Chapter 1
The class was silent as the professor looked over the thesis papers of the Tuesday class. He slowly removed his glasses during reading through a particular paper. Setting the paper down after a good few minutes..the professor raised his head to face the class.
"The papers were fairly well written. The observations were thoroughly researched and I could tell you all worked hard on them. Well done." he stated. The class remained silent.
Professor Cutter was the most dreaded professor of all of Harper University. Never once had he complimented students. Especially academically....his standards were way too demanding to fullfill. Mr. Cutter waited for some kind of reaction from the class but failed to recieve one.
"Well...I guess that is all...class dismissed." he said calmly and the students gathered their things.
As the students filed out the door one by one....Mr. Cutter gave them a congradulating look but never said anything verbally.
"Ms. Luong...may I have a word with you?" he cried out while the young woman slowly approached him.
"Sure Professor Cutter ..." she replied while throwing her backpack around her shoulder. She waited as the professor searched his piled desk for something and recieved a finger gesture from him meaning for her to wait.
"Here we are....." he said while pushing away stray papers from a directed one. "I particularly enjoyed your paper Ms. Luong. Your point of views were very personal and desicive." he complimented while slouching against his desk.
The young woman seemed very surpised and pushed a strand of hair out of her oval face.
"Oh..thank you professor..I worked really hard on it." she answered. The professor nodded his head understandingly.
"I could tell.....I just wanted to tell you that you were one of the very few who recieved an A of all my classes. " he smiled.
Of all the months she had known Mr. Cutter..he finally showed some sort of affection. That..in its own right was truely amazing.
"Oh my damn....." she muttered silently. She was unbelievingly excited beyond words. An A? Everyone thought it was impossible to recieve an A in any of Mr. Cutter's classes.
"Wow....thank you very much professor." she smiled.
"You deserved it. " he said while slipping her paper into his briefcase.
The young woman nodded in a daze and stalked out her class slowly. She silently walked towards her car with her heavy backpack in tow.
"Ok..where are those damn keys?" she muttered to herself while fishing through her purse.
"Hey Asia! " a redhead called out while leaning on a red Navigator in the parking lot.
"Hey Audra.." Asia replied with a muffled voice while still digging in her purse. Audra giggled at her longtime friend.
"Asia..you should watch that po--" she warned.
"Pole...I know, I know.." Asia finished while steering to her right to avoid smaking into the huge lightpole.
"Ah Ha!! Got `em!!" Asia cried out in triumph, finally pulling her head out her purse. She made her way over to Audra and jingled the ring of keys in her face playfully...
"You DO NOT know how many fuckin' times I lose these in that dang purse." Asia yelped while laughing.
"HaHa..only you would be able to lose keys in your own purse, Asia.." Audra laughed while hopping into the passenger side of the red SUV.
Asia pressed her face up against Audra's side window and made faces at her in retaliation. Audra, being just as silly, returned the favor. Asia laughed one last time at her friend and threw her things in the back.
"Hey...you're still coming to the hospital right?" she asked while hopping in her seat and starting the ignition.
Audra turned to face her and nodded. "Yeah....I'll go. I don't think I have anymore classes today."
" Ok...I was just wondering. I thought I'd hafta drop you back off at home." Asia commented while pulling out of the parking lot.
"Nah..there's nothin' tah do at home.." Audra explained while reaching down to turn on the radio.
"...Wishin I can thank you in a diferent way..c'mon!!!" A guy sang.
Asia looked over to Audra expectantly and laughed as she saw her eyes grow to the size of golf balls.
"Audra..don't you dare sing along. I swear..if you do..you're gonna be walking your ass to the hospital. " Asia warned playfully while entering the highway.
"Awwwww...c'mon A!!!!!! It's my Brian's part." Audra whined.
Shaking her head in decline...Asia rolled her eyes. "Dang girl..when did he become YOUR Brian all of a sudden?"
Audra swiftly stopped her bopping up and down.
"Oh....and David Silveria from KoRn isn't yours?" she teased.
