"Um, ok, I want to get my palm read, my tarot cards read, and anything else you do." I sat down across the table and the woman took my right hand. "Hmm... I see that you are very in love with one man, and that you will be with him for the rest of your life, unless you let him go." She finished reading my palm, and then took out the tarot cards. I told her I wanted to know about my love life and she read the cards, and they too pointed that I was in love with one man and that he had a lot of money and he was also very in love with me. "Are you positive?" "The Tarot never lies." "Oh, god." "Is there a problem?" "I... I told that guy that love was just an illusion that I didn't need and that I never wanted to see him again." She shuffled the cards around and then said, "He still wants you and will take you back." I sighed and said, "Thanks, how much do I owe you?" "Twenty dollars. And, for free, a tip, love should not be turned away, no matter how unbelieveable. He loves you more than anything, and you love him back. Don't be afraid of love. Your parents didn't love you." "How... How... how'd you know about my parents?" "Honey, I'm a psychic, not an idiot. I can see why your afraid of love. The love you had for your parents was required love, forced on you, it was not totally real. The man's love, is not required, and yet it is still there. His love is different from the kind you felt for your parents. It is real." "Thank you." I handed her twenty dollars, and a $5 tip, cuz she was so right.
When I got back to Debbie's condo, I went online, since she was at work, and e-mailed Nick.
I just want you to know that I'll be
back in florida shortly.
The psychic told me that I was destined
to be with you,
And I know that she's right because she
told me about my parents without me
saying anything to her about it.
I'm still not sure about us, but she said that
there was a rich famous guy who loved me
more than anything in the world, and that
I was afraid to love. All signs point to you.
I hope you don't hate me and want me still,
because I think I want you too.
Please forgive me for ruining your life
these past months, if I did.
I hope you'll take me back, and if you don't,
then I'll have to live.
Love,
Katie
If only I knew that someone had been messing with his e-mail and deleted it before he got it.
*~*Back In Florida*~*
I got a job in a coffee shop and a tiny one room apartment that was dirty, but cheap. I hadn't contacted Nick yet, because if he saw where I was living, he'd make me come back and live at his house. And I just wanted to prove that I'd be fine on my own. I wanted to fix up my apartment first. I got some cheap wall paper and a sofa bed at Salvation Army and as for food, I worked at the coffee shop all day so I got food there. A person who worked with me, Erin, let me check my e-mail on her computer.
*~*One Day...*~*
I heard a familiar voice saying, "AJ, I don't want a latte." "Then get a cappucino." It was AJ and Nick. And just my luck they were comming to my register. I loocked down as I said, "Hi, how can I help you?" "One french vanilla latte, one hazelnut cappucino." "OK, one sec." I turned around and started making their coffee. And again, just my luck, Erin came back from her lunch break and said," Hey Katie, I checked your e-mail while I was out. That Nick guy e-mailed you again." I froze. Then I realized I was being obvious and continued making the coffee. "For here or to go?" "For here." Shit. I handed them the cups and said "$10.50." AJ threw some cash on the counter and said, "Nick, go get a table, I'll be over in a second." Nick walked away and AJ said, "A girl with a body like yours should have a beautiful face. Look at me." I looked up and his jaw dropped, "Katie?" "Hi AJ. Don't tell Nick." "But..." "Don't. If he finds out where i'm living, he won't let me stay there. It's a shit hole." "Then why are you staying there?" "It's all I can afford. Anyway, you shouldn't be hitting on the coffee girl, you're taken." "I'll try not to let it slip."
*~*Nick's P.O.V.*~*
I sat down and sipped at my cappucino as AJ hit on the coffee girl. There was something about her... AJ sat back down and said, "The coffee girl's single. You should ask her out." "AJ, you know I'm not going to so why don't you quit trying to set me up?" "I think you might just be interested in this one." "Fine." I got up and walked over to the counter. "Excuse me, miss?" She turned around and my jaw dropped. "Katie?" She took a step back and whispered "Nick." Then she turned and ran into the back room.
