Painting

MArried To AIDS

Melinda fingers her bouquet as she waits in line to walk down the isle.  She can smell the paint on her lips -  it is sweet but not as sweet as her perfume.  She thinks about the sweetness for a moment as she dazes inside of her mind as she remembers the moment when her and Seth took a stroll along the sea shore as the day closed to sunset and he tells her he loves her -  her heart metls.  Melinda is distracted and when she comes to light the wedding organizer taps her on the arm.

"Your time to shine!"  he cues which also means her time to walk.

Melinda holds her breath as she peers through the door to the crowd which fills up the church -  it is daunting and for a moment her heartbeat skips a beat.  Melinda wants to back her feet away as she feels a warped moment when her feet wish to lift off the floor and her head to the floor, however she blinks her eyes as she is urged forward with a push.  Melinda walks, and when she enters the room all eyes are glued on her -  she freaks out, however then she sees Seth up ahead and all the hairs on the back of her spine settle and she is able to breath again.


Seth looks to Melinda whose blush shines red from the wedding cake she had eaten.  He had wanted to tell her that he had added alcohol to the cake but she seemed to catch on to its presence after one large bite and held on to her wits as her heart-murmur broke out.  Seth wants to laugh but he can only look concerned.

"How's your heart?"  he asks as he glares at the young woman who had had a mental crash after having had roused the wrath of her family when she had declared she wished to be married before college graduation.

"It's fine;"  tells Melinda as she glances at Seth wondering if he is ever going to not glare as though she is a stranger.  "Why are you concerned about it now, it was hammering throughout the whole entire wedding;"

Seth blinks -  he is unsure if Melinda is referring to the wedding or the cake.  He wants to ask her however there is some stiff coldness in the air as Melinda looks away and he knows that her spine has been made stiff.  Seth wants to itch his neckline, however he rubs his face instead before he turns away.

"So are you happy your married me?"  he asks as he glares at the silver brush on the oak table before him.

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"  asks Melinda as she shrugs.

"Because you had a drag of a time after eating cake;"  tells Seth as he winces on the inside.

"I knew it would!"  scoffs Melinda as she begins to play with her hair.  "I was waiting for it -  I thought I would faint by the reception though so I didn't want to worry about it until I was there;"

"It's amazing that you made it through -  your parents were staring at me carefully;"  tells Seth as he smiles at the memory of the way her parents laughed when Melinda's fingers began to shake in an obvious way to let them know she was feeling well under the weather.

"They wanted to blame you for taking me away from them;"  tells Melinda as she laughs.  "They wanted to stop the wedding, however they knew that it was too nice to stop;"  she adds.

"They told you they were going to stop the wedding?"  asks Seth.

"Several times;"  tells Melinda as she shrugs.  "But they didn't -  that means they approved;"  she smiles before she blinks to Seth.

"I am glad for that;"  tells Seth as he picks up a comb and fingers it for a while.  "I am very glad;"  he adds.  "I wanted to marry you;"  he tells.

"Really?"  asks Melinda.  "Why?"

"Because..."  mutters Seth as he swallows on the words I love you.  "I wanted it that way;"  he adds.

"Why?" asks Melinda willing to challenge.

"No reason why;"  tells Seth as he shrugs.  "Just because...."

Melinda smiles as Seth turns around to take a look at her -  she is still wearing her wedding dress and it looks used and crinkled.  Seth wants to tell Melinda to take it off, however he decides to refrain from asking.

"Do you want dinner?"  he asks as he glares at Melinda in a vacant manner.

"Dinner?  At eleven pm?"  asks Melinda as she raises her brows.

"Well we've only eaten cake and campaign so far;"  tells Seth as he grows a catch over wanting food more then bed.

"I was going to wait for breakfast;"  tells Melinda as she shrugs.

"I can't wait;"  tells Seth as he glares.  "I feel sick from hunger;"

"Okay then we can have dinner;"  mutters Melinda as she catches a tightness inside of her throat -  she knows that tradition says that they should have slept together by twelve am otherwise their marriage could be on the rocks, however she lets it go to allow Seth time to make a meal and eat it.

"Great!  I will go downstairs to cook!"  tells Seth before he fast leave.

"You're dressed in your tuxedo!"  complains Melinda -  however the door slams closed and she is left to grow sullen over having a marriage on the rocks so early.

Melinda whistles over the fact that her marriage is doomed from the beginning as a storm brews over her mind -  she does not know what is going to happen to her world; marriage was like a whirlwind that kept rotating around her even when she wanted it to stop, she couldn't do anything but look at it as it roated past her eyes and so she stood there dumb until it ended.

"What an awful beginning!"  gasps Melinda before she flops onto the bed.  


Melinda toys with the dishes which she is not too enthusiastic to wash.  She yearns for a dishwasher however Seth is not comfortable with the technology.

"Dishwashers don't work -  trust me, best to do it by hand;"  he tells her before he leaves for work.

Melinda grimaces as she pulls her soapy hands out of the water -  even she had a dishwasher at home, and her parents did not have even half of Seth's bank account.

"I hate washing dishes!"  complains Melinda before she dries her hands on a tea-towel.  ""I am going for a walk;"  she adds before she picks up the house-keys and leaves.


Melinda walks down the street and finds a park.   The day is hot and so she sighs as she wanders under the shadow of the canopy.  Melinda feels good -  but in her heart she feels heavy, and she does not know what.
"What is the matter with me today?"  she asks as she sits on the damp ground.  "I haven't slept with Seth yet and so I can't say I've already gotten pregnant!"  she mutters as she fingers the blades of grass which stand by her side.  "I am depressed;"  she admits with a nod.  "I never thought I would feel this way so far from my home, but I do;"  she adds.  "I don't know what is wrong with me -  I married the person I love;"  she adds before she thinks.

Melinda recalls Seths proposal -  it was after the prom and he was drunk and stoned; when he offered her a ring she laughed like it were candy and she flaunted it on her finger for five minutes before Seth told her he was serious.

"I am very serious;"  he added as he stared at her with stoned eyes that looked so bright Melinda grew nervous.

"I don't know if I'd want to marry you;"  she muttered inside of her mind in retort to how stoned he seemed.

He was normally sober -  however at the prom he had decided to get drunk, and when he drank he popped pills; then after prom he drove to the bottle store to collect champaign and wine, and then he popped more pills as they had shared a flask or two.

"I want to say yes;"  Melinda heard herself say as she continued to stare at the dark vacancy before them.

"Great, that's all I need to hear!"  told Seth before he kissed her cheek and turned his head to talk on the phone.

Melinda's ears picked up the words 'I am engaged' and she felt trapped -  she needed to get out of the car but her dizzy mind stitched her to her chair.  Melinda smiled at Seth as he looked across to her, but inside of her heart she felt guilty -  she hadn't meant to say yes, and she wasn't sure it was the right time to admit it.

Melinda blinks her eyes and shrugs as she leans back against a tree.

"Maybe I should have told Seth I wanted to wait;"  she adds as she stares at the perfect day around her.  "But I didn't know how;"  she adds.  "I just wish I could make my feelings right;"  she adds before she grows cross with herself.  "Who cares, I was dating him any way!"  she adds as she pouts.  "So what if I wasn't ready for it!"  she mutters.  "It's been done!"


Melinda returns home and watches television all afternoon.  She doesn't feel drawn to any show in particular, she just stares as an outsider and wastes time.  When Seth returns home it is with some take-away burgers and together they eat over the television table.  After dinner Seth forgets about her as he retires to bed early -  he has had a long day, and he sleeps like a log.

Melinda creeps into the bedroom and pokes at Seth's shoulder.

"Seth!"  she mutters out loud.

However Seth is too far in his sleep to hear her, and so Melinda leaves him alone.


Early the next morning Melinda wakes to see Seth as he leaves to go to work.  She smiles at him in her decrepit state, and he winks -  the movement makes her heart blink, however her face grows pale as though it is a turn off.

"What are you doing?"  she asks in her state of half-mind which has broken out of her subconsciousness.

"Going to work;"  he mutters before he walks away.

Melinda feels her heart crumble once again and she leans back heavily on the couch she has made her bed.  Melinda grimaces under her pout.

"When are we going to sleep together?"  she asks as she hears his car drive away.


Melinda spends all of the morning and afternoon watching television.  The shows made her moody, and she turns off the television with a headache on the top of her brain.

"Stupid shows are stupid!"  she mutters as she rakes her hair behind her ears.  "What kind of stupid director wrote those stupid shows?"  she asks.

A knock on the door breaks Melinda's attention and she moves towards the front door with interest.  Melinda opens the door and sees Seth's father Lester at her front door. He looks fresh and vibrant under the rays of the morning sun, and Melinda smiles.

"What are you doing here?"  she asks.

"Just checking out the place;"  tells Lester as he tries to look behind her head.  "May I come in?"  he asks.

"Sure;"  tells Melinda before she opens the door.

Lester strides into the house and looks around -  the house is neat and tidy, the kitchen dishes are clean thanks to Seth's help, the upstairs bedroom is well-tucked.  Lester sees the house in order and he smiles at Melinda.

"Keep up the good work;"  he cheers before he leaves.

Melinda glares at Lester's car and narrows her eyes at it departs.  She thinks the old man strange, and she shivers inside of her skin as she recalls the way he lingered over her underwear drawer.

"Well the first inspection gave me the green card!" she sighs.  "But it's strange;"  she adds before she closes the door.

When Melinda looks at her hands she sees them trembling, and she knows she had been shaken up by the visit.

"What kind of person inspects their sons house?"  she asks before she moves to watch television once again.


Later that evening Seth returns home.  Melinda raises her eyes as he turns the lounge-room light on and she smiles as he steps to stand in front of her.

"Hey there;"  he mutters as he glares at her.

"Hey;"  tells Melinda as she sits up.

"Did Lester visit today?"  asks Seth as he fingers a letter he has picked up from the mail box.

"Yes;"  tells Melinda as she feels pins poke at her skin.

"What did he say?"  asks Seth.

"The house looks good;"  mutters Melinda as she chews on the queer moment when she caught him leering at her underwear.

