First Impressions
Parts 1-2
By Kellie
Michelle was sitting at the bar in Company impatiently tapping her fingers. "Buzz, what's taking the kitchen so long? I'm going to be late for my shift at the hospital."
"I'll go check," Buzz replied before turning to walk away from the bar. Another customer stopped him before he could make his get away.
"Buzz, I'll take another beer please," the customer requested.
As Buzz sat the mug down on the counter in front of him, he asked, "What's her problem?" as he nodded his head towards Michelle.
"My problem sir is that you're keeping Buzz from rushing my order up," Michelle remarked as she cast an angry glance his way.
"Michelle, I'll be right back with your order. I promise you won't be late for your shift in ER," Buzz said as he quickly made his way towards the kitchen.
"Michelle, if you don't mind me calling you that, you'll get along with everyone a lot better if you'd lose that nasty attitude and treat people with a little kindness," he remarked.
Michelle turned towards him, flung her long curls over her shoulder and crossed her arms over her chest. "Just who the hell do you think you are to tell me how to treat people?"
"Well, missy, my name is Danny Santos. As for telling you how to treat people, based on what I just observed, I thought someone needed to tell you," he replied as his eyes met hers.
Michelle saucily replied, "You know nothing about me or my situation, so I believe you don't have any right to tell me how to act."
Michelle turned her back to Danny and waited for Buzz to return in silence. She could feel his eyes on her watching. She reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet as Buzz returned to the bar with a takeout box in his hand.
"Here you go, Michelle. Sorry you had to wait," Buzz said.
"Buzz, I'm the one who needs to apologize. I was a little short tempered earlier and I'm sorry. It's been one hell of a day and it's not ending anytime soon. I shouldn't have taken it out on you," Michelle softly said as she handed Buzz a twenty.
"Don't worry about it, Michelle. We've all had days like that," Buzz remarked as he counted out her change.
"Happy," Michelle said as she gave Danny an icy glare before walking out the door.
"Is she always like that?" Danny asked Buzz.
"Actually, Michelle is usually one of the kindest people you'll meet. I guess the pressure of that Accelerated Med School program at Cedars just got the better of her today. Can I get you something to eat?"
"I'll take a burger, fries, and a little information," Danny replied.
"What's that?"
"Who exactly is that girl and how can I get in touch with her?"
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Michelle slid into the staff lounge with minutes to spare before she went on duty. She sat down at the table and quickly ate the sandwich she had picked up at Company. Her mind drifted back to her little exchange with the man at the bar. "What did he say his name was? Oh! I remember, Danny - Danny Santos."
Michelle drew in a shocked gasp as the last name registered in her brain, "Santos - Oh my God! I just met a member of Springfield's version of the mob."
The door to the lounge opened and Lillian walked in as Michelle sat in stunned silence.
"Michelle, Dr. Grant is looking for all the med school students. He's going to assign all of you a resident to shadow during tonight's shift," Lillian informed her.
Michelle looked up at Lillian while her words sank in. "I'm sorry, Lillian, what did you say? I was lost in my own thoughts there for a minute?"
"Michelle, are you okay? You seem to be a little out of it tonight and that's not like you."
"I'm fine, Lillian. Just a little flustered about a run-in I had with a guy over at Company," Michelle replied.
"Are you sure that's all?" Lillian inquired.
"Yeah, that's all there is to it. Now what were you saying about Dr. Grant?"
"He's looking for you so he can assign you to shadow a resident during tonight's shift."
"Thanks, Lillian," Michelle answered as she rose and headed out of the lounge.
Meanwhile, Danny was picking at his fries as he tried to get Michelle's image out of his mind. He couldn't help thinking about how badly he had wanted to kiss those lips when Michelle had looked at him with such icy fury before leaving Company. "Buzz, you never answered my question earlier."
"What question was that?"
"Who is Michelle and how can I find her?" Danny asked.
"You were serious about wanting to get in touch with Michelle after the way she treated you?"
"Yeah, I'm serious. There's something about that girl, I can't get her off of my mind."
"Okay. That was Michelle Bauer. She's a med school student over at Cedars. You can probably find her at the hospital most of the time."