***Author's Note***
As always, thank you to all who reviewed. Review responses are at the end. Also have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend with fireworks, food, and fun!
Disclaimer: I own Serena and Melody's grandfather.
Misty the Matchmaker
Chapter 4: Future Predictions
Melody Singer accepted the towel given to her by the stagehand and dabbed her face with it lightly. She nodded a quick thanks to the young girl and headed towards the small room the cafe had given her to use as a dressing room. Opening the door, she was not surprised to find a stout but sturdy-looking old man rummaging through her purse with harassed mumbles.
"Managers are not supposed to go digging through their client's bags," Melody said, letting the door shut with a soft click.
"Right now, I'm your grandfather who can't stand to hear your nonsense rap music ringtone," the old man replied. "Aha!" his hand emerged from the large bag, silver prize in hand.
"But it's not ringing right now."
"It might again. So I'm stopping it before it gets a chance." He rapped it against the dresser roughly.
Before her grandfather could permanently prevent her phone from ringing, Melody quickly snatched it away and pressed a button on the side to switch it to vibrate mode. She'd check her missed call later. Five songs in a row was fun, but not always easy with those hot lights beamed directly on her. And even though her outfit was airy, it didn't keep the sweat from coming and she had to keep running backstage in between each song to quickly wipe away any drops.
Now done with her morning cafe gig, she wanted nothing more than to go back to the hotel they were staying at and take a shower before her afternoon show at a school picnic.
"Grandpa, I need to change, so if you don't mind," Melody said with a wave towards the door.
Her grandfather rubbed his bearded chin but made no move towards the door. Instead, he sat down on a metal chair and motioned to the couch. "I am back to being your manager right now," he said.
Melody sighed and sat down, knowing what was coming. It was inevitable. It always came at least once a day, usually after her evening shows but apparently Grandpa or rather Manager Kei wanted to get an early start on the repetitive lecture. She bent down to undo the straps on her shoes as her grandfather started to talk, only half-listening as she kicked off the abusive heels.
Always, always the same thing. She had the voice, but not the emotion behind the words she sang. Since love songs were the most popular and most requested, that's what she sang. And while the audiences always cheered for her, a real pro would be able to tell right off the bat that she herself hadn't any experience about what she sang. And therefore, her singing lacked true strength and conviction which caused her to fail at being one with the song.
"Singers don't just sing the song," her grandfather said as Melody recited the next words silently in her head. "They become the song and in order to become the song, you must experience what is being said in the lyrics."
"Yes Grandpa."
"And because you have no real experience in this, you won't be able to rise higher in your career. Do you want to continue singing in these small towns and country cafes the rest of your life?"
No of course not. What self respecting and aspiring young talent would want that? Of course she wanted more, to be up on the big stage with camera crews all focused on her voice and journalists wanting an exclusive interview and adoring fans crying for autographs. But her grandfather and manager claimed that her singing still lacked that true oompf needed to fight it out in the big league of entertainment.
So what if she was already twenty-two with a lack of romance in her life? Was it that detrimental to her career? According to her retired musical actor Grandfather, it was.
"-you must quickly experience love and heart break and pain and happiness in order for you to become a true shining star!" Melody heard her Grandfather say as she zoned back into the one-sided conversation he was having.
"Which is why," Melody said standing up. "I've signed up for this town's match making service."
"Eh?"
"She's supposed to be an excellent matchmaker and I think she's about my age. A lot of people have found their matches with her so I decided to give it a try," Melody said.
"Wonderful!" her Grandfather exclaimed jumping up with the exuberance of a young man. "You must find your match so you can sing the happy love songs. Then have your heart broken so you can sing the painful songs."
"Uh huh. That's the plan," Melody replied dully ushering the old man towards the door. He left, talking to himself about how great this would be for her performances. Right, my performances, Melody thought with a heavy sigh as she began to undress. All she had to do was fall in love then manage to have her heart broken to be the best.
~*~
"-so please call me back at this number. Thanks and bye!" Misty finished recording her message on Melody's voice mail and hung up the phone.
"You're a diligent worker."
Coming out from behind the counter, Misty said, "And why do you say that?"