Asia broke out into a grin and stuck her tongue out at her.." David is very sexy for your information".
Audra continued her bouncing and sang in the loudest and most off key voice. Asia winced at the shrieking of her friends voice and thanked God silently as the Woodlands General Hospital sign came into view.
"Ok..Ok!!!! Audra!!!!!!" Asia screamed while grabbing her friends shoulders. Audra suddenly stopped.
"We're here. Now get your boppin butt outta my car.." Asia smiled while opening the car door.
When they were finally out...
"Shit Asia...could you have briused me any more?" Audra complained while gripping her shoulders as if she was in grave pain.
"Yeah I could actually...wanna see?" Asia replied while chasing after her.
"No!" Audra screamed while feeting in a rush to the hospital entrance.
Asia laughed as she stopped abruptly infront of the 'CAUTION: WET FLOOR' sign.
"Ouch..." she teased while Audra lay on the wet floor rubbing her bruised butt.
"Shut Up Asia!! DO NOT say a word." Audra growled while taking Asia's hand in a attempt to pull herself up.
"Ya know Audra...the sign was there for a reason." a crisp voice said from behind the two girls. Simaltaneously Asia and Audra turned around to face Cassidy Lexington.
"Oh...Cassidy...whatcha doin here?" Asia asked surprised.
"Yeah..shouldn't you be off shopping or buying new body parts right about now?" Audra shot back. Asia laughed outloud and slapped Audra playfully on the arm.
"That was mean..." she smiled.
"I know...." Audra gushed.
Rolling her eyes at the two..Cassidy flipped her golden blonde hair calmly.
"Whatever....I came to volunteer here." she explained.
Asia looked Cassidy over and found the pin-striped armband around her arm that indicated that she was actually volunteering.
"Geez..didn't think you had a heart. I thought you only cling on and help people to get something out of it for yourself." Audra sneered. Cassidy forced her hands on her hips forcefully...
"That's not a crime!! Besides I needed the credits to pass Health 101. " she fumed.
"HaHa..I knew it...." Audra laughed tauntingly while being pulled away by Asia, leaving Cassidy behind.
"I thought I told ya not to mess with her..she's such a whore.." Asia said while signing in on the Volunteer Sheet. Audra sighed.
"She started it..." she argued while taking the pen away from Asia to sign her name under Asia's.
"Yeah...I guess she did..but still..." Asia dragged on.
"Asia!! Just chill ok?..It's not like I'm gonna kill her or anything." Audra said with a wicked grin. Asia punched her on the arm playfully and clipped on her armband.
"Oh god....her comes Buggar.." Asia sighed as a freckled face guy walked up to them. He was also a college student volunteer and a real jerk.
"Well...if it isn't the double A batteries." he grinned.
"What the fuck do you want Eddie?" Audra yelled. Raising his hands in surrender.
Eddie laughed. "What's up your ass?"
Asia rolled her eyes out of agitation and walked up to his face...hers a couple of inches away.
"Nothing is up her ass Buggar..but I guarantee you that my foot will be up yours in a few seconds if you don't get the hell away from us." she growled.
"Ok Ok...geez..I just came to tell ya that some baby was found in a dumpster earlier today by some guys and doctor Beck wanted ya to check it out." he said while slowly backing away. He'd known Asia for a couple of years now and was very aware of the things she was capable of. Kicking his ass was one of them. Asia scrunched her face in confusion..
"Why me? Shouldn't a real doctor do that?" she asked. She was only a volunteer....she didn't have the experience.
Eddie nodded. "He said you were qualified to do it. Didn't you intern for Mrs. Lee? She was a pediatrician."
"Oh..yeah..but I only know that basics." she argued.
"Ok..well..you only have to check the baby out and everything. Basically just its stats. It's in 690." Eddie finished while walking away. Audra tapped Asia on the shoulder...
"You're gonna do it right?" she asked.