"That's good;"  tells Seth as he sighs.  "That means he likes us;"  he tells before he moves to go upstairs.

Melinda sighs and stops him with a call of his name.

"What?"  asks Seth as he turns to face her.

"When are we going to have sex?"  asks Melinda as she raises her brows.

"Whenever;"  tells Seth as his face grows a shade pale.

"Because the marriage isn't authentic until you do it;"  tells Melinda as she grows fevered from the stress of having to point out the simple facts of marriage out to someone who was probably going to ignore her every day until she mentioned it.

"Yeah, I know;"  mutters Seth as he crooks his head.  "Tell me when you are ready and we'll do it;"  he adds.

"I want to do it now!"  tells Melinda as she calls his words a bluff.

Seth pauses and shrugs before he scratches his head.  He doesn't look as though he wants to agree, however he puts down his work suit-case.  Seth rolls his eyes as he takes off his tie, and Melinda feels her blood turn cold as he takes off his shirt.

"You don't look like you are ready;"  tells Seth as he flicks off the lounge room light with his right finger.

"I know;"  mutters Melinda as she feels her throat turn dry.  "But I am;"  she adds even though her whole entire head tells her that she should run before it is too late.

"Then I am too;"  tells Seth as he walks towards her.  "It's going to be magic;"  he adds before he offers Melinda a heart-warming kiss.


Over the next few days Melinda lays in bed -  she doesn't feel well, and whenever Seth returns home from work he makes her feel ever more unwell by sleeping with her once again.  The world is a pornographic commercial for the next five days before eagerness for her body wear off.  Melinda feels gross and full, and in her weak state she goes for a walk, however she doesn't get far before she returns home.

""I feel sick;"  she mutters at the door before she faints.


Later that evening Seth wakes up Melinda who is tucked in bed.

"What happened?"  asks Melinda as she rubs her sore head.

"You fainted;" tells Seth as he glares at her.

"Oh is that what happened?"  tells Melinda as she rolls her eyes.

"What's the matter?"  asks Seth as he fingers some of her hair.

"I don't know -  I don't feel well;"  tells Melinda in complaint.

"Well maybe tomorrow you should see a doctor;"  tells Seth as he raises his brows.

"Maybe;"  mutters Melinda as she grows cross with herself for having had fainted.

"Do it;"  tells Seth as he glares at her.  "Please, for me;"  he adds.

"Okay for you;"  tells Melinda before she gives Seth her best grin.


The following day Melinda goes to the doctor.  She is given a blood test which proves that she has AIDS.  Melinda crosses her brows as the doctor tells her, and she grows hate inside of her body.

"What do you mean?"  she asks.

"I mean you have AIDS;"  tells the doctor with a grin.  "It's easy to treat now;"  he adds as he writes her a prescription.  "One per day, and don't mind the vomiting;"  he adds.

Melinda takes the prescription and leaves -  she is quite upset and she does not know who to turn to.  Quickly she buys the medicine prescribed and takes it, however it does not make her feel well at all!  Within an hour she needs to throw up, and it does not stop until later that afternoon when she grows dizzy until she faints once again.


Seth wakes Melinda up with a slap on the face -  she is startled, however her startle subsides as she sees Seth's seething glare.  She wants to shrug, however the energy to shrug is taken away as she feels pins and needles race up her right arm.

"What's the matter with you?"  she asks with doughy lips.

"You've taken medication;"  tells Seth as he raises his brows.  "For AIDs;"

"I know I must have caught it after having sex with you;"  tells Melinda as she sulks.

"I don'thae AIDS!"  wars Seth as anger makes hsi face turn bright pink.  "You don't have AIDS too!"  he tells.  "You're just getting pregnant;"  he tells.

"That's not what the doctor said;"  tells Melinda as she feels her stomach grumble.

"Well he is wrong!"  tells Seth as he grows evermore upset.  "He is wrong, and you are wong believing him!"  he gasps.

"Then you go visit him and see if you are wrong, about you;"  tells Melinda as she feels her brain turn into a thump which spells out her heartbeat.

"Are you trying to tell me that I should check myself out for AIDS?"  asks Seth as he glares.

"Yes;"  tells Melinda as she feels more tingles race over her skin.

"Well I don't need to -  I don't have it!"  tells Seth as he glares at Melinda iwth concern.  "I don't have it!"  he repeats before he leaves the room.

"Well I do, and I didn't have it before;"  tells Melinda as she grimaces.


Two days pass and Seth is hardly home.  Melinda cannot find her medication and when she goes to the doctor she finds that she cannot pay for the medicine -  Seth has taken all of their joint money out of their joint account!

"I had all my savings in that;"  mutters Melinda beore she sulks once again.  "What am I going to do?"  she asks as she sheds a tear before the ATM.


Melinda walks home and when there sees a car parked in the drive-way.  It is Lesters car, and Melinda sees chance of getting her hands on her money.  Melinda walks up to the car and sees Lester inside of the car.

"What are you doing here?"  she asks as he rolls down the window.

"I came to see if it is true that you have AIDS;"   tells Lester.

"The doctor said I have it, but I have no money for medication!"  tells Melinda as she feels her chance for being greedy rise.

"You don't need medication;"  tells Lester.  "You wait until your hair falls out, and then you have a baby;"  he advises.

"Who does that?"  asks Melinda as she grows alarmed.

"Everyone in my family;"  tells Lsster as he smiles.  "It's sort of in the genes -  but you can live a long life as long as you keep having babies;"

"Oh;"  tells Melinda as she feels her mind faint.  "I wish I knew, I didn't know;"  she adds.

"Maybe I should have told you;"  tells Lester.  "But not many people want to grow alarmed about such things, so I didn't bother;"

"Well I wish I was told!"  gasps Melinda as she feels age crimson her cheeks.  "I would have stopped the wedding and married someone else!"  she declares before she moves for her front door.

Lester sighs and slips out of the car.  He follows Melinda to the front door and then he follows her inside of the house.  Melinda turns around to face Lester and he stands there with hard set on his face.  Melinda wants to scream - he looks so menacing she wants to call him evil!

"Go away!"  she forces through her throat.

"No;"  tells Lester as he glares at her.

"I don't want to see you!"  declares Melinda.

"I don't think you should be left alone;"  tells Lester as he furrows his brows.

"Well I want to be left alone!  I want to sulk!  You've ruined my life!"  tells Melinda in war.

"I said you'll live long;"  declares Lester as he raises his brows.  "You'll live long.  We all live long.  You're not going to die.  It's just AIDS.  Your blood gets cold, that's it;"  he says.

"I feel my head spin!" rages Melinda.  "I fainted!  I almost died!"

"You fainted!"  tells Lester with a laugh under his breath.

"I almost died!"  tells Melinda as tears wet her eyes.  "It's horrible!  You're horrible!"  she adds before she turns to leave.

Lester follows Melinda to the lounge and there he grabs her arm; as she turns to look at him he slaps her once on the cheek.

"You can stop soiling our good reputation any time now;"  he drawls as Melinda finally breaks down in tears.

"I'm sorry;"  mutters Melinda.  "I don't know what to do;"  she adds.

"You sit and watch television;"  tells Lester as he gives her back a rub.  "You live well;"

"Okay;"  mutters Melinda as she shrugs.  "I can do that;"  she adds before she flicks on the television.

"You do that when I am not here;"  explains Lester.  "While I am here you can make me something to eat;"  he tells before he smiles.

"I can do that;"  tells Melinda as she grows a little sour over the fact that he should be so gender biased.


When Seth comes home Melinda is asleep on the couch.  Seth doesn't disturb her -  he needs to go to the pub to meet with his father Lester and brother Brad.

"We need to drink!"  declares Seth before he pulls on a casual shirt and leaves.

On the way out Seth looks at Melinda and stops for a second.  He wonders if he should wake her, but he doesn't seem to see the need for it.  Seth shrugs and leaves, and he doesn't return until he is drunk.


Melinda wakes up to the sound of a crash -  it is the head of the car slamming into the closed garage door!  Immediately Melinda grows alarmed and she heads for the front door and opens it.  Melinda sees Seth by the garage and he laughs hard.

"Are you okay?"  asks Melinda as she feels her heartbeat hard.

"Yeah, it's the garage door that was hit!"  tells Seth before he walks towards the front door.

Melinda sees Seth stagger more then once, however he makes it to the door without a trip over a single plant-pot.  Melinda smiles as Seth walks up to her, however he doesn't see her and he walks into her.  Seth feels the bump and laughs as Melinda stumbles -  she feels foolish to think he was going to greet her with a hug and she races back inside of the house with a bump on her brow.  Seth closes the front door and he rubs his eyes.

""I am drunk!"  he declares to an empty foyer.

Seth looks around and sees blur -  he knocks a couple of them over before he gives up and lays himself onto the carpet.  With quiet all around his brain he picks up on the sound of sobbing.  He immediately grows placid and he rubs his brow to try and erase some of the drunk.

"I'm just drunk!"  he declares to the ceiling.  "Go to your room;"  he adds before he begins to snore.

Melinda bites on her fingers and then she races upstairs -  she doesn't want to meet Seth drunk, and she locks the door behind her.


In the morning Seth rubs his eyes awake and he peels himself off the floor.  He knows he has a hangover and he scolds himself for having had gotten drunk.  Seth clears his throat and he wanders through the house to scope out the damage -  there is none.  Seth smiles and heads upstairs and it takes all of his brain to collect the right key to be able to open the locked bedroom door.

Inside of the bedroom Seth finds Melinda asleep on the bed, and his skin grows red hot.

"All you do is sleep!"  he gasps annoyed before he gives her cheek a slap.

Melinda wakes and her wits curmble as she sees Seth in his after-drunk state.

"What are you slapping my face for?"  she asks as she rubs the soreness on her cheek.

"To wake you up -  all you do is sleep!"   tells Seth as he glares.  "Wakes up, get up;"  he mutters.

"No I don't feel like it;"  tells Melinda as she brings the blankets up to her neck.

"Get up!  I want to take you somewhere for a drive;"  tells Seth as he frowns.

