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 e entered the house and Irene closed the door behind him. She then settled down on the couch and patted it beside her inviting him to join her. He sat beside her at an angle so he was facing her, he reached out and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled thinking of how he had done that to Kat. She leaned forward and kissed him. He responded but couldn't help compare Irene's kiss to Kat's. Kat's was warm, sensuous and loving, Irene's kiss didn't seem to have any feeling in it at all anymore.
"Marc?" She asked as she pulled back.
"I'm sorry, I'm just... a little distracted."
"What's on your mind?"
"Kat."
"Oh really?" Irene's voice jumped a little. Had Marc been paying attention he would have recognised the warning signs that Irene had turned into a volcano and was ready to burst, but he hadn't.
"Yes, her and her father came over for tea last night and I saw her again this morning and she invited me over." Marc wasn't that distracted that he tactfully didn't mention that he kissed her.
"You were late because you were with that wench?" Irene screeched.
"Look I said I was sorry. I didn't mean to lose track of time," Marc said, defending himself and wondered why he was bothering.
"I can't believe you Marc." Marc started laughing, "What's so funny?"
"You. Us. I was going to talk to you today about us and I just realised I don't want there to be an us anymore. Your comments about Jade and now Kat. You can't believe me? I can't believe you!"
"Marc, I'm sorry," Irene said in a panicked voice mentally swearing to herself. She was loosing her grip on him.
"Not this time Irene, in fact not ever," He said coldy and got up, leaving Irene dumbfounded on the couch.
Marc got home and avoided the den where he could hear his parents talking and headed to his room. He bumped into Jade in the hallway.
"It's over again?" She asked, instantly knowing what was on his mind.
"Not again Jade, for good," he replied and walked into his room, closing the door.
Jade instantly went over and turned her and Marc's phone down quiet. She knew Irene would call. By the time tea time had come around there were 21 messages on the phone. The first seven where from Irene saying she was sorry and demanding Marc pick up the phone. The eighth call was from Kate asking if everything was okay since Irene had called their place looking for Marc. The ninth was from Irene asking Jade to talk to Marc for her. The tenth from Darryl just to say he loved Jade and if Marc needed to talk he was about. Call eleven to twenty were Irene again and call twenty-one was from Lars wondering if everything was okay since Marc didn't show up for their game. Jade deleted the messages and wrote herself a note to call Kate and Darryl afterwards. She wrote another note for Marc letting him know that Irene had called several times. Jade went to underline the word several but decided against it and just added that Lars had called too.
At dinner Marc was quiet and nobody asked any questions. He went back to his room after tea and Catie asked how many times Irene had called. Jade told them. It was agreed to disconnect both phone lines for the night since they all knew that if Irene couldn't reach Marc on his number she would soon try the house number. Jade made a pot of green tea and then headed to Marc's room. She knocked once before entering and set the tea down on his desk and poured two cups handing him one. He smiled and took it thankfully. They drank the tea in silence. Then Jade went to leave but he asked her to stay. He laid down on his bed and she laid down beside him holding him in her arms. He sighed and curled up in her arms.
They were awoken by a knocking on Marc's door and then their father poked his head in.
"Morning kiddlywinks" He greeted "Don't be late for school you two. Also don't forget that you have tarot readings from three onwards today Jade."
"I won't," she replied sleepily and their father left.
"Thanks Jade," Marc said.
"No problems but now I really have to go" she said and he smiled. She gathered the cups and placed them on the tray and took them out with her.
***
Marc met Kat that morning just before their art class.
"You look radiant this moring," Marc complimented.
"Thank you," Kat smiled.
She had spent close to half an hour that morning picking her clothes out. She was in an even better mood when she had gotten to school and Kate had told her that he and Irene had broken up. She felt a sudden twinge of guilt but brushed it away. She wondered if she should mention it but decided against it.
"Well here comes Tim, shall we?" He asked.
"Sure," Kat smiled and then boldly took his arm.
As they walked into the art building neither of them saw Irene watching them.
The class got underway and Kat noticed Jade enter the art room and set up in a corner working quietly.
"I thought Jade was a year above us," She whispered to Marc.
"She is, why?"
"She's here," Kat pointed.
"Oh, I didn't even see her come in. She does that a lot. Tim doesn't mind any student doing that as long as you don't disrupt his class."
"Oh. I might have to remember that."
"The art room is very relaxing isn't it?"
"Yes."
"I guess you've heard about my break up by now?" He said suddenly, taking Kat completely by surprise.
"Yes," she replied simply, not really knowing what else to say.
"Good."
Marc went back to his art work and Kat watched him for awhile. She saw Jade look up from her work and stare out into space for awhile before she turned looking searchingly around the room and then spot Kat. Jade smiled and Kat smiled back. Jade went back to her work and Kat sat feeling a little perplexed.
