Calum's PoV

Mr Shine had strolled in and stood right in front of Poppy, blocking her out of the way like this was a childish playground issue. He waited excitedly for me to respond to him, hoping it would be me showing my happiness at him for arranging me an operation at short notice.

"Sorry, Mr Shine, you appear to have stood right in front of Poppy. Would you mind?" I asked, knowing he definitely had been told who I was. There was no way he could react any other way than how I'd asked otherwise he risked me complaining about him. His face dropped for a second and his jaw tensed before he smiled fakely, stepping to the side and looking back to Poppy.

"Ever so sorry Poppy. I didn't even realise." He said politely to Poppy before turning back to me. "Sorry Calum. What I did come here to say was that we had managed to get you a slot in theatre tonight. It will be a surgery that lasts a few hours as we realign your ankle and pin it together but it should be a one time thing and you'll make a full recovery. Unfortunately, I won't be doing the surgery but my very competent and excellent colleague Mr Keller will be doing it. He specialises in this kind of thing so you're in very safe hands." Mr Shine rambled on, barely giving me time to digest the information. "Poppy will prep you for the surgery, you'll need to be nil by mouth from now for the rest of the evening and we will need your lower leg to be cleaned and sterilised. You'll be back on the ward before you know it!" He continued, barely taking a breath between paragraphs. He quickly checked the clock and looked back at me. "Sorry Calum, I'm due back in surgery now but I wish you the best. I just wanted to update you." Without another word, or second for me to ask anything, he ducked out of the room and shut the door behind him.

"Wow." Michael breathed.

"Is he always like that?" Luke added, eyebrows raised in shock. Poppy bit her lips together for a second as she thought about how to compose her answer.

"No, but normally it wouldn't be him giving the news. He normally sends the trainees." Poppy shrugged, looking behind her to check he wasn't close by, listening to her slag him off. "You really must have made a good impression!" She laughed it off, which we did too. She really and truly had no idea who I was and honestly, it was refreshing. With millions of fans around the world, it was difficult for me to ever go out and just be myself without thinking I had everyone watching my every move making sure I was being a good role model - hell, I'm lucky they weren't here watching me scream and swear at nurses and throw things. Management would have had an absolute field day on me after witnessing that. Luckily, my friends were beside me and I knew they were going to keep quiet. What we had to watch was that none of the staff sold the story to the papers because that would just blow this thing up and ruin everything. How quiet and calm everything had been now would be the complete opposite within hours. I'd need security outside the door, at reception watching for fans and every staff member would be quizzed and questioned until they cried to make sure this wasn't getting out. It would be a nightmare.

"I'm that kind of guy!" I laughed in response, trying not to rouse her suspicion.

"You sure are." She said quietly, under her breath but just enough that I heard it. My gaze shot straight to her and her eyes locked with mine. She let out a half smile, half smirk as she raised her eyebrows at me. I gulped down a feelings of nervousness as we continued to look at each other, neither feeling uncomfortable with it.

"So, What prep do you need to do for this operation?" Ashton broke the silence in the room and pulled Poppy's attention away from me, which annoyed me. Why did he have to be so blind to what was going on? For the first time in ages, I feel like there's a small possibility I have a connection to a woman and he has to go and be all concerned with this operation. It's fine, I had time to come to terms with that. Poppy wouldn't be here for as long.

"I'll have to fill in some forms with Calum and one of the surgeons and then we'll get everything ready for an easy transition from here to the operating theatre." Poppy smiled sweetly, seemingly unaware of my seething. "How are you feeling about it Calum?" She was suddenly looking at me before I had time to calm down from my annoyance with Ashton. With my body tensed, I tried to forcefully relax and act calm in front of her hoping I wasn't going to make yet another bad impression.

"I'm trying not to think about it too much to be honest. If the professionals say it's the only way then there's no point in me worrying about it, it's happening whether I like it or not." I shrugged trying to act cool.

"He's always got an outlook like that." Michael laughed as he looked over to me, shaking his head.

"It's not a bad one!" Poppy said humorously. "I've had people worrying a lot more about a lot less. It's refreshing for someone to just accept it." She quickly checked her watch to make sure she had enough time left. "Right, let me pop and get those forms for you. Once they're done, I'll make sure everything is on the system so there aren't any holdups. Then when the night shift nurse comes on, they'll take you down to theatre." She said as she turned and headed for the door.

"Wait... you're not coming?" I blurted out without thinking. She stopped at the door and turned back towards me.

"Sorry Calum, it'll be the end of my shift." She tried to offer a sorry smile but I didn't want to accept it. I wanted her to go with me. After all these hours she's watched me, she won't be there for the biggest bit?

"I swear if it's that nurse again I'm refusing treatment." I huffed, folding my arms across my chest in a childish tantrum.

"I'll try my best to ensure it isn't." Poppy said softly. "I'm afraid I can't promise anything though..."