"You crashed the car into the garage!"  tells Melinda in war.

"Oh I did did I?"  asks Seth as he raises his brows.  "Let's see about that!"  he gasps before he races downstairs and out of the house.

By the driveway Seth sees the nose of his car crumbled against the face of a damaged garage door.  Seth feels the color drain from his face as shock floods through his eyes.

"So that's what happens when I have had a good nigh out?"  he asks as high tones pierce his ears.

Seth thinks he hears the sound of screaming and then he blanks out.


Seth wakes up in his bedroom and he grimaces.  He feels sore and he tosses his stare around the room to figure the soreness out.  Brad greets him at the bedroom door as he eats candy from a dish.

"Are those my jelly jubes?"  asks Seth.

"Yeah;"  tells Brad as he shrugs.  "I know you keep a bucket in the pantry cupboard!"  he adds.

"What's happened?  My head is sore!"  complains Seth.

"I kicked it;"  tells Brad as he shrugs.  "You ruined my car!"  he declares.

"That's my car;"  tells Seth as he tries to gather his thoughts enough to see the license plate inside of his head.

"No,we have the same car and you said 'wouldn't it be fun to trade for the night?';"  tells Brad as he wonders if Seth was conscious when he had mutters those memorable words.  "Drunk it seemed like a good idea;"  he adds.  "But not now;"

"I am sorry;"  tells Seth as he recalls the moment when Lester's let-down about them having the same car began to pick at his anger.  "I just wanted to fill in the gap that goes with being let down!"

"I don't know what you are talking about;"  tells Brad as she shakes his head.  "But you owe me twenty grand;"  he mutters.

"For what?"  asks Seth.  "That's a three grand bump;"

"Replacement, paint, polish, and handling charges;"  tells Brad as he glares at Seth with seriousness.

"I don't have the money;"  tells Seth as he furrows his brows.

"Sure you do;" tells Brad as he grows firm over the decision of draining money out of Seth.

"Take Melinda to bed and drop ten grand;"  tells Seth as a split headache slices is brain in two.

"What?" gasps Brad as he feels his nerves tighten.  "No way!  Twenty grand!"

"And a divorce!"  tells Melinda from behind Brad;s shoulder before she darts out of the house.

Seth snorts and rubs his temples as Brad feels his heart-beat elevate.

"Do you want me to run after her?"  asks Brad.

"Only if you drop ten grand for it!"  tells Seth before he moves to the bathroom to throw up.


Melinda sits at the park and sulks for a couple of hours.  She feels cheap and her marriage a cheat and she continues to let the minutes pass as cement sinks her heart.  Melinda doesn't bother to cry, she jsut stares at the birds and the grass with vacancy over her mind, and then after a long time she bothers to return home.


At home Brad meets Melinda by the kitchen as he helps himself to a sandwich.  Melinda scoffs, however she catches her scoff and bothers to smile.

"That's a welcoming gesture;"  tells Brad as he glares.

"I know;"  mutters Melinda as she feels her heart and mind drop.

She doesn't feel like being polite to Brad and so she goes to the lounge-room couch to sit.  However when sitting she grows more depressed and that is when she bothers to cry.  She feels sad for a moment before Brad enters the room to turn the television on.  Brad puts the volume on high as Melinda rubs at her temple, and then they sit.  Melinda stifles her tears as she runs fingers through her hair -  she doesn't feel happy at all.

Seth enters the room and he clears this throat as he glares at Melinda who leans too heavily to the side to be good company.

"Just go to the bedroom!"  he states sharply.

Melinda ignores him as Brad laughs.

"She's fine -  we're watching the game;" tells Brad.

Seth shrugs and walks to the kitchen to cook himself some toast -  he no longer wants to be hung over.


In the evening Seth pokes Brad on the shoulder to wake him out of his doze.  Brad becomes alert and he looks up to Seth who smiles.  Seth waves a check over Brad's face and Brad fast snatches the check.  He reads the amount of twenty grand and with a skip in his step he gets up from his chair.

"I am going to check that this is valid; when I get the thumbs up I will call to thank you;"  tells Brad before he leaves.

Seth waves and then he looks to Melinda who has also crashed.  He smiles at her and he leans over to poke her shoulder.  Melinda wakes and she shivers as she sees Seth.

"What is the matter?"  asks Seth as he glares.  "What you scared of?" he asks.

"Nothing;"  tells Melinda as she looks to Seth.  "I just thought you might be hitting on me or something;"  she mutters.

"So what is wrong with that?"  asks Seth as he leers.  "It's okay for me to hit on you;"  he mutters.

"No it's not!"  steams Melinda who fast sits up to repel any advance Seth could make.  "You've given me AIDS!"  she gasps.

"There is no such thing;"  tells Seth as he grows impatient for Melinda to cheer up.  "There is no such thing -  just you see, you will!"

"I don't want to wait and see!  I want to leave!"  cries out Melinda as her iris's grow wet.

"Then leave;"  tells Seth as he steps back.  "Leave!"  he steams.

Melinda looks to Seth for a quiet moment and then with some reserve she stands.  She looks to Seth who steps aside to let her pass, and Melinda shudders.  She doesn't actually want to leave the house she just wants out of the marriage -  she wants to go back home.

"I could have gone to college;"  she mutters.

"Then go to college;" retorts Seth.

"I can't!"  gasps Melinda. "I threw the entrance away!"

"So stay here;" tells Seth as he shrugs.  "I don't mind;"

Melinda smiles as she blushes -  she likes the way Seth says that, it makes her feel special.  Melinda shrugs and then she lingers as Seth stares.

"I don't mind that you stay;"  tells Seth as though Melinda is a visitor to a bachelor pad.  "I would like for you to stay;"  he adds.

"You would?" asks Melinda as she feels herself blush over the argument which would have led to a divorce if she had the nerve to walk out the front door.

"Just let me hit on you a little;"  tells Seth as he grins.

"Okay;"  sighs Melinda seconds before her heartbeat stats to hammer as Seth approaches her for a kiss.


Melinda feels her body crash the next morning -  she and Seth had been intimate for a whole evening and she feels tired and sore all over.  She thinks about his disease and she feels depressed -  she is sure to be filled up with what doctors term as AIDS, however she doesn't feel too bad.

Slowly Melinda rises up from the blankets to have a shower.  The morning draft makes her skin prickle, however as soon as the shower is on her she feels good and prickle-free.  Melinda slowly washes herself all over and then she moves back to the bedroom to dress.  Her skin is glowing and she still feels fine, and she is able to smile at her reflection when dressed.

"I can now go for a walk!"  tells Melinda before she leaves the house.

However when walking to the store the wind begins to chill Melinda and she is forced to return home once again.  When home Melinda pours herself some tea and then she moves to the lounge.

"That breeze just runs right through you!"  she gasps as her fingers sore after turning blue.  "Maybe I will have to stick inside of the house!"  she adds, however then Seth enters the house and forces her to take a drive with him.


In the car Melinda feels her energy lag as Seth drives along the highway to a friends house out of town.  Seth looks to Melinda over and again, and he even wipes some hair off her face.  Melinda smiles, however her mood darkens as she sits there and in the end she can keep her eyes open no longer.

Melinda sleeps and when she wakes she is in a hospital bed.

"What's happened?"  asks Melinda to the nearby machine.  "I fell asleep;"

"Coma actually;"  tells Seth as he approaches the bed.  "You may have been riht, you have AIDS;"  he whispers before he pinches her cheek to make the pale skin show a purple bruise.  "It's bad -  you should have taken your medication;"  he adds.

"You suck!"  gasps Melinda as her heart-beat murmurs.

"You're going to look old from now on;"  tells Seth as he raises his brows before a doctor steps forward to give Melinda a needle with so many drugs her skin wrinkles and her hair turns grey.

If I Could - Poem

If I could see another day,
I would want you to walk forth and not away;
If I could wake to have bliss,
It would be with a heart that is not in remiss;

If I could,
I would,
Unsure if I will;
IF I could,
Maybe,
Love would not be so still;
If I could,
I could break away;
If I could,
Life would be blue and not grey;

If I could I might not take the back door;
If I could I might not need to run any more;
If I could maybe there would be no hurt core;
If I could maybe then I would;

If I could,
I would,
Unsure if I will;
IF I could,
Maybe,
Love would not be so still;
If I could,
I could break away;
If I could,
Life would be blue and not grey;

Mary Is Forced Into Marriage

Mary is a young woman who is ripe for her age.  She knows that she should marry soon - but every person she meets makes her heart cold and rigid; she cannot give herself to the men who offer her their hands, and so she sits on her luck as she promises her mother that she will chose a man soon.  However in her heart she knows they are empty promises and she grows disheartened that she will turn into a woman on time.

"But this is not a competition -  it is the natural evolution of life; you fall in love and you move on to the next stage;" tells her sister Anne inside of Mary's head, however Mary cannot believe it.

"I need a miracle!"  gasps Mary as she looks to the stars.  "Send me one please?"  she asks.

Mary's brother Lachlan enters the room.

"Counting stars?" he asks.

"No just hoping;"  tells Mary as she grows cold over her pleas.  "What are you doing here?"  she inquires.

"Came in to interrupt your study!"  tells Lachlan before he offers Mary a gift that is a ring in a box.

Mary opens the box and smiles at a glass ring that is shaped like a diamond stone.

"What is this?"  she asks.

"A message from Sir Edward Landslow;"  tells Lachlan as he grins.

"Your awful friend?"  gasps Mary as she throw spite towards Lachlan.

"He says he will marry you if you escort him to the ball on Saturday;"  tells Lachlan as he grins.

"No way!"  gasps Mary as a shudder runs down her spine.  "I will not go!"

"But you must -  it is your wedding day;"  tells Lachlan as he grins.  "Mother agreed;"  she adds.

"But that is against my wishes!"  tells Mary as she feels her blood grow cold.

"It is time to grow up;"  tells Lachlan as he smiles a cold smile at  Mary.  "You must do as willed;"

"What an awful night!"  cries Mary as she throws the ring onto the carpet.  "You are awful, you all are!"  she gasps.