"Uh huh..I hafta...I'll only be a few minutes." she responded while heading to the elevator. Audra nodded and headed to help her typical patients of a few briuses and cuts.
The elevator dinged and Asia proceeded to her designated room. The room was in the Pediactric Wing. Asia rounded the corner and reached to open the double doors. The room's aura was of the usual hospital smell and the only sound that was heard was the beeping of the heart monitor.
Asia made her way over to the bed and peered down at the small infant. He was adorable with pinkish rosy cheeks and a chubby-cherubic frame. The large and gorgeous green eyes would woo all the girls when he gets older. Asia laughed softly at the thought and checked the monitor.
"Steady heart beat..." she said to herself while fiddling with some of the machine's nobs.
" Uhh..excuse us..." a soft voice interrupted. Asia quickly turned to face where the voice had come from and saw three men sitting in the waiting chairs.
"Oh..I'm sorry..I didn't see you guys. Were you the ones who found the baby?" she asked while smiling. They looked familiar. A taller and darker man stood up suddenly and nodded.
"Yeah..that's us. Is he gonna be ok? " he asked worriedly. Asia looked back at the now sleeping infant and smiled.
" Oh..he's gonna fine. Good thing you found him in time. He's in tip top shape."
The guy sighed in relief and stuck out his hand. " I'm sorry..I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Kevin."
Asia shook his hand gently. "People call me Asia..."
Asia smiled playfully. He smiled in return and the first guy spoke up..
" I'm Brian..it's nice to meet you." he said while taking her hand. " That guy over there is A.J....he doesn't talk much.." Brian grinned playfully.
Asia looked over Brian's shoulder and slightly waved at the third guy who was drapped in a pair of shades and a backwards cap. He chuckled and waved back. They all got up to see the baby..
"I dunno why anyone would wanna throw away such a beautiful child." The guy known as A.J said. Asia looked up to meet his gaze...
"Me neither...but the most typical reason is because abandoned babies like him are products of teen pregnancy." she explained while slightly runner her finger over the baby's delicate hand.
"It's sad ya know?....How girls these days just don't have any remorse at all. They put babies into dumpsters as is they aren't even human beings." Kevin commented while pulling up the thin cotton blanket up to the baby's chin.
"Yup..but that's how it is these days. We cases like him every minute." Asia sighed as the baby stirred in its sleep.
A.J looked Asia over... "Are you a doctor? I mean..you look incredibly young to be one already."
Asia looked up to see all three guys awaiting for an answer. They were thinking the same exact thing when they first saw her.
"Oh..well..I'm not one exactly. Not yet anyways. But I've been a volunteer here ever since my Freshmen year in college." The guys nodded.
"What year are you in now?" Brian asked. He was truely interested in college life. He wanted to go himself but never got the chance.
"I'm in my Sophomore year.." Asia replied.
"So you must be maybe 20?" Kevin asked.
" Nope...19. I'll be 20 in a couple of months." she smiled.
"That's good..just another two years till the big day." Brian grinned.
"Geez..you make it sound like it's just another 2 days.." Asia giggled.
Brian kept grinning foolishly and everyone laughed at him. Suddenly the door opened.
"Asia..you said you'd just be a few minutes. It's been like an hour. What's up with that?" Audra said not looking up.
"HeHe..sorry Audra..I was a little caught up I guess." Asia tried to explain. Audra nodded and made her way over Asia quickly.
"Is this cutie that was abandoned?" she said incredously.
Asia sighed remorsefully. "Yup..Can you believe it..I think he's like the 5th baby today to be brought her for that."
Audra shook her head at the thought. " Poor things."
Brian cleared his throat. Audra looked up to meet his beautiful blue eyes and smiled weakly.
"Oh...uh...uh....umm....." she stammered.
Asia laughed. "That's Audra's language for 'I'm Audra..nice to meetcha '."
A.J laughed along with her. "Hey Audra..I'm A.J" he said while giving her a little wave.
Audra still didn't say anything and swallowed hard in attempt to stop making an ass of herself.
