-+- My Imaginary -+- Part Eight -+-

I awoke Sunday morning quite late to the phone ringing. It was nearly noon. I stumbled down the stairs and picked up the cordless, mumbling a quiet, "Hello?" as I searched for cereal. None was to be found.
"Hello, Norah?" a woman's voice asked.
"Yes?" I replied, confused. I didn't recognize her.
"This is Dr. McLeod's office," she said smoothly. "I'm calling to arrange an appointment with you for a check up visit."
"Oh," I said quietly, cluing in. "Alright, when?"
"Would tomorrow at 5 p.m. be convenient for you?"
"Yeah, sure," I said hurriedly.
"I'll be there."
"Okay, have a nice-"
I hung up with a click, frustrated for some reason. I noticed a note on the table in my fathers handwriting.
Norah, I've gone to a meeting. I'll be home tonight. Be back by 6 if youre going out, we need to talk.

"Great," I muttered, chucking the note in the garbage. "Like we need to talk."
The rest of the day I spent dozing with a book in my hand or watching cartoons. When my father arrived home he seemed surprised but genuinely happy that I was there. He apologized for overreacting the day before and after he whittled down my icy tone with sincerity, we discussed a plan we both needed to follow. When either of us left we would leave a note for the other, explaining our absence. And if we were going to be after ten, we'd call. It seemed reasonable for both of us and it broke down one of the barriers that had resided between us. There were still many, but we were closer to becoming a father and daughter instead of two roommates who barely spoke.
I didn't hear from Joey, but I was partly relieved. I didn't want him to further ask about our conversations the day before, though I didn't think he would if he was risking his own secrecy. I didn't see him the next day at school until I was on my way out the door.
"Hey!" I heard him call from behind me and I turned to greet his cheery face.
"Hey," I said, shifting my backpack so it was comfortable, if heavy, on my shoulder. "Where were you all day?"
"I had a doctor's appointment at around 11 so I didn't feel like coming in for a few hours and then leaving."
"Oh," I said, half turning. "Walk with me?"
"I could drive you," he offered.
I shook my head. "I've got to go home and then out again," I said remembering my appointment at Dr. McLeod's.
"Date?" he asked, grinning.
"No!"
"I'm not prying, I was joking around. I can drive you home at least," he said as we reached the parking lot. I shook my head again. "Oh come on, it's no bother, I have to do some errands anyway..."
"Fine," I muttered exasperatedly. "But if I get fat from lack of exercise, you're going to pay."
He laughed heartily and unlocked the doors.
After Joey dropped me off at my house, I made my way inside to find my dad sitting on the couch waiting for me.
"Since your appointment is at five I figured we could go out for an early dinner beforehand," he said nervously blushing. "It's up to you..."
"Yeah, that'd be fun," I said smiling. I wasn't about to deny myself the attention I wanted so badly from him. "Where to?"
"I was thinking Atlanta's."
I smiled. He'd remembered my favourite seafood restaurant as a child, Atlantas Atlantic Appetite. "Sure."
Dinner was awkward at first but as time wore on we soon began to open up to each other. He told me about what happened at his work and his friends there. I told him about school, my grades, and Joey. He seemed to genuinely want to meet him and suggested it for the next Friday. I said I'd check with him first but Joey would probably agree to it.
"That's good, I'd like to meet more of your friends," he said smiling. We were silent for a moment before his cell phone rang. He smiled again, sheepishly, and answered it. "Hello?"
I gazed around the restaurant, a bit frustrated, but my satisfaction with the evening took over and I remained happy even though he chatted away in front of me.
"What happened?" he asked, shocked and I zoned back into his half of the conversation. "Just now? Alright. Ten minutes." He snapped the cell phone shut and put his napkin on the table in front of him.
"The verdict?" I asked smiling, trying to cheer him up.
"I have to meet John in the office," he said, signaling for the waitress and mouthing check silently. "I'm sorry, honey, but its urgent. Someone broke into the store."
"Oh!" I said shocked. "Alright, well thats fine, I can walk to the doctors from here."
"No, no, I'll drive you, its on the way," he said shaking his head and forking out cash for the bill that had just been handed to him. "But you'll have to catch a cab home."
