Tech Romance.

“John wake up.”

“Go away.”

“John!”

I felt my warm blankets being ripped off of me; I looked up and saw my Mom standing over me with her hands on her hips. I just rolled my eyes before getting out of bed way too tired to move. Finally I lifted my leg out from under the blanket that was wrapped around and let my bare feet touch the cold wooden floors.

“I’ll drive you, so your ass better be out in the car by 740.”

I rolled my eyes as I watched my mom walk out of my room with a slam of the doors. I was never a morning person, school started at 7:45 that meant I was at school by noon most of the time. I rushed out of my room fully dressed but unable to open my eyes fully.

“Ready sunshine?”

I just slammed the door shut and threw my head back in hopes to sleep a little bit longer. I closed my eyes with the ray bands over to protect from any sunlight that would dare seep through the clouds.

“Were here!”

I jumped up and looked over at my Mom who was smiling at me with the creepiest grin I have ever seen. I rolled my eyes before stepping out of the car.

“Have a great day honey!”

I just threw my hand up not wanting to talk so early in the morning. I looked up at the big building and my skin shuttered at the thought of all the things that I might possibly had to do. Just thinking about sponge bathing some old lady or bed pans, I wanted to throw up in my mouth. I put my head down and continued to walk through those heavy doors. The smell that was brought to my nose reminded me of all the times I broke my arms or that one time I cracked my head open and had to spend the night. Hospitals always had that stench that just brought bad memories. I looked down at my cast with a shake of my head.

“Good morning, what can I help you with?”

I looked up at the red headed lady sitting there with a big smile on her face. I didn’t understand how someone could be so cheery so early in the morning. I looked over at the empty coffee mug, well there you have it.

“Um, I’m a volunteer here.”

“Oh great”, she said with a clap of her hands and a bigger smile on her face. “Have you already been emitted or are you just a walk in volunteer?”

“I think all my paper work has been filled out”, I said unsure and kind of confused as to why someone would actually volunteer on their own.

“Your name?”

“John O’Callaghan.”

I watched her look through papers and then stopping at one. She pulled it out and looked over at me and the smile on her face somewhat disappeared.

“I see”, she said looking me up and down as I took off my sunglasses. “You were supposed to come in at eight.”

“I was running late.”

“I figured”, she said with a smile. “I’m assuming this is going to be the first and only time?”

“I doubt it.”

She nodded her head with a smirk on her lips as she pulled out a name badge. She placed it on the counter before pulling out another paper.

“Sign right here.”

I nodded my head before looking down at the stack of papers that were placed in front of me. I didn’t bother with the fine print, I had to do this shit whether I wanted to or not. I signed my name and handed her the paper, no smile on my face what’s so ever.

“Well John, just go ahead and take a seat. One of the nurses will come and give you a tour of the hospital.”

“She better be hot”, I said under my breath as I took a seat.

I looked down at my phone hoping for a text from anyone but everyone would be asleep. It was the first week of summer vacation and here I was at a hospital doing volunteer work so early in the morning.

“John O’Callaghan?”

I looked up and it seemed as God just wanted to laugh in my face some more. I looked over at the tall, slightly heavy nurse who had a pissed off expression on her face. I nodded my head before standing up. She took me around the East Wing of the hospital, which was elderly as well as the Children’s wing. As we walked through the halls I looked into each room, most of the patients were either sleeping or watching TV. I rarely saw any visitors with them or talking in that matter. I stood behind Nurse Carey as she showed me around; her voice was so monotone and boring that I was finding it hard to keep my eyes open.

“So this is Jeff and Vince, they’re cooks here on this wing. Well the main cooks, we have some of our volunteers already in the kitchen helping to set up for breakfast. They’ll show you around the kitchen and assign you your duties.”

I just nodded my head before looking over at the two guys. I looked over at Jeff and saw a big smile on his face while Vince the darker guy looked pissed off. I was suddenly scared as Nurse Carey walked away.

