Visit the nurse

You're feeling in need of some rest, but after the day's events you'd welcome a chat and 'glass of something' with the pretty nurse. You pick up the bag on the floor, and carrying both it and the note you walk down the hall and tap on her door.

She doesn't answer and you think you've come too late and that she's already gone to bed. You're about to turn away when you hear a muffled 'just a minute' from behind the door, and a moment later Melissa pulls it open with a smile. She's wearing a long cream coloured satin robe with a swirling abstract design on it, and her dark hair is loose, framing her pretty face.

"I'm sorry," you say. "I've come too late. I got..."

"Don't be silly," she says with a smile, tilting her head and putting a hand on your arm. "Please. Come in Dean Hawkfeather. No, no, I insist, come on in. Please, have a seat."

You step into bed-sitting room with a couch and chairs and a bed under the window. Smiling, you take a seat in one of the chairs.

"I got your note, and I'm guessing this bag is from you too?"

"It is. Would you join me in a glass of wine? I'm guessing you'd prefer beer but I'm afraid I don't have any."

"Wine would be great, thanks." She gives you another pretty smile and opens a small fridge to retrieve a bottle of white wine. Pouring two glasses full she brings you one and clinks glasses before taking a seat on the couch and crossing her legs. The long robe parts for a moment to show a pair of shapely calves before she adjusts it.

"The bag just has some cookies. Luisa lets me use an oven to bake them occasionally. They're my mother's recipe, and a big weakness of mine. They're my way of saying sorry for standing you up for coffee."

"No apologies necessary. How is Valerie?"

"Calmer now. I gave her a mild sedative and sent her to bed. She's a very dramatic young lady."

"So I noticed. Although her parents don't make it easier on her."

"Parents often don't," she sighs, then changes the subject with a bright smile. "Did you have a pleasant evening, Dean Hawkfeather."

"Kyle, please. I went for a drink with a couple of teachers. I'm still trying to fit in."

"If it's going to be Kyle, then I insist on Madison. Fitting in can be struggle. I'm not doing well at it," she blushes shyly and takes a sip of wine.

"Why is that Madison?"

"Well, I'm not a teacher, so I don't fit there, and I'm not part of the housekeeping staff, so I don't fit there, and I'm certainly not a student, so..." she trails off with a shrug.

"I'm not sure I'm fitting in very well either. I'm not really a teacher, and my first few days here have been a little confusing."

"So we can be confused together!" she giggles, then covers her mouth and blushes. "Oh God, there I go again, I'm such a ditz. I just forget how to talk."

"It's alright, don't be embarrassed," you smile, catching another glimpse of her calves as she recrosses her legs.

"I swear, I'm so out of practice at talking to men I act like I'm in junior high," she says sheepishly, taking a sip of wine and looking away from you.

"It's rather sweet Madison. Some of the students here could learn something from you."

"Oh my God, aren't some of them just brazen!" she laughs. "Have they been making passes at you? And the other men too I bet. They're just shameless!"

You shrug, taking another sip to avoid a direct answer, noticing the excited glint in the pretty young nurse's eyes. The last thing you want is a gossip session about Pink Rose students. She looks at you expectantly for a moment, then looks down when you don't answer.

"I did it again, I'm so socially inept, you must think I'm an idiot asking questions like that," she mumbles with embarrassment.

"I don't think that at all. I'd just rather talk about something else than students. I've had enough of them for one day."

"Fair enough," she brightens, smiling at you. "What shall we talk about Kyle? And your glass is nearly empty, let me take care of that. And you really must try my cookies, and tell me what you think." She gestures to the bag as she gets up, showing you another flash of leg as she takes your glass and takes it to the fridge.

With a smile you open the bag and select a cookie, taking a bite as she returns with your glass. "Very good," you say with a smile. "You're quite the baker."

"It's all my mother's doing, I just follow the recipe and put them in the oven. Please have another, I'm so glad you like them. Oh no, I couldn't. I ate late because of Valerie and I'm not even slightly hungry. I'm so glad you dropped by Kyle. I was hoping you would." She takes a sip of wine, looking at you over the top of the glass as she does, her eyes warm and friendly. You smile back, amused and flattered by her somewhat clumsy flirting.

"You said earlier that you get away from here every second weekend. Do you go anywhere special?"

"Oh...no...not really. Sometimes to Boston, but often I just drive out to the coast, and get a room at a B&B. I like watching the ocean. It makes me feel peaceful."

"No family nearby?"

"In Baltimore, but we're not very close. My parents are dead and my brothers and I are...well there's a big age difference, and they were pretty much out of the house by the time I was starting school. We send emails, but they have their lives." She takes a forlorn sip of wine, her expression sad but adorable. "What about you Kyle? Do you have family close by? Or...a special someone...." she adds with a sudden blush.

"My family is in West Virginia. And no Madison, there is no special someone," you say, pushing your fantasies about Diana Naylor to the side.

She blushes furiously. "I did it again! I'm so clumsy. I don't even know how to talk to a man. I swear I'm destined to be an old maid! You must think I'm a silly twit!"

"Not at all, stop beating yourself up. I think you're very sweet."

Her blush deepens and she looks away from your gaze, taking a hurried sip of wine. "Now I'm all flustered! The wine on top of a long day, and...one thing on top of another...I'm just sounding like a fool. I hate to do this, but can we continue this tomorrow? Or sometime soon. I'm just..."

"Certainly Madison," you say with a smile, putting your wine glass down and standing up. "It is late, and we could both use some rest."

"You don't think I'm being rude? I really need to go to bed...to sleep I mean...I mean..." she stammers, her face almost scarlet. You chuckle and nod, turning towards the door.

"Oh...your cookies," she says, picking up the bag and bringing them to you. "There are still two left. And they're special for you. Don't forget them." She holds the bag out to you, her fingers touching yours as you take it. You feel her tremble slightly and see her lips part as she looks up at you with luminous eyes.

"Thank you Madison, and for the wine too. And particularly for the charming company," you add, squeezing her hand gently.

"Oh my....thank you Kyle," she says softly. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight Madison," you answer, leaning forward and kissing her soft lips gently.