VITALS RISING: DR. NOLAN WILL SEE YOU NOW

Chapter 1

Aria’s POV

“Next person! Miss Aria Scott, please go over to room 100 for allergy…that is dermatology, down the hallway on your right.”

The nurse shouted as her voice echoed across the waiting hall, jolting me from the restless scratching of my shoulder. I sprang to my feet immediately and walked to the counter; she gave me a card with my name written on it.

“Thank you,” I murmured quickly. She gave me a kind smile, the sort of smile that made you feel safe, but even if the smile was warm, that wasn’t what I needed right now because the irritation on my skin was getting more intense.

I pulled my jacket slightly as I was walking down the hall following her directions. My shoulder was red, swollen, and itchy, and scratching it only made it worse.

Allergies? Yeah. I feel so frustrated, and wearing a jacket in hot weather is something I hated, but I had no choice, right?

My bad!

Quick introduction: my name is Aria, I am twenty-three years old, and I am currently a student at the University of Texas. Last night was supposed to be a fun escape, a little school get-together party with my best friend and roommate, Linda.

Even though I heard that parties always end with fireworks and memories shared together…. Mine ended with…rashes, swelling, and irritation because of one careless mistake.

I have an allergy to drinks or cocktails that contain egg whites. It’s a rare allergy; trust me, it’s annoying as hell, and it follows me everywhere like a curse.

Someone must have mixed it into one of the drinks without knowing that I couldn’t take it.

And just like that, this was exactly how my night ended—with scratching, discomfort, and regret.

Now here I was, holding the card closer to my bosom and walking nervously down the quiet hallway in the hospital. Hospitals are what I hated the most!

I kept scratching my shoulder through my jacket, hissing slightly at the sting. The sign in front of a white door caught my eye: Room 100 – Dermatology.

I suddenly felt nervous to enter, but I waved off the anxiety. I took a deep breath, trying not to make the itch worse. Slowly, I turned the doorknob and stepped inside.

And just like that, immediately after I entered, my breath hitched instantly at the sight of the doctor in the room.

He was twirling around in his chair and holding a folder with his hands; his eyes slowly looked up at me. Omg! I think I’m going to faint…. He is literally the most handsome man I’ve ever seen, and just immediately, my heartbeat increased.

No, using the word "handsome" sounds too small… He was strikingly cute and pretty!

His dark curly hair swept to the back neatly; he has a sharp jawline, but I couldn’t see all because he is wearing a face mask, but those eyes! Those sea green eyes were so piercing that I almost forgot how to blink.

It felt like a magnet to me as I swallowed hard; his eyes didn’t leave mine, and I couldn’t stop drooling over him.

At that moment, I totally forgot about the itchiness.

My lips parted slightly, and before I knew it, I was standing frozen at the entrance, staring like some lovesick teenager. The card I was given by the nurse fell off my hand immediately.

Oh my God…

I felt heat already building up on my neck. What the hell was wrong with me? This wasn’t some movie scene where the doctor turns into your dream man, Aria! But my heart didn’t care about that logic.

He didn’t blink and didn’t look away at first, and that stare alone felt like a lightning strike to my veins. I had never believed in love at first sight. Never.

I always laughed at Linda when she told her stories and swooned over some random crush. I’m very picky when it comes to men and crushes, but him? I’m definitely giving him a chance.

And now, standing in this office with my skin burning and his eyes holding mine, I wasn’t so sure if I could control myself anywhere.

But then, just when I thought that he might be interested in me like I was, he just looked away; his face was nonchalant. As though I were invisible.

Excuse me?

No man had ever looked away from me that quickly. I wasn’t arrogant, but I knew my worth. My beauty had always spoken for me; I never had to fight for attention. And yet, this man… this doctor… brushed me off like I was just another patient.

My lips pressed together tightly, and I was kind of embarrassed by his reaction. What was wrong with him? I smile at him but get nothing from him. Weird!

“Young lady,” he said in a calm, controlled tone that sounded so nonchalant, “please take a seat. You’ll be tiring yourself out standing like that.”

The deep timbre of his voice wrapped around me like velvet, but his words felt cold, and to me it almost sounded like scolding.

I blinked, realizing in embarrassment that I was indeed standing stiff at the entrance like a lost girl. I let out a nervous laugh and hurried to the chair opposite his desk.

My movements felt so clumsy and awkward, like I was trying too hard not to fall.

