Revved Up Soul

Chapter 16

Jasmine

Jessica was picking up things quickly for being so young, it reminded Jasmine of herself back in the day. "We're almost there," Jasmine promised as the two padded along the black and white checkered linoleum floor. Apparently someone had passed off one of Augustus' patient files to Jessica by mistake; good a time as any for her to meet the resident jerk with a heart of, well, jerk.

As if Zeus himself had thrown a bolt from the blue, Jasmine stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Luke dangerously close to one of the pharmacists. Janet.

Jessica screwed up her face in confusion, "What's wrong?" She asked.

Hot coals kissed at the soles of her feet, the blood in her body becoming thick and her head feeling full; every inch of Jasmine's body had an unseen weight to it.

Get your hand off of him you slut. Jasmine felt the stinging promise of tears just behind her eyes and she quickly stormed off towards the Neurology wing. "It's nothing," she all but hissed finally in response, taking long, quick strides.

Jessica struggled to keep up behind her. "Was that your boyfriend back there?" She asked genuinely confused.

"No," Jasmine answered coldly. "Forget it," she instructed, "like I said, it's nothing." It should have been nothing; a part of Jasmine wanted it to be just that. But the strings of her heart tugged with every step she took down the hall.

He's not your man, and you're not his girl – just get it out of your stupid head.

Jessica finally caught up to Jasmine, the purple folder still clutched against her chest. "I'm sorry," she offered, as if the words might grant her some quantum of solace.

After a couple of seconds they reached the end of the hall. Jessica moved in front of Jasmine and placed her hand on the silver handle, pressing down.

The winds of wrath still filled Jasmine's sails. "You could at least knock first," she said with grit teeth.

But by the time she had said as such, Jessica was already opening the door – revealing Augustus situated in his bulky red leather chair, the back of it facing Jasmine and Jessica.

Jasmine stepped forward, "Sorry the newbie here didn't think to knock," she offered apologetically, taking another step forward. Her eyes fell on the picture on his table. It was turned down now so that you could only see the black felt of the frame's rear. Jasmine flicked her gaze and noticed something else, something innocuous.

Something yellow and wrapped tight around his person. She tentatively stepped closer.

Oh god. Pinpricks of fear ran down Jasmine's spine.

She dashed over to the other side of his desk, his glassy eyes of green staring up at her, the pupils nothing more than jet dots among the cracked, red lines. Drool slowly ran down the corner of his mouth, his head swaying just a little as he shifted in his chair.

The word came out in a slow slur, "La . . . ura?"

"Augustus," she breathed, placing her hands firmly around his neck.

Jessica sheepishly approached.

Jasmine shot her a look, "Stay back," she warned.

The girl did not listen. Jessica gasped aloud, cursing beneath her breath and having to turn away. "Oh my god," she exclaimed, "is that?"

"Close that door," Jasmine instructed. "Now." She looked him over good one more time before moving over to the blinds and closing them; Jasmine turned then, getting close to his face and holding the man. When did this even happen? She'd never pictured a man such as him using. "What's wrong?" She asked, "why'd you go and do that?" The whip was in her voice half the time, undoing the tube tied around his arm.

Jessica closed the door and floated over, pale as a ghost, towards Jasmine. "W-we should be getting help," she stammered, "we, we have to report this you know? I—God I mean, we just ha—"

"No," Jasmine growled, "we're going to do no such thing. He'll lose everything you idiot, do you want to do that to him?" She stared daggers at the young resident, hoping that if she did it hard enough she might openly bleed. "You need to stay out of this and listen to me, you take this to anybody and it'll be your word versus mine. Consider that a warning."

Jessica crossed her arms and looked away, sniffling.

Jasmine went back to Augustus. "Tell me what's wrong," she pleaded, seeing the tears roll freely down his cheeks now – they glinted like sorrowful little diamonds along his face. She felt a hard lump form inside of her throat, "Don't do this," she begged, "please, please don't." All the bones in her body ached and her heart swelled, it hurt something terrible to picture the man passing away alone in darkness with a needle in his arm.

He blinked then, another tear finding its way from his eye – his big strong hand inching over wearily to Jasmine's and squeezing it so tight she feared it might break. "I'm . . . so— sorry," he confided.

Jasmine hushed him, "It's okay, it's okay," she assured, squeezing his hand back. "I'm going to put something on your door, alright?"

He nodded absently, rolling his head back and sighing loudly. "Lose. My practice."

"No no you're not," Jasmine let go of his hand, "I'm going to have Jessica keep an eye on you when I can't." I just wish I knew why.

Jasmine looked back at her resident, still addressing Augustus. "Nobody is going to know, I promise you. I promise."

She didn't like the look in the girl's eye.