"Because it's a Sunday and you're working. I like that in a girl," Alvin said with a grin and leaned back in the chair.
"Exactly why are you here again?" Misty asked crossing her arms over her chest.
After Alvin agreed to being set up with Melody for an initial phone meeting, Misty had immediately stood up to leave the cafe and rush back to her shop so that she could get Melody's phone number. Her plan was to hurry up and get this infuriating man matched up with someone and sent away so that he would stop bothering her. Like he was now. She had thought that she would at least attain temporary escape by coming to her shop but no, Alvin Ketter made that little dream quite impossible by following her back. And now, he was lounging away in a chair whistling in a carefree manner and occasionally shooting her that smirk she had come to quickly loathe.
"I wanted to see how you run things," Alvin responded to Misty's question.
"I already explained the process to you yesterday."
"I like to have visuals. And you're the best one."
Ugh. Misty glowered at the man, marched to the door, and opened it so fast that the little hearts hanging on the back of the door swung violently against the wood. For once taking a hint, the stupid man rose and exited. Misty followed him outside, slamming the door shut and jamming the key into the lock.
"Temper, temper," Alvin muttered in her ear, the scent of vanilla and cinnamon wafting to her nostrils.
Shocked at the sudden closeness and warmth of his breath, Misty shrieked and shoved away the laughing bulk. Heat rose in Misty's cheeks and immediately she felt extremely stupid for having such a reaction to something so small. Why why why did this one man affect her so much? He was so civil at the cafe but his teasing manner was back and that flirtatious grin had returned as soon as they were out of sight of public eyes and ears. The hatred she had felt at seeing him earlier that morning was now seeping back into her veins.
Without so much as another glance towards the still chuckling man, Misty strode off in the direction of her apartment building, wondering if setting up such a despicable playboy with a sweet girl like Melody would have positive results. Misty came to a decision. She halted then whirled around on her heels so fast that Alvin, who was following closely ran into her. She roughly pushed him back before glaring up at the laughing chocolate eyes.
"Look you!" she said poking him in the chest without breaking eye contact and appreciated that he stopped laughing to her hear out. Though she could still see that dratted smirk. "I am serious about my work. And if you are equally serious about finding your match and talking with Melody, then you cannot go around flirting with other women, especially the matchmaker!" She emphasized her words with another poke in his chest.
Alvin caught her hand as she began to lower it and Misty could feel the blush unexpectedly rising to her cheeks once again. Stop blushing! she commanded herself, knowing it was futile but not knowing why she was reacting so.
Drat! Dratted insufferable man!
"I wasn't flirting."
Oh this was rich. Not flirting? Hah. Jerking her hand out of his clutch, Misty made a great show of wiping it on her pants as though he had contagious germs.
"I was being honest. And don't all women like honesty in a relationship?"
"You and I have no relationship except worker and client therefore you need not be so honest with me," Misty said between clenched teeth, while mentally berating her heart for quickening its pulse as soon as the word 'relationship' had escaped Alvin's mouth. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get home. Alone. Once I hear back from my client, Melody Singer, on whether she wants to meet you, I will let you, my other client, know. Goodbye Mr. Ketter."
And with that, the redhead strode away, refusing to look back into the eyes which her mind had suddenly and randomly decided were no longer despicable but quite nice when they appeared to be laughing.
What on earth was wrong with her brain and heart?
~*~
Girlish shrieks, loud excited jumbled words and a strangling hug all at the same time greeted Misty as soon as she entered her apartment. Still lost in thought over her self-analysis on why she had reacted the way she did to Alvin Ketter's obvious playboy antics, it took the young woman a few seconds to understand that A) she was being hugged and B) it was by her best friend.
"Rena?"
The petite young woman detached herself from Misty and grinned up. "I'm here!"
"So I see," Misty said with a genuine smile, all thoughts of insufferable men and traitorous blushing cheeks escaping out the window at the sight of Serena Seer. The two women shared a non-suffocating hug this time and after Misty had deposited her shoes in the hall closet, they made their way into the living room. "How did you get in?"
"Me!" came a voice from the kitchen. Duplica came into the living now as well to place a tray full of snacks and drinks on the coffee table.
