B.L. Miller - Crystal's Heart

"Hi." The blonde woman looked from Laura to Jenny and back again. "I thought everyone left. I didn't realize you still had company." She turned back toward the stairs.

"General Patton and Bobby left a few minutes ago," Jenny said, standing up and crossing over to where Crystal was standing. "We're just chatting. Why don't you join us?"

"Well, I

"

Laura gestured at the empty chair. "Have a seat. You have to be tired of being cooped up in that room all day."

Crystal hesitated, then nodded and moved over to the indicated seat. How bad could it be? I can be sociable for a few minutes. "So did your brother enjoy his party?"

"Yes, very much so."

"Do you have any brothers or sisters, Crystal?" Jenny asked after settling back down on the couch.

"I have an older sister."

"I'm an only child," the brown haired woman replied. "I always thought it would be great to have a sister."

"Me too," Laura agreed. "I love Bobby dearly but when I was sixteen, dragging my six year old brother with me to the mall was a real drag." "Are you two close in age?"

"Three and a half years."

"Oh, that's nice," Jenny said. "So you two grew up together."

"Yeah," Crystal said quietly, her thoughts going to her beloved sister.

"So are you the big sister or is she?"

"Patty is older."

Jenny noticed the solemn expression on the blonde woman's face. "Does she live near here?"

Crystal shook her head. "No. She moved away a long time ago. We lost touch." She reached into her shirt pocket for her cigarettes, then remembered Laura's rule and settled for grabbing a carrot stick from the veggie platter within reach.

"I can't imagine losing touch with Bobby," Laura said. "Did you two have a fight or something?"

"She ran away when I was fourteen. I haven't seen or heard from her since." The emotions were building and Crystal felt the tightening in her throat. "Which way did you say the liquor store was?" she asked Laura.

"Go to the main road and take a right."

"Actually," Jenny said as she stood up, "I have to get going and I'm headed in that direction anyway. Do you need a ride?" "I thought you were staying here tonight," Laura said with a question in her voice.

"I'm sorry, hon. I forgot I have to meet a client up in Manning first thing tomorrow morning. Her rapist is up for parole and she wants moral support when she speaks before the review board." She stood up and collected her purse. Laura rose as well.

"All right. I'll give you a call next week."

"Okay."

Once outside, Crystal lit a cigarette, the gray smoke forming a cloud near her face.

"Those are bad for you, you know."

"So I've heard," she replied, taking another long drag. "I suppose you don't allow smoking in your car either?"

"It's actually a loaner car while mine is in the shop but I've always found that the ashtray makes a great place to throw spare change." "Figures," Crystal muttered, drawing as much smoke in as she could before tossing the butt away. "Are you a health nut like Laura?"

Jenny laughed and unlocked the doors to the car. "I'm not as bad as she is. I can enjoy a good burger and fries." They climbed in and with a turn of the key, the engine roared to life. She reversed the car out of its space, then guided it down the turning drive that lead to the main road. "So are you from around here?"

"Milton," Crystal replied. "About an hour up the turnpike."

"I know where it is. Big factory town."

"Big nothing town, you mean," the blonde woman said bitterly. "Milton is a nothing town filled nothing people."

"Your family still back there?"

"Wouldn't know, I haven't talked to them since I moved out."

Jenny nodded, her eyes never leaving the road. "How old were you when you ran away?"

Crystal's heart skipped a beat. "You a psychic or something, Doc?"

"I told you I'm a therapist." She slowed the car down as they approached a traffic light. "I'm perceptive. It's a necessary skill when dealing with people who aren't always forthcoming with their feelings."

"Yeah? So what else does your great perception tell you about me?" She crossed her arms defensively.

Jenny looked at her, then back at the road as the traffic started moving again. "Your answer tells me that I was right about you running away." "Just as soon as I could," Crystal said. "A little more than a year after Patty did."

"At the house you said that she ran away when you were fourteen. You ran away when you were fifteen?"

"There's that perception of yours again." She looked out the window, dimly noting the liquor store sign approaching in the distance. "I tried to run away with her but I got caught. I tried three more times before I succeeded."

"It must have been pretty bad for you to try so hard to get away."

"Is this the point where you tell me all my problems are because of my fucked up childhood?" She pointed at the liquor store. "I don't need therapy to know that." Crystal opened the door before the car had come to a complete stop. "Thanks for the ride, Doc." She stepped out and shut the door, not giving Jenny a chance to respond.

The streets were deserted save for the occasional car, giving Crystal the freedom to drink from the bottle as she walked. By the time the complex came into view, her gait had a decidedly drunken sway to it and a third of the bottle's contents were gone. It was only as she approached the building that Crystal realized she had not taken her keys with her when she left. Fuck. Miss Tight-Ass will give me a lecture for sure. She brought the bottle to her lips and took a large swallow, wincing as the burning liquid made its way down her throat. She used her sleeve to wipe her mouth before reaching for the doorbell. Her head was pounding from the whiskey and all she wanted to do was lie down. "Dammit, open the fucking door, Laura." She hit the doorbell again, following it quickly by pounding her fist against the door. Sweat formed on her upper lip and Crystal leaned her forehead against the frame. She hadn't eaten anything more than a couple of carrot sticks all day and her body was quickly telling her that she had exceeded its limits. "Oh fuck," she whispered, feeling her stomach roil again. She pressed the doorbell repeatedly until she heard Laura unlocking the door. "Move!" Pushing the puzzled woman out of her way, Crystal staggered to the bathroom, barely lifting the toilet seat before her stomach made its final rebellion.

Laura closed the outside door and shook her head as she heard her roommate vomiting into the toilet. "Crystal? All you all right?" She received a retching sound in reply and groaned inwardly. I see you found the liquor store. "There are washcloths in the linen closet." "Gak -okay."

Laura went into the kitchen and filled a glass with water. She heard the toilet flush followed by the sound of the faucet being turned on. Minutes later a more composed Crystal exited the bathroom. "Thanks," she said, taking the offered glass.

"Feel better?"

Crystal nodded. "A bit."

"You should eat something. It'll settle your stomach."

The blonde woman thought about the three microwavable dinners sitting the freezer and shook her head. "Naw, I'll be fine."

"Suit yourself." Laura opened the refrigerator and peered in. "I have a batch of leftovers from the party. Nothing much, batch of sandwiches and the rest of the veggie platter." She grabbed the plate of sandwiches and held it up for Crystal to see. "There'seg.salad, ham and cheese " She looked quizzically at one of the neatly cut triangles. "Um your guess is as good as mine." She handed the plate to Crystal. "Help yourself. Other than the eg.salad, I don't eat any of it." After getting a bowl of tossed salad for herself, Laura grabbed a bottle of dressing and used her hip to close the refrigerator door. She nodded in the direction of the living room. Reluctantly the blonde woman followed her out of the kitchen.