"That's fine, I don't mind," I said casually. He handed me a few bills.
"The stores should be open if you want to get something. I haven't given you an allowance in quite a while and I figured you deserved one for putting up with this old fart for so long."
I smiled. "You're not old. And I'm not putting up with you. But I'll take the cash."
He laughed heartily and handed it over. We both got up and walked out of the restaurant, smiling at our waitress on the way out. The parking lot was hot and I somewhat dreaded the thought of getting into the car. But soon enough the windows were open and even sooner I was standing in front of the steps to the doctor's office as my dad sped away to his store.
I was almost a full half hour early but I didn't feel like waiting out in the nearly summer heat so I walked up the steps and into the air conditioned lobby. The receptionist smiled at me sweetly and told me that he was with someone at the moment but would be done shortly if I wanted to start my visit early. I nodded and sat down, picking up a magazine on the table beside me. It was dry, there was no real context to it other than cooking. Yes, because teenage psychiatric patients want to read about how to cook. Good selection.
I set it down with a sigh and looked up to see that the door was opening to Dr. McLeods office and his patient was coming out. He was a young boy of eight or nine with dark blond hair and wet brown eyes. He looked thoroughly unhappy.
"I'll be ready for you in just a second, Norah, I just need to fill out some paperwork. It'll only take a few minutes," he said to me, smiling. He turned to the boy. "Now, Isaac, when is your mother supposed to get here to pick you up?"
"She told me to call her when I'm finished and she'll come and get me," he mumbled to his shoes.
"Alright," the doctor agreed. "I'll see you next week then." He turned and went back to his office. The receptionist smiled kindly at the boy and told him he could use the phone in the next room. She walked out of the room to give him privacy as he dialed.
From my chair I could see directly into the room. The boy's back faced me as he pushed the buttons to get his mother's number. He waited a few moments, letting it ring, before hanging up and dialing the numbers again. He tried 3 times before I could see him getting upset. He sighed and wiped his face with a small hand before turning and putting a facade on.
"Did you get ahold of her?" the kind receptionist asked him. He nodded and smiled.
"She's on her way but she asked me to go to the grocery store to wait since she has to go there anyways," he said bravely.
The receptionist frowned but decided that it wasn't her business. She smiled again and told him to mind the traffic. When he turned to leave I got up and followed him.
We both walked silently down the stairs and out the doors. We'd walked down the cement steps when he turned to say something to me.
"I don't need an escort, you know," he said snottily, his brown eyes angry as he turned to glare at me.
"I'm sorry," I said, taken off guard. "I know you don't."
"Then go back inside, I don't want anyone to walk with."
"I can't walk with you anyway, I have an appointment," I shrugged.
"Then what are you doing out here?" he said frowning defensively.
I shook my head getting quickly frustrated. "Look," I snapped as he rolled his eyes. "stop being such a little jerk. I came out to give you money for a cab fare." I pulled out most of the money my dad had given me.
"Yeah, right, I'll walk," he said and turned.
"No you won't," I called. "If you don't take this I'll have to let Dr. Mcleod know that you're out here walking alone at night. And I don't think you'd want me to do that."
He glared at me furiously. "Whatever," he spat taking the money from my hands. He turned to go.
"You're welcome," I muttered and he froze. He slowly turned back to stare at me.
"I'm sorry," he said, his cheeks crimson in his genuine shame. "Thank you. I have to go, though, if I want to get home for dinner."
I signaled a cab for him. "I don't mind. I know what it's like to be left waiting for a parent."
He nodded and smiled weakly. "Bye."
"Bye."
"31 Alpine Crescent, take King through to Malcolm..." I heard him say to the driver as I closed the door behind him. I recognized the area and knew that it'd be enough to get him there.
Awwww... Saintly.
I walked back into the office, the cold rush of air chilling me momentarily until I adapted to it.
"I thought you'd left," Dr. McLeod said surprised when I walked back in. "Betty said she just looked up and you were gone. Whered you go?"
"I needed a breath of fresh air," I shrugged.
"Alright, well come in here then," he said sighing and walking to his office. I followed him in and sat down on the outcast couch. "So," he began smiling. "We finally meet."