"Where's Ritchie?" was Misty's next question.
Serena reached over to grab a glass of water and sat down on the couch. "He wanted to go meet up with some of his other friends and said he'll stop by later."
"Do you hear that 'plica? Apparently we're not as important as his 'other friends,'" Misty said with a tone of mock hurt in her voice.
"Mmhmm," Duplica responded plopping herself down in the seat across from the other two women. "We'll have to punish him for that."
"My vote is setting him up with a horrid girl from your service Mist!" Serena said with an evil grin.
"Serena! I run an honest -" Misty stopped, a blush rising in her face once again. Why was she suddenly thinking of him of all people and at the word 'honest' of all words? Such a pure word was now forever tarnished in her mind by the attachment it had with that dratted man! Realizing that her friends were now silently chewing their snacks and staring at her in wide-eyed confusion, Misty coughed and pretended to need water to wash down the peanuts she had been eating.
Thankfully, they decided to ignore the momentary lapse of oddness in her behavior as Serena now began asking Misty about her business. Misty responded by stating she had just gained a few new clients over the course of the week and things were running smoothly. "Speaking of work, you said you'd tell me what your new small job is."
"Yes," Duplica chimed in folding her legs beneath her. "I'm curious to know what you've been up to this past year!"
"Hold on one sec. Let me get my tools from my bag," Serena responded to which Misty simply raised an eyebrow.
As her friend walked over to her bag, Misty noted that Serena had let her hair grow a significant amount. It now hung like a dark velvet curtain down her back. She complimented the length as Serena finally came back holding what appeared to be a deck of cards.
"Thanks," she replied, now shuffling the cards quickly. "It makes me look more authentic for work."
"Which is what? A hair model at a casino?" Duplica asked.
Serena threw a couch cushion over the coffee table which Duplica deftly caught. "If you must know," Serena said kneeling down by the table and spreading her cards out so that they could see the images. "I am Madame Seer, fortune teller extraordinaire!"
"Are those tarot cards?"
"Yup. You know how in high school I was always interested in palm reading, astrology and stuff you all made fun of me for? Well turns out people will pay a lot to have their fortunes told about love especially when it's pretty accurate!"
Misty tilted her head. "Since when have your predictions ever been accurate?"
"Hey! Remember homecoming?"
"Yes. You said I would be nominated for Queen. Which I was. Because you nominated me."
"So it was still true."
"Uh huh."
"Anyways." Serena hoisted herself back up on the couch. "Since I majored in psychology and I've always been pretty good at reading people's emotions and I've studied a lot on the topic of divination, I can give pretty accurate readings. People have come back and told me so themselves."
"How about you show us a reading right now?" Duplica suggested. "Do Misty!"
Misty looked up at her roommate. "Why don't you get a reading about Mr. Snap?"
"Mr. Snap?" Serena asked raising an eyebrow.
"Her boss whom she's in love with."
"Wow. You work for the Rice Krispy elf? Can you hook me up with some free cereal?"
Duplica threw the cushion back at Serena's laughing face which she dodged. The cushion fell to the floor. Misty and Duplica proceeded to explain the situation to Serena who listened carefully. When they mentioned Duplica's need of a decoy boyfriend, Serena's eyes lit up. "Use Ritchie!"
"Oh he'd be perfect!" Misty exclaimed.
"Would he go for it though?" Duplica asked.
Serena shrugged. "Probably not but the three of us together could bully him into it. And this way, Misty doesn't have to use her service to set up a fake relationship. Right Mist?"
But Misty had frozen again, her hand poised above the cookie pile and a blush once again spreading on her cheeks. This was not good. There went another perfectly decent word to the side of misery because of its association from earlier that day. Quickly shaking her head and blinking, as though either action would help to clear away all thoughts of the blasted man, Misty let her hand finish its descent upon the snack platter.
Her second momentary weird out session had not gone unnoticed by her friends and this time, Misty's silent gratitude on their ignoring it went wasted as Duplica leaned closer and said, "Okay, what's the deal?"
"What deal?" Misty popped a cookie into her mouth.
"It's that guy again isn't it?"
"You have a guy?" Serena said, jumping in such excitement that her tarot cards slipped out of her grasp and spread out all over the floor.