"I will bring you a dress that you shall wear and be married in two days tomorrow;"  tells Lachlan before he laughs and exists the room.


Mary cries for two nights and two days and she hardly eats -  she doesn't want to marry Edward but as the day of her marriage grows near all around discusses his name as though he is a celebrity.  Mary grows ill and by Saturday she is quite pale and cold in appearance -  all wish she looked better, but all worries vanish as Edward enters the house in which the celebration is to take place.

Mary walks through her marriage with iron on her head and squid in her gut -  by the end of the day she is exhausted and she goes to bed early;  however Edwards meets Mary in her bed and he manages to coax a kiss or two from Mary whose mind is green from depression.  Edward talks and Mary listens -  but her mind is far away, and by the time Edward leaves Mary has tears on her face which she does not feel.

Mary looks to the window and sees the stars.

"Oh dear, I wish my heart would break I am so ill!"  she mutters before she falls asleep.


In her dreams Mary meets a secret lover by a waterfall -  he smiles at her and she grows a love that is surreal and returns her health.  With her love inside of her chest her lover asks her to jump with him into the waterfall and she does with a trusting heart -  they fall into water, and they fall deep; they both struggle for breath and then they escape down a hole which takes them to a hideaway Eden in which they shall live forever, never to return.


Edward walks into the bedroom with breakfast in hand -  it is early morning and the sun shines light onto Mary's face.  However Edward fast loses his smile as he sees the blue on Mary's lips and he pushes the breakfast to the side and he approaches Mary fast!

"Mary!  Whatever is the matter?"  asks Edward as he presses fingers against Mary's throat.

He does not feel a heartbeat and he grows sad that Mary has died during the night.

"That is a shame;"  mutters Edward as he bows his head.  "I shall be sad for a week;"  he sniffs before he leaves the room and Mary.

Awkward Interest

Jacob looks at his family and he knows that he hates them -  they are skinny, awful looking, and he wants to blame them for being wrecks.  Jacob lights a cigarette as his wife Anne scolds him.

"Don't smoke at the table;"  she declares.

Jacob smokes and she hangs her head to sulk about it.

"What are you going to do to me?"  asks Jacob as he raises his brows.  "Have another kid?"

His three kids Marge, Patricia, and Lachlan, gasp in unison.

"Are you going to have another child?"  they question Anne who narrows her eyes as she sips on her wine.

No likely;"  declares Anne who shakes her head.  "I don't want any more kids;"  she tells the table while glaring at Jacob who scowls before he stands.

"Ill smoke outside then;"  he tells the table before he leaves.


Outside there is very little traffic and Jacob feels at home.  He likes the quiet -  it is peacful, restive, in subdue to his thoughts; he can feel good without even having to ask for it and it makes his sour temper retract.

"I like the night;"  he mutters before a light flicks on the bedroom next to the front door.  "Kids are no longer at the table;"  he mutters before he re-enters the house to take another look at Anne.


In the kitchen Anne is at the sink slumbering inside of her head.  She wants to cry -  however her mood has not yet lapsed, and so she sniffs a vacant sniff as though there should be tears but there are none. 

"So you want to sleep with me?"  asks Jacob as he stares at Anne's stiff  shoulders.

"No I do not!"  tells Anne as she grows more rigid.  "Leave me alone to wash the dishes;"  she tells.

"Okay;"  mutters Jacob before he scowls.  "Want to go on a date after?  I know this place..."  he drawls.

"No I do not!"  tells Anne as though tempered.  "Leave me alone to think;"  she tells.

"Okay;"  mutters Jake as he shrugs.  "I may as well go and see what the kids are doing;"  he adds.

"Homework;"  tells Anne as Jacob leaves. 


Jacob walks up the hall and checks on Patricia and Lachlan who sit at their study-desk drawing.  Jacob enters the room and looks at the drawings -  they are awful scrawls which say nothing about talent and everything about procrastination.  Jacob scowls as he feels his blood bubble.

"You two can do better then that!"  he tells before he picks up a book and places it in-between them.  "Here, copy this;" 

The two nod and look at the picture of a gorilla.  Lachlan picks up some coloured pencils and begins to shade while Patricia tears a portion of paper out from a book to place onto the picture. 

"You can shade after you sketch that outline;"  tells Jacob.  "I'll be back later to check on who has more talent;"  he adds.


Jacob leaves the room and walks down the way he has come.  He meets Marge's room and he begins to grow itches.  She has grown up in the past few months and her figure is more mature -  he wants to do something to her to let her know he notices but he doesn't want to be too dirty about it. 

Jacob enters the room and he sees Marge at her table reading a book.  Marge looks to Jacob and she smiles -  he can see she is nervous and he knows it is because he is a man and not a woman.  She has grown stiff over being a young woman and has called him a germ with a disease and moved to scrape him away at glance.  Jacob wants to feud with Marge, however he doesn't want her to know and so he calmly locks the door before he stands to glare at Marge.

"How's it going?"  he asks as one who already wants to hunt.

"Fine;"  tells Marge as she glares at him for a long time.  "How are you?"  he asks.

"Fine;"  tells Jacob as he stands still.  "I had my cigarette;"  he adds.

"I noticed;"  tells Marge as she raies her brows.  "Can I have one?"  she asks.

"You?"  asks Jacob as he raies his brows.  "You can't buy them don't ask for them;"  he tells.

"Okay;"  mutters Marge as she shrugs.  "Why are you here?"  she questions.

"To see you;"  tells Jacob as he glares at Marge. 

Marge smiles and runs a finger through her hair -  she looks nice, however the finger makes her hair messy and a strand falls onto her face. 

"You look like a tramp;"  drawls Jacob as he glares.  "How about we have some fun?"  he asks.

Marge drops her smile and she clears her throat -  she doesn't know what to say, only she knows what she doesn't want to say which is 'okay'.  Marge fingers her book and closes it as Jacob continues to scowl at her image -  she wants the attention to go away however it hovers and she feels foolish.

"I have a boyfriend;"  she mutters as she feels her face blush.

"I didn't know that;"  tells Jacob as he glares at Marge.  "I don't want to know it right now -  let's just be alone;"  he tells.

Marge shifts in her chair and she stares at Jacob once again.  Her energy has been made flustered and she feels as though she has been shaken. 

"What do you want?"  she asks as she glares at Jacob who seems to be a quiet enemy. 

"I want to see you;"  tells Jacob as he smiles and picks his mobile phone out of his pocket.  "I want to see you take off your clothes so I know what you are;"  he tells as he presses record on the video function.

Marge shrugs as she clears her throat.  She immediately knows that Jacob is being naughty, however she wants to adventure his naughty side and so she carefully picks her clothes apart portion by portion until they lay on the floor.  Jacob films Marge's physical body as his blood spurts with energy - sweat falls down his spine and he enjoys the sensation. 

"Can you do carpet splits?"  asks Jacob as he glares at Marge.

"Of course!  I am a cheer leader!"  tells Marge before she moves to the middle of the room to do a split.

Marge feels a string in her thigh pop as she performs the splits, however she ignores the pain and she smiles as she looks at Jacob from the carpet.  Marge feels her nerves tighten as she glares at Jacob and his straight stare -  he stands smiling, and she wishes she had the nerve to offer herself to him.  She has never had so much attention heaped onto her and she enjoys it; the idea of inscest springs into her mind and she wonders if she would like to do it, sleep with him? 

"I wouldn't mind another me;"  she thinks as she lays herseld down onto the carpet.  "I just wish I wasn't a virgin;"  she adds before she touches her breasts to try and gain Jacob's full attention. 

"You are one of a kind;"  mutters Jacob as he smiles and moves to the side to pick up a ruler.  "But you are being naughty with those fingers;"  he adds before he heads to Marge and leans over her.  "Keep it up I'll give you a spanking;"  he whispers in threat.

"I'm sorry;"  tells Marge as she shrinks inside of her skin.  "I thought you wanted a lay, I was trying to be sexy;"  she adds as she feels crawls on every goosebump.

"I was just checking your body for anything abnormal;"  mutters Jacob before he turns off the camera.  "Now that I know I will leave you;"  he mutters before he turns and leaves the room.


Jacob feels his body sweat under his skin as his heart pumps hard inside of its cage.  Anne looks at Jacob and sees he is about to have some kind of fit so she walks past him in a hurry to tend to the laundry.  Jacob waves to Anne inside of his mind as his blood pops and sputters -  he knows he wants to storm back into that room and lay Marge, however he knows he won't.  So Jacob moves to the television room to watch television until he is asleep -  when he wakes it is one am and it is time to move to the bedroom for a decent nights sleep.

Jacob walks down the hall and he stops at Marge's door.  He opens the door and turns on the light -  she is asleep and tucked safely under a blanket.  Jacob shrugs and moves towards Marge as she sleeps and he lets down the blanket carefully. 

"What's this?"  he asks as he sees a white night-dress. 

Jacob pokes at the dress and Marge wakes up from her sleep.  Marge smiles at Jacob as he looks to her and she mutters a quiet sound as he bothers to rub her breasts which are safely tucked under the bed-dress.

"What do you want?"  asks Marge as she feels the tender squeezes. 

"I  don't know;"  mutters Jacob as he feels his gut turn sour over the idea of giving her a lay.  "Maybe just a kiss goodnight;"  he adds before he leans over and offers her brow a kiss.

Marge blushes as Jacob's lips stay on her brow for a time longer then normal -  she wants to open her legs and let him inside, but she doesn't move; only Jacob moves as he backs away to leave.


Outside the door Jacob feels hot once again and he moves to his own bedroom.  With heat on his brow he gives Anne a hot lay as she remains asleep -  she doesn't know it but he has enough squirt to fill her, and so he does fill her until he feels drained.

"That's it, I am going to sleep;"  tells Jacob as he sighs.  "Tomorrow I will wake up clean;"  he promises before he goes to sleep.

Midday At The Pool

Ashley decides that she wants to go for a swim -  the weather is warm, the wind is sweet, and all she wants to do is dive into water!  Of course she is not directing herself to go to the beach which is located across the street, she wants to go to the pool.

