❝ultimately the bond of all companionship, whether in marriage or in friendship, is conversation.❞
─oscar wilde

The feeling of failure was one Skeeter wanted to avoid at all costs.

As a child, she didn't receive that much attention from her parents. It wasn't because her mother and father hated her; they simply just had their hands full with five kids running around and their pending divorce. However, it was compensated through her academic achievements and her present profession. Her mom and dad would proudly tell everyone they met that their little Skeeter was one of the best surgeons in Boston.

When Skeeter failed, whether it was on an exam in school or losing a patient on the job, she felt like she had to prove herself to her peers all over again. That was why she went back to the on-call room and re-read her notes on traumas concerning the legs and abdomen just to make sure that she wouldn't make the same mistake again. On top of that, she also wanted to avoid the pity stares from the other hospital staff.

The next to come with failure was the feeling of embarrassment. Skeeter hated embarrassing herself to the point that she would become a whole other person when faced with patients and their significant others, co-doctors, and especially with the interns. She was Doctor Evans to them—a no non-sense trauma surgeon who would stop at nothing to see you walk away from the hospital alive and well. Respect and approval from her peers were very important to her.

When basking in her pit of sadness and hatred towards herself, Skeeter preferred to be alone. Presently, her mind was going a million miles per minute as she recounted the events of the day in the middle of the quiet bar. Her cheek touch the cold glass as she slumped in her stool.

"Skeeter?" A husky voice said, breaking her train of thought. "It's funny bumping into you here."

Only moving her eyes to meet his, she greeted back in a deflated tone. "Oh. Hi, Keanu."

He caught this and frowned. When he had first read her torn-up diary page, Keanu imagined a person in their late fifties, unemployed, and probably in their fourth divorce. When he met Skeeter to retrieve his luggage, she was blushing with embarrassment but still managed to keep a genuine smile on her face──no matter how awkward the situation was.

The Skeeter he was seeing slumped her shoulders as if she was carrying the whole world. He didn't know what to say or do. So, he decided to settle himself on the stool beside her and just drink his damn beer. Luckily, it only took a little of three minutes until the silence between them was broken.

"Sorry about the way I acted earlier." Skeeter said after she gulped down her drink, "It wasn't my. . .best day. So yeah, sorry."

"It's okay."

Scrunching her nose, she continued. "I──uh──lost a patient before you came in."

"Sorry about that. I know you might have more important patients to attend to."

"It's okay. I needed another patient to clear my mind for a bit."

"And working is one of the ways?"

She shrugged. "Been working half of my life. It's the only way to get some respect and appreciation around here──well, at least in my opinion."

"Well, it's not the only way." Keanu countered and turned his body to her, "Just being a good person can get people to appreciate you too."

She snorted. Of course, he would think like that. Excuse her but a brooding Skeeter was quite a cynical person especially with alcohol in her system. "You're a celebrity. When you donate money to a charity, you get the front page of a magazine and the world in the palm of your hands."

"I've only landed the front page of a magazine because I almost died riding my motorbike."

Skeeter quirked an eyebrow, curious. "You ride a motorbike?"

"Yeah. . .took a drive around the Grand Canyon. The details are a little blurry but I remember they had to cut me open to re-position my spleen or something." Surprisingly, Skeeter cracked a small smile so Keanu took this as a sign to continue, "Now, I have this scar on my abdomen so it's a major turn-off for women."

"Yep. I bet women find you repulsive when you take your shirt off."

"Those chances are high."

"Do you still ride a motorbikes?" She asked, now sitting straight-up.

Keanu shrugged. "It's kinda the way I get around."

"Well, be careful. Motorcycles are one of the top causes of car accidents."

"You mean motorcycles help you keep your job."

Skeeter looked like a fish──opening and closing her mouth in surprise. After seeing Keanu's smirk, she rolled her eyes. "Fine. You have a point. Do you want me to say thank you?"

Humor flashed in his brown eyes. "No but I'll have a beer please. Thank you."

Rolling her eyes and calling the bartender over──who, no doubt, recognized the Hollywood actor sitting beside her──Skeeter laughed. "You're such a boy."

"At least I made you laugh."

When his beer arrived, Keanu held up his bottle. "To more free beers!"

"──and not being stupid on a death bike!" Clinking their drinks together, Skeeter's eyes never left as they both took a long sip. Maybe it was the alcohol in her system or Keanu's stupidity on his motorcycle, but Skeeter decided that her pit of sadness could wait. 

⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ────── ⊰

keanu
hi, skeeter! thank you
for the beer coffee shop
recommendation 😌
they really do make
make them good 

skeeter
see?? joy's makes the
 best coffee and their
cakes are to die for!!!!

keanu
when the cashier
asked me how i
found the place,
i told her your name
and she recognized
you. she said you
were a regular?

skeeter
yep 😁 

are you taking
care of your hand? 

i wouldn't want any of the
nurses to faint when they
see you at the hospital again 

keanu 
yeah i 
think it's good

skeeter
okay but remember
don't wash it BEFORE
 the 48 hours are up

keanu
yes ma'am 

hey i passed
by this antique
mechanic shop
on my way home
last night. i think
i'm buying some
parts for my bike.

skeeter
that's nice

just don't die so
i can tell you I
TOLD YOU SO 

keanu
🥴

aren't you
supposed to
be at work?

skeeter
aren't you
supposed to
 be acting?

keanu
touché

chris is going over
the scene with the
stuntmen so i don't
accidentally punch
the mirror again 

skeeter
ah

you'll have to forgive
my brother

he's a little. . .wimp
sometimes 

don't tell him i said
that because he's a
little too sensitive 

keanu
you're secret is
safe with me, skeeter 🤭

skeeter 
oh and i never
got to thank you

keanu
for?

skeeter
for cheering
me up last night

i just had a bad
day at work 

so yeah

thank you 😊

keanu
it's no problem 

skeeter
hey, i have
to go

i have to get
ready for a date 

keanu
ooOOOoohhhh,
who's the lucky
fellow? 😏

skeeter
i have no idea 🤷🏻‍♀️
it's a blind date 

I DON'T WANT TO
GO I DON'T WANT TO
 GO I DON'T WANT
TO GO
ERASED

keanu
well, okay.
have fun,
skeeter!

it was nice
talking to you 😁

skeeter 
i like talking
 to you too 

bye!!