What's your HC for the girl Tobias and Ethan fell for at med school?
Nonny, thanks sm for this question! I never gave it much thought, but this was fun to brainstorm! Who doesn’t love some messy drama 🤭
This is my Ethan x Tobias x Allison love triangle hc:
Ethan and Tobias met Allison Wainwright at a bar Hopkins students frequented.
She’s also a 3rd year med student and they all hit it off right away.
She’s newly single but not looking to jump back into the dating pool so soon.
The more Ethan gets to know her the more he becomes infatuated. She’s charismatic, clever, and witty with a dry sense of humor.
He’s smitten, but he keeps that to himself. He’s never been one to divulge to anyone whenever he’s interested in someone.
It’s been a few months since their initial meeting, and she’s talked about being open to dating again. Although school has made it difficult to date anyone long-term, he’s willing to give it a try with Allison.
He’s planning on asking her out the day after Tobias’s birthday celebration.
It’s the day of the party. They’re at their favorite bar surrounded by their med school friends, Allison is amongst them.
They’re all having a good time. At one point Ethan makes his way to the bathroom when he sees Tobias at a dark corner of the bar making out with someone. Typical Tobias.
He’s about to continue on his way when the light hits the mysterious person’s face and he realizes it’s Allison.
His stomach drops. Well, there goes his chance. Ethan racks his brain, trying to recall Tobias making his interest in Allison known.
Tobias is a natural flirt and he’s made comments about how attractive Allison is, but he never thought anything of it because Tobias has been reluctant to get into relationships in the past. He prefers keeping things casual.
So now Ethan has to come to terms with the fact that his best friend is fooling around with the woman he’s besotted with.
He feels conflicted, but if they’re into each other he‘ll step back.
Tobias leaves the bar with Allison and doesn’t come home to his and Ethan’s shared apartment until later that afternoon.
When they run into each other they talk about their fun night, and Tobias is the first to bring her up.
The wistful smile on his face as he talks about her is all Ethan needs to know that he’s too late.
They’ve both fallen for the same woman.
Tobias and Allison begin dating shortly thereafter.
Ethan feels guilty for that pang of jealousy every time he sees them together.
He feels like a bad friend for wishing she’d flash him that tender smile.
He’s not in love with her, but he certainly cares about her. Knowing she’s with Tobias prevents his heart from falling too deep.
Several months go by. They’re now approaching their final year at JH.
Ethan dates around to get over her, but it’s difficult when she practically lives at the apartment now.
Tobias’s flirty ways return when she’s not around, however, and it irks Ethan more than anything.
He confronts him about it and asks him whether he’s serious about her bc if he isn’t he needs to stop wasting her time.
Tobias brushes it off and tells him not to worry.
“Your relationship is none of my business, but I won’t stand by watching you do anything to hurt her. She doesn’t deserve that.”
“Look, I’m new to this relationship shit. I know I’m not perfect. But it’s all just innocent flirting, all right?”
“If it’s so innocent why are you doing it behind her back?”
Tobias becomes annoyed and scoffs. “Okay, Dr. Relationship expert.” He air quotes. “I’ve had enough. I’ll be at the library. Or do you want to follow me there? Make sure I don’t cheat on my girlfriend?”
Ethan answers with nothing but a glare and Tobias leaves.
There’s tension in the air whenever they’re in a room together after that. They don’t hang out like they used to.
One day, Ethan comes home to find Allison alone in the apartment. Her eyes are puffy and red like she’s been crying.
He becomes concerned and sits down on the couch next to her and asks her what’s wrong.
She confides in him that she feels like Tobias is growing distant. He rarely takes her out on dates anymore and would rather hang out with his bar buddies.
That son of a bitch, Ethan immediately thinks to himself. This is exactly what he feared.
“Allison, you don’t deserve to be treated this way. You need to tell him how you feel. If he’s not willing to put in any effort then he’s not the one for you.” Neither am I, he doesn’t say out loud.
Regardless how pissed off he is at Tobias, he still considers him a friend, which means he’d never make a move on her.
As she takes a moment to process his words they hear the front door open.
Tobias walks in holding take-out food and his eyes land on his gf and best friend huddled close together on the couch.
“What is this?” He points between the two.
“Toby, we need to talk.” She gets up nervously and he notices her red-rimmed eyes. “About us,” she continues.
Ethan looks guilty as hell. And it dawns on him. “Are you leaving me for him?” he asks before he can think.
“What?!” Allison is appalled.
“What are you talking about?” Ethan asks, mirroring the expression on her face.
“You were so worried I was cheating on her, but you two were going behind my back, weren’t you?”
Ethan and Allison are flabbergasted and are quick to deny the accusation.
“Oh c’mon, I’ve seen the way you look at her. Tell me right now you don’t have feelings for her.” Silence. “Tell me!”
“That’s enough!” Allison interrupts, stepping between them. “I am not leaving you for Ethan. I can’t believe you’d think that of me. I was sitting here all by my lonesome after you canceled our date, only to find out from Facebook you’ve been with your friends. You said you’d be at the library, why would you lie to me? I don’t care if you want your space, but it feels as though you’ve been making time for them much more than you’ve been making time for me. So I brought up my concerns to Ethan. He was just being a friend.”
Tobias swallows, taking in her words.
“We’ll talk later. There are some things I need to think about,” she says and leaves.
The two men stand face to face in silence for a few seconds before Tobias speaks. “Was I imagining it?”
Ethan doesn’t need him to elaborate. He already knows he’s referring to the question he didn’t get to answer before Allison interrupted.
“I do. But that’s irrelevant.”
“I knew it. I thought you were my friend.”
“I am. Which is why my personal feelings are irrelevant. This isn’t about me. This is about you and Allison, and if you really care about her you either treat her like she deserves or you let her go.”
“Let her go so you can have your chance?”
“I thought you knew me better than that,” Ethan answers.
“We’ve always competed for the same things. Why not try to take my girl too?”
“Because you’re my friend.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” Tobias retorts.
“Competing for the highest grade is one thing, but I would never come between you and your girlfriend.
“Whatever. I can’t even think straight, I’m out of here.” He walks out the door, leaving Ethan disappointed and disheartened.
Allison breaks up with Tobias the next day. His friendship with Ethan is no longer the same after that.
And it’s not long after that Tobias tries to sabotage Ethan’s interview for the spot on Naveen’s diagnostics team.
Allison was definitely better off without either Tobias and Ethan. Since Ethan was so committed to school, I don’t think it would have worked out between them had they dated instead. Tobias was really into Allison, but staying in a committed relationship at the time wasn’t in his cards, which is why he started straying in the relationship. He never physically cheated, but flirting was definitely not okay. He’s matured since then, and current-day Tobias would never treat a partner that way ever again.
Allison never spoke to Tobias after their breakup, and although she remained friendly with Ethan, they weren’t as close anymore. She later moved to Texas for her residency, became a successful doctor, and is happily married.
Tobias and Ethan were able to work things out all those years later, so they become buds again after Tobias joins Edenbrook.
Ahh, sorry this was so long!