"I don't like beaches they are too dirty!"  she mutters as she picks up her bag.  "I am going to the pool!"  she exclaims.


Ashley walks several blocks to get to the pool.  At the pool there are few people there except for the water guard who sits chewing on gum as he sails a casual eye over the activities in the water.  Ashley takes off her clothes and reveals a fit body in a blue bikini.  She feels a little stiff at the shoulders as the water guard turns his head her way, however she fast dips into the water and soon she is wading inside the pool.

"This is declicious!"  she exclaims inside of her mind as she kicks her feet to be able to tread water.  "I enjoy this so much!"  she mutters before she takes a dive under the water to enjoy its cool pleasure.


Ashley spends many moments in the deep water -  there are coins on the bottom of the pool and she bothers to collected a couple of dollar coins before she resurfaces.  By the edge of the pool the water guard looks over Ashley as she gasps and giggles both at the same time. 

"Excuse me Miss!"  tells the water guard.

Ashley turns her head to look at the fellow who appears to be a teen of nineteen or so.

"What?"  she asks.

"You were under the water for several minutes, do you mind keep above the water?"  he asks.

"I was just dipping!"  tells Ashley as she feel a breath of self-consciousness.

"Don't dip, swim;"  tells the water guard before he winks and moves back to his station.

Ashley sulks.

"What use is the water without the dip?"  she asks before she bothers to swim to the side of the pool to nestle herself in a corner as another fellow dives into the water.  "Now I will have to sit here;"  she mutters.


Ashley sits and sulks as she watches a few people swim and clear the pool.  She enjoys bathing in the water -  it is nice, she likes the smell, and when water rises to wave under her chin she even takes in a sip to enjoy the taste.  Sure she knows that pools are supposed to be grotty, but the water with all its chlorine tastes very clean.

"I wish I had something to do;"  she mutters as she sighs.  "After a while it gets boring here;"

The lights suddenly turn down low and Ashley feels her spine tingle as she notices the decrease in light.  She looks at the clock and sees that it is close to midday -  Ashley doesn't know what is going on, but the water guard strips off his shirt to dive into the water. 

Ashley looks at the water guard as he swims a lap -  he is a good swimmer but swimming does not impress her at all.  She yawns as he gets closer to the side of the pool where she sits wading.  Ashley expects the water guard to do a turn and swim back the way he has come, however he glides to the side and moves towards her. 

Ashley gulps down a dry swallow as the water guard stops a breath away from her.

"Is the electricity out or something?"  asks Ashley as she feels tingles on her skin.

"It's lunch time;"  tells the water guard as he smiles a charming smile that is all wax and polish.  "No custumers come in at lunch and no customers leave;"

Ashley feels a tingle light up inside of her brain once again and she suddenly feels as though she has swallowed a mouthful of fog.  Ashley clears her throat as she looks at the water guard -  he is so turned on by something, his eyes are as bright as a shiny sticker.

"Do you wear contacts?"  asks Ashley as she glares.

"Not likely;"  tells the water guard before he moves forward that extra bit to close the gap between their bodies.

"Hey what's this fresh move?"  asks Ashley as she places a hand against the water guards chest. 

"It's fresh for you;"  tells the water guard before he clutches her backside to give it a fondle and a squeeze. 

"You should back off!"  tells Ashley before she gives him a bit of a shove.

However the shove does not do anything but make the water splash against their shoulders. 

"It's fun time;"  whispers the water guard before he drags her swimmer bottoms off her hips.

Ashley shrieks as her nakedness becomes exposed -  she wants to get away, however in seconds the water guard has her trapped and he is pushing his foul sport up her thighs and inside of her.  Ashley wants to fight all she can, but in the end all she does is give in as the water guard claims her as his midday game.


Ashley walks home feeling drained and sore -  she has been at the pool to go for a swim and been treated to the midday specialty; she wants to go home and sleep it off as her thighs continue to shake.  She feels weak and tired and she can't wait to get back home.

Taylor Wants It To Rain

This is a short story about a Hanson concert.

Taylor looks at the crowd as he feels the drugs inside of his chest offer him a smooth sensation that leaves his body numb.  He wonders why there are so many people when the spray containers that hold the mist have some corrosive element that will make their skins burn and red rashes form.  He feels a cheat, however the last time he performed he was cheated of an encore and so he decided to tell the crowd that he will never love them -  the only issue is he will never hate them because they come to hear him sing.

"I don't like singing!"  mutters Taylor as he looks at the piano and knows that he needs to play. 

The other band members look to him and he ignores their stares as they form holes on his back.  It is as though their eyes are lazer, but he knows that his skin is diseased.  He has no muscle, only meat, and that is because he has AIDS.

"Soon everyone will have AIDS and be like me -  a tortured being!"  mutters Taylor to himself as he places his fingers on the piano keys. 

Taylor wants to start playing but inside of his mind he knows that he will not actually play.  Band member Zach tries a cord or two on his guitar which sits behind his stack of drums to that he can play a tune on it when he needs to.  Taylor looks to Zach and narrows his eyes -  he knows that he is waiting to show off his vocals and he knows that he will be loud when he does!

"What are you doing?"  mutters Taylor in a daydream as other band member Isaac strums his guitar to make Taylor want to start.  "What do you want?"  he mutters as he feels his heart beat fast.


Inside of Taylor's mind there is a memory -  he is a kid being beaten up because the people around him want him to sing.  Knuckles swing right, left, center -  he is thrown punch by punch until a rack of rings scratch his skin right down the chest leaving him cut and bleeding. 

"Are you my parents?" he asks to the nonsense people who are stoned.  "Do you want to come home with me?"

He gets hit in return and then he gets dragged onto an empty stage and told to sing.  As Taylor sings a bullet strikes his head and he falls down as blood rains all around him.  There is a criminal in the theater and they wanted him dead, needs him dead, so that he can't sing!


Taylor blinks his eyes and he looks at the theater once again -  he wants to leave, but a larger portion of him wants to stay.  Taylor clears his tone and mutters the name of a song -  however his two band members shout that he can't sing the song, and so he chooses another one. 

"Sunshine of my Heart!"  tells Taylor as he reaches for some water.  "Sing it raw!"

The crowd starts to sing as Taylor drinks water -  he knows he doesn't need to try and so he sits as the crowd raise their voices.  Taylor feels good that he does not need to play and his band members narrow their eyes as their feet ache to leave the stage.  Taylor bothers to press a key on the piano but it doesn't do anything but serve as backup to the vocals that are streaming in from the crowd. 

"When is it going to rain?"  asks Taylor to Zach who narrows his eyes and then leaves. 

Isaac follows so that he can grab himself a drink but Taylor stays. 


Taylor's manager comes out from the wings and asks Taylor what is the issue?  Taylor tells him that he wants it to rain, and the manager shrugs.

"It's supposed to be for later!" he declares.

"I want it to rain now!"  tells Taylor as he blinks sweat that has dribbles down his face.

His body feels cool but his skin is hot and clammy.  Taylor wipes his face and mutters to himself as the manager backs off and races to press a button at the back.  Water falls from the ceiling -  sprinkles of acid that wet the crowd all around.  Taylor smiles as he watches the crowd scream and grow excited but their screams turn into shrieks as burning is felt on their fleshy faces.  Taylor leaves as his mind grows excited -  the crowd is going to get burnt and he is going to have a good night sleep!

The Gift Of Perfume

Robert looks at Pearl as she walks through the school.  He wants to know more about her, but he lets her pass his shoulder.  The scent of her perfume drifts under his nose -  he likes it, but he knows it is too sweet for his most common tastes.

"Get some new perfume Pearl!"  he shouts as he turns around.

Pearl looks behind and sees Robert.  She shrugs.

"I like this one;"  she says.

"Then let me buy you the perfume;"  tells Robert as he glares at her and feels his heart pump that little bit extra to tell him that he has her on a different plank then any other person in the school. 

"Why would you do that?'  asks Pearl as she looks at him with her feet glued to the tiles under her.

"Because I want to;"  tells Robert as the bell for end of school chimes over his head a third time .

"Why would you want to?"  asks Pearl as she shrugs.

"Because I want you to wear nice perfume;"  tells Robert as he shrugs also.  "Will you wear it if I buy it for you?"

"I don't know;"  mutters Pearl as she fidgets.  "I don't know you;"  she adds as she pulls a face.

"I know you and you need new perfume;"  tells Roger as he grins.

"No, I like my own;"  mutters Pearl as she turns and walks away.

Robert smooths a hand over his hair and looks away from Pearl for a second -  he hears giggles and he knows that he has been watched!  Robert moves his shoes out of the school and towards his car.  Inside of his car he scolds himself.

"What does Pearl think she is refusing?"  he asks as he feels a grumble inside of his chest.  "I'll just buy her the perfume and then she can wear it!"  he scolds as he starts the car.

However at the store Robert can't find the exact perfume he is looking for, and so he buys three and an empty bottle and he spends all night mixing the perfumes for the right concoction to be able to woo Pearl to his tastes.


The following day Robert finds Pearl amongst the throng of peoples and he stops her in her shoes. 

"I brought you something;"  tells Robert as he smiles.

Pearl sees the perfume bottle and takes it as Robert holds it out to her. 

"Try it on why don't you?"  he asks.

Pearl shrugs, opens the bottle, and pours a small amount onto her wrists.  She rubs it over her neckline and she smiles.

"It's nice!"  she cheers.

Robert feels good!  He walks away from Pearl feeling tingles all over -  however when he later finds Pearl again he sees she has developed a mean rash on her skin.

"Hi Pearl, what's with the rash?"  asks Robert as he glares.

"It's from the perfume, the mix must be too strong for my skin!"  gasps Pearl as she grows embarrassed.  "I'll have to go to a doctor after school!"  she mutters as she feels heat tingle all over her brow.  "I don't want to talk about it!"  she adds.

"I can drive you to the doctor after school;"  tells Robert as he sees Pearl in fret.  "Or I can drive you now?"

"After school!"  gasps Pearl as she feels her skin shiver. 

