It's eight in the morning and I'm late for work again. The client I had last night dragged himself out of bed, taking his precious time. I took too long to take a bath because for the first time since I started this service,I was having regrets this morning. I kept having a strange feeling gnawing on my conscience everytime I thought of Two. I only went out with him, it's not like we're dating, I kept telling myself as I showered. I decided to just blame it on him again since it was the easiest thing for me to do.
I'm rushing across the street, skirting around mud puddles. The rain poured last night, and water is collected in potholes planted everywhere, typical downtown roads. I'm jumping over one when an eerie sound surrounds me. I'm frozen in place,I look around for a potential source but everything is still and seems to be where it usually is. I'm about to continue down the street when I look down and see a reflection of myself in the collected water. The most prominent and confusing feature is the aurburn hair. This color is contrary to my current hair color. I had auburn hair since I was little but I never liked it, I never had the courage to dye it though,so I've been wearing wigs since I started living alone. Today I have a chestnut brown wig on, the main reason for my bewilderment at the reflection. I look away and look back down again but nothing has changed. I change facial expressions and they are reflected back at me confirming it's my reflection save for the red hair. A car horn honks behind me and I jump out of the way. I'm still out of sorts and my nerves are still raw when I dial a cab. The whole car ride to work I'm lost in my head, replaying the whole scenario.Is it possible for mere rain water to uncover what's hidden away. Impossible. Could there be a link between today's incident and the red haired lady series which usually haunt me, I wonder. The frequency of the series has increased over the past few days, forcing me to think about it, despite how much I try not to.
The mall comes into view and I tuck the thoughts away, though my mood has been dampened already.
As I walk into the gift shop, I'm welcomed by a petite blonde who says, " Hazel?" With her brows raised. I look around and meet Susan's eyes hoping for something, anything from her to fill me in on the situation but her expression is blank and she's shaking slightly. The blonde is looking me from head to toe with disadain staining her expression. I stand straight and nod my head in reply. She moves closer to me and imitates my posture. I'm forced to elevate my gaze to meet hers as her high heeled shoes gives her a height advantage over me. She points her perfectly manicured fingure at me, almost touching my chest and says, "I've come to politely ask you to stay away from Reign." There's nothing polite about you, I almost blurt out but I manage to hold my tongue and say, " Yes ma'am." instead.
She flips her glossy hair and struts out.
" What was that about?" I ask Susan, as soon as I'm sure she's out of earshot. "Who is Reign?" Susan, still glued on her chair, replies " She just came here and started yelling about how I went out with her future husband when she should have been the one to go instead." " How did it end up being my case then?" I ask. "When she was done ranting on about how she and 'Reign' are meant to be she said " watch your step Hazel" sneering at me. That's when I told her that I wasn't Hazel and that you would come in soon." Susan says with her eyes cast down. "Well, neither of us know any Reign so I think she had the wrong Hazel." I say, trying to calm Susan down.
" I didn't like her energy." Susan says, while we're wrapping gifts in preparation for Thanksgiving. "Whose energy?" A voice that sends butterflies fluttering in my stomach asks. The feeling enlightens my once dampened mood. I lift my eyes to meet the green of his. He smiles revealing pearl white teeth I haven't noticed before and says, "Who are you ladies gossiping about?" I look at Susan, who just shrugs, I look back at him and say, "No one you would know. How can we help you today." I ask hoping he is here for me. " Well I came to find out if miss Haz will be free tomorrow." He replies with a grin. I'm sure I'm beet red from blushing. I can't contain my excitement so I blurt out, "Yes." And quickly clasp a hand to mouth embarrassed by the way I gave in so easily.
"Great." He says, "I'll pick you up at eight."
As soon as he leaves, Susan jumps at me and starts giggling. "Second date." She says excitedly as if it were hers. "What are you going to wear?" She asks, with an animated look on. "I'll think about it." I reply, with a yearning in my mind. If only I didn't have to pay my own rent and part of my tuition, I would have gone shopping for a second date worth outfit.
I'm thinking about Two the whole way home, in the shower and when I finally fall asleep, I dream about him. We are standing outside the pothole from earlier in the morning, he takes my hand and leads me down a staircase through the pothole into a room full of lotus flowers floating on the pond floor and morning glory cascading the walls from their vines. A lady with aurburn red hair sits in front of a mirror, holding an eye liner, besides her sits a potted yellow henbane. The sight of the flower sends me into a hysteria attack.
I scream awake and relief washes over me when I realize I'm in my room.
I pull my phone towards me and the time has me jumping off my mattress. I only have thirty minutes to shower and get dressed before Two gates here.
I'm standing in front of my mattress wrapped in a drying towel, clothes littered everywhere. I'm having trouble picking an outfit. To make matters worse, Two didn't tell say where he's taking me.
After a long while of deliberation, I finally settle on a short black pencil skirt, a blue shirt sleeved denim jacket and white airforce sneakers. I'm adjusting my wig in front of the mirror when a knock raps on my door. I grab my chain link purse and head for the door.
"You look stunning." He comments, taking my hand in his leading me to his blue BMW 840i convertible. I could easily recognize it's model because of the article I wrote for my presentation last semester.
Two takeaway coffee cups are set on the cup holder. I smile looking at him, he smiles back and points at the box of doughnuts on the dashboard, saying, " I figured I came in too early to give you a chance to have breakfast." Butterflies flutter in my tummy at his considerate nature. "Thank you." I murmur.
We go to the park where we had corn dogs and icecream appreciating nature. An hour before midday we went to the movies and watched the Christmas inheritance with all it's cliché moments. After the movie we went for lunch at an open air bar. Two insisted on going to a Karaoke bar, I don't like music much but I agreed anyway. He sings Dancing queen by ABBA. This comes as a surprise as I didn't perceive him as a disco lover. I think of telling him about my dream but I decide against it, I didn't want to ruin the fun we're having.
The day is over before we know it, he holds my hand and leads me to my apartment. When we reach my door, he pulls me in for a hug and wispers in my ear, " I had a great time, I would be happy if we do it again," then pulls away and walks out as if avoiding something. I push the possibility away and walk inside.
I'm about to sleep when the memory of my dream hits me in full force. I grab my phone and open my browser. I type in symbolism of lotus flower. It reads, lotus are a symbol of purity, since they bloom from the mud without any stains and also resilience strength and rebirth. I wonder how all this is related to anything. I go on to the next flower in the dream, morning glory. It reads, an unyielding love that can overcome all challenges. The more I read the more confused I'm getting but I continue anyway. I type in henbane flower, and my eyes bulge out in shock as I read, it's used to induce a person to a clairvoyant, its also used by witches as a flying ointment.