by D N Simmons
“Bye.” Annette hung up the telephone and laid back down on the bed. She was smiling, thinking about Natasha and Xavier, who would have guessed?
Natasha picked up the handset and dialed her mother's cell phone number. She waited as the phone rang, hoping her mother had her phone with her. She had told her mother time and time again to turn on the cell phone whenever she left the house. What was the point of having a cell phone if you're never going to leave it on? By the fourth ring, her mom had answered.
“Hello?” she asked cautiously, not recognizing the telephone number on her caller ID.
“Hey mom, it's me. They said I could go home today. I'm still really sore, but I'll be okay. Can you come and get me?” Natasha asked. She looked up as the nurse and doctor came into the room, remaining quiet while she was on the telephone. The doctor removed her chart from her bed, looking it over. He was medium height, about five-feet nine-inches. Kind of short for the modern day man...or was he? He had salt and pepper hair cut short and combed back. His hazel eyes scanned over her chart, dark eyebrows knitting slightly.
“Sure, what time shall I pick you up?”
“As soon as possible. Oh, and Mom, my roommate here doesn't have a ride home, she's an elderly woman. Hold on, let me get her address,” Natasha pressed the receiver to her chest and looked at Mrs. Harnett.
“Mrs. Harnett, where do you live?” she asked. The elderly woman looked at her and smiled.
Mrs. Harnett gave Natasha her address. “Is that going to be out of your way? Because if it is, don't worry about me, dear. I don't want to be an inconvenience.”
“No, no, not an inconvenience at all,” she lied. She put the receiver back to her ear, “Mom-”
“I've already heard,” her mother sighed. She didn't mind helping out her fellow man, it was out of her way, but she'd do it. She did teach her daughter to help those in need. “I'll be there in a little while, okay? Probably about a quarter after twelve, is that going to be alright?”
“Yeah, perfect, bye Mom.”
“See you later,” her mom corrected her. “You know how I dislike the word 'bye'.”
“Yes Mom, see you in a few.”
“That's better,” her mother said, before hanging up the telephone. Natasha looked at the doctor.
“So what's up, Doc? I hear I can go home today, I was just calling my mother to tell her she could pick me up.” She smiled, happy to be getting out of the germ infested hospital and nothing anyone could say would make her think otherwise. The doctor nodded as he looked at the file then up at Natasha.
“Why are you taking Triadonex?” the doctor asked.
“Well, I've been taking it for as long as I can remember. I started getting these headaches when I was a small child. So, my family doctor put me on the medication. Why?” she asked, sitting up in bed, much more alert.
“Well, you put down that you take it for migraines, but Triadonex is a dream suppressant. Do you dream much, Miss Hemingway?” Natasha thought about it and shook her head. She had no idea the medicine she had been taking all her life wasn't what it seemed. Why the hell was she taking dream suppressants?
The doctor smiled as his calm, hazel eyes eased her mounting anxiety somewhat. She was going to have to talk with her doctor to see why she was kept on the medication. She felt at a loss all of a sudden. Had she been lied to for over twenty years, or was there some other reason why she had been taking the medication? She was starting to feel uneasy.
“Thanks, Doctor, for everything. I don't think I'll be taking any more of this medication until I know the real reason. And no, I don't normally dream, but since we're on the subject, I've been having a lot of random dreams, one after another,” she said, obviously frustrated.
“Like what? Can you remember anything? Any portion of these dreams? Would you like us to run a few tests?” he asked, hoping to gain more money. He took out his little medical light and was holding Natasha's head upward as he examined her pupils. “No, that won't be necessary, Doctor.” She didn't want to owe the hospital any more than she already had, she especially didn't want to add on any unnecessary costs. She had just landed a brand new job and her insurance plan hadn't even been established yet. She had mentally calculated the current cost of the ambulance ride over, the medication, the emergency room assistance and the hospital stay. In retrospect, she kind of wished they had left her in the back seat of the cab. Sure, I'd be a bit woozy, but I would have gotten home okay, no worries, she thought to herself indulging in a bit of inappropriate humor.
