C14 The Meet
By midday, the hospital had settled into its usual rhythm.
The morning rush had finally eased, and Sierra was more than ready for her lunch break.
She closed the file in front of her and leaned back in her chair.
“You look exhausted,” Emily said, standing beside her desk.
“I am.”
“You've barely been here half a day.”
“That’s enough time.”
Emily laughed. “Come on. Let’s eat.”
They made their way to the cafeteria, where most of the tables were already occupied.
“There,” Emily said.
Sierra followed her gaze.
Miles was sitting at a table with a few other coworkers.
“There are seats there,” Emily said.
Sierra gave her a look.
Emily simply picked up her tray and started walking toward the table.
Sierra sighed and followed.
“Is anyone sitting here?” Emily asked.
One of the coworkers shook his head.
“No. Go ahead.”
Emily sat down, leaving Sierra to take the seat beside her.
“Thank you,” Sierra said.
Miles looked up from his food.
“Hi.”
“Hi,” Sierra replied.
Emily introduced them properly to the others who had not met Sierra yet, and the conversation continued.
For a few minutes, Sierra mostly listened.
Someone at the table was talking about a mistake that had happened earlier that morning.
“I spent ten minutes looking for my phone,” he said.
“And where was it?” another coworker asked.
“In my hand.”
The table laughed.
Sierra smiled. “You’re joking.”
“I wish I were.”
Miles shook his head. “He was checking every surface in the room while holding it.”
“That makes it worse,” Sierra said.
“It really does,” Miles replied.
She glanced at him, then back at her food.
“So what happened after that?”
“We eventually found it,” Miles said. “Or rather, he realized he already had it.”
Sierra smiled.
The conversation moved on to other things—work, schedules, and the occasional complaint about how quickly lunch breaks seemed to disappear.
At one point, Emily leaned slightly toward Sierra.
“You're unusually quiet.”
“I’m eating.”
“That has never stopped you before.”
Sierra gave her a warning look.
Emily smiled and returned to her food.
Miles noticed the exchange but said nothing.
A few minutes later, he asked Sierra, “How long have you been working here?”
“A little while.”
“I thought so. I remember seeing you around.”
“I’ve probably seen you too.”
“I suppose you have.”
There was a brief pause.
Then someone across the table started talking again, and the conversation naturally shifted away from them.
Sierra was fine with that.
There was no need to force a conversation.
By the end of the day, the hospital had become noticeably quieter.
Sierra finished the last of her paperwork and checked the time.
She gathered her things and headed toward the entrance.
She was almost outside when she heard someone call her name.
“Sierra?”
She turned.
Miles was walking toward her.
“Hi.”
“Are you heading home?”
“Yes.”
“I’m leaving as well. If you don't mind, I can drop you off.”
Sierra hesitated.
“That’s kind of you, but you don't have to.”
“I know. I’m offering.”
She considered it for a moment.
“Alright. Thank you.”
“No problem.”
They walked toward the parking area together.
Emily happened to be a few steps behind them and noticed.
She raised an eyebrow when she saw Sierra getting into Miles's car.
Sierra caught the look.
She simply shook her head.
Emily smiled to herself and continued walking.
A few minutes later, Miles started the car.
“Just let me know where you’re going,” he said.
Sierra gave him the directions.
“Alright.”
The drive began quietly.
After a few minutes, Miles spoke.
“How are you finding the hospital so far?”
“It’s been good. Busy, but I’m getting used to it.”
“That’s good.”
“And you?”
“I’m still settling in.”
Sierra nodded.
“You seem to be doing fine.”
“I hope so.”
“You will.”
Miles glanced at her briefly before returning his attention to the road.
“Thank you.”
The rest of the drive was quiet but comfortable.
It was only a ride home.
---
Later That Evening
Sierra's apartment was quieter than usual when she arrived.
She unlocked the door and stepped inside, dropping her keys onto the small table near the entrance.
She had barely taken off her shoes when she heard the door open again.
Sam walked in carrying a couple of bags.
“You're back.”
Sierra looked over.
“I live here.”
“I know. I was just saying.”
Sam placed her bags down.
“How was school?”
“Fine. A little confusing.”
“You've only just started.”
“I know.”
Sierra smiled and headed toward the kitchen.
“Did you eat?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Sam followed her.
After a moment, she looked around the apartment.
“I think I'm going to like it here.”
“You better. You're going to be here for a while.”
“I know.”
Sierra opened the refrigerator.
“Do you need anything?”
“No. I'm fine.”
They stood in the kitchen for a moment, talking about school, classes, and the apartment.
It was nothing particularly important.
Just the kind of conversation people had when they were settling into a new routine.
---
Across town, Joan was leaving campus after her class.
She adjusted the strap of her bag and checked the message from her lecturer before putting her phone away.
As she walked across the campus, she heard someone nearby asking about a classroom.
“Excuse me.”
Joan turned.
A young woman was standing a few steps away.
“Yes?”
“Are you taking Professor Adams' class?”
Joan nodded.
“Yes. Why?”
“I’m trying to find the lecture hall. I just resumed, so I'm still trying to figure out where everything is.”
“It’s in Building C.”
“Building C?”
“Yes. You’re going the wrong way.”
The girl looked behind her.
“That explains why nothing looked familiar.”
Joan smiled politely.
“It’s not far. I can show you.”
“Thank you.”
They walked together for a short distance.
“I’m Sam, by the way.”
“Joan.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too.”
They continued toward Building C.
“Have you been here long?” Sam asked.
“Since the beginning of the semester.”
“That explains why you know your way around.”
“Eventually, you will too.”
Sam nodded.
“I hope so.”
They reached the building.
“That’s the lecture hall,” Joan said.
Sam looked toward the entrance.
“Thank you. I probably would have kept walking.”
“You're welcome.”
“I'll see you around.”
“Probably.”
They exchanged a polite smile before going their separate ways.
Neither of them gave the meeting much thought.
It was simply two students meeting for the first time.