"Okay;"  tells Robert before he lets Pearl move away. 


After school Pearl has a rash spread all the way to her shoulders.  She wants to scratch it, however she holds her fingers back even though the tingles spread all over every nail until they feel longer! 

"Let's go!"  tells Robert before he takes Pearl's hand.

Pearl nods, allows herself to be led to the car in the car park, and  then she seats herself on the leather-lined chair.

"These are gross covers!"  she tells Roger as she fingers the leather cover.

"They keep you warm during the winter!"  cheers Roger before he drives away.


Within twenty minutes Roger is waiting at the doctors office with guilt on his head.  He wonders how he could have been so stupid as to give Pearl something which would ruin her skin?  However Pearl is in a good mood as she leaves the office and she even smiles to Rodger after she has paid for the visit.

"I have a perscription;"  she tells Roger who smiles back as though  he is guilt free.

"That's great!"  he cheers, however inside of his mind he tells himself he is nothing but a fool.  "Want to grab a drink?"  he asks.

"I think I had better pick up the prescription!"  cheers Pearl before she leaves the room and building.


A block away Pearl picks up the prescription and she quickly dabs the lotion on her skin.  She sighs -  however in truth the rash does not go away only it seems to grow more red! 

"Looks better!"  lies Roger as he glares at the rash that seems to swell until it has protruded two millimeters from the skin. 

"I hope it does!"  gasps Pearl as she grows nervous over the itch that increases as the seconds turn into minutes.  "Can you drive me home?  I am getting tired!"  she asks as a frown becomes more evident on her brow.

"Oh yes!"  tells Roger as she smiles.  "Let us go into the car!"  he adds. 


Pearl fidgets all the way to the car and when inside she begins to fret as tears well inside of her eyes.  Pearl wishes she had never tried the perfume on and she begins to grow moody as she glares at Roger with his flawless skin glowing in ultimate health. 

As the car drives Pearl can take it no longer!  She takes out the perfume from her pocket, removes the lid, and she pours it over Rogers face and neck! 

"Are you mad?"  asks Roger as the car veers to the right. 

"I hate you!"  gasps Pearl before she turns the rearview mirror so that she can see herself in the reflection. 

Pearl screams as Roger struggles to regain control of the car.  He flips his head around his shoulder a dozen times and then he sees an ally in which to turn the car into!  Roger parks and then he wipes his skin -  to Pearl's frustration Rogers skin does not react.

"Are you mad?"  asks Roger as he grows heat on his brow.

"Yes at you!"   gasps Pearl before she looks at her skin in the mirror again and starts to blubber. 

"Don't be like that!"  gasps Roger as he tries to give Pearls shoulder a rub.

"Get your hands away from me!"  screams Pearl as she grows too hot to handle.  "My skin is ruined!  It is because of you that it is ruined!  You are a skin ruiner!"

"Okay!"  seeths Roger as he touches Pearls shoulder with the tips of two fingers.  "I am sorry;"  he mutters.

"I never want to be given anything from you again!"  tells Pearl as she grows red in the face.  "Never!"  she screams.

"I am sorry!"  mutters Roger as he shrugs.  "I really am -  I just found your perfume too sweet..."  he begins.

"I loved my old perfume!  I hate yours!"  screams Pearl before she gives Roger's face a harsh slap with the back of her hand.

Roger growls as he feels his face turn beet red under his skin.  He wants to hit Pearl so bad but with her skin looking so mangy he fails to reach out to her.  

"I am sorry;"  mutters Roger as he glares at Pearl.  "It was supposed to be a gift;"

"Some gift!"  steams Pearl as she crosses her arms.  "Some gift!"  she huffs before she begins to sob.

Roger looks at the time and knows he has to end the outting so that he can go to work.  He clears his throat and starts the car, and within minutes he is back on the road once again.


Roger drops Pearl at home and then he takes off down the street.  His mind is still set on Pearls skin and how gross it appears with bubbles forming like clear pimples on her collar bone. 

"I really blew it;"  he mutters as he drives along the street.  "Never mind, I am going to go to work and get paid!"


Roger parks outside of a house and he goes to the front door.  He rings the door bell once and immediately a guy named Corgan answers.  Corgan is not just any person, he is a paying customer -  what he asks for his sexual exploits, and Roger gives him his body so that Corgan can give him his money.


The following day Roger tries to find Pearl but she cannot be found, so he visits her house as soon as the day is through and there he meets Pearl by the front door.  Pearls' rash has spread to her chin, and she has small cuts from having had scratched it.  Roger tries to make a joke to lighten the mood he can feel on the air.

"The skin can rejvinate with urine;"  he mutters.

"What?"  asks Pearl as she narrows her eyes.  "What?"  she repeats.

Roger shrugs.

"I'm sorry it's just a quirky tale;"  tells Roger as he shrugs.  "I can see you are suffering;"

"I know I am!"  gasps Pearl before she picks up a tube of ointment and rubs it on her skin once again.  "The chemist said to expect an expansion before a retraction!"  she mutters.

"I am sorry I gave you the perfume;"  tells Roger as he bothers to touch a portion of the swollen skin.

It feels smooth and soft, like a burn that has just had a layer of skin replaced over it!  Roger presses his finger against the rash and juice squirts out.

"Gross it's infected!"  he mutters.

"It's just part of hte rash!"  gasps Pearl before she picks up a tissue and dabs at her neckline.  "It will go;"  she tells as her gut squirms over what seems to be a lie.

"I am sorry you have it at all;"  tells Roger as he shrugs.  "I really am!"

"I don't want to see you!"  tells Pearl as she grows mad over the blank in Rogers tone.  "Leave me  alone!"  she wars.

"Okay;"  mutters Roger as he backs his feet away from the door.  "I'll see you at school;"  he adds before he waves.

Pearl slams the door closed and Roger feels a chill -  he wishes that he had never given Pearl the perfume, and he blames himself as the wind blows over his shoulders.

Seth In Love

Amber looks at Seth as he stands in the corner of the hall talking secretly to Colin.  Colin looks over to Amber and waves and she feels shyness overcome.  However her shyness is met with bashfulness as Seth also looks over to wave.  Amber feels sick all of a sudden and she moves to the toilets to take a drink.


Inside of the toilets Amber looks at her reflection -  she wants to say she looks nice, but all she looks is flustered.  Seth has given her a rash that causes worms to make a meal of a her blood -  she feels contaminated, wronged, and even cheated.

"What's wrong with me?"  asks Amber as she thinks to herself over why Seth should stand out as a person amongst people who makes her feel wronged.  "He's just a guy;"  she mutters as she wipes a hand over her brow.  "I wish I wouldn't get so wound up!"  she gasps before the door opens and Seth steps inside.

"How are you Amber?"  he asks in a tone that sounds hard and depressed.

"Oh just fine!"  sings Amber as she waves.  "Will you go away please?"  she asks.

"You would like me to do that wouldn't you?"  asks Seth as he narrows his eyes.  "But I can't!  I've been thinking about us;"  he tells.

Amber rolls her eyes -  last time he talked about them he walked off to have a smoke and a drink until he was able to pass out on the garden lawn at her next door neighbours house!  It seemed that the confusion of talking about a relationship grew too much and instead of asking her out he went to overdose on drink as though the thought of the two of them togther were a cancer.

"We've talked and agreed to be friends;"  tells Amber as she feels her gut worm.

"We have made no such agreement!"  tells Seth as he narrows his eyes.  "I miss you;"  he mutters.

"We haven't ever gone out!"  gasps Amber as she raises her brows.

"I miss you all the same!"  tells Seth as he smiles.  "I like you Amber;"  he drawls.  "There's no one else for me, you know?"

"I didn't know!"  tells Amber as she smiles as her heartbeat bothers to murmur.  "I thought you were all for the other girls!"

"What other girls!"  gasps Seth as he looks through Amber's eyes so that she can see his stare completely. 

"I don't  know;"  mutters Amber as she plays with her hair.  "There are girls around;"

"I only like you!"  tells Seth.  "I really like you!"  he adds.  "You are the only one in my eyes;"

"Then why did you go out with Anne Simmers?"  asks Amber as she shrugs.

"She's a friend;"  tells Seth as he raises his brows.  'I like you, only you;"  he mutters as his eyes grow glazed.  "You are who I want;"

Amber walks around Seth as he stares into space -  she feels as though he is in a different world until she reaches the door.

"Where are you going?"  asks Seth as he glares at the dirty tiles under his feet.  "Why not stay?" 

"It's a dirty bathroom!"  complains Amber.  "It smells like urine!"

"So?"  asks Seth as he inhales a narrow breath.  "So what?  I'm talking;"

"I'm leaving!"  gasps Amber as she moves to exit. 

Seth turns his head and stares at Amber as she opens the door and bumps into Colin who stands with a toothpick inside of his mouth.  Seth wants to complain, however his heart is finding it hard to beat and so he stands still as Amber mutters short words to Colin who shrugs before she moves on.

"Why aren't you staying?"  asks Seth as he watches the door close.  "What are you looking for?  I am here!"  he mutters as a dark sensation crawls over his skin. 

Colin pokes his head into the room and he raises his brows.

"What are you doing Seth?"  asks Colin.

"I feel sick;"  mutters Seth before he bothers to take a step.  "I am sick;"  he adds as his lips turn from pink to red. 

"Let's go home;"   tells Colin as he crooks his head.  "We can watch television;"  he adds as he smiles.

"No;"  mutters Seth as he feels his head light up like a light.  "I won't go home;"  he adds before he moves to walk past Colin at sudden speed.


Seth races down the hall after Amber -  all students brother to gather to make his walk more difficult, however Seth manages to scrape through gaps and within moments he has caught Amber's arm. 

"You listen!"  he yells as Amber turns her head.  "We're going out!"  he adds.

Amber raises her brows as Seth finds it hard to breathe.  She knows he has popped pills, but what she does not see is the murmur trapped inside of his chest -  his heart beats hard as his head tells his body to stand still.

"I love you;"  tells Seth as he feels his patience drag.

Amber shrugs. 