“Your name?”

“John”, I said as they both nodded their heads.

“Follow me John.”

I followed them into the kitchen and saw a couple of kids in their already setting up. I looked over at some of them older and some of them younger than me. I noticed Max’s new crush Sophie standing there with a smile talking to another guy that looked familiar. Sophie looked up at me and gave me a warm smile before going back to what she was doing. I listened as they explained everything to me, about what food goes where. I looked down at the paper work with frustration. It was way too early for this shit.

“So why are you here?”

I looked over at the dark haired guy who was looking over at me with a laugh. I rolled my eyes before placing the top of one of the plates.

“I have to do 100 hours of community service because I was a dumbass and ran from the cops while I was drunk.”

“You only got a 100?”

“Lucky me”, I said with enthusiasm before placing the plate on the tray with wheels. “What about you?”

“I’m just trying to get laid”, he said making me laugh.

“So you volunteer at a hospital, I’m hoping she’s not one of the patients”, I said making him laugh.

“Nah man, she’s some goody two shoes that’s hot as fuck. Her father is friends with mine
and I’m trying to get it in man.”

“It must be some fine ass pussy to go through all this work.”

“It is my man”, he said with a laugh before looking up. I followed his eyes and looked over to
see none other than Alison Jacobs standing there with a smile on her face talking to Vince and Jeff. “There she is now?”

“Who?” I asked looking around the room.

“Her, right there”, he said with a point of his finger.

I followed it and saw Alison standing there, her shorts showing off her long tanned legs that went on for days. I was suddenly thrown back to see her in such short shorts, at school she wasn’t very memorable. I looked back at the guy with a confused look on my face.

“Alison?”

“Yeah man, you know her?”

“Alison Jacobs?” I asked looking back at her and saw her eyes on me before turning her
attention back to Sophie.

“Yeah dude, if you excuse me it’s time to get to work.”

And with that he walked away and straight to Alison grabbing her into a hug. This was going to be an interesting summer.

[&]

“What’s John doing here?”

“I don’t know, I thought you knew why.”

I looked over at Sophie and shook my head before looking back at John confused. I watched as John talked to Damon but then my attention was brought back at Sophie.

“So how was your morning?” I asked with a smile.

“Tiring”, she said simply before giving me a smile. “Great here comes Damon.”

“Hello beautiful”, he said grabbing me into a hug; I felt my body melt in his. “Good morning.”

“Good morning”, I said with a smile.

“Hey scumbag.”

“Oh hey”, he said turning to look at Sophie with a smile. “How’s that boyfriend of yours?

“I don’t have one.”

“I figured”, he said with a smirk before turning to look at me. “So what are your plans for tonight?”

“Nothing really”, I said with a smile looking up into those beautiful green eyes. “Yours?”

“Well I was thinking about taking this beautiful girl out to dinner.”

“Well that sounds nice.”

“Are you interested?” he asked with a smile.

I looked over at Sophie who just rolled her eyes and walked off with an annoyed look on her face. I looked back at Damon with a smile. “I would love to.”

“I’ll pick you up at 7”, he said kissing my cheek. “I should get back to working; I can’t wait to
deliver these.”

I gave him a smile before he walked off. I looked over at John and saw him still staring over at me with a surprised look on his face. He noticed me looking so his eyes averted back down to the tray. I looked up at Jeff and Vince with a smile before walking out of the kitchen with my cart.

“Hello Ms. Richards, how are you feeling this morning?”

“Wonderful sweetheart”, she said with a smile as I placed the tray on her bed side. “How are
you honey?”

“Just peachy”, I said with a smile. “Channel 7?”

“Please, I don’t know why they assume I like to watch the news. God knows I have my obsession with daytime soaps.”

“I know, I know”, I said with a laugh putting the channel on. “I’ll be back later on to get my daily catch up on all the drama.”

“There is so much to tell!”

