The Beautiful Monster

"Thank you," she told Dr. Shields as she fell in step with Jackson behind him.

Dr. Shields nodded.

"Jackson, fill her in," he said.

Alyssa looked over at Jackson with a grimace. He was some blond guy from a wealthy family.

His eyes were a light blue color, and his blue scrubs hugged the lean muscles of his arms and chests.

She had seen him around school too, and he always had some sorority girl on his arm.

Jackson looked her up and down with a smirk.

"Maybe you should be in one of these rooms," he commented as he looked at her brace.

Alyssa rolled her eyes, figuring he would make a comment about her arm.

"Maybe you should just tell me about the patient," she retorted.

She didn't play games when it came to work, and she wasn't going to let Jackson think that he had anything over her. Injured or not, she was going to come out on top.

"I'm just saying that if you need some help, you can always ask," Jackson replied.

Alyssa eyed him with narrowed eyes. She knew that his words sounded like genuine kindness, but she knew what his motives were.

She had seen him be sly with the other students, and some had even believed him. He used everyone as a stepping stone, but she wasn't about to become one for him.

"I'd rather ask someone who knows what they're talking about," she replied. He was a student just as much as her.

Their level of knowledge was about the same, and she wouldn't put her trust in him. His narcissism blinded him.

Jackson placed his hand over his heart, feigning a hurt expression.

"When did you get so mean, Alyssa? I thought quiet people were sweet," he said.

Alyssa rolled her eyes as she glanced away from him. Ever since they both started out as medical assistants at this hospital, he had been a thorn in her side, making snide comments and trying to outdo her. She was defiant.

"If only you were quiet," she muttered beneath her breath. "I'm guessing you forgot the information about the patient."

Jackson screwed up his face at her.

"No, I didn't," he said.

Alyssa gave him a pointed look.

"Well?" she replied.

"Mr. Neal. He's being prepped for an appendectomy," Jackson told her as they walked down the hallway to the patient's room.

Alyssa nodded, having read up on appendicitis before. She didn't know everything about it, but she knew enough to know what was going on.

This patient was being prepared for surgery, but it was a common one.

"Was that so hard?" she asked Jackson before stepping in front of him to follow Dr. Shields into the room.

Jackson laughed beneath his breath as he followed her. He stood at her side as they faced the patient, who laid in bed, watching television.

"Are we ready to go yet or what? I'm gonna miss the game tonight," Mr. Neal, an older man, groaned as he gestured to the sports channel playing on the television.

Dr. Shields smiled as he stepped closer to Mr. Neal.

"We're just about ready for you, Mr. Neal. How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Uncomfortable," Mr. Neal replied.

Dr. Shields turned to Alyssa and Jackson.

"What is the most common symptom of appendicitis?" he asked them.

Alyssa waited for him to call on either one of them, but Jackson blurted the answer right out before she had a chance to realize that Dr. Shields was waiting on either one of them.

"Lower right abdomen pain," Jackson said. He then looked at Alyssa with a smirk. "Gotta be faster than that."

Alyssa gritted her teeth as she turned back to Dr. Shields, preparing for the next question. She was going to be ready this time.

"Good. What could happen if Mr. Neal didn't come in for surgery?" Dr. Shields asked.

"Ruptured appendix!" Alyssa blurted out before Jackson could even draw in a breath. She gave him a wicked smile, feeling proud of herself for being so quick on the spot. If she was going to be a doctor in a hospital environment, she would have to be.

Jackson rolled his eyes as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Students of yours?" Mr. Neal asked Dr. Shields.

"Gotta learn at some point," Dr. Shields chuckled before turning back to Alyssa and Jackson. "Whoever answers this question right can assist in preparing Mr. Neal for surgery."

Alyssa felt her heart jump a little, making her tense up to get ready. She wanted to help in any way that she could because that was another important lesson for her to learn. Plus, it would be nice to rub it in Jackson's face for acting like a snob.

"Why would the pain from appendicitis occur in the upper abdomen as opposed to the lower abdomen like normal?" Dr. Shields asked as he cocked an eyebrow at them.

Alyssa narrowed her eyes as she thought. She could've sworn that she had read about this somewhere, but it was some little detail at the end of the text or off to the side where most people didn't bother to read in their readings. What was the answer?

Jackson seemed to be struggling just as much. He shook his head, looking lost.

"Maybe if you're younger?" he asked.

Dr. Shields shook his head.

Alyssa's eyes widened slightly as she connected a few dots. Jackson's wrong answer gave her a clue that she would've never thought of.

"If they're pregnant. The appendix's position is higher during pregnancy," she said.

Dr. Shields grinned and nodded.

"Stand by for prep. Jackson, go see if any of the nurses need your help," he replied.

Alyssa turned to smirk at Jackson.

"Have fun with scut," she said. She knew that she didn't need to be talking all big and bad. She could mess up tomorrow and have to do scut too. Mistakes were going to happen no matter what. It didn't matter how smart they were.

"It won't be this easy for you at NYU. I'll be sure to put the pressure on you," Jackson said with a matching smirk. He hardly seemed fazed by his defeat.

Alyssa gave him a confused look. That didn't mean what she thought it did. Right?

"You're going to NYU?" she asked him.

"Go Violets," Jackson replied before walking out of the room with a smug look on his face.

Alyssa stared after him with a look of shock. She couldn't believe that she would have to deal with him there too. Admittedly, he was a good student.

He was smart, and he made sure that people knew that. Now, she would have to hear all about it at medical school too. At least the competition would keep her motivated.

There was only one thing more motivating than the fear of failure, and that was the spirit of competition.