“Okay, well, you're free to go at anytime. Since you've called your mother, I'll just sign your release papers and you can be on your way,” he smiled. He gave a similar farewell to Mrs. Harnett.
Mrs. Harnett thanked them both for taking such good care of her. The doctor assured her it was nothing.
Natasha wanted to laugh. Sure, it was nothing, but you'll still get the bill, she thought to herself.
Then the nurse and the doctor left the room to allow the two ladies to get prepared to go home. Natasha combed out the tangles in her hair, she couldn't believe Xavier had been interested in her when she looked the way she did. Maybe there was hope yet for a relationship. She came out of the bathroom and Mrs. Harnett went in. While Mrs. Harnett was in the bathroom, Natasha had to put on her club outfit, there were some dried bloodstains on the clothes. She hoped her mom would bring her a fresh change of clothes. Her mom normally thought about things like that. Mrs. Harnett came out of the bathroom just as her mother came through the door.
“Hi, Mom!” Natasha said excitedly, giving her a big hug. “Did you remember to bring me a change of clothes?” she asked, keeping her fingers crossed.
“Yes, I brought you a change of clothes. I've noticed you've lost a lot of weight, honey. I'm so proud of you. Never let anything get you so down that you'll neglect yourself. Besides, there's a man out there who will know you for the treasure that you are, no matter what your weight is. Understand me, young lady?” her mother said sternly.
Natasha nodded. “Yes, Mom.” No point in arguing, her mom was right. She took the bag of clothes her mom had brought for her. She looked into the bag and thankfully saw a pair of blue jeans and a red, ribbed, turtle neck sweater. Her mom always had excellent taste. She turned around and introduced her mother to the older woman who needed the ride.
“Mom, this is Mrs. Harnett. She couldn't reach either of her two children to come and pick her up, so I offered her a ride home,” Natasha said as she walked into the bathroom to change.
“I hope I'm not causing a problem?” Mrs. Harnett asked sincerely.
“Oh, no, no. Not at all. I wouldn't feel right about leaving you here, stranded. Not in this day and age,” Mrs. Marian Hemingway told the grateful elderly lady. Natasha emerged from the bathroom, fully dressed. The pants were a bit large, but the clothes would do. She walked over to her bed and gathered all of her belongings, which weren't much, along with of all the free stuff she was taking from the hospital. She left the bed pan. The three women exited the room and headed for the elevator. Natasha remembered she was going to stop by Annette's room before she left.
“Mom, one minute. Annette's here too, I promised I'd say goodbye to her. I'll meet you downstairs.” She walked toward Annette's room without waiting for a response. She knocked on the door and heard a faint 'come in' and she opened the door. Annette smiled as she entered the room. She was looking a little better on this day than the day before. The dark circles under her eyes were lightening up, and her color had improved. Her arm was still in a cast, the cuts and bruises were still there, just like her own. She walked over to the bed and hugged her friend lightly.
“I'm leaving now, but I'll visit you tomorrow and bring you some real food, okay?” Natasha said.
“Your ass better, cause if you don't,” she held up her good fist and shook it to prove her point.
“You're not going do to anything,” Natasha mocked.
“I'll beat you in your sleep, that's wha
t I'll do. You don't have to be awake for me to exact my revenge,” Annette said, trying to not laugh.
“Un hmm, well, I'm off. Talk to you later.” Natasha gave the other woman one last hug and a kiss on the cheek. She felt bad having to leave her friend in the hospital alone. Maybe she would surprise her and come back later that night. She thought about how sore her body was still and decided against the two bus rides and one train ride it would take to come back to the hospital on public transportation. She would stick to the plan. Tomorrow she'd visit. She left Annette's room and got on the elevator. She met her mom and Mrs. Harnett in the lobby. They walked to her mom's red 2003 Diamondback Sahara S4. She liked her mom's car, it was perfect for her. They all climbed in, Mrs. Harnett sitting in the back, was thankful for the comfortable seat. Natasha's mom put the car into gear and headed toward the outer drive going northbound.