"He has nothing to do with anything!"
"So it is him." Duplica nodded sagely then turned to Serena. "A new client."
"Who is?"
"We can't know names. Confidentiality rules. We can only know names after people are officially together. Anyways, this new guy has really been bothering her."
"Oh? How come? Is he not an honest -"
But Serena never got to finish saying the word 'man' as Misty let out a frustrated shriek. Grabbing the cushion that was on the floor, she buried her head into it and screamed again. A few moments passed until she finally raised it.
"Mist?"
"Sorry. It's just, he's such an annoying infuriating, despicable man!" she shouted, punching the cushion and imaging it was Alvin Ketter's big-eared head. She relayed her morning run-in with him and the continued incessant flirting despite her attempt to set him up with another woman. "He's already signed the consent form so I'm bound by my own rules to find him a match until he himself says to stop or three months have passed. I feel terrible trying to set up a playboy like him with a nice woman," she finished.
"Look at this," Serena said in a sudden soft tone of voice. Misty looked over. Her friend had cleaned up the tarot cards and they were neatly stacked on the coffee table except for ten which were laid out in a line face up. Was she doing a reading? Now during her rant?
As though she had read Misty's mind, Serena said, "Not that I mean to disregard what you're saying but this might help. It's rather curious. When I dropped the cards, these ten were the only ones facing up out of all fifty-some of them. And if I do the reading right, it sends a very interesting message."
"Are you just going to make up stuff to make me feel better?" Misty asked suspiciously.
"No. And I don't make stuff up. Each card does actually represent something. You just have to know how to read them."
"But -"
"There is truth behind these pictures and my words. You'll see. By the way, I'm doing a general reading."
"Proceed," Misty said wearily, deciding to give up trying to understand her friend's slightly eccentric ways.
Serena nodded and after another hard look at the cards, she pointed to the first two cards. "These represent your past and mean that so far, you have had a fairly decent and ordinary life and lifestyle. Meaning nothing too overboard nor anything too dull."
"You already know my past," Misty pointed out.
"Hush. I promise you, I am not making this up! That's what this card means. Sheesh, I give you a free reading and get only criticism in return."
"So basically you just said that Misty's life has been boring," Duplica noted.
Serena nodded. "More or less."
"Hey!"
"Moving on. These next two represent your present which says that an unforgettable person from your past has or will soon make a disguised reappearance in your life for a significant purpose."
"You're unforgettable because you're so weird and you've made a reappearance," Misty said.
"I don't count."
"Are you sure you're a real fortune teller?"
"Do I look like I'm disguised to you?"
"Your hair grew out."
"That's not a disguise!"
Duplica tapped her chin. "Hmm that's actually pretty interesting. Does this mean she won't recognize this person as someone from her past? Like, because they've gotten fat or dyed their hair or something?"
The fortune teller nodded. "Something like that. So she won't know them right away. Which leads me to the two cards representing the near future. It's linked to the present cards because they are saying that this disguised person from your past is going to stick around but he or she is going to make your life a lot more complicated both positively and negatively."
"How can complication ever be positive?"
"Can you not interrupt me after each section?"
"Sorry. Go on."
"The seventh and eight cards represents your wealth. Which," Serena paused and then let out a small curse. "Umm sorry to say Mist, but uh you're doing well now however it's all going to come to a standstill pretty soon."
"What?"
"Basically your independent business as a matchmaker is going to have some trouble."
"What!? Why!?" Misty exclaimed leaning forward then sat back. "Wait a minute, I don't even believe in this stuff."
"You'd better. Because I'm not making this one up. I mean really, why would I tell you something you wouldn't want to hear about your business?"
"So what do I do? Why is that going to happen?"
"Well let's read the last two cards and then we can piece together the big picture."
Pointing to the ninth and tenth cards, Serena said, "These represent your love life." She squinted at them, and then glanced at the previous two cards, then back at all the rest before saying, "Wow. Well...just wow."
Curious as to what was so wow-ing about her love life, Misty leaned towards Serena, her eyes wide. "What? What?"
"Oh so now you're all into this huh?"
"Just shut up and tell me what it says."
