The Bad Guy's Doctor

TEN

"You have to watch what you do," Sera winces as I adjust the bandages that came undone the day before. "You can't risk opening it again, or else it'll get infected."

"Yeah, yeah," she responds, handing me the pair of scissors left on the counter. I skip the fabric, binding it to her arm securely. "I'll be careful." Sera gives me a quick wave as someone calls her over and I nod, gathering my things.

"I'm going out for a moment, Althea, do you want anything?" Arsenio is halfway out the back door, probably heading to the nearby corner store. A cold breeze drifts inside from the opening.

My response is immediate. "No, I—" I pause. Wait. Arsenio turns around to look at me, eyes glinting.

"Y-You do?" He's surprised. I usually disregard his offers and send him on his way. Strangely enough, I seem to remember that he always stays to hear me finish my sentence, even if I've said the same thing a hundred times.

"Caffeine. Any type." I've began to feel tired, far more often than usual. I wonder if it has anything to do with the stress from the incident.

My skin feels sticky.

"Yes, ma'am." Arsenio disappears, the door closing silently behind him. I survey the clinic, watching them talk amongst themselves. They're loud, boisterous enough to wake up the entire block, but the entire block belongs to the people in here. They cheer, tap knuckles against knuckles, slamming wooden soup bowls onto tables.

I see Jasper break away from his group, walking towards me. "Is it just me or is Arsenio getting clingier?" I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Ever since I kissed him, he's been attached to my side. Well, he always was, but now, he's everywhere I am.

"You've noticed?" He grins, nodding. Strangely, no one mentioned it besides Jasper.

"Did something happen between you two?" He lifts his hand up, eyes piercing me with such intensity that made me feel like this question was dangerous. I shake my head firmly.

"Nothing. It's probably the changing seasons or something." Jasper laughs, looking almost relieved as he smirks. "It's moments like these that I get a breather."

"When are you free, dolly?" I freeze, before giving him a confused glance.

"It wouldn't be fair if I answered you and not Arsenio, Jasper." I glanced down at the supplies, before tossing them into some drawers. A chill runs down my spine, making me feel uneasy.

"But I'm different from him, aren't I?"

"What do you want?" I raise an eyebrow at Jasper, hands resting against the countertop. He's acting strange. Jasper interlocks his fingers, glancing up at me from his seat.

"I want to make sure you're getting the necessary amounts of rest." I tighten my grip on the counter, a strange feeling of relief surging through me. Jasper reached up, caressing my cheek gently. "You look tired."

I take his hand, pulling it away from my face. "I'm sorry I worried you, but I'm fine." He flips my hand over, rubbing a soothing circle against the back of my hand as he holds it. He's tender, lashes long as he stares at our hands. I don't move.

What is he...?

"I want you to know that you can rely on me." I nodded, as Jasper stood, making me crane my head to look at him. He lets go of me. "And let Arsenio know when he annoys you too much, he just doesn't know when to stop when it comes to you, Althea."

He leaves with a nod, winking at me as I hear the back door open. I spin around, Arsenio stepping through with a dark plastic bag hooked between his fingertips. He grins, before setting it down on the counter. "Hi,"

"Hey." I pull the bag away to glance at the contents. Three energy drinks, some candy, and a new candle. "Is this all for me?" He has another plastic bag in his other hand and he nods, grinning.

"You like watermelon flavored candy, don't you?" I blink, before nodding slowly. Sometimes it was strange to think about how much he knew about me.

"Thanks." I grab a can, before opening it and setting it to the side. I reach over, petting his hair instinctively. He gives me a lopsided smile, before wrapping his arms around me and nuzzling his head into my neck. "Stop, you idiot." I press a hand to his cheek, pushing him away as he held onto me.

I catch Jasper looking at us and he turns away, eyes narrowed.

What's up with him?

- - -

"I heard you could drink, Althea," One of my customers chimes in, glancing at me from her seat. "How about you and I see who can drink more?"

"I can't deal with hangover and work the clinic at the same time." I decline, smiling softly.

"She could drink me into an early grave. I've never met anyone as amazing as Althea." Arsenio rubs his palm against my hair, before I swat it away. I let out a harsh breath, patting down the messy strands. I wasn't going to lie, I wasn't a lightweight, but I wasn't waiting for someone to debunk it.

"You're always working," Orlando comments, nudging Jasper soundly. "You should get her to take an actual day off. You know," he turns back to look at me, "like a vacation."

"And who's going to make sure that you don't end up paralyzed in some back alley?" He scoffs, waving his hand dismissively. I fight back a yawn as I take a sip from the can of coffee. It's not as heavy as I though, especially from the extreme labeling.

"As if she'd listen to me. Althea's stubborn." Stubborn. Me? I'm just doing what's necessary. I shake my head, sighing.

"Alright, alright, enough talking. Get home already, it's late." I make a sweeping motion with my hands, to which the customers respond by peeling themselves away from the counter and toward the door. Arsenio, as per usual, hangs by me even though everyone starts to file out.

I reach over and ruffle his hair. "You too, pretty boy." He blinks up at me.

"You don't want me to warm up your bed for you, love?" I roll my eyes, pushing at his shoulder. "You know, every time I'm with you when you're asleep, you try to literally crawl into my skin? It stretches out my shirts."

"Out, shoo, go home." He chuckles and finally salutes a goodbye over his shoulder. I wait until the door slides closed and locks until I start moving up stairs. I was right.

Citrus. The smell of perfume was in the air, just shy of my bedroom door. The information must've been delivered then. I'll finally know what I've been missing for the past years of my life.

I'll finally be able to let go. To be able to understand where my parents disappeared to. An envelope sits on my desk. I break the wax seal, my heart thundering in my chest as what I recognize as a folded up newspaper is revealed inside.

I pull it out and unfold it carefully, the aged paper wrinkling gently beneath my fingers.

'Young unidentified couple dies in a tragic car crash, miles away from Central'

I let the newspaper float to the ground. It gently lays itself onto the cold floor as my heart plummets through the very core of the earth. They didn't even make it.

I drag a hand down my face, shaking slightly. They left us and didn't even make it.

My hands tremble as I stuff the newspaper back into the envelope and hesitate before I stuff it into a drawer.

Another cigarette leaves the pack and the flames flicks to life with ease.