Love Is A Mysterious Thing
~ DIANA ~

I sighed as I walked over to another a teenage girl sitting in the emergency room and she was smiling at me. Her smile was warm and friendly and I had a feeling that I had seen that smile before, but I couldn't put my mind on it. I couldn't help but smile back at her and continue to walk towards her. "Hi there, can I help you with anything?" I asked and she shook her head as she started to sit up.

"No, I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Gracie, Gracie Bryant." She announced and I felt my heart stop dead in its tracks. She chuckled as she bit her lip nervously. "Yes, I'm Colton's baby sister." She confirmed my thoughts and I stared at her in disbelief.

  "H-hi Gracie, you have grown up so much! You look beautiful." I commented once I finally snapped out of it and she giggled as she waved off my compliment.

  "You're too kind, but you!" She exclaimed as she looked at me. "Are absolutely gorgeous! My brother was even more dumb than I thought." She sighed and I giggled as I rolled my eyes.

  "What're you doing out in Miami? If you don't mind my asking."

  "I go to school at the University of Miami, got a full ride to come here, so here we are." She announced proudly and I grinned at her, wishing I was eighteen again. But then I looked at her confused once she said 'we'.

  "What do you mean-"

  "Excuse me, Diana can I borrow you for a second?" My friend, Matthew, asked as he interrupted our conversation and Gracie nodded at me to let me know it was fine.

  "I'll be right back," I assured her and walked over to Matthew. "What's up?" I asked him once I was in front of him. He smiled at me briefly then looked down at the ground nervously.

  "I know we've been really good friends since you started here and you've really been great with all my patients, I just wanted to thank you by taking you out to dinner after our shifts end." He said as he looked up at me and I felt my heart race as I stared at him in surprise.

  "A-are you asking me on a date?" I asked and he chuckled as he nodded his head and a smile started to appear on my face.

  "It doesn't have to be if that makes you nervous, we could just go as friends and-"

  "Hi Colton!" I heard Gracie say loudly from behind me and I felt my heart literally stop dead in it it's tracks at the sound of his name. Was he really here?

  "Gracie, have you figured out how to get to your college from here?" I heard someone ask from behind me and instantly froze when I heard his voice. It was a bit deeper than before and not as soft as it used to be. I hadn't talked to him since we were eighteen years old and I instantly felt my chest ache. I took in a deep breath as I looked over at Gracie and she grinned at me and I slowly turned all the way around.

  "Yeah, you just drive north for six blocks and then turn down..." I trailed off slowly as I lost my train of thought once I looked at him and his eyes widened in disbelief when he realized it was me.

  "Diana?" He asked softly and his voice sounded like the old Colton who I had loved. I felt tears start to sting at my eyes and I gave him a brief smile.

  "Hello Colton." I sighed and he continued to stare at me in shock. "It was lovely meeting you, Gracie, but I've got to get back to work." I said as I turned my attention towards her and she nodded here head in understanding.

"Of course, it was lovely meeting you, Diana." She said and walked over to me and then gave me a quick hug. After she hugged me, she walked passed Colton and out the hospital doors quickly. I looked over at Colton and noticed he was still staring at me.

"Are you okay?" I asked worriedly and he nodded his head as he slowly started to walk up to me.

"You look beautiful." He admitted once we were a few feet away from one another and I felt my heart start to ache at his words. I shook my head as I rubbed my forehead tiredly.

  "Um, so Diana let me know later about that dinner." Matthew said and I looked at him and gave him a huge smile.

  "I'd love to go to dinner with you." I said and Matthew grinned at me as he nodded at me.

  "Alright, I'll meet you at your car once our shifts are over." He concluded and I nodded my head and waved at him as he left.

"Diana, we need you over in bed three." Another nurse had called out to me and I nodded my head once more as I looked back at Colton.

  "You really gonna go out, with Dr. McHottie?" Colton snorted in annoyance and I gave myself a mental high five at making him jealous. It's what he deserves for leaving me for no reason all those years ago. I didn't want him to think I was still hung up on him, even though I clearly was.

"I gotta go." I whispered as I ignored his question and he pursed his lips. He stared at me for a few moments as he studied my face then finally, nodded his head as he stuffed his hands into his jean pockets. He looked more handsome than I had remembered, but his soft side had been replaced by being forced to become a father figure at such a young age. "It was really nice seeing you again, drive safe." I said as I turned around and went back to work.

I sat in the locker room later that day as I changed out of my scrubs and into my jeans and a white knit sweater. My mind was still swimming with the fact that Colton had actually been here today. I couldn't believe that he was back in Miami and now all alone. As I sat there, I kicked at myself for caring about how he was doing and that I was actually worried about him. I rolled my eyes in annoyance and stood up to shut my locker. I left the hospital and started to make my way towards my car to wait for Matthew when I noticed Colton standing at the receptionist's desk and was asking her questions. "Hey," I called out and he looked over at me. "Do you need help with something?" I asked and he remained quiet as he stared at me.

"He was actually looking for you, Ms. Banks." The receptionist informed and I turned my attention back to Colton and raised my eyebrows in surprise.

"What can I do for, Mr. Bryant?" I asked trying to be as formal as possible. He looked down at the ground in embarrassment and then slowly raised his beautiful blue eyes to look back up at me.

"I would like to take you out for dinner, if that's alright." He said softly and I stared at him in disbelief. Had he really just asked me to go to dinner with him? Was he crazy? And was I even crazier for wanting to agree to dinner with him? I started to question myself as I headed towards the exit and remembered that I had a date with Matthew as he followed beside me.

  "I already have a date tonight, Colton. Maybe another time." I said brushing him off and I heard him sigh.

  "Diana, we both know you don't want to go on a date with him. There's a lot I need to talk to you about, Diana. I just don't know where to start." He said shamefully and I felt the anger start to build up inside me at how he tried to act like he felt bad.

"How about you start at the fact that you abandoned me?" I demanded angrily and he sighed again as he stared at me.

  "I don't have an excuse besides I thought my sister would've been alone if I had you." He admitted and I shook my head at him as I tried to understand him.

  "You really hurt me, Colton. You promised not to ever leave me," He began to talk, but I held up my hand to make him stop. "I get that you had to take care of your sister. I am not at all angry that you had to leave Florida to be with her, but I am angry that you left me too." I admitted and he took a step closer to me. I stood my ground not wanting to back down from telling him how much he hurt me.

  "I didn't mean to hurt you, Diana. I was in a lot of pain too, I lost my Mom and I just didn't know what to do." He said sadly and I shook my head at him.

  "I can't just forgive you just because you apologized and I'm not going to dinner with you." I looked over at my car and noticed Matthew leaning against it and staring at us intently. "Now, if you'll excuse me." I said and quickly walked over to Matthew. "Hi!" I greeted him with a smile on my face and he smiled back at me.

  "Hello yourself, is everything alright?" He asked as he look back at Colton and I turned around to see that he was glaring at Matthew and I sighed.

  "Everything's just fine, shall we go?" He nodded and I followed him towards his car. It took all the strength I had not to turn around and look at Colton.