Bathroom Break and Plans Change Slightly

8:05 PM

Meredith entered the restroom and found a mess. Kelly was standing in front of the sink splashing her face with water and staring into the mirror. The stylist ducked back out the door and came back with a chair and a briefcase. She looked over at the young lady and said "Kelly? Sit down". The brunette looked over at Meredith and replied in a tired voice "I'm not sure what's going on". "Sit and we'll talk while I straighten you up again" the blonde purred to her as she offered a friendly smile. Kelly thought for a second, walked over, and sat down. Meredith set the case on a small table, opened it up, and started fixing Kelly's hair.

"Talk to me, sweetheart" the secretary coaxed as she continued working. "I feel so weird, Meredith. The first few run-throughs worked great. I was slowly getting more and more confident with my speaking ability and skills. Even when she added the professor I was working through it. Now the last couple of presentations," Kelly hesitated for a second, "she's been letting him touch me". The coed frowned as she looked at the receptionist in the mirror. "How does this make you feel?" Meredith questioned. "That's kinda the scary part," Kelly explained. "It isn't bothering me much at all when it's happening and that just feels wrong. I think it should be bothering me a lot and I'm afraid it's the ****," the college girl protested. Meredith handed her a towel and asked her to dry her face.

"The **** cocktail is meant to drive your anxiety down. It sounds to me like it's working," Meredith mused as she finished up on the girl's hair. "Dr. Valentine is an expert at this. I have never seen her fail with anyone. After the first session, she takes stock of the patient. If she cannot help, they are referred elsewhere. The doctor was excited about you because she felt your issue could be fixed quickly." the stylist recalled. "I don't want to be on this dreamy, weird acting medication for the rest of my life" Kelly insisted. The receptionist laughed, "You won't be. I doubt you'll take any medication after this weekend". "You have a particular issue. It's an unnatural block of sorts the doctor is working on removing. I really don't want to get too deep into it since I'm no therapist but trust me, you'll be very happy with the result" Meredith offered. "I've never seen a patient complain afterward at least," she said with a smile.

The two of them bantered for a good part of a half an hour before Meredith finished putting Kelly's 'look' back together for her. The brunette stood in front of the mirror and admired the work for a moment before turning to the secretary and saying "Are you sure this is a good thing?". "Of course, silly. Trust the process, the doctor really is good at this" the blonde chortled back at her. "If it makes you feel better, I can sit in the room though" she offered. "Yes, please do!" the coed quickly accepted in a hopeful voice. "I'd just feel better if you were observing," Kelly said with a smile. Meredith offered her hand "Deal!". They shook hands and the blonde gathered her things. "Just stay in here and get yourself mentally ready for about ten minutes. I'll put this all away and be in a seat before you get out" the receptionist offered in a soothing voice. She smiled as grabbed all her things and made it to the door. "Remember, ten minutes," the blonde restated. When Kelly nodded, Meredith offered a smile and slipped back out the door.

8:45 PM

The secretary quickly went into the office and dropped her stuff off. Then she went back into the hall and went over to the doctor. "Kelly is uneasy, Nas. I had to promise to sit and watch" Meredith apologized. "It is what it is I guess" the doctor mused. "I prefer to use you as someone friendly but disconnected from the therapy. I guess that isn't going to happen here" the therapist sighed as she shook her head.

"What did she tell you?" the doctor questioned. "Kelly's taking to the therapy well. She's told me it doesn't bother her really at all. In fact, I'd bet she'd got really turned on but there's still a small voice in the back of her head telling her this isn't normal" the blonde divulged carefully. "Oh. That isn't an issue" Valentine offered. "A bit more Valerian and Lemon balm should do the trick" the doctor exulted. "A couple more tries tonight and we finish it tomorrow. She has her life back and I have my film" the therapist chortled. "Take a seat in the middle now and stay quiet" Valentine commanded. Meredith took her seat, the doctor went back to taking notes and the professor sat in the front row playing with his phone. All of them waited quietly for the star patient to emerge from the bathroom.