You did that, my brain whispers.You bastard, you’re making her sad!
“Thanks for ruining my reputation!” I burst out. “The whole town’s talking about what a fool I am!”
“Whatever, Julian.” She hands me a stack of my freshly washed clothes from last night. How dare she, honestly!
The spell is broken alright. It felt so good last night, when everyone was rooting for me for once. I should’ve known it wasn’t real. People don’t smile atme. My cousins don’t hang out withme. And when Nomi Wyeth tilts her pretty chin up to meet my gaze, it isn’t to kissme.
Not the real me, at least.
God, I feel ridiculous. Dumber than I’ve ever felt. The cringe is soul-deep, wringing every last bit of me out in mortified disgust.
“Marijuana is dangerous—it almost killed me last night!” I levy a finger at Nomi. “Your dispensary is going to hurt people! It’s going to turn this whole town into a den of even bigger losers than it already is.”
Nomi’s face burns bright red with her own growing anger. “You’re such an asshole! Do you even hear yourself? Cannabis didn’t almost kill you last night, but your ignorant, knee-jerk reaction to it could have!”
I can’t believe I almost asked her out. There’s no world where Doctor Julian D’Angelo falls in love withstreetpharmacist Nomi Wyeth.
Whatever, I was intoxicated with the devil’s lettuce.
And now, the whole town knows it. What if Dr. Riveras finds out? The thought makes my heart hammer in my chest. I’ve got to do what Dr. Riveras said: keep my head down andstay clean. I’ve got to control this narrative.
Dr. Julian D’Angelo doesn’t do drugs and sing Céline Dion.
Dr. Julian D’Angelofightsdrugs,fightsdispensaries that prey upon poor people’s paychecks. Dr. Julian D’Angelois a hero.
“You better prepare for the fight of your life, Nomi Wyeth, because this is war.”
I shoulder past Nomi, who’s back to hating me again, just like always. Fine by me. If she only likes me when I stoop to her level, then she better get used to hating me because I’ll never do it again.
When my Lyft arrives, thankfully driven by nobody I went to high school with, I Google the name until I find the email address I’m looking for.
Council Member Tonuto,
As a threshold matter, I refuse to use the term “Council-friend.” It is ridiculous.
I am an esteemed member of the healthcare community in Sparrow Nook, and as such, I must state my utter contempt and disapproval for the proposed cannabis dispensary and lounge the council is set to vote upon at the upcoming meeting. Not only is this den of iniquity slated to open in the historic Strange Drugs Pharmacy building, which is directly next door to my FAMILY CLINIC, where there are CHILDREN present (at times), it is also a danger to Sparrow Nook’s already dwindling intellectual capabilities. We cannot afford any more rank idiots in this small town; we are filled to capacity. I urge you to vote against Ms. Wyeth’s outrageous business endeavor (truly, has anything appropriate ever happened in a so-called “lounge”?) and amend the agenda to allow a public debate immediately following Ms. Wyeth’s presentation next week. I will then educate the council about the evils of marijuana and expose Ms. Wyeth as the wolf in sheep’s clothing that she is.
Sincerely,
Dr. Julian D’Angelo, BS (Hons), MS, MD, ABEM
Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician
Lead Physician, Philadelphia General Hospital, Level 1 Trauma Center (Currently on Research Sabbatical)
Physician in Residence, Dr. Srinivasan’s Family Care and Urgent Clinic
Chief Resident, Yale University EM Residency Program
PoCUS, AIME, ATLS, ACLS, PALS, ALSO Certified
CHAPTER NINE
NOMI
Nomi, honey? You in there?”
Mom knocks on my stall like it’s my office door, which it kind of is. I found a quiet bathroom on the second floor of City Hall and camped out here with my flash cards rather than slowly go insane waiting in the audience. This is my way. It’s when I’m stuck in public that the painful spasms usually begin, so starting with the bathroom is like reverse psychology for my colon. It sounds crazy until you learn the gut has so many neurons, it’s considered the second brain and, terrifyingly, can operate independently of your real brain.