I grinned back in spite of myself. "We already have."
"I know," he nodded amiably. "So I would like to talk about your prescription. Firstly, are you experiencing any side effects?" I shook my head. "Good," he said making a note. "When are you taking the pills?"
"Lunchtime."
"Any loss of appetite?" Another shake of my head. "Drowsiness? No." he scribbled again for a few moments. "And are you still seeing your friend?" he asked without looking up to see my reaction. I froze for a few seconds in melancholic sadness before shaking my head. He looked up and I realized he couldn't have noticed my head shake.
"No," I replied, my voice cracking. I cleared it briefly.
"When did the hallucinations stop?"
I shuddered at hearing Daniel being called a hallucination but my voice was stronger than the last time when I answered. "Since just before I started taking the Fluanxol."
"I see," he said distractedly as he scribbled on his black leather notepad. "How does this make you feel?"
I smiled sadly. "Nostalgic. I've tried not to think about him much since I've started taking them but it only works some of the time."
"Are you keeping yourself preoccupied while you get used to the change?" his voice seemed somewhat sympathetic and I was surprised momentarily.
"Yeah. I'm reading a lot more I guess. And concentrating on school."
"Have you made any new friends?"
"Well I told you about Joey the first time we met," I shrugged. "Other than him, no."
The hour long visit went by much quicker than I thought it would. He asked me questions that I answered with ease. I realized that he was a lot different from what I expected. He seemed to legitimately care about the things going on in my life, and although it was probably an act, I appreciated it all the same. When the time was up he informed me he wanted me to come in weekly from then on, starting the following Thursday afternoon at 3 oclock. Although I didn't voice it aloud, I agreed with him that it was a good idea.
I walked out into the heat, thoroughly content. It was nearing 7 oclock and the streets were thronged with university students, as our downtown area usually was. I was going to take a cab but realized that by giving half my money to the young boy, I wouldn't have enough to get home. I thought about taking a bus but my demophobia took over and I didn't want to be cuddled next to smelly middle aged perverts from this area. Downtown wasnt exactly clean.
So I was walking. And it was a long walk, over an hour. I didn't mind the heat at first because cars were always driving by, buffeting me with their gusts of wind. But after twenty minutes or so, I began to tire.
Serves you right for never exercising, I thought angrily as my legs made the automatic motions over each slab of concrete. I had to constantly watch where I was going, too, because feces seemed to be quite common in the middle of the sidewalk. Disgustedly, I stepped over pile after pile and grumbled about uncaring dog owners.
A car horn honked in the background and I barely flinched there was always insane drivers honking repeatedly in this area. I kept walking and heard it again and closer this time. I automatically turned to glare at the culprit and found myself staring at Joey's car and his grinning face.
"Want a ride?" he called through the passenger's side window, patting the seat beside him. I was so relieved at the offer I nearly jumped in his car.
"So why are you down here?" he asked after a whole thirty seconds of air conditioning and good music.
I shrugged. "I had a doctor's appointment."
"I didn't know there was a doctors office down here," he said frowning.
"You haven't lived here that long, bozo," I replied grinning and turning up the AC.
"My aunt lives up here, that's why we moved to this area. I spend summers up the street from here." He seemed persistent in this subject.
"Okay so maybe I'm lying then. Maybe, I went to some crazy witchcraft shop and I bought all the ingredients for a potion to lure you in."
He didnt even crack a smile. "Why would you be lying? Does this have to do with your secret?" I stayed silent and stared out the window. "Norah, are you okay? You're not sick are you?"
I laughed. "No, I'm not sick. Don't worry about me, I'm fine."
"But why are you on that drug?" he asked, looking my way with concerned eyes. "There must be something wrong, I mean, doctors dont just give out-"
"What's with the fucking twenty questions?" I snapped, getting frustrated more easily than I should have. "Yes it's to do with my secret and quite obviously, I'm not ready to share that with you yet!"
He said nothing for a few moments before muttering a quiet "Sorry" and staring back ahead of him at the road. The rest of the ride was an intense silence that I'd never had to endure before. When we got to my house he pulled in the driveway and turned off the engine. I was about to get out when he said something quietly that I didn't hear.