"It's a bit confusing. But, it appears as though the guy you're supposed to be with is near but far."
"Huh?" Duplica said.
"I don't get it either."
"But you're the fortune teller!"
"At least you admit that I am one," Serena said. She leaned back over the cards, her hair partially falling to veil her pale face. "Okay what it's saying is that he's somewhere here. As in, you've already met him lately, or you will very soon but you don't know his true self which is why he's far in a metaphorical sense. But because of this discrepancy, you might let him slip through your fingers so you have to be careful and not let him go because he's your true love."
"That sort of sounds like the person is...disguised?" Duplica said then sat up straight. "Do you think-"
"Yes yes! Maybe...the disguised person from your past is a guy whom you're supposed to fall in love with. But he's going to affect your business somehow in a negative manner. Which means....which means Misty," Serena said slowly, "you're going to have to choose."
"Choose?" Misty echoed, not sure if she liked the ominous tone in her friend's voice.
Serena nodded, dark eyes wide and brimming with seriousness as she said, "Loving your business or loving a man."
***Author's Note***
Dun dun duuuuun. Though our lovely characters haven't realized it, you as the reader already know that part of Serena's predictions have already come true! But what about the rest?? Business failure because of true love??? Eek!
Also, I have no idea if that is how tarot card readings go so I tried to keep it real simple. I know, I could've done research. I did. A little. But not enough so hopefully it was still believable! As for Serena, she is an original character whom I made up for my first AAML fic A Few Helpful Pushes. I decided to bring her back because I feel that it helps my writing to have at least one character that I own and can introduce my readers to. In any case, hope you all like her!
Now please review! Fyi, I do accept anonymous reviews for anyone not registered. (As you can tell, I want those reviews!) C'mon people, 50+ visitors for chapter 3 plus being added to people's author/story alerts yet only a minuscule fraction of reviews? You know you want to review! Thanks. :)
Angelicfairy aka *Maura*
Preview of Chapter 5:
She said into the phone, "Well Melody. It looks like this could work if you're willing to give it a try."
"Yup. That's why I signed up!"
"Great. Now you've actually already met this gentleman." And I use the term loosely, Misty thought. "He had come in right when you were leaving on Saturday."
"Oh! The one with the nice biceps?"
Misty blushed slightly at the memory but couldn't help but grin. "So you noticed too huh?"
Melody giggled. "Are you allowed to be checking out your own clients Misty?"
"I wasn't – I mean I –"
"Kidding! Kidding!" Melody said with a laugh. "Perhaps we should find you a match, eh?"
Review Responses – In general, you guys are awesome. Really. If I could, I'd bake you all fresh homemade cookies and send them to you. Right now. That's how awesome you all are.
Dramione x3: Hehe well Misty may possibly get jealous…but not yet. Right now she's so absorbed in getting rid of him, she doesn't even realize she's falling for him the crazy girl!
Modul: Yay! Another Duplica/Snap fan! They just seem to fit don't you think?? As for them getting together well, you shall just have to read this till the end. Many surprises to come! And trust me, it's hard to not publish everything I've already written in one go. But seeing the reviews per chapter makes it worth the wait. I have it written maybe only 2-3 chapters in advance but since I usually write each chunk in one or two sittings, I have to go back over each chapter and edit a lot till everything flows together perfectly before I post. :)
Tohsaka Rin91: Glad you're excited! I hope the excitement carried over to this chapter and will continue! How'd you like the new character Serena?
PokeshippersShadow1: Ahahahaha so true so true! To be honest I don't think they really do ever mature if my guy friends, who are all over 21, are any example. Lol. And of course, Ash not being so mature and so crazy is gonna find himself a bit over his head soon cause we know he can't ever plan anything right.
: Ah thank you!!! I'm so glad all doubts have been dispelled by the actual work! I hope I've managed to continue to hold your attention with this chapter and can continue it with the ones to come. And if I had spelling/grammar mistakes that'd be such a shame on me!!! I'm an English major afterall. That and I edit like a gazillion times before posting. :) Question for you: mind telling me what might have caused the doubts? I'm simply curious. Was it the summary? I've been thinking that maybe it's not catchy enough.