"No," he said. "That's not why I'm here."
"It's not about love?" she asked. "Most people come here looking for those kinds of answers."
"No. I have this certain condition … ."
"Are you sure you don't need to see a medical doctor?" she asked as if she didn't want to be responsible for mistreating something. "Lots of teens have issues, and those are best solved … "
"No-" he said. "It's not that, either. Oh … I thought you could help me." He began to become frustrated and turned to me. "We better go-this was a mistake."
"I can help," she said. "Please stay. And give me your hand."
Nash turned back and reluctantly extended his hand.
She rubbed her hands together to get them warmed up, her long purple fingernails catching the candlelight. She took his hand and held it. She matched his gaze, then closed her eyes.
"You want to know what to do," she said as if in a trance, "when the full moon comes."
"Yes," he said enthusiastically. "Yes."
She closed her eyes. "I feel here that your love line is very strong," she said, pressing on his palm. "Very strong feelings you have for one particular person."
Nash didn't want to know about his love life. And I didn't want her encouraging him to reunite with me.
"But there is something getting in the way," she continued, "or someone. I sense a strong animal impulse."
She opened her eyes. "It's you," she said as if she was staring at a werewolf.
"It's me what?" Nash was confused. And so was I.
"The wolf. I could feel it. You are the wolf." Dr. Meadows was serious.
"No-" he refused.
"I thought it was the other boy-" she said, looking at me. "But it is you after all."
"I'm not anything!" Nash exclaimed, scooting back.
"I can help you," she said sincerely.
"You can?"
"Yes, at the next full moon. Meet me at Willow Park. I will be there to help you through it."
"No," I said protectively. Not again. Dr. Meadows just wanted to catch a transformation on video so she could become a paranormal star.
Nash wasn't about to wait for her to show up on the next full moon, either. Instead he reached for her again. "Tell me what I'm supposed to do. That's why I am here!"
It was as if Dr. Meadows didn't want to answer him. She wanted to use him for her own gain, just like she wanted to with Brandon.
But Nash was persistent. "Read my hand and tell me the answer I am looking for," he insisted.
"I can help you more if I am there with you."
"You can help me just fine now," he said. "Take my hand." He held his hand out until she had no other choice but to grasp it or walk away.
The psychic realized the severity of the situation. She placed his hand on hers again.
Nash sighed with relief.
Dr. Meadows drew a deep breath, trying to regain her trance mode. It took her a few seconds, but she seemed to be channeling something strong. "I know what it is," she said. "A cure."
"Yes," he said. "Yes!"
"You only have to take it."
"But I don't have one!" he said.
"You must consume it!"
Then she snapped out of it and dropped his hand.
"But I don't have one," he reiterated. "Where do I get it? Tell me where!" He pushed his hand at her again.
"Your reading is done," she said.
"No, it isn't. You told me to take it. But how do I find it?"
"I only can tell you to consume it."
This time Nash reached across the table and grabbed her hand. "Tell me!"
She was startled by his outburst. She struggled to pull her hand away, but he held on to her until she eventually relented. Then she closed her eyes again.
She paused for a moment, and Nash and I waited with bated breath.
Finally it was as if she was feeling a connection. "It is closer than you think," she said. "Just relax and the answer will unfold. But when the opportunity is revealed to you, the answer is yes. Take it. You will be normal again."
Nash let out a huge sigh of relief. He let go of her hand, stood up, and reached over to the psychic.
"Thank you," he said. He gave her an enthusiastic hug.
Dr. Meadows was startled by his display of affection. She suddenly was swept over by his embrace and became giggly, like any schoolgirl might. "You should come in for readings more often," she said, taken in by Nash's charm.
"This was the only one I needed," he said enthusiastically. We left the room, and he handed her his money.
"And something for the lovely lady, too," Nash declared. "Go on, Celeste. Pick out a necklace." He was so relieved by her prediction, all the sorrow he had been feeling was replaced with joy.
