Truth:Chapter 7

Truth:Chapter 7


“NO, NO, NO!” a woman’s voice screamed.
I rushed into the room.
“Shh, Christina, it’s okay. Did you have a bad dream?” I asked , stroking her hair.
“Obviously, or I wouldn’t be screaming- I’m sorry. I’m just remembering him…that” she gulped
“It’s okay. It’s almost 6 in the morning, we might as well get up. Come on, you can help me make breakfast. I know, no eggs because it “smells like fart”
She shooed me out of her room so she could get dressed.
When she walked out, she was in a light yellow v-neck sweater, blue straight-leg jeans and gray boots. Her hair was getting its shininess back. Thank god. She was starting to look like a zombie.
“Did you just call me a zombie!” Christina screeched.
“Yes, I did. You manic-depressed babe!” I laughed and ducked when she threw a book at me.
“Coffeeeee” Christina murmured.
“Grind it. I got Columbian this time.”
“You’re a god, Colin.”
“What else is new?” I smiled at her.
*
“EAT something, Christina!” I whispered at her.
We were at my parents gala thing, something rich snobs do to show off how much money they have; we were there and Christina barely touched her salmon.
“I’m not hungry.” She replied, sipping her third cup of coffee.
“You’re NEVER hungry”I whispered harshly.
“Tom, if you are going to snap at me, I could get Colin to drive me home. He IS at the same event, you realize?”
Colin. That punk. He’s not queer. I know it. He looks at Christina like she is a Goddess. (which she is) I’m sick of hearing about Colin this, Colin that. Oh, he plays rugby, cooks, makes the BEST coffee, cleans up after himself- my best friend. Please.
“Tom, are you listening to me?”
“No.” I snapped.
“There’s this girl trying to catch your attention.” She sniffed.
“Oh, shit, shit, shit. That’s Camilla. She’s been after me for years.”
“She’s pretty.”
“And insane.”
Christina glared- she always did when I remarked on sanity.
Camilla walked to our table.]
“Tom Dugrey! Have you heard? I’m pregnant! My husband is a Russian ambassador.. oh Mrs. Hughes is calling. Tata”
Christina stiffened.
“Hughes? “ I said.
We looked at each other, and a moment later watched as a burly man- who looked like he stepped out of a romance novel cover- walked over to Christina.
“Christina, hi.”
Christina raised an eyebrow and sipped her coffee, completely ignoring him.
Good girl.
“Why aren’t you talking to me?”
“Unless,” she started”You are telling me you are kneeling over and dying, perhaps I will talk to you- but probably not”
Hughes clenched his fists and left.
“How long have you been working on that?” I asked, a little awed at how well she handled the situation.
“AGES!” she laughed
*
“I had a nice time. “ I said, trying to find my keys.
“Me too.”
There he goes with his look. Does he have something in his eye? Why is he staring at me like that?
“You should go, now.” I said. I wanted to watch Anderson Cooper with Colin(we both have massive crushes on that silver fox)
“Rude, much?” he laughed.
“You like it.”
He leaned in. I leaned back.
To diffuse the tension, I joked “Are we dancing?”
“AROUND EACH OTHER!” came Grandma Cheryl’s reply.
I laughed and waved Tom goodbye.
*
“Grandma! We do not like each other! Besides, Tom doesn’t know I’m…you know…or that…I was in… you know.”
My grandmother sighed and patted the seat next to her on the couch.
“Honey, “she said softly”You’ve been through so much, but you got Colin, and me, and now Tom(who loves you)- you got to let the past go. It’s nothing but a memory. That’s it. A memory.”
*
The dreams were getting worse. I didn’t call out my mother’s name though. I didn’t want to worry Colin.
*
I hate therapist offices. There was always that annoying box of tissue. Almost as if mocking you. “Oh, want to cry? Cry then! Go, on!”
Thank god, this therapist didn’t “hmmn.”
“Christina, how was your day?”
“It went well. I ran around the block, did some reading, organized my bookshelf, went to the library- normal stuff.”
“Did you eat?”
Lie.
“Colin made me eggs.”
“Ms. Watson, to be frank, I know your medicine is supposed to lessen your appetite- that is completely normal, but you have to eat.”
“I know, and I do eat.”
He gave me a disbelieving stare.”Uh huh.”
That’s the thing about therapists; if they don’t “hmmn.” They “uh huh”
“How are your dreams? Still dreaming of your mother?”
“I don’t want to talk about that.”
“You found her dead. There is no way around it. Your friend, Colin Zim told me you been having night scares. “
Damn Colin.
“That can be from a variety of things.”
“ Yes, but, your father’s death brought out the memory of your mother’s suicide. It’s what you said our first session, remember?”
Smartass. Two can play this game
“I also said, I don’t want to talk about it. As a patient, I have the right to refuse to talk about topics I’m uncomfortable with- unless I’m endanger of myself, and seeing as the only thing plaguing me is “night scares”, I would say, that there is nothing stopping me from changing the subject. Now, lets move on.”
He raised an eyebrow, impressed.
That’s right, buster. I’ve been in too many therapist offices for your tricks to work- I know them all.
20 minutes later
“ How was the shrink appointment?” Colin asked
“Horrible, why is it mandatory?” I groaned
“Maybe its because you overdosed exactly four months ago- leaving me and Grandma Cheryl’s scared- but mostly wanting to kick your ass. “
“Ah, you know the say to soothe my heart, Col.”
“No problem, hun.”
I was back at the gym again…and the first thing I was greeted with was Greg Pagusti
“Hey, Baby!” he called, rushing to me” Woah, you lost weight.”
I glared. I DID lose weight. I looked like a little boy, but he didn’t have to point it out.
“I mean, you are still cute and all.”
“Greg, shut up.” Tom said, coming in behind him
I realized the height difference
I never noticed how tall Tom was, or Colin for that matter. They were all around 6’2 or 6’3.
And Greg? Maybe not even 5’9.
After I shrugged off Greg, Tom joined me at the cardio section.
“Elliptical?”
“Yeah. Now, go away and check out those sluts- so I can work out in peace”
I was saying it so he could go, but…I don’t know, I was kind of mad at myself for saying it, like “Why can’t I enjoy his company?” But, then again, he was checking out those girls, so I should just let him be instead of hanging out with his skinny friend.
He furrowed a blonde eyebrow and walked away.
*
“Who is that guy?” Greg asked me, gesturing to Christina.
I looked over to see Christina talking to some body-builder type- and was she laughing? God, she was laughing!
I walked closer to listen in.
“ I remember you now! You used to pull my hair in fourth grade and knock me on the playground!” she stuck out her tongue in that cute way she does.”You were so mean to me!”
“My 9 year old self was in love. You were the prettiest girl in school.” Buff idiot said
“Thanks, Tony. God, its been forever. How are you?” she asked, wiping sweat from her brow.
“ Good. I have a 2 year old. I know, right? His mom passed away giving birth- its such shame. Timmy would love her- I did.” Great, now he has that widow card.
Damn, too harsh man. I wondered why I was getting so mean…its not like guys didn’t hit on her. She got hit on ALL the time.
“We should go out for coffee after our workout?” he said.
“Great. Let’s go to Coffee Blues.”
Coffee Blues? Our Coffee Shop. Our Place.
Fuck