The young boy walked along the darkened street forlorn and angry. Why won't she love me? he wondered to himself while kicking stray rocks that lined the street. A neon sign caught his eye and he stopped abruptly seeming hypnotized by the flashing light.
"Hmm…let's check this out," he whispered aloud to no one. Jamming his hands deep in his pockets, he opened the door and the jingle of the bell signaled his arrival but the woman inside knew he was coming.
"Come in, come in," she called from the other room. The boy sniffed, coughed nervously and looked around the dark shop. He turned to leave but she called to him again.
"Come, Justin, come see me please," the voice called out. His heart pounded in his ears.
"How does she.." he stopped, his eyes strained to see her and his breathing became shallow and rapid, his heart race with fear.
"Do not be afraid, I will help you," she told him. His boots made a click clack on the hardwood floor, the black and red beads parted the way to her inner sanctum and his eyes widened as he took her in. She sat at a small table laying out some sort of cards. A purple scarf covered her head, her eyes and hair were jet black and her makeup was rather garish. Her lips were cherry red, full and plump just as the rest of her seemed to be. Her outfit was colorful and her bracelets crackled as she moved the cards around, shuffling and changing them without ever looking up.
"How did.." she cut him off and finished, "I know your name? I knew you were coming Justin, the spirits told me, you seek your true love."
Justin swallowed hard, "Well, sorta."
"Ah, you've found her but she is not receptive, hmmm?"
Justin shook his head no, "She barely notices me," he toed the floor and kept his head down. The sadness crept over him yet again.
"Sit, tell me," she ordered. Justin knew these things, these psychics, weren't real but it was as if a force was propelling forward, against his will almost.
"Look, I don't have much money," he started.
She put her hand up, "No, my dear, this is a matter of the heart, I will not accept your money."
He smiled. For the first time in a few days he was truly happy. Maybe she could help him but even if she didn't, just being here made him feel better.
"Do you have something she has touched?" the woman asked.
"Uhm…." he shrugged, "my hand?" his face was quizzical wondering if that would work. They held hands while watching television but she just wanted to be friends, nothing more. Justin didn't understand, didn't she feel it? Didn't she feel the love he had for her, see all the things he did and sacrificed for her? Those thoughts had led him out into the night, searching, wandering and longing for her.
"Let me have your hand," she ordered again.
The moment she took his hand, palm up, her eyes glazed over and turned white. Justin tried to pull back but she had a vice-like grip on his upturned hand.
"Hey lady, you're freakin' me out," he yelled but she seemed to be in some sort of trance.
"This girl, she does not love you but here is another, she loves you very much, she desires to be with you, her name is Jessica," the woman hummed.
"Huh?" Justin stilled and a light went on, "Jessica? Jessica..OH..Jessica," he smiled.
He was silent then smiled again, "Jessica likes me? Wow." And just like that, Justin forgot all about..what was her name again? He couldn't or didn't want to remember. Jessica, a cute girl that dressed Goth but seemed cool, liked him. He floated out of the little shop and headed home with a skip in his step. When he was down the block, Jessica stepped out of the shadows. She was a Goth to be sure. Her hair was jet black, her eyes penciled with the charcoal so many liked to over use, her nails were black and her clothes couldn't have been any blacker.
She smiled as she pulled out money and placed it on the table in front of the woman, "Think he bought it?" Jessica asked.
"I don't know, but I will tell you, this is not the way to get someone to love you," the woman told Jessica. She only agreed to the charade because business had been slow. She pulled Jessica's cards and saw nothing good in anything about her but took the money, she had bills to pay, family to feed. She did feel sorry for the poor boy Justin but what harm could come of it?
There would be harm.
**
Vicki fidgeted in her seat, twiddled her thumbs and sighed about fifteen times. Henry on the other hand sat quietly flipping through a current rag magazine tsking at the articles that were so bizarre and ridiculous he couldn't imagine anyone believing any of it.
"Vicki, why are you so nervous?" Henry finally took her hand and tried to calm.
"I hate doctors," she replied with a slight growl.
"Really? I am shocked," he replied. She stopped fidgeting long enough to mouth 'fuck you' at him and frown.
Leaning over, he whispered, "Later," eliciting shudders from Vicki. Later meant hot sex. With Henry. Tonight. Vicki glanced at the clock on the wall. She was more anxious than ever to get this over with and get to Henry's place or her place, she didn't care just as long as it wasn't here and she was getting laid. Suddenly, a wave of nausea came over her. She grabbed Henry's arm and squeezed.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Sick..to …" she covered her mouth, "stomach," she mumbled through her hand and ran for the bathroom. Henry made his way to the desk with many eyes watching his fine ass and convinced the clerk that Vicki was going to be taken back right away. The girl returned with a chart as Vicki was exiting the bathroom.
"Vicki Nelson?" she called. Vicki made her way to the open door, went through and asked for some water.
"Certainly, let me get you to your room," the woman told her politely. After getting settled, Vicki lay on the table and covered her eyes with the back of her arm.
"What do you think is wrong?" Henry asked after a pause.
Shaking her head, she said, "I have no idea. I will be fine, then sick, then go for days feeling on top of the world, better than ever, then sick again or I just randomly throw up."
"Hmm…well, hopefully she will be able to help you," Henry offered.
The nurse came in, gave Vicki a cup of water and a plastic cup, "Drink this one," she pointed to the water, "and fill this one," she pointed to the plastic one a smiled cheerily.
"Groovy," Vicki rolled her eyes.
Vicki called out from the closed door, "Why am I giving sample?"
The nurse called back, "Standard, we do pregnancy tests on all female patients of child bearing age."
From behind the door, Vicki laughed….