfortable having a new nurse present…” I muttered.

It was grasping for straws really. Even I knew at this point rescheduling would look bad for me. Besides I was just being petty and I knew that too. That realization didn’t stop me from being petty, however.

Oliver laughed in that soft, pleasant way that always set me at ease. I hated him for that fucking laugh right now. I didn’t want to be set at ease.

“Evie,” Oliver deadpanned, as if he were trying to level with me. “I’ve seen it all. Remember?”

I pursed my lips and set him with a sour look. “I’m quite aware. You don’t need to remind me.”

Oliver sighed and sat at the computer in the corner of the room. He clicked the mouse and typed out a couple of things silently as my irritation grew. If he’s just assuming things over there, I swear to God… Acting like he still knows me. It’s been a year Oliver. You don’t know shit.

“Are you still living in that complex on Beech?” Oliver asked absently as he continued to type without looking at me.

Okay… well… maybe some things don’t need to change.

“Yes…” I nearly whispered, feeling lower at my sudden defeat. Damn hormones. Can’t handle anything anymore.

There was clacking on Oliver’s side of the room -- presumably filling out all the other necessary information that he, of course, already knew -- and shuffling on mine. Silence permeated the room like a thick smog. A part of me wished it would just kill me. Another part, however, was very against such a prospect. Probably the same part of me that was clutching on to my stomach like it was my lifeline.

“Where’s the father?” Oliver asked finally, his voice coming out softer and yet more firm all at once. I spent enough time with the man to know exactly what that tone meant. He’s worried about me…

“Oh, um, we’re not together…” I mumbled and looked toward the posters on the wall promoting feminine health and routine check ups.

I could feel Oliver’s hard stare digging into the side of my head. “And?”

“And what?” I asked defiantly, turning to face him again. “I don’t need him or anyone else to be here for me. I’ve done this myself the whole way and that’s how I intend to keep doing it.”

“Evie,” Oliver started with a heavy sigh. He seemed upset but for the life of me, I couldn’t understand why. “I know that-”

Unfortunately, Oliver got out no more than that before Doctor Greene knocked with three loud raps and came in. “Alright, Miss McAlistair. How’re you feeling today?” Greene looked at me and then to Oliver, curiously. “Still not done with vitals?”

“It’s, uh, it’s been a mess for me this morning, Joe,” Oliver stuttered and glanced at the doctor with an apologetic smile.

“Tell me about it.” Greene chuckled and nodded in understanding. “Finish these up and then run down to 12B if you can. Dianna needs a hand.”

“Sure,” Oliver said and went to work on my vitals silently. 

It was almost surreal feeling Oliver’s skin on mine again, even in such an innocent capacity as taking my blood pressure or grabbing my hand to check my heart rate. I found myself holding my breath when he took my temperature and I had to mentally kick myself to get my brain back in gear. At least until I found myself looking directly into Oliver’s green eyes. He was so close to me, surely closer than he was supposed to be, right? My brain was fuzzy and I couldn’t think of the logistics of what was normal right now. I was just so lost in those soft, olive colored eyes.

Heh. Olive, Oliver. So cute. Mmm… 

“Evie?” Oliver asked me, sounding concerned. “Are you alright?”

“Hmm?” I hummed dreamily. 

The hormones, remember? Some rational, conscious part of my brain screamed. They’re your worst enemy. Do not listen to them. I shook my head at this realization and looked back to Oliver and then to Doctor Greene, each looking at me with a mix of amusement and concern. 

“I’m fine,” I muttered and looked at my socked feet, a hot blush rising on my cheeks.

Was I seriously checking out my ex boyfriend? What the hell? Stupid fucking hormones…

For the rest of the exam I kept my head down as much as possible -- especially until Oliver left the room on his assigned task. Thankfully, I wasn’t teased on my moment of weakness by my physician. I tended to choose professionals when I had the option for that reason alone. Embarrassment was my kryptonite, after all.

It wasn’t a surprise to me that Oliver came back to see me again after the doctor had finished his exam. Not just because it was his job to finish up all of the paperwork either. I dated Oliver Prescott for over a year, I knew that he could be tenacious if he wanted to be. It was one of the many things that attracted me to him, in fact.

“Look, I know you’re gonna fight me on this but I really want you to listen to me here,” Oliver said as soon as that heavy door was closed behind him. “Alright?”

This forceful side of him was a bit new but if I was being honest, I liked that too. I nodded and answered softly, “Okay.”

“You’re not alone Evie,” Oliver said and pulled the stool over from the other side of the room to sit in front of me. “You have Celia and Rawly and Rebecca and I know you don’t always get along great but even Emily is there for you.”

“I know,” I muttered and looked away. He didn’t need to tell me that I had my family. That was obvious. It also wasn’t the problem.

Oliver reached out and took my chin between his thumb and forefinger and turned my face back to him gently. “You also have me. I know you may not want to hear that but I’m here for you. I always have been if you needed me, you know that right?”

That was the last thing I expected him to say. After so long without any contact of any kind, I was convinced that Oliver was as done with me as I was with him. At least as much as I thought I was done with him.

I shook my head, unwanted tears beginning to well up in my eyes against my will already. “No,” I choked out. “I didn’t.”

“Well, you do.” He dropped his hand into his lap, let out a big sigh and shrugged. “You’ve always had me.”

The way that I fell forward into Oliver -- not an easy feat with my current size -- and began to weep, may have been the least ‘me’ thing I could have done in that moment. That’s what I had always liked about him though. I didn’t need to be anything around Oliver for him to care about me; I just had to be whatever me I was that day.

“I love you,” I said with a shuddering breath and buried my face into his chest even further.

I could feel the laughs rumbling through him and shaking my face. “I’ll be honest, dear. You’re not handling your swings very well, so forgive me if I don’t take you very seriously for the next couple of months.”

“That’s okay. I know I’m crazy,” I blubbered with a nod. “I still love you.”

“I know,” he whispered and kissed the top of my head. “I love you too.”

*****

An: Stay tuned for another post and a poll later today.