“I can’t wait, see you in a bit.”

“Of course sweetheart.”

I gave her a smile before walking into the other rooms, doing the daily routine of giving them their food changing the channel, changing the room temperature or sneaking in one of their favorite snacks. After I finished up my rounds I ended up in the children’s wing, watching as all the other children played with their games. I stood there watching with a smile on my face but still that pain in my heart just to know how sick these kids were. I walked away from the playroom before walking into the rooms of the children that were too weak to be playing around.

“Hey Daisy.”

“Hi Ali!”

I watched her put a crease on a page and then place the book down on her lap. I took a seat on the chair right next to her looking down at A Walk to Remember on her lap.

“How do you like the book?”

“I just started.”

“And what do you think?” I asked with a smile.

“I don’t like Landon.”

“Why not?” I asked with a laugh looking over at her.

“He’s a jerk, so are all of his friends.”

“What do you think of Jamie?”

“She’s really weird”, she said with a laugh. “But that’s all I know.”

“Just keep reading you’ll see that’s she’s not that weird”, I said with a laugh.

“Um hi.”

I looked up and saw John standing there with a confused look on his face. He looked almost scared to come in.

“Why don’t you have a mask on you’re going to get what I have?!”

John looked over at Daisy with a frighten look on his face, his eyes practically bulging out of his eyes as his hands went over his mouth. I couldn’t help but to laugh and Daisy busted up with laugher holding her mouth mimicking John’s actions.

“You’re real funny kid”, John said walking in with a smile on his lips. “Here you go”, he said putting the food one on her little tray on the side of her bed.

“What is it?”

“French toast with syrup.”

“Is is good?”

“I don’t know”, John said with a shrug looking down at the girl.

“I know you had some.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about?” he said changing up with voice with a smile.

“I see the syrup stain on your shirt.”

“Oh shit”, he said looking down making both of us laugh. “I mean jeez.”

“I won’t tell”, Daisy said with a smile looking up at John.

“Good morning John”, I said with a smile as he turned to look at me. “I was meaning to tell you thank you.”

“For what?”

“Saving me at that party, but I’m sorry what happened. I hope my father wasn’t too bad.”

“I’m here aren’t I”, he said with a shrug looking over at Daisy. “What’s your name?”

“Daisy.”

“Well my names John”, he said with a smile.

“Nice to meet you John”, she said putting out her hand. I watched as John stared down at the hand as if he were to touch it his skin was to be burned off. I looked up at him with an encouraging nod as he took her pale hand into his.

“Nice to meet you too Daisy.”

I watched her hand detach from his as he looked over at me with a smile. I watched his hands go into his pockets as he stood there swaying back and forth.

“Don’t you have other rooms to go to?” I asked with a smile. “I don’t want to get you in trouble. I heard you were already late this morning.”

“Yeah, I’m not much of a morning person.”

I nodded my head as he looked down at Daisy. My eyes averted over to her and saw her looking up at John like he was some movie star, her eyes glistening with happiness. She obviously had a crush.

“Well I should go then.”

“Please don’t make him leave Ali.”

“He-“

“I’ll tell you what Daisy”, he said leaning down close to her. “Tomorrow I’ll do all my other room and then do yours last so I could spend the rest of the day here with you. Sounds like a plan?”

I watched as she nodded her head happily with a big smile on her face. I couldn’t help but to smile watching them interact.

“I’ll see you tomorrow Daisy”, he said with a smile before turning to look at me. “I’ll see you tomorrow too, Alison.”

“Okay John, have a great day.”

He turned to look at me confused as to why I said that but just nodded his head with a smirk unsure of what to say. “Yeah, you too.”

I watched him walk away and I turned my attention to Daisy who was just watching him, staring as he walked away. She let out a big breath of air before turning to me with a smile.

“He’s so cute.”

I just laughed and looked back at Daisy with a smile before my eyes looked up to John who was next door. John seemed different.