"Hmm that's really starting to look good." A comment came from behind Kat's shoulder. She jumped.
"I'm sorry." He apologised
"That's okay Tim."
"You may want to try this with the water colour pencils," he suggested.
"Thanks, I think I will."
"Good work Marc" Tim commented and then continued drifting around the room adding suggestions and compliments as he went.
***
Jade walked into work at two. She went to the counter and pulled out the big blue dairy that had all the bookings in them. She noted who she had to do tarot readings for. Each week she would have different hours since the tarot readings where by bookings only but she saw that Kate had her regular appointment at six. Kate always had the last tarot reading every Monday night. Then they would close the shop at seven when the shopping center closed and head back to one of their houses for coffee and chatting.
***
Kat met Kate for lunch. Maya and Sarah joined soon after. Kate was going to leave after lunch since she didn't have another class for the day. However Kate did have a morning class which Kat didn't.
"How was your art class today with Marc?" Sarah asked.
"It was good."
"And Marc?" Maya prompted
"He's good too." Kat knew what they were hinting at and so played dumb to annoy them. This went on for a good ten minutes.
"Oh, Kat just put them out of your misery and tell them what they want to know."
"I would Kate but there is nothing to tell."
"Your not going to make a move on him?" Maya asked
"Not as obviously as you mean Maya."
"Hmm, you have better restraint than I do. I would be moving in now just so I could feel his hot lips on mine," Sarah joked.
Kat just smiled not trusting herself to tell them he was a great kisser. Maybe later she would tell them, just not now.
"Are you doing anything this evening?" Kat asked Kate.
"Yeah, I have a tarot reading with Jade at six. You can come if you want, she's really good."
"Hmm. Maybe. Is there anything she isn't good at?"
"What do you mean?"
"She just seems to be good at everything."
"No. She's human just like the rest of us" Kate watched Kat's face carefully
"She isn't good at maths or science."
"Well that's something" Kat replied laughing and Kate relaxed.
"Come with me tonight, I'll get Jade to do your reading."
"Hmm, I dunno."
"Come on, it will be fun. We can see if you and Marc will go out," Kate teased
"Okay then," Kat agreed.
"Good, will meet you at the mall after your class then."
***
Kat met Kate at the entrance of the mall not long after five. They did some window shopping until half past five and then they entered Jade's Parent's shop. About ten to six Jade and another women exited from a door in the corner of the room. Kat hadn't noticed that there last time and realised that the curtain she saw there the other day had cleverly hidden that small room. She then saw the lady place twenty dollars in the tip jar and leave. Kate explained to Kat that they didn't charge an amount for the tarot readings, they instead asked for a small donation. Jade went over and greeted them before inviting them into the little room. The room was sparsly decorated. It had cushions on the floor for seats and a small table. There was a small cabinet in the corner which held half a dozen tarot decks. On top of the cabinet was a few candles and a stick of incense. Kat breathed deeply and felt instantly relaxed. Jade shut the door and then sat on the other side of the table.
"So who is having the reading?" Jade asked
"Kat is, we wanted to see if... ouch" Kate rubbed her knee where Kat had hit it. Jade laughed.
"Oki, first of all I want you both to close your eyes. Kat I want you to think about what you want to ask."
"Okay," Kat replied. A few minutes later Jade told them they could open their eyes again.
"Ready?" Jade asked Kat.
"Yes, do I have to tell you?"
"Not if you don't want to but in that case I need you to write it on a small piece of paper."
"Okay," Kat replied.
This was definetly different then all the other tarot readings she had done before. Kat grabbed the pencil and wrote on the piece of paper Jade provided. She wrote, 'Are Marc and I destined to be together?' She then folded the piece of paper. Jade got Kat to place it in the middle of the table. Jade then reached out with one hand and placed it on top of the piece of paper and mused. After she did this she reached inside her little cupboard and searched until she found the right tarot deck and then proceeded to shuffle. Kat looked at Kate who was watching intently, her face unreadable. She was drawn back to the sound of Jade's humming and Kat felt as if she was being wrapped in a warm blanket. Kat didn't think it was possible but she relaxed even further and allowed herself to be caught up in her reading. Jade tabled the cards and made Kat cut the deck before shuffling some more.
As Jade shuffled, she pondered Kat's Earth birthmark. She was still thinking about it as she dealt out the cards in a clock face. After she'd placed the focus card, the 12 "number" cards, and two centre cover cards, Jade looked down at the spread, and suddenly burst out laughing.
"I *know* that!" she told the cards, then smiled at Kat and KatE. "Sorry, I wasn't concentrating."
Kat glanced down at the cards, and smiled. The focus card was the Empress, and the 12 surrounding cards and cover cards were the 14 pentacle cards.