*~*Katie's P.O.V.*~*
'I'm gonna kill AJ I'm gonna kill AJ I'm gonna kill AJ...' ran through my mind as I sighed out for lunch. I was allowed a lunch but I never took it. I grabbed my purse and put on a baseball cap. Then I ran out the front and said, "Erin, I'm taking a lunch." Nick followed me out. I started walking quicker but he caught me. "Why do you always run away from me? Why didn't you tell me you were back?" "I e-mailed you to tell you I'd be back, I just wasn't ready for you to see me." "Why not?" "I don't want you to know how I'm living." "Show me your house." "OK." I flagged down a taxi and we got in the back I told the driver to take us to Lake and 57th. We started driving and Nick said, "57th... Thats in the ghetto." "Not the ghetto, the not so expensive part of town. Thats where I live." "You live in the ghetto???" "OK, fine, I live in the ghetto." "Why?" "Thats all I can afford." The cab stopped on the corner and Nick & I got out. We walked to my building and I let us in. We went upstairs to my room and I unlocked the door. Nick looked around. "Well, Nick, here it is, Home Sweet Home." "You... You live... you live here?" He said, still not believing. "Yeah, Nick. I do." "But... but poor people live in the ghetto. People only live in places like this on TV and in rap videos." "Well, Nick, reality check. I'm not working in the coffee shop for fun. I am poor. No cash. Nada. I pay $50 a week for this place, and I only get paid $100 dollars a week." "Only $100 a WEEK?" "Yeah, Nick, get over it." "Where are the other rooms?" "Well, the bathroom is in there..." "And the bedroom?" "Um... right here." "Where's you're bed?" "The couch..." "The kitchen?" "There's a mini fridge, microwave and hot plate in the corner over there." "Katie, this is only one room." "Wow, Nick you noticed." "And it's dirty." "Compared to how it was when I first got it, its great." "I'm taking you back with me." "No, Nick. I'm staying here. I have to prove that I can live on my own. I've never done that." "But... but..." "I'll call you tomorrow to get together. OK?" "OK, but why did you come back?" "A psychic told me we belonged together. I loved you, but I never understood love. So I left. Then the psychic told me I should give love a chance. And that you'd take me back. You'll take me back, won't you?" "I'll have to think about it." Ouch. OK. "Alright. Well, Nick, I have to get back to work." "I'll come with you." "Alright."
I finished at work, and went home and crashed. THe next morning at 9:00am, I was freaking out. I was 4 hours late for work! I got to work and my boss was ready to kill me. "Katie, its a monday. Our busiest day! What were you thinking?" "I fell asleep without setting my alarm clock." "Finish today, I'll pay you for your work, and don't come back." "But... but I need this job. You don't understand. I have to have this job. You don't under-" "I'm sorry." I finished the work day and went home to figure out what to do.
*~*Two Days Later...*~*
The rent was due and I was hiding in my apartment to avoid the land lord. Having no money, and having only eaten at the coffee shop, i had no food in the house, so I ordered in. Today I ordered pizza and was waiting for the knock on the door. "Pizza!!!" "One Second!" I ran to the door, and opened it to find my landlord holding the pizza I'd ordered. "I intercepted the delivery boy at the door." He pushed his way into the apartment and closed and locked the door behind him. Then I followed him over to the couch and sat down "What do you want, Mr. Winters?" "You know very well that the rent is due Ms. Schwartz." "I lost my job... I cant pay." He put his arm around my shoulders. "Well, we do have a few options." "And what would they be?" "You could move out..." "Whats my other option?" "Well, Ms. Schwartz, you know I'm a very lonely man..." he said, dropping his hand a little so it was gripping my upper arm firmly. Then he continued, "I could use a few nights of... company..." "Are you incinuating what I think you are, Mr. Winters?" I said sharply, struggling to free myself from his grip. "It depends what you're thinking. Of course, if you live up to what Old Lady Whitney calls you, than you'll have no problem with the second option." Then he pulled me closer and tried to kiss me. I pushed him away. "Excuse me! I am not a slut, whore, prostitute, stripper or sex toy! I will not allow myself to be forced to do something I do not wish to do! I will have my things out by tomorrow night!" "Are you sure, Ms. Schwartz? This would be so much easier than living on the streets." "I'd rather live on the streets than in a sleezy apartment owned by you! Now get out!" I stood up pointing towards the door. Mr. Winters took his time getting up and leaving. The minute he was gone, I raced to the phone and dialed the first number that popped into my mind. AJ's. A woman picked up, "Hello?" ""Hi, is AJ there?" "No, he's not..." "Can you please tell him Katie called?" "Who are you, Katie?" "A friend of Nicks. I'm in a little trouble and AJ's the first person I thought of to go to." "Why didn't you go to Nick?" "He's sort of part of the problem... Who's this? AJ's girlfriend?" "Steph-" "Steph? You don't sound like you!" "Katie? You dont sound like you either... Oh, well, whats your number, I'll have AJ call you immediately." I gave her my number and hung up. I had to start packing. I packed all my clothes and shoes into 2 big cardboard boxes. Then I put the rest of my things into another 2 cardboard boxes. The furnature came with the place so I had to leave it.
I jumped when the phone rang. "Hello?" "Katie?" "AJ?" "Yea." "I need help." "Yea you do." "Be serious AJ. I lost my job and my landlord came on to me in a major way and i lost my apartment." "Your landlord is a bright man... OH, sorry... Why didn't you call Nick?" "I can't call Nick!!" "Why not?" "My own reasons. Can I stay with you?" "Um... I think i should ask nick..." "NO! Don't tell Nick! Never tell nick!" "Well, OK, when should I pick you up?" "As soon as possible." "Where?" "The coffee shop." "OK." "Thanx." "I'll be there in an hour." "C-ya." Now my only problem was getting my stuff to the coffee house.
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