- Doctor? You'll think I'm weird, but I have to ask. - the doctor looks at me with a light frown while he wipes his wounds. - Do you know anyone named Ryder Taylor? You are very similar to him, not to mention, who has the same surname.
The doctor smiles with the same captivating smile as Ryder and settles down.
- He's my nephew. Do you know him?
- We studied together at UNY! - I respond by making a face when I feel a burning sensation.
- Really? What do you study, Miss...? - he asks finishing cleaning and prepares the needle to stitch some deeper cuts.
- Evans! Call me Brooke! - I answer with a smile. - I study philosophy. I'm getting ready to study law at Harvard.
- What a coincidence! Ryder too! - the doctor says with a hint of pride. - He intends to take over the company that his grandfather left for him, so he chose to study law.
I frown incredulously.
- Ryder is very irresponsible to take over a company, especially with a lawyer's degree. - I say laughing. - Someone should alert his grandfather.
- Except his grandfather's already dead! - says the handsome doctor.
- I'm so sorry!
- It's okay. It's okay. It's been a long time, that. - he smiles. - Don't let that side of Ryder fool you. He had some problems, but he's a great guy. He may seem a little dismissive, but when you determine something, he does his best.
The doctor ends up giving me another smile.
- I doubt it very much! - I grumble and I snort and I cross my arms.
He puts on his gloves and then takes the needle. I open my eyes, scared and he laughs.
- Are you afraid of needles?
- Fear!
- close your eyes and relax! - he says. - I promise it wouldn't hurt!
He starts giving the stitches, laughing at the faces I make. When he finishes, he gives me a prescription for medication and asks me to deliver it to the hospital pharmacy, presenting a card that he also gives me. The name Ryan Taylor is printed on the face of the card and I think the name matches the doctor, because it is as beautiful as he is. I do as I was instructed and the girl from the pharmacy gives me some medicines for free. She explains that the doctor who took care of me was working as a volunteer that night and that all the medicines on his watch were free. Smiling, I say goodbye to the woman and go to the front desk. Jane will escort me to our apartment, still on the handsome doctor's shoulders. Despite the insistence, I don't want to go to the police station and I tell Jane that I'll be off campus for a few days, until the points are removed. If anyone asked, all she had to do was say that I had the flu and I'd be at rest.
That night I barely slept because of the pain in my face. He sighed, concluding that the rest of the semester would not be at all easy and that Tiffany and Aron would represent hell on Earth. The only thing I really regretted was the fact that Tiffany broke my gold bracelet, which I got from my grandmother when I was fifteen and had never taken off my wrist. I had never received a gift with so much affection and regretted losing it. I close my eyes and then the tiredness joins my tears and I fall asleep.
Chapter 04
Ryder
It's been a week since I've seen Brooke. She wouldn't take my calls or knock on the door of her apartment. I was getting worried because the last time I saw her was the night we agreed to meet at Starbucks. I had forgotten that I had arranged to meet Loren that day, so I tried to change my study schedule for after class. With all that confusion involving Aron, I ended up accepting Brooke's suggestion that we study at seven. I wasn't used to answering calls when I was standing next to a girl, so I didn't know Brooke had called so many times.
- Jane?
I scream when I see Brooke's friend walking into the park, distractedly. She pretended not to have seen me and practically ran out. He ran after her, catching up with her fast.
- Jane? Didn't you hear me call you? - I mean holding her arm and making her turn to me. - Where's Brooke? Why won't she take my calls or the door? The most important part, why did you run?
Jane pushes her boat out of my hand and walks away with an air of disdain.
- I didn't want to talk to you, so I ran out. - she shoots at a threatening tone. - Besides, Brooke said you wouldn't believe me, and if I saw him, I should run.
She responds by shrugging her shoulders. I frown in confusion.
- What do you mean? What's going on? - I ask you with a face. - Don't tell me she hates me and has given up on helping me!
She closes her eyes hard and when she opens them, she smiles sarcastically.
- That would be very fair, after you dropped her planted at Starbucks to fuck that girl. - Jane shoots angrily. She throws her purse against my arm making me grumble. - Look, Brooke's a really nice girl and