"I don't know, I don't care!"  she mutters as she grows hot inside of her mind. 

"Yes you do care;"  tells Seth as he holds onto her arm.  "You do care, I can tell..."

"You're wasted!"  gasps Amber as she sees the same far away stare she has seen a dozen times.  "Leave me alone;"

"Wasted for you!"  tells Seth as Amber manages to set herself free.  "Come home with me!"

Amber walks away and students gather around to watch Seth as he stares in an uncommon way as though he might blow a fuse. 

"Let's go!"  steams Colin as he grabs Seth's arm.  "It's time to go home and watch movies;"  he adds.

"Yeah;"  mutters Seth as he feels his gut wince.  "I guess I can do that;"  he adds before he allows Colin to drag him away from the other students.


However back at home Seth finds it hard to watch television.  As Colin grows tired Seth leaves to trek to Ambers home several blocks away.  Outside of her bedroom window Seth leans on the glass as he looks at Amber as she reads at her table -  he knows she is doing homework, however the sick inside of his body grows and he knows that he will not back away. 

Seth flattens his hands and bang upon the window -  Amber turns her head and she narrows her eyes as she sees Seth standing there as though he expects to be let inside of the house.  Amber shakes her head and turns away, however Seth pounds against the window once again so hard that Amber's temper rushes to her feet!  Amber moves to the window and opens it.

"What do you want?"  asks Amber as she feels her mood grow sour. 

"I want you!"  complains Seth as though he is a child wanting a christmas present.

"You almost broke the windows!"  tells Amber as she feels her skin tingle.  "You almost broke my windows!"

"I'm sorry;"  mutters Seth as he grows cold inside of his head.  "I'm sorry I almost broke your windows, but they are still perfectly in-tact;"

"I bet they're splinted!"  tells Amber as she looks at the frame carefully.  "I bet you've dislodged them!"  she adds.

"Won't you let me in?"  asks Seth as he feels his eyes scrape over Ambers face.  "Please?"

Amber narrows her eyes and stares at Seth -  he looks queer all of a sudden and she wants to refuse him admittance; however his queer looks turn pale and he starts to tremble as his heart-beat murmurs and Amber rushes to him as he leans heavily on the window.

"What's wrong?"  asks Amber as he tries to move her fingers to touch his back -  her move failing only inches from the t-shirt that he wears.

"Nothing!"  gasps Seth before he straightens his spine.  "Let's go to bed!"  he adds.

"What?"  gasps Amber as she steps away.  "No way!"  she adds.

"I need to lay down;"  tells Seth before he moves to the back door and enters the house.

Amber follows Seth to her bedroom and she scowls as  he pulls his weight onto her bed.  She wants to scold Seth, however his skin continues to tremble and so she sits on a chair and begins to read. 

Seth stares at Amber as she reads with vacancy.

"What's the matter with you?"  he asks.  "Why the cold shoulder?"

"What do you mean cold shoulder?"  asks Amber as she looks to Seth.  "You can lay there and I'll read;"

"I want you to know that I really like you;"  tells Seth before he stands.

Amber looks at Seth as he crosses the room towards her.  She wants to run away, however she sits as though he might ignore her.  At the door Seth looks to Amber and he stares at her.

"If we end up in different worlds it is because you ignore me;"  he tells before he races out of the house.

Amber puts down her book and crosses her arms.  She knows that Seth has moved to sprint home and she has nothing to say about it -  he is a spntanous person who makes no sense to her, and she isn't there for the taking when he can only leave everything behind his shoulder as he steps on peoples shoulders to get his way.

"He's annoying!"   mutters Amber as she shrugs.  "I want anyone but him!"  she tells before she picks up her book to read.

The Crush To Walk Away From

Cara walks into school -  she is late due to a traffic issue in which her mother Sue could not find a place to get out of the way of a traffic jam!  Cara does not mind being late, only when she walks  into class she sees her crush Paul at the front of the room orating a speech he has ill prepared.  As Paul fumbles with his words Cara laughs under her breath -  her heart-beat is going a mile a minute and she feels giddy inside.  Quickly Cara sits down in her chair as she looks at Paul -  he is a character she can admire, but she has only seen  him not known him.

Anne passes Cara a paper and Cara picks it up.  Cara reads an insult and as she draws on the paper teacher Eric Sanders snatches the note and scowls.

"This is ill manners!"  he whispers to Cara.  "Detention!"  he mutters under his breath.

Cara sulks as ahe puts down her pen, only her smile rises as Paul look at her and begins to pick up his mood.  He seems to fumble less and Cara wonders why?  She wants to imagine there is a reason, however his next mistake in forgetting his speech makes him drop his notes and the idea that Cara has been an intelligent mental stimulation wears off and disintergates as Paul tells the class he is finished. 

"So you are!"  tells Eric as he pats Paul on the back.

Cara claps with the class and then her name is announced and she is forced to tell the teacher that she has no speech prepared.  The teacher gives her double detention and Cara sulks before a blush of shame rises up on her cheeks -  she doesn't want to say anything more lest she get more detention.


At detention Cara sulks in a lone room as Eric supervises.  She scrawls the words 'I don't care' on a pad of paper over and again while she is supposed to sit still.  Cara wishes that Paul were near then she would have someone to look at -  however he is not there at all; as far as she knows he has never been on detention!

A knock on the door breaks Cara's attention and Paul enters the room to talk to Eric.  Cara smiles under her stare as she listens as Paul asks Eric if he can do the speech again?

"My fingers slipped!"  tells Paul as  he feels his head turn warm.

"I am sorry Paul you only get one chance at doing the speech;"  tells Eric as he shrugs.

Pauls sighs and runs a hand through his hair.  He wants to ask Eric if he can double his grades some other way, but he knows he can't!  Paul retreats as the bell rings and Cara slips out of her chair to leave.

"One minute Cara!"  tells Eric as he watches Cara pack. 

Cara stops as Eric nears, and she blinks as Eric reads her scrawl. 

"Detention tomorrow;"  tells Eric as he raises his brows.  "No pen, no paper, just you;"  he adds.

"Okay!"  sings Cara before she packs her pad and leaves.


Outside of the classroom Paul catches Cara's arm.

"Hey there;"  he mutters in a shy tone.  "How was juvenile hall?"  he asks.

"It's detention not jail!"  tells Cara with a laugh.  "And it's both fine, I am fine, my temper is fine; I just failed to complete a speech!"  she tells.

"Unlike me, I failed with a C minus!"  tells Paul as he grows bashful.  "I was aiming for straight A's but for some reason I fumbled and the rest ruined my grade!" 

"That is a shame Paul, a dire shame!"  tells Cara as she shrugs.

"I wanted to talk to you about it, but you so jammed up with detention I could not tell you that..."

A spell of shyness causes Paul to stuff his words inside of his chest.  Cara shrugs as she glares at the crowds of students flocking to their school rooms  -  Cara wants to do the same, however she stands still as Paul peels his shyness away. 

"I noticed you;"  tells Paul as he swallows his last flint of dry tongue.  "I wanted to tell you that I noticed you;"

"No way Paul I noticed you too!"  says Cara as she smiles.  "I like to notice you, it makes my heart beat!"

"Really?"  asks Paul as he smiles.  "Mine too, I just wanted to forget about it but it comes...  I like you;"  he whispers.

"Really?"  asks Cara as she feels a flint inside of her chest. 

The teacher Eric pops his head out of the classroom and narrows his eyes as Paul takes Cara's hand.

"I would like to go out with you;"  states Paul, however Eric clears his voice and Paul drops Cara's hand as though it had turned into a bag cockroaches!

"Too class you two, and Cara detention!"  tells Eric as he points at Cara.

Cara shrugs and then she looks to Paul as her lips ache to offer him some encouragment.  She wants to tell him that she will go out with him, however with Eric's stare on her she backs away. 

"Maybe we'll talk tomorrow!"  cheers Cara as she waves.

"Look forward to it!"  tells Paul before he drifts with the last of the crowd to a nearby classroom.

Cara wanders down the hall and it takes ten minutes to reach her classroom, by that time the teacher inside has started class and Cara no longer wishes to go inside of the room.  So Cara walks away and finds herself a cozy place to sit outside on the garden where there are heaps of trees and few spectators.  Cara bothers to eat a sandwich and then she lays down for a nap.


When Cara wakes there are three students hovering over her as they smoke. 

"Hey there lay about!"  tells one named Sue.  "Having a nice nap?"

"Cat nap!"  mutters another student named Pearl.

"Cat walked out of class!"  mutters the third student named Lilac.

"I am not a cat!"  tells Cara as she sits and brushes the grass from her hair.  "I just didn't want to go to class;"  she adds.

"Neither do we!"  tells Sue as she offers Cara a cigarette.

Cara knows better then to refuse the cigarette and she takes it and allows Pearl to light it.  The taste of the cigarette is strong and smoky and Cara chokes on it for a minute before her lungs ease into the inhale.

"These are awful cigarettes!"  mutters Cara as though she knows her brands.

"It's the best!"  tells Lilac as she smiles.  "Tripple dose of cancer all in one bite!"  she adds.

Cara smiles and she hesitates in taking another inhale, however after a few seconds she does inhale.

"You are cool!"  tells Sue as she smiles.  "Want to come over to my house after school?"  she asks.

"I'm meeting someone else;"  tells Cara as she smiles.  "It is someone special;"  she adds.

"Oooh a boyfriend!"  sings Lilac as she snickers.  "Who is it?  Toby Ashwood is a hot flame!"

"No, Paul Hayden;"  tells Cara as she shrugs.

"That guy it hot!"  tells Sue as she draws in a breath.  "He got Ashley Brooks pregnant last month;"

"He what?"   asks Cara as she feels her heart drop.

"Ashley Brooks went out on a date and got herself banged up!"  tells Sue as Pearl snickers.

"He was hot for the dollar!"  tells Pearl in insult.

Cara feels the light around her mind turn dark and she smokes to hide the drop that she has discovered.


After school Cara walks home -  she no longer wants to look at Paul even though he waits for her by the bus-stop.  Cara avoids him by hiding herself amongst a group of peers, and then she moves on.