Mrs. Harnett gave directions the closer they got to her neighborhood until they pulled in front of her little, yellow frame house with the red brick foundation. Natasha helped her out of the car before she climbed back into the passenger side. They sat in the car and waited as Mrs. Harnett fished through her purse for her keys to open the door. She waved goodbye, then walked inside. The conversation on the way to Mrs. Harnett's house had been between her mother and Mrs. Harnett. The two women discussed the current situation with the supernatural race vs. the human race, the crime rate in this country and above all, the good old days. Natasha wished she could have tuned them out, but she couldn't. Her stomach growled. She had escaped the hospital in time to avoid eating the food, but now she was starving. She wondered how Xavier felt when he first woke up. Was he ravenous? Would he recognize her before taking a bite?
She let her thoughts run wild while looking out at the busy city streets as they drove on. They passed China Town. She had always liked going there. The buildings had the shingled, tiered roof tops, dragon statues and mini towers. She wondered if it really looked like a piece of China. She didn't know, but she loved the food. There was a particular restaurant she loved to frequent when she had the money. They made the best smoothies, bar none. Her mother continued to drive until Natasha asked her to pull into a supermarket so she could get some groceries. Her mother parked the car in the lot and the women climbed out. Natasha could move a little easier than before, the pain killers were really kicking in and making everything more bearable. They walked through the automatic doors and her mom grabbed a cart.
She assisted her daughter in reaching for items off of the shelf. Natasha had made a list and gave her mom half. Her mom took her half of the list and walked off to retrieve the items. Natasha moved further down the aisle looking at the directory signs overhead. She was searching for the canned goods section when she rounded the corner and collided into a boulder of a man. She lost her balance and would have fallen, possibly ending up back in the hospital had he not caught her. Her hands brushed the watch on his wrist and she felt a little shock through her fingertips. She looked up into his face as he steadied her. He was huge, standing at least six-feet-nine inches tall. He was the biggest man she'd ever seen.
He looked at her with cold blue eyes, his brown hair was cut short in a military buzz cur. His shoulders were almost as wide as the aisle itself and she could tell he was all muscle. In Natasha's opinion, he was a real man, no doubt about it. The kind that eats beef jerky he made himself from the cow he slaughtered with his bare hands. He held several packages of beef clutched in his right arm. His leather vest smelled new. His jeans were worn and had holes in the knees. When she was finally out of harm's way, she gave him a bashful smile.
“I'm so sorry, I didn't see you, I know that's probably something you've never heard anyone say,” she joked awkwardly, trying to make light of the situation. There was something in the way he looked at her that made her nervous. He gave her a wolfish grin, revealing rather sharp canines. They looked like little fangs to Natasha. She wanted to get away from him as soon as possible.
“No need to apologize,” he said as he walked away toward the check-out line. Natasha looked at him, the uneasy feeling was still close to her. He really freaked her out. She walked away with a slight shiver, finishing her shopping. Rejoining her mother, who had completed her half of the list, they entered the check-out line. She paid for the groceries, put them into the car and climbed back in. Less than fifteen minutes later, she was in front of her apartment building. Her mother helped carry the groceries into the apartment. She stayed around to see if her daughter needed any help.
“Mom, I'll be alright, you don't have to stick around. Thanks for everything,” Natasha said. She walked over to her mother to give her a big hug, as strong as her body would allow.
“Okay, you just call me if you need anything, alright?” she asked as she headed for the front door. Natasha nodded and waved. She loved her mother, but she didn't want to hear anymore motherly advice. She had heard enough on the way home. How she needed to get her own car, not to let people talk her into doing things she wouldn't normally do, such as getting drunk and so on. She was glad to be at home. After settling in, she remembered that she wanted to catch Xavier to let him know that she was no longer in the hospital. She reached in her pocket and pulled out the piece of paper with the phone number to Desires Unleashed on it, and dialed. The telephone rang several times before a female voice answered.
“Desires Unleashed, where all of your fantasies can come true. How may I cater to your desires?” the voice asked seductively. Natasha wondered if she received a lot of calls from men who just wanted to hear that sexy voice.
