Perfect Impurrfections

Chapter 15

You, Me, and Mr. Vicodin

                In the examination room the nurse took down what they were there for as well as a vital check on Crystal before she left.  Picking up one of the various magazines laying around the room Crystal settled in for another wait.  Even though the nurse had said the doctor would be in soon she had been to the clinic enough to know it was rarely soon after the check in nurse left that the doctor would breeze through the door.  Casey sat next to her watching as she calmly flipped through the pages of the magazine as if she hadn’t just been in a fight only minutes ago.  Crystal side glanced at Casey feeling the weight of his stare on her.  Sighing she closed the magazine turning her attention to her companion.

                “What?”  Casey didn’t answer her right away but continued to look her over as if he were trying to solve a mystery.

                “I don’t understand women.”

                “What’s that supposed to mean?”

                “How can you be so calm when not ten minutes ago you were ready to tear that woman’s head off?”  He shook his head completely confused by the whole thing.

                “It was very disrespectful.  First of all, who the heck comes to the doctors feeling crappy but wants to be hit on?  Second, if she knew you weren’t the one who was ill that means she saw us come in together and completely disregarded the fact that you could be here with your girlfriend and hit on you anyway.”  Casey smiled leaning into her.

                “My girlfriend huh?”  Crystal rolled her eyes at him pushing him back over to his own seat.

                “For all she knew I was.  The fact that she came on to you anyway tells me she’s done it before and doesn’t care if it’s wrong.”

                “So, you were defending your place as my girlfriend.”  Casey stated causing Crystal to sigh in exasperation.

                “I don’t have the qualifications to catch your eye.”  Baffled Casey looked her over trying to figure out what she was talking about.

                “Exactly how do you know that?  You don’t live in my head Chris.” 

                “Thank goodness for that.  I don’t have to be able to read your mind; I have eyes.  I’ve seen the women you go out with, at least the ones you bring home.  It doesn’t take a genius to figure out your type.  Which I might add is not a category I fall into.”  Casey looked shocked as he mulled her words over inside his head for a moment.

                “You know I’m never serious about any of them, right?”  It was Crystal’s turn to be shocked by his words.

                “Why date if you’re not looking for a relationship?”

                “For the fun of it, because I’m bored, maybe I just want some company.”

                “Because you want some company?  You know anyone of us is a phone call away right?”  Casey rolled his eyes frustrated that she wasn’t getting it.

                “Not everyone is single Chris.”  He hinted hoping he wouldn’t have to spell it out for her.  Sometimes she could be so dense.

                “I’m still single.  You don’t have to worry about ruining my plans if you call for some company.”  Casey’s eyes widened with disbelief.  If only she was offering what he was really talking about.

                “It’s not that I wouldn’t call you Chris.  Believe me I would.”

                “It’s a moot point anyway after what I saw this morning.”  Crystal stated effectively changing the subject.

                “What do you mean by that?”

                “I know some of your dates end up staying the night with you, but I have never once seen you bid one farewell.  Let alone allow one to walk away wearing your clothes.  I’m guessing this woman is different then the rest.  Consider me c**k blocking the bimbo earlier a favor to your newly found relationship.  You don’t want to screw it up before it really gets started.”

                “What on earth are you talking about?  She wasn’t any different then any of the others.  She was supposed to be gone before I got back.  I wasn’t expecting her to come out at the same time we did.  That was unexpected as was her goodbye.  As for her wearing my clothes I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

                “You can’t be serious?”

                “Chris, if you recall I was a little busy when she came out.  How was I supposed to notice what she was wearing?”

                “You sure seemed to notice last night.”  Crystal muttered quietly but apparently not quiet enough as Casey could still hear it.

                “Are you jealous Chris?”  Casey teased ignoring the fact that she was trying to sit and fume to herself.  She scoffed at his question.

                “How are you supposed to settle down one day and start a family if you don’t take dating seriously Casey?  Unless you don’t ever want to get married?”  Crystal amended at the last minute unsure of what his future plans were.  They always rehashed her dates mostly for the entertainment factor they provided everyone else, but they had never discussed what he wanted in life.

                “Of course, I want to get married someday to the right person.” 

                “Well how are you supposed to find her if you’re not looking for her?”  She asked genuinely curious what he was thinking.

                “I don’t have to find her.”  He stated with finality but before she could delve more into it with him the doctor came in.  Crystal sat there staring Casey down as if doing so really would allow her access to his thoughts.  The doctor went over the notes on her chart before turning to Crystal.

                “What seems to be the problem?”  She asked Crystal.  Oh, so many things.  Crystal wanted to answer but the doctor was asking for physical ailments not life’s problems in general.  Crystal outlined her injury trying to leave out how it had happened exactly.  The doctor didn’t ask as she began to examine Crystal’s swollen ankle.  By the amount of questions that Casey asked the doctor pertaining to what they should do to prevent further injury one would think it was his ankle that was hurt.  Crystal was grateful however as she rarely thought to ask such things.

                An hour later Casey wheeled Crystal back out to the parking lot.  The doctor had put a wrap on it to stabilize it after sending her to get an x-ray to rule out a fracture.  Luckily, it hadn’t been that bad and should heal within a couple weeks as long as she limited the movement and avoided having excess weight applied to it.  Which apparently not only meant her own weight but B.B.’s as well.  She wasn’t sure how she was going to break it to the little furball.  He was very adamant when he wanted something.  She was feeling surprisingly good though with the help of the pain killers the doctor had prescribed her for the first few days.  Casey left her in the car as he ran the wheelchair back inside.  She watched him go staring at his butt the entire way.  Shaking herself she slapped her cheeks trying to clear her head a little.  She blamed the Vicodin for her errant thoughts.  As he climbed behind the wheel, he gave her a quick glance as she slapped herself one last time for good measure.  Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself but got a big lungful of his natural scent.  Which she had to admit wasn’t that bad of a smell.  Her eyes widened as a blush took over her cheeks.  She glanced his way but turned back the second their eyes met.  If the side effect of the pain pills was jumping your best friend, she may have to forego them before she accosted him.

                “Are you alright Chris?”  He asked her in concern.

                “Yep, just peachy.”  She tried to answer nonchalantly so he wouldn’t catch on but instead she squeaked out her words.  She gulped while fanning herself as her panic began to rise. 

                “Are you sure?”  Casey asked reaching out to feel her forehead worried she had a fever too.  Crystal jumped out of the way or at least tried to.  She ended up smacking her head on the closed door.  Casey took her arm trying to prevent the collision but didn’t grab her in time.  Taking her chin in his hand he began looking at her head running his fingers through her thick strands as he felt for a bump.  Crystal's temp skyrocketed as she fanned herself faster.  Her eyes scanned the car for an escape when they came to rest on the window.

                “Is it hot in here?  I think it’s hot and a little stuffy in here?  Don’t you agree?”  She was aware she was rambling but was unable to stop herself.  As she reached out to roll down the window on his classic car he did as well.  His large hand covered hers before she gasped and pulled hers back.  Turning her head too quickly to see what his reaction was she failed to notice how close he was to her.  Her lips and nose connected with his in a harsh impromptu kiss.  She pulled back at the instant of contact once again hitting her head on the closed door.  This time it was the back of her head.  Crystal rubbed at her sore nose and head as Casey leaned back into his own seat with his hands up in surrender.  His own nose was turning red in color and Crystal was just glad it hadn’t begun to bleed.

                “Why don’t we get you home before you injure yourself enough that we’ll have to go right back in to see the doctor.”  Crystal nodded her head while covering her face in embarrassment.  Home sounded like a good place to be.