"I can't like him now!"  tells Cara as she feels ice cold wind slide her hair to one side.  "I don't know what to do -  it makes me feel sour that he has gotten someone else knocked up;"

Cara tells herself that she will no longer like Paul, only time moves to challenge her at school the following day.


At school Paul catches Cara as she enters the gate.  He leads her to a quiet spot where they chat under the shade of a gum tree.

"I've been thinking about you all night;"  tells Paul as he feels his eyes glint from the drugs he has taken to cover the fact that he has not slept a wink. 

"You have?"  asks Cara as she feels her heartbeat tripple.  "What were you thinking?"  she asks.

"I would like to go on a date with you!"  tells Paul as he smiles.

"You would?"  asks Cara as her feet shuffle back a notch.  "That is so wild, but for you I only want to be friends;"  she tells as she feels that cloud of black as it floats over her brain.

"Friends?"  asks Paul as he raises his brows.  "Why friends, yesterday you were close to saying you wanted to be with me;"  he tells.

"I never gave you an answer Paul;"  corrects Cara as she feels a stitch rise over her spine. 

"I'm sorry!"  gasps Paul as he hangs his head.  "I was so sure that you wanted to go out with me!"  he mutters.

"I am sorry I gave you that impression Paul!"  tells Cara as she shrugs.  "I really just wanted to say if you need a friend I am here;"

Paul shakes his head as he thinks -  he can't believe that Cara does not want to go out with him; his brow is a mess of hot rivets until the bells distracts him from his thoughts.

"I lost a night of sleep for you;"  he mutters as Cara turns her head.  "Are you listening to me?"  he asks in a sharper tone.

Cara walks away unable to look at the guy with the sore heart behind her who stands as one who feels ultimately let down.


Inside of class Cara sits through  her lessons talking the least out of all students.  Her mind is sore from telling her brain that she was wrong to let Paul go -  however Cara knows inside of her heart that she will only be his next gossip and not his next flame.

"He is just experimenting;"  tells Cara as she glares at the paper in front of her chest.  "He does not love me!"  she wars.


At detention teacher Etic looks at Cara as she sits staring at the floor.  He sees that she is close to crying as she sits on her brain which is busy and he wants to tell her to leave, however he does not say a word as she sits through detention quietly.

"You still have a speech to prepare;"  tells Eric to break the silence.  "How about you work on it?"  he adds.

Cara nods and she takes out a pad of paper and a pen, however her hand can only scrawl the words 'I am sorry'.


At the end of the school day Cara meets Paul as he catches her by the bus stop.  He looks at her searchingly as his mind grows depressed over her refusal to go out with him.

"Why aren't you wanting to come for a walk with me?"  he asks. 

"I just think we are on different mental planes;"  tells Cara as she feels a pang inside of her chest.  "I don't want to go out with you; I don't want to be serious with you; I just want to be friends!"  she adds.

"Friends are not even close to what I want!"  tells Paul as he feels strain inside of his chest.  "You come for a walk with me!"  he challenges as he takes her arm and pulls.  "Come now, we'll have fun!"

"Paul!"  gasps Cara as she takes back her arm with a yank.  "I can't!"  she tells.

"Why not?"  asks Paul as students turn their heads to look at their quarrel.

"You're not seeing the world, you are just seeing you;"  tells Cara as she feels her mind sulk over the scratches on her arm. 

"I am seeing you!"  swears Paul as he grows a beat inside of his brain that turns his brow moist. 

"I don't want to go out with you!"  tells Cara as she crosses her brows.  "You've hurt my arm!"  she spits.

"I'm sorry;"  mutters Paul as he wipes a hand through his hair.  "I am frustrated, tired, and alone;"  he mutters.  "I want to walk you home;"  he adds.

Students nearby cheer for Cara to say 'yes', but all she can do is say 'no' with a shake of her head.

"I'm sorry Paul, you are a loser!"  she spits as a bus moves towards the bus stop. 

"Loser!"  whispers Paul as tears film his eyes.  "Forget you then;"  he mutters before he throws himself in front of the bus.

Students gasp as Paul bumps against the bus, however the bump is too weak to throw him to the ground he only bounces off the front as the horn blares and then he runs!  All around Cara people hiss and she walks away as well to be able to disappear!

Rejected

Kaleb meets with his friend in the city mall -  he and his friends chat as they hang around the block and smoke but after a while people start starting at them in strange manners and the friends begin to jeer and show off their evil smoking habits!  During this display Kaleb grows a wandering eye as his friends chain smoke twelve cigarette's at the one time.  Kaleb sees hot teen Ingrid as she walks by in a pink top and flash pink pants. 

Kaleb leans to the side as smoke billows all around him.

"There's someone I have not seen in a while!"  tells Kaleb as he stares.  "I had best go for a walk, maybe we'll bump into each other;"  he mutters before he picks up his heels and leaves to stalk after Ingrid.


Kaleb watches Ingrid's backside as he walks behind her like a robot.  He can almost see the outline of her underwear and it makes him feel pretty hot under the collar.  He wishes that he could touch Ingrid in special ways -  however he knows that he has never been close enough to lay a finger on her hand let alone her body; Kaleb feels like a loser all of a sudden and he does not like the sensation!

"She's not a god, she's a person!"  he scolds his brain as he watches Ingrid closely as his feet speed to catch up with her.  "She's just like me;"  he mutters as he tries to pretend that she will say 'yes' if he asks her out on a date.  "She's alone like me, walking like me -  we're the same!"  he mutters before Ingrid turns into an empty block.

Kaleb feels his feet spirint and within minutes he catches up to Ingrid who has stopped under a dim shadow to look at a black wall.

"Hey there!"  cheers Kaleb as he walks up to Ingrid.

"Hi there!"  cheers Ingrid in a pleasant way.

"What are you doing here?"  asks Kaleb as he stares with intent on his eyes.

"Nothing;" sings Ingrid as she looks at her watch.  "Waiting;"  she mutters.  "Wasting time;"  she adds.

"That's cool;"  tells Kaleb as he smiles.  "So are you doing anything this afteroon?"  he asks.

"Nothing much;"  tells Ingrid as she shrugs.  "Why?"

"Maybe you would like to go out somewhere;"  tells Kaleb as he shrugs.

"What are you stalking?"  laughs Ingrid as she tosses her hair to one side. 

"No;"  mutters Kaleb as he shrugs.

"I know you followed me;"  tells Ingrid as she smiles.  "I saw you with the smokers;"  she tells.

"So what?"  asks Kaleb as he shrugs.  "I was just walking the same way;"

"No you weren't you liar!  You were stalking!"  tells Ingrid as she laughs.  "You followed me here!"  she exclaims.

"Maybe!"  tells Kaleb as he shrugs.  "Mabye I did!"

"You are a strange guy!"  gasps Ingrid before a call causes her to gasp.

"Ingrid!  Come here!"  tells a voice from up the block -  it  is her boyfriend Paul.

Ingrid sighs and looks to Kaleb who wishes he had the nerve to kiss her!  Ingrid hisses and then she walks down the block towards Paul who clutches her arm tightly as he moves her into a shadow for a discussion.

"What were you doing with that stranger?"  asks Paul as he feels his face swell.

"I was just chatting with him Paul;"  mutters Ingrid as she glares at his face while his features are swamped by swollen jaw muscles.  "He's a guy from school -  I know him, he's cool!"  she exclaims.

Kaleb smiles and walks away with that note on his brain.  He feels good -  but Ingrid winces as Paul squeezes her arm too tight for her to bare. 

"Let my arm go!"  she mutters as she feels her skin pain.

"You were flirting;"  tells Paul as his fingers burn.  "You are not to flirt again!"  he mutters sharply as though he has a knife inside of his hand.

"Sure thing Paul!"  tells Ingrid as she feels her heart-beat hammer.  "I had just stopped;"  she adds.

Paul looks at Ingrid for a long time before he lets her arm go.

"I can't stay with you today; how about you go home and I'll call you later?" tells Paul as his head grow hot.

"But I walked all the way here in my best heels!"  complains Ingrid as she grows sour from the rejection. 

"I don't want to look at you right now -  I feel shame for you;"  tells Paul as he glares at Ingrid with brown eyes turned red.  "I can't stand to look at you and not want to slap your face off!"  he mutters with spite. 

"Okay;"  mutters Ingrid as she feels a shiver up her spine.  "I will leave you to walk off your steam, but you call me to make another date!"  she tells Paul. 

"I'll call you later;"  mutters Paul before he steps away. 

"No kiss?"  asks Ingrid as she shrugs.

"Later;"  waves Paul before he dissapears.

Ingrid takes a moment to feel bad -  she hangs her head and listens to the cars as they drive on city strees a block away.  Ingrid doesn't want to hang around the city or its stores, she wants to go home to brood until Paul calls her.


Ingrid walks home;  she passes the stores, the people, the gang of smokers, the cars, the streets -  she passes everything around her as she continues to think about Paul and his anger.  She wants  him to let it go as though it is an object he holds inside of his hands, but he can't let go and so she is forced to turn away.

"I am so depressed!"  she gasps before she hears feet rushing after her.

Ingrid turns her head and sees Kaleb once again.  She wants to tell him to go away -  however she forces herself to smile as he says hello.

"What do you want?"  asks Ingrid as she looks to Kaleb.

"I want to walk you home!"  tells Kaleb as he shrugs.

"That is very nice, but I would prefer to walk home on my own;"  tells Ingrid as she feels a dip inside of belly which states that she is miserable. 

"Okay;"  mutters Kaleb who grows angered and flushered over the rejection.  "Whatever you want;"  he tells.

"I want to walk home alone;"  tells Ingrid.  "Maybe another day we can chat;"  she mutters as she waves and turns her head around to face the street before her.

Kaleb takes a cigarette and smokes as he watches Ingrid walk away.  He wishes he could follow her -  however his feet stands still; he has been given the ultimate rejection, and he longer wishes to walk, only to stand until he is able to believe that he will be okay after being stung with a needle that has pierced his heart and left him broken.