Read Online Blackbird by Jessica MacIntyre - Free Book Online

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                  “Oh good. Paul, this is Chelle. She’s next.” Before she could say anything he shoved her into the office with his brother and closed the door.
     
    ***
                  “Hello, Chelle.” The man whom Robert said was his brother looked nothing like him. He was tall and gawky with glasses and Chelle could picture him as an awkward teenager, all braces and acne. At least that’s what she guessed. He didn’t even come close to having the same kind of natural handsomeness.
                  “Hello,” she said, stopping at that.
                  As he sat himself next to her, needle and rubber tourniquet in hand, he tried to make small talk. This was something Chelle hadn’t done in a long time. She couldn’t remember last time she’d had blood drawn. It certainly had not been in the last ten years. “So, how do you like working at Cole’s”
                  Her heart began to pound and she closed her eyes, turning her head away. A twinge of fear rose in her chest and she took a few deep breaths to calm herself. Panic was not something she could afford again. Relax Chelle. Not here. Not now. Get a grip.
                  “Everything ok?”
                  “Yes, everything’s fine. I just hate needles is all.”
                  He seemed surprised. “You do?”
                  “Yeah. I mean, isn’t that pretty common?”
                  “I suppose it is. So tell me, where do you live?”
                  The tourniquet was tightened and Paul straightened her arm, angling it toward him. “Oh, um, I’m kind of between places right now.”
                  “Is that right? Are you staying with friends?”
                  The steel made contact with her skin and she felt the pinch as it pierced her flesh. “Yeah, friends,” was all she could get out.
                  “All done,” he said as the needle pulled out of her arm. Immediately she calmed, laughing to herself a bit as she did. She had been scared over nothing, but fear of the unknown was always worse than the reality. “You did really well, and lovely veins too. Not a mark on them. Are all of your veins so good?”
                  That was easily the strangest question she’d ever been asked. Was this the way a doctor hit on you? Chelle laughed. “A girl’s gotta keep her veins up I guess,” she said standing.
                  “Here,” he said, handing her a small jar he’d printed her name on. “Fill this and leave it on the shelf in the bathroom. What’s your last name, Chelle?”
                  He was writing in a file now. “Carrey.”
                  “Chelle Carrey,” he said as his pen scratched back and forth. “It was nice to meet you Chelle.”
                  “Likewise.”
                  He gave her a smile as she grabbed her things and left the office. After doing her thing with the jar she headed to the change room. Lisa was sitting there with her head between her knees.
                  “Wow, Lisa, are you ok?” Chelle sat on the bench next to her and rubbed her back.
                  “I’m fine.” The rocking back and forth along with the waver in her voice said that clearly she was not.
                  “Are you scared of needles?”
                  “Oh yeah. Are you?” she asked looking up, hoping Chelle would give her some reassurance.
                  “I thought I was, but it turns out I’m not.” Chelle was a little proud of herself for having stayed calm, something she’d had trouble doing as of late, even when it defied reason or rationalization. Today her fear didn’t get the best of her and she straightened up, holding her head a little higher.
                  “God,