He adjusted his face mask, reached for a folder, and clicked his pen. Without even glancing at me, he asked, “Name?”

For a moment, I didn’t even process what he said. My eyes were just fixed on the small metal badge clipped neatly to his white coat. The letters gleamed under the fluorescent light, and I smiled immediately.

"Dr. Nolan Edison."

I said casually, and that was when I realized that I said it out loud. “Nolan Edison…”

His brows furrowed faintly; I could see the confusion in his eyes. He repeated, a little more firmly, “Your name, please.”

“Oh!” I blurted quickly, my cheeks flushing hot. I tugged at the hem of my gown and licked my lips nervously. “That’s my name....no, wait, I mean, my name is Aria. Aria Scott.”

I’ve never, ever felt this with any man before. In fact, I’m still a virgin, and very picky when it comes to men, and I'm far from being reckless with men. I’ve never even had a proper boyfriend because no one has ever been good enough for me..they are not my type.

He glared hard at me for a second and looked away in irritation as he wrote it down on the folder. I felt so awkward at that moment; he couldn't even smile at a joke!? nothing. Just working and being professional... I wonder if he has a wife.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my heart pounding. What was wrong with me? Why was I acting like a high school girl crushing on her chemistry teacher?

“Okay, Miss Aria,” he said firmly, still writing. “What brings you here today?”

That feeling of his dismissal hit me again, making my chest tighten. I had tried, in my own little ways, to get him to notice me, but he wasn’t even sparing me the effort of real eye contact. For once in my life, I felt… small.

I swallowed hard. “Um… I… I…” My voice cracked pathetically. I forced a small laugh. Why the hell is my heart beating this fast? Then I mistakenly whispered under my breath, “Oh, my heart…”

His head snapped up immediately, his eyes narrowing in alarm. “You need a cardiologist to look at that. This is dermatology. We only treat skin issues, not heart diseases.”

Heat builds up across my face. “No, no, no! Not like that!” I waved my hands desperately. “I mean—I have an allergic reaction. My shoulder’s been swollen since last night. That’s what I meant!”

His expression softened into being cold again as usual, like he’d already returned to professional mode. “Show me,” he said simply. “Let me have a look.”

I nodded quickly instantly and slid off my jacket. I was wearing a thin-strapped gown that made my shoulders visible.

My heart skipped a beat as I tilted my head, sweeping my hair aside so he could see. The swollen red patches were now visible to him, itching with every second.

When his gloved fingers brushed lightly against the area, it felt like a magnetic charge sending cold shivers down my spine.

I wanted that!

But it's a pity because he doesn't seem to feel the same way. He was being professional and nothing more. But to me, it was fire—fire that ran down my spine. My breathing hitched, and goosebumps spread across my arms.

“Here,” I whispered. “It keeps scratching… It won’t stop.... Don’t stop!”

He didn’t answer; he just examined and inspected the swelling with his professional precision.

And then, before I could stop myself, the words slipped out.

“Doctor Nolan… I also have some on my butt too. Do you want to check?”

He darted his eyes at me and stopped the examination immediately; he sat back down in his seat and undid his gloves.

Realizing what I just said, I felt so embarrassed, covering my mouth with my hands instantly, and my eyes were wide with horror. Oh my God. Did I just say that out loud?

His eyes widened too; I could see the shock breaking through his face mask. He blinked, leaned back slowly into his chair, and for the first time, he maintained eye contact with me.

“What?” he said, his voice sharp with surprise.

I'm doomed!

His voice carried a weight that made my knees press tightly together beneath the chair. Will he finally chase me out of his office!?

I could feel the heat building up across my forehead, heat exploded across my face. I quickly corrected myself, I covered my hands on my lips as if I could erase the words. “Oh! I mean… I’m just kidding!” I forced out a laugh that was too high-pitched, and awkward.

My palms were already so sweaty and even the rash on my shoulder started burning and itching. This is the worst embarrassment ever!

“So, yeah, um, it’s just the same as the one on my shoulder,” I babbled, fumbling with the edge of my sleeve, “so I don’t think it’s important, right?”

I gave another nervous laugh, hoping and praying, that maybe, just maybe, he would crack a smile. Just a small one. Something to tell me that I hadn’t made a complete fool out of myself.

But instead of laughing, instead of even looking at me, he turned away and fixed his gaze back on the computer screen. His long fingers typed rapidly against the keyboard as if i didnt even ask a question at all.