"What?" I asked, trying not to snap at him like I had before.
"I said I'm worried."
"About what?" I was bent over awkwardly, my body outside of the car, my head inside just touching the roof.
"That you're sick."
I smiled but it wasn't sincere. "The only sickness I have is in my head."
He looked at me sharply. "What?"
"This isn't really the place-"
"Tell me."
"But I want-"
"Tell me, Norah." His eyes were firm. He wasn't letting up on this.
I sighed and sat back in the car, closing the door. "I'm a schizophrenic." I shrugged and felt the familiar pressure in my eye sockets as the tears began to cascade slowly down my cheeks. "I have hallucinations. The Fluanxol is to fix that."
If the silence on the way to my house was intense it barely compared to this. He seemed rigid, but not with anger or frustration. More like he was ready to either pull me in or start crying. I was afraid of both instances. When almost a full minute had passed he let out his breath like he'd been holding it in a deep unhappy sigh.
"I thought it was cancer," he said with a weak laugh. I laughed too and a bit of the awkwardness faded.
I gently put my hand on his arm and smiled what I thought might be a reassuring smile, but it probably looked like a watery wince. "I'm sorry I flipped out. You're the only I know that doesn't know about it and I didn't want you to think I'm a psychotic freak."
His face distorted with an unhappy grimace. "I can't believe you thought I would think that."
"That's what everyone else thinks. I'm sorry for lumping you in with them but from past experience, how everyone feels, usually is how my friends eventually feel."
"I'm different I guess," he shrugged. "So tonight you were...?"
"At my psychiatrists. He's the one who started me on my meds and I have to have weekly visits now."
"Oh," he was silent again and I could feel goose bumps raise on his arm underneath my fingertips. I took my hand away.
"I should get inside, though," I murmured staring at his chocolate irises.
"Yeah," he said quietly, "I guess so." He moved his arm to graze the hand that I'd taken away from him. The tiny blond hairs on my arms stood up and I suddenly got incredibly nervous. I could feel heat radiating off of him like a heat vent. His eyes were still on me but his lids were lowered and I could see him contemplating moving closer. I made the decision for him.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" I said, opening my door and letting myself half out of it. I could see disappointment in his features but I was too afraid to act yet.
"Yeah," he agreed giving a smile. "In the hellhole."
I laughed and got fully out of the car. I closed the door behind me and walked up the steps to my house. My stomach was in a fit of nerves as I grabbed for my keys, unlocked the door and waved a goodbye. Joey started his engine and waved back as I walked in and closed the door behind me.
I stood there for a few seconds in the humming silence of my house. I could hear the dishwasher quietly running in the kitchen but the echoing walls were empty of anyone. I suddenly felt incredibly lonely.
"Shit," I murmured and swung open the door.
I screamed.
"What are you doing here!" I yelled at Joey who was, coincidentally, standing only a foot away.
He seemed flustered and embarrassed. "I - uh - I wanted-"
I stood there gasping, my heart fluttering angrily against my ribcage as I tried to calm myself. I hated being startled. Joey let out a soft laugh and I glared at him.
"Just come in, then," I muttered, hand on my throat.
He smiled and walked inside. I closed the door behind him.
When I turned I found him standing quite close to me. I could again feel his heat and this time my own mingled with it. Before I could register just what exactly was happening, he'd closed the gap and his mouth was mere centimeters from mine. He brought his lips forward in a gentle kiss. I responded instantly, happy to have him near me as I kissed him back. It grew fiercer.
He broke away to come up for air seconds later. "Not today," he murmured, pressing his forehead to mine. His breath tickled my nose.
I nodded in agreement, breathing heavily.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" he said quietly searching into my eyes.
I nodded again. "Tomorrow."
He gave me one last kiss goodbye, soft and heavenly this time, and then left the way he'd come. I smiled in his wake and gently touched my lips with my fingertips, suddenly giddy.
I wonder how this will change tomorrow, I thought to myself as I retreated to my bedroom to lie down and think about my strange but fantastic evening.
Eeeeeeeeeeee!
So hopefully this worked... I'm getting quite angry at my internet... I'm sorry for the delays. Rate and message, I'd love to hear some thoughts. Luv yaz!