I had to leave his room. The atmosphere around us made me feel crazy hot from one minute to the next. And God knew I was trying to control those inexplicable feelings; especially on hospital grounds.

Thoughts were circling my mind. The conversation I had with the chief, Brandon, my on-call shift tonight... I was a hot mess, about to have a mental breakdown, and he just made it so much more difficult.

"Hey, you. I haven't seen you all day." Stella pulled me into a hug, as I was walked towards the locker room. I wasn't even aware of where I was heading 'til I reached my destination.

"I am so glad you're here. We need to talk. I need one of your best-friend-reality-checkups. Starting: Now!" I pulled her inside the secluded area.

Thank God we were alone.

"Woah, woah, what's wrong with you?"

"Stella, how can someone see right through you? How can someone make you want to be with them every minute of the day and in such short time? It's insane."

"Please elaborate, because I don't seem to follow." She pulled me to sit next to her on the bench. Her side hug calmed me down, while I took a deep breath, trying to put my thoughts in a logical line of events for both of us to understand.

"It's just... Brandon and... what the chief said after the surg-"

"You talked to the chief about Brandon? Are you insane?" The frequency of her voice made the empty room echo in our ears.

Let me finish, woman.

"Let me finish, woman... I didn't talk to the chief about Brandon. I talked to him about my patient." I gave her a knowing look and she nodded. "I simply asked what was so special about this patient? Why did he request special treatment and why was the surgery's success a must? Which was, by the way..." I paused, trying to calm my nerves.

"He was pretty vague in his explanation but did mention that he used to be close to his father and just left it at that. No further explanations, just more questions. And a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach that I might have blown everything up."

Silence followed and she furrowed her eyebrows while she scratched her forehead; a sign that she was thinking. Hard...

"If the chief was close to his father, then no wonder he looks out for him. Dios mio, he came with a shoulder dislocation, muscle tear and bruises." She paused for a minute, thinking about the second part of her best-friend's-reality-check-speech.

"I know that look." She pointed to my face. "You didn't do anything wrong... yet."

Her chuckle wasn't helping whatsoever, and I playfully nudged her wrist to stop her from grinning at me.

"He wouldn't allow you on the case if he suspected this weird whatever it is between you two. Besides, he's living tomorrow. There's nothing he can do about it."

"It's just that... I-" My breathing had sped up a long time ago, my beating heart beating erratically.

"Erika listen to me. Stop doing this to yourself. Unfortunately for you, this is not one of those things you actually prepare for. It's not an exam and it's not an interview, Erika." she shakes me a little bit, to see if I am still with her. What is this, a TEDx-Talk?

"Stella, he's my patient. And I always follow the rules... This is so hard. It's illegal..."

"Dios mio, you're the cutest control freak." She chuckled, pulling me in a tight hug. "Honestly, you have nothing to worry about."

She hugged my anxieties away, that's how strong my best friend's hugs were. For a moment I thought of my parents. Only my family could make me relax this way; I've missed them so much.

"I don't know how you want to handle this, but at this point I think it would be best if you took a step back. There's no need to rush anything. You're his doctor and it's great that you care, but other than that it would be best if you were just that."

He was leaving tomorrow, and I hated admitting it, but I wanted more time.

"At least until he has no ties to the hospital. After that, embrace the unknown... and may the force be with you, or something like that."

We were both laughing because she was sometimes more of a dork than I was. I guess my brother's love for comics was beginning to rub off on her. I wouldn't be surprised if I ever saw them in matching superman t-shirts.

"I'm so glad I have you in my life." It was always a TEDx-Talk with Stella.

"I know. The Stellz is hard!" Now that was a state of mind.

She sighed, bringing her hand on her forehead like the drama queen she was.

"Here you are." Markus came in the locker room, wrapping his arms around our shoulders, pulling us both like a little child. "I was looking everywhere for you two. I'm starving! So, unless you have a pizza hidden in that locker of yours, the cafeteria is the only place to be right now."

"Relax, Peter Parker. Mama's here for you!" My best friend said, pulling a paper bag filled with fresh croissants with cheese and bacon from her backpack.

"You're my hero!" He said kissing her cheek, making her blush like crazy.

I held back a chuckle, while Stella tried to ignore the butterflies, I'm sure she was feeling in her tummy and offered me a croissant as well. Markus shoved the first croissant in his mouth before dipping his hand in the paper bag, grabbing another one. He even tried to stuff the second one in his mouth while still chewing the first one; famished Markus looked like a wolf ready to devour its prey.

A sight for sore eyes.

"Hey, did you two meet the new intern? He came in this morning. Apparently, his old man and the chief were acquaintances or friends or whatever." I raised an eyebrow at my brother's words and looking at Stella she had done the same.

"No, I was preoccupied with the surgery and all." I told him and Stella nodded.

"I need food and all the details." He said intrigued. "How did it go?" Surgeries are always milestones for us interns so he was pretty excited.

"It actually went great. The patient can start physiotherapy next week, maybe even sooner." I filled them in on all the details and technicalities of the surgery with a proud smile on my face.

"We are both so happy for you, chica!" Stella said hugging me.

Markus wanted in on the embrace and hugged us both. It didn't go unnoticed that his hand lingered on Stella's waist a minute longer after he let me go... This boy... What was he doing?

I would never intrude in their personal lives without them coming to me first, so I didn't say anything; I didn't want to ruin whatever this was.

"Thank you, guys, so much! Now tell us about this new intern..." I nudged his shoulder, so he would continue.

"Well, he's not as interesting as your news, Eri, but–" He said pinching my side, making me flinch a couple of steps away; he knew, I hated being tickled.

"Hey... Stop with the little sister crap. We are twins!" I interrupted him.

"I am three minutes older than you, as well as one and a half feet taller. It comes to me naturally!"

"You are not!" He was clearly pushing his luck with me. "And just because you are ginormous doesn't mean I am little."

"Whatever... Moving on, he's name is Jaxon Inkles..."

We headed towards the cafeteria while we continued talking about our day. I was the only one having the night-shift, while my best friend and twin brother would be heading home. They would leave me on my own. Again!

I watched as my brother was making fun of Stella's baby pink scrubs, making her chuckle and blush. I loved my brother; always protecting, loving, and irritating us all at the same time. But I would hate seeing him play with Stella's feelings. She was an extraordinary, strong woman, with a lot of love to give. I honestly believed, if things worked out between them, he would be wrapped around her finger. But if he tried anything funny with my chica, I would end him; metaphorically, of course.

I should talk to him, be there for him like he always had for me and Stella.

Lost in my own thoughts, I felt tense for a moment, as if someone were watching me, and I glanced behind me. I found no one, but the daunting feeling lingered at the back of my mind like an unwelcoming hunch.

I shook my head, trying to do the same to my unnerving thoughts. I gave in to their conversation, distracting myself with Markus' thoughts about this Jaxon guy. It wasn't the norm for someone to start later on in the intern program, but this Inkles managed to anyway.

"I heard from the nurses, that he's acquainted with Dr. Marshall. Maybe he deemed the guy worthy, or something," Markus said, deep in thought about the new doctor.

"Then you should be careful, before he snatches your surgeries from under your nose," Stella teased him, making me snicker at Markus' annoyed face.

Was it just a coincidence, that Dr. Marshall had some type of relationship to both Brandon and this new guy? It couldn't be. Moreover, both of them arrived at the hospital this week.

It only made me wonder...

The feeling of being God, I hate that.

Except when the are the ones watching. ;)

Inkles... I swear I've seen that name before.

Like always, take care of yourselves. , if you enjoy the story. It helps and motivates me to know you like it.