I bowed my face immediately in disappointment pouting my lips. What type of man was this? What type of man had the nerve not to laugh at my joke, not to even acknowledge my awkwardness? He acts as if I was invisible, like my attempts to break the ice were just background noise. And yet, somehow, that made him even more attractive to me and gave reason to push on.

His voice came again, neutral and maddeningly professional. “When did the symptoms start, Miss Aria? Is this a recurring issue?”

I inhaled sharply, clutching the strap of my bag as if it could ground me. My throat was dry, but I forced the words out. “You know… it started ever since I can remember.” I exhaled loudly, hoping to sound casual, but it came out shaky. “It’s because…well…whenever I take cocktails with egg white in them it flares up. And, I went to this party with my friend, and…”

Realizing that I was overanswering the question, I stopped immediately and my lips froze.

Oh no. Oh no! no, no. I was rambling. My stomach twisted into knots. How the hell could I be telling him all of that? He would think I was some random, careless girl who couldn’t control herself at a party.

I prepared myself for his judgment, and the cold look that would slice through me. But what I was expecting didn’t happen. Instead, he leaned back slightly in his chair, with his eyes still on the screen, and his voice was still as calm as ever!

“So it happens any time you consume drinks with egg white?” he asked.

I hesitated. My lips parted, and after a pause, I said softly, “Yeah…”

But then, without thinking, my instinct slipped in again. “Doctor Nolan…” I whispered, my cheeks flaring crimson. My eyes darted to the floor, then back to his face. “Do you… do you know anything about unrequited love?”

The question hung in the air like a heavy stone dropping into water. His fingers stopped typing and froze mid-motion, poised on top of the keyboard.

For the first time since I entered the office, he looked directly at me.

Oh my goodness! His eyes are so pretty, sea-green, sharp,and unreadable, I froze at his gaze and my lips parted slowly as his eyes met mine. The weight of his gaze pinned me to the chair.

His jaw tightened slightly, and his brows furrowed in disgust and disbelief.

“Miss Aria,” he said slowly, his voice low and steady, “you should avoid things that harm you. Especially drinks containing egg white.”

And just like that, his eyes darted back again to his computer like nothing happened without even going back to what I said, his fingers resuming their typing as if my question had never existed.

I felt crushed. A wave of disappointment washed over me, heavy and suffocating. That wasn’t what I wanted to hear. I didn’t ask him about allergies; I asked him about love.

Why couldn’t he give me a different response? Why did he always push everything away, brushing off my words like they were meaningless? I think i should not ask further questions anymore hebmight have felt uncomfortable.

A few minutes later, he wrote something onto a prescription pad, tore off the sheet, and held it out to me without looking up. “This will help with the allergy. The swelling and itching should reduce within twenty-four hours. Remember—don’t do things that harm you, Miss Aria.”

I didn't take it immediately. I admired his pretty face at first and even though his words were so simple, they struck me deeper than I expected.

I forced a smile, reaching for the paper. “Thank you, Do-c-tor,” I said sweetly, dragging his name across my tongue like honey.

He didn’t respond. His focus was already back on his laptop. Gosh!

I rose from the chair slowly, the prescription clutched in my hand. My heart thundered and i wondered why, My body screamed at me to leave, to walk out of that office, to let this be the end. But my mind… my stubborn, reckless mind had other plans.

Halfway to the door, I stopped.

My rule in life flashed through me like lightning and a reminder: If you lose anything, be brave. With braveness, you get whatever you want in life.

I drew in a sharp breath, then turned back, adjusting my hair with a flick of my fingers. I tilted my head, letting my lips curl into the most alluring smile I could muster.

“Dr. Nolan…” I said softly, letting the name linger in my lips like a secret.

He looked up this time, his eyes glanced toward me with faint irritation and I guess it comes from the way I called him. “Is there a problem, Miss Aria? Did you not understand the prescription? Preferably, I can explain more on that.”

I shook my head quickly, my hair brushing over my shoulders, I could feel my pulse skyrocketing. “No,” I said breathlessly. “That’s not it.”

I stepped closer, my courage spiraling into recklessness. My chest tightened as the words tumbled from my lips.

“Can I… get your number?”

His eyes widened instantly, sharp and cutting like a blade. He stared at me in shock, in fact, his entire face was filled with a storm of emotions…confusion, disbelief, and surprise as his lips parted slightly but no words came out.

And that was when it occurred to me of what i said, my breathing hitched and my palms went cold.

Oh no. I think I fucked up!