“Hello, my name is Natasha Hemingway and I'm trying to get in contact with Xavier Richards.” She paused.
“Mr. Richards will not be in until tonight, you can try back after five or six p.m.”
“Well, can you leave him my number for him to call me? I'd really appreciate it.”
“Will do, what's the number?” She had taken on a more normal tone of speaking. Natasha wanted to chuckle, must be cool to work under a facade. She gave the woman her phone number, area code included. “Okay, as soon as Mr. Richards gets in tonight, I'll give this to him. Is there anything else?” the woman asked.
“No, that was it. Thank you. Goodbye.” Both of the women ended the connection. Natasha sat on the sofa for a few minutes thinking about Xavier, she smiled, feeling giddy. Then her stomach rumbled, letting her know it was time to make something to eat. She walked into the kitchen with the little yellow and white daisy covered wallpaper she hated. She wanted to tear it down, but Annette liked it, saying it reminded her of the kitchen she grew up in back home in Charleston, South Carolina. Natasha didn't argue, but she still thought it was ugly. She looked into the refrigerator, shuffled a few items around till she found the sliced roast beef she'd just bought along with some lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and onions. She placed all of the food on the countertop and began making a double stacked sandwich, adding two layers of everything. She wondered if her eyes may be too big for her stomach but there was no law against saving some for later. She poured a tall glass of juice, then sat down comfortably on the sofa in the small living room. The living room was only big enough for the brown sofa with two matching chairs, a wooden coffee table and the thirty-two inch screen TV she and Annette had purchased together for Christmas a year ago. Turning on the cable with the remote, she surfed through the channels, complaining that there was never anything worthwhile on cable.
“Hundreds of channels of garbage,” she whispered out loud as she passed channel after channel of reruns, music videos and sports. She finally settled on an old movie she had once seen as a child and loved. She settled back, watching a marathon of classic movies featuring unforgettable actors and actresses. She had drifted off to sleep when the telephone rang, jarring her awake. She sat up quickly, upsetting her equilibrium and almost fell off of the sofa. She paused for a second, then grabbed the telephone receiver.
“Hello?” she said groggily.
“I'm sorry, did I wake
you?” asked a masculine, sexy voice. Natasha didn't recognize this strange man calling her house. “I'm sorry, but who's calling?”
“It's me, Xavier, you left your telephone number, you wanted me to get in contact with you. Is this a bad time?” His voice was smooth as silk. As it purred through the receiver, goosebumps surfaced on Natasha's skin. She remembered how he affected her and wanted to talk with him, get to know him.
“No, no, I did want you to call me. I wanted to talk.”
“Do you want me to come over?” he asked.
“Yeah.” She gave him her address. “It's a three story apartment building with a red awning in the front. There's an intercom, I'll have to buzz you in. The name on the intercom is...” she sighed. “...Two hotties.” She could hear Xavier chuckle softly. She couldn't blame him, it was ridiculous, but it had been Annette's idea.
“Alright, I can be there in about thirty minutes. Are you hungry?” he asked smoothly.
“Urn, a little, but you just make sure you're not. I don't want to look appetizing to anyone,” she said sternly. Xavier chuckled. He admired her blatant honesty, finding her unique form of expression charming.
“I've already fed. I just want to take care of you. I'm on my way. See you then.” He hung up. Natasha felt her heart jump in her throat. She had just invited a vampire into her house. She felt the excitement rush throughout her body, she could hardly keep still. She walked through the apartment making sure no unmentionables were visible. Once she had feminine-proofed the apartment, she waited. She looked at the clock, the time was 7:42 P.M. It had only been twenty minutes since she talked with Xavier. She hoped he would be there within the thirty minutes he'd stated. Before she had time to think any further on Xavier's promptness, her intercom buzzed. She jumped off the couch, then paused as the pain in her muscles forced her to calm down. She slowly walked to the intercom and hit the button.
“Hello?” she asked, leaning into the intercom speaker.