"Hi....uh..umm..it's nice to meet you." she finally said while slowly regaining her composure.
"Right back atcha.." A.J smiled. Audra giggled softly and turned back to Brian.
"Hi Brian....it's so nice to meet you." she said while lost in a daze.
"Hey Audra.." Brian replied with a soft smile.
Kevin smiled softly. "Uh oh...busted."
Asia looked at him like he was crazy. " Busted for what?" she asked.
AJ's eyes grew huge. "You mean you didn't recognize us?"
Asia bit her lip. "Nope...why? Who are you guys?" she asked playfully while finally coming to her senses. This must be Audra's lucky day.
"Stop playing Asia..ya know damned well who they are." Audra grinned while not taking her eyes off of Brian.
Asia laughed. "Yeah..I'm sorry...I didn't know at first but Brian seemed familiar." she said while giving Audra a wicked grin.
"Oh sush.." Audra teased while turning a little pink. "Oh yeah....Dr. Beck wants the stats on the baby as soon as possible." she added while turning to face Asia who was still staring at the baby.
"Asia?" Audra said softly.
"Yeah..I heard ya...I better get down there then." Asia smiled while playing with the baby's little hand for the last time.
"Well...guys it was nice meeting you. Thanks again for being good summaritans and bringing the baby in." Asia grinned while heading for the door.
"Our pleasure..we wouldn't of left the little guy out there like that.." Brian said.
"Hey..we better be getting back home....we've been here for a really long time." Kevin suggested while peering down at his watch. The rest of the guys nodded in agreement.
Asia clutched the clipboard in her hand and set it down infront of the front desk nurse. She looked up and smiled..
"Hey sweetie..this is for the doc right?" the nurse said while flipping through the pages of information.
"Yup...could ya give it to him as soon as he gets back around?" Asia asked while smiling.
"Sure thing." she said while sliding the clipboard into the Dr. Beck's personal box.
"Thanx.." Asia said while giving her the volunteer clip.
"You think you can swing by Thursday? I think the doc wants you to keep up with the baby." she said. Asia replayed her schedule in her mind and found that all her Thursday classes ended at 3 o'clock.
"Yeah..I think I can make it. I'll be here around 4." Asia commented while waving to her as she walked towards the parking lot. A blue BMW was parked right beside her.
"Nice car..." Asia chuckled to herself while putting her purse in the backseat.
"Likewise.." a deep, raspy voice replied. Asia shut the door to find A.J leaning on the blue car.
"Oh..hey..I thought you guys left already." she said while leaning against her car.
He smiled. "Yup..Audra wanted me to tell ya that she'll see you back at home `cause she went out to eat with Kev and Brian." he said while pushing his light brown tinted shades back up his nose.
"Oh...I bet she'll have fun.." Asia giggled. A.J sensed her laughing.
"I'm guessing she likes Brian huh?" he asked. Asia nodded her head amusingly..
"More than you can imagine.." she said while raising and eyebrow. A.J chuckled and looked her over. She was truely beautiful. Tall, curvy, and fit.
Asia laughed as she could see A.J checking her out. "Ok..A.J..make it obvious that you're picturing me naked."
A.J looked up from her hips and turned a deep shade of red.
"I was not!!" he pouted while Asia laughed on.
"Yes you were..." Asia argued.
AJ cracked a smile. "Ok..Ok..I admit it..."
She grinned. "Thought so..."
Asia looked down at her watch and sighed...I gotta go...I'm hungry......she thought to herself.
"Hey A.J?" she said.
AJ shook out of his trance and looked up to meet her sparkling grey eyes. "Hmmm?"
Asia drowned in his deep brown ones. "Oh..I was gonna go grab sumpthin to eat. Wanna come?" she asked.
AJ jumped at the thought. "Sure..where are we goin?" he asked while pulling his keys out of his baggy sweat's pocket.
"Where else? Mickey D's of course." Asia smiled while hopping into her car. AJ smiled brightly and started the engine.