"Thanks anyway," I said. I was happy Nash was pleased and wanted to head to Brandon's before Dr. Meadows gave me any predictions.
"I'll get her something later," he said to Dr. Meadows.
Dr. Meadows was beaming with her happy customer. As we began to leave, Dr. Meadows politely followed us out.
Suddenly I saw purple fingernails on my arm and felt her hand grip me tightly. I tried to shift away before she could say anything to me but her hold was too tight.
She locked her gaze with my own. "Beware of the full moon," she said intensely. "A werewolf wants to take you into his world. Forever."
Nash and I gazed at each other in fear.
Then she released her hand and smiled as if she had only said good-bye.
Nash and I just waved and quickly left the store. Her words echoed in my head over the sounds of the clanging chimes as the door to Penny for Your Thoughts closed behind us.
When we reached our cars, Nash stopped me before I opened my door.
"I want to thank you," he said. "You've done more for me than anyone in my life. Really."
"It's okay." I was eager to leave Dr. Meadows's storefront.
"It was a bit freaky-especially at the end. What do you think she meant?"
"I don't know. I'm sure it meant nothing."
"But what you did meant everything," he said. "She told me I'll get a cure, and I'll be back to normal. I can't wait until that happens. And I have you to thank."
He was still holding my arm, and his fingers began to touch my elbow.
It tickled, and chills ran through me. In a moment, Nash was going to kiss me.
It was enough that I'd gone somewhere alone with him when I was dating Brandon. I couldn't let my former boyfriend kiss me, too.
His warm smile radiated, and it was hard not to be under his spell. But as he leaned in, I pulled back.
"I've done enough today," I said, and opened my door.
Nash waited as I got in and started the engine. As I took off for Brandon's, Nash waved, then headed for the Eastside.
Dr. Meadows's words haunted me. They echoed in my mind. "Beware of the full moon," she had said. "A werewolf wants to take you into his world. Forever."
Would Nash try to take me into the werewolf world before he was cured? Was he going to bite me under a full moon and make me transform? Every time I came to Penny for Your Thoughts, I left more frustrated and worried than when I had arrived.
SEVEN
rude boys
As I drove away from Penny for Your Thoughts, I noticed my gas gauge was close to empty, so I pulled into a gas station before I reached Brandon's house, even though I wanted to race to Brandon's side to tell him what Dr. Meadows had told Nash and not miss even a minute more that I could spend with him-especially since Nash had cut into my time with him. I knew that it would be after dark when I left Brandon's, but it was still best to fuel up now.
Abby and Ivy would freak if they knew I was getting gas on the Westside. They thought people on the "wrong" side of town were shady, to say the least. Everyone was really friendly, and all the people I saw looked normal to me. After I fueled up, I went inside the station to pay. An older man was already being helped, so I stood in line behind him. As soon as it was my turn, I looked up and saw a guy standing in my place, as if I hadn't been waiting at all.
The guy appeared to be a junior or senior and sported black, spiky hair, silver piercings, and several tattoos. He wore a brown waffle shirt and oversized blue jeans. He was attractive but obviously not courteous.
I was impatient to get to Brandon's, and I didn't appreciate that this guy had gotten in my way. So I spoke up.
"Excuse me, it's my turn," I said politely.
The spiky-haired guy didn't budge. He didn't even acknowledge me but instead told the clerk what he wanted. I was already riled up after Dr. Meadows's new prediction. I didn't want to become a werewolf-especially one with Nash-and all that it could mean. And this guy was getting on my already frazzled nerves.
"I've been waiting here," I said in the sweetest voice I could muster.
Then he turned around. His hazel eyes gazed up my body as he checked me out ever so slowly, from my sandals to the pink headband in my hair. It creeped me out.
"So?" he responded when he was finished.
"So?" I retorted. "What about being a gentleman?"
"I don't have time for that," he said as he handed the clerk his money.
He turned back to me, this time standing a little too close for my comfort. I couldn't physically move him, and I didn't want to get into an altercation. But I was so surprised-and ticked off-at his rude behavior.