"That is a very unusual spread," KatE commented with a slight smile.
"I know," Jade replied, scooping the cards together and placing them back in the deck. "Pentacles are the Earth suit," Jade added to Kat.
"I know," Kat replied with a smile. "And the Empress is a mothering, nurturing, nature, plants and animals, feeling connected to the earth type card."
Jade smiled.
"Little earthy, are we?" she teased, looking in the cupboard again. "Maybe I should use a different deck."
"Just re-shuffle and deal," KatE advised. "That one's definitely going to be thinking about her."
"True," Jade considered, sliding the deck across the table to Kat. "Shuffle the Earth in. I'll keep my mind on your question."
Kat smiled, and obediently shuffled the cards again while Jade placed her hand over the paper. After a while, Jade held out her hand for the deck, and Kat gave it to her. She placed it on the table, Kat cut, and Jade dealt the cards, in a celtic cross spread, then turned the cards over and studied them for a long moment.
"Well, you're the empress again," Jade smiled. "But let's see... Crossing the situation is the Queen of cups, reversed... Which would be a hard-hearted, unloving, non-spiritual person... Isolated within their self, no feeling of God or psychism, most likely manipulative, does not pay attention to emotional undercurrents, mean-hearted, unaccepting, judgmental... Hmm... A little more information?"
KatE and Kat glanced at each other as Jade added another card on top of the Queen of cups.
"Ah, queen of swords. Cold, calculating woman who will fight to get what she wants. Interesting. Your subconscious holds the three of swords - broken heart, perhaps? Separation, sorrow, loss, emotional pain, grief, misery, unhappiness... The end of an affair of the heart. Oh, your mother."
Kat's face went blank, and KatE looked puzzled, but Jade was engrossed in studying the cards and didn't notice.
"Your past holds the 10 of swords - Deep pain and misery, again, feeling stabbed in the back, like your life was ruined, loss, failure, pain, misfortune... However the worst has passed now, things will be looking up from this point. The misfortunes have passed," Jade emphasised. "Your conscious holds the nine of cups - At the physical level, the nine of cups is a sign of delight in all the senses. It's encouraging you to seek out pleasure and enjoy your body in every way. You can commune with the natural world as well - the body of Mother Earth. The future holds the lovers - that's nice," Jade smiled. "A relationship that is based on deep love - the strongest force of all. The relationship may not be sexual, although it often is or could be. And going by your last card, I'd say it's far more likely to be sexual in nature. So... Great love, fantastic sex, what else could you want?"
KatE smirked at Kat, who merely looked as innocent as possible.
"Your personality right now holds the Queen of pentacles - surprise, surprise. You're nurturing, big hearted, down-to-earth, resourceful, trustworthy... You respond to the natural world, make people feel loved, warm, supported, good about themselves... Will always be there for those that need you, is loyal and steadfast, and will always come through in a pinch, and keep true to your word. That's good to know. Environmental influences," Jade continued. "Now that is interesting."
Jade was silent for a long moment, and KatE leaned forward to see the remaining three cards.
"What is interesting?" Kat asked finally.
"Well... the environmental influences show the Tower. It seems that all hell is about to break loose. Quick, sudden, dramatic upheaval... But the disruption is needed. There is positive within the change, you just have to find it. The hardship is only temporary, however - Look for the spiritual center that will take you in and give you shelter. Hopes and fears show the Chariot though. You will be victorious, if you master yourself, and your powers - discipline and determination are needed. You worry, however, that you won't master them in time."
Jade and KatE exchanged glances.
"The outcome, however, is happy. The 10 of cups. There will be joy, happiness, contentment, enjoyment, peace and serenity. Blessings in abundance. Family, harmony, great closeness."
Jade finally looked up from the cards.
"All in all, a very interesting reading."
Kat was frowning slightly.
"So there's going to be trouble, but it will all work out in the end."
Jade chuckled.
"Pretty much, yeah."
"Well, that's good."
KatE grinned. "And your sex is going to be fantastic!"
Kat lightly thumped KatE in the arm, and she feigned pain. Jade laughed, and swept the cards together before putting them back in the cupboard. Jade felt a slight tingling on her birthmark, and absentmindedly pushed up her sleeve and scratched it. A moment later, she noticed that Kat and KatE were also both scratching the inside of their forearms, up near the elbow. The other two noticed at the same moment, and gazes shifted from one exposed arm to the next.
"Well," said Kat after a pause. "That is interesting."
She held out her arm to better reveal the small white triangle birth mark on her arm, with a line through it towards the bottom of the triangle. KatE held out her arm revealing an identical white triangle, without a line, and Jade followed with a birthmark identical to Kat's, except that the point of her triangle pointed up towards her elbow, not down towards her wrist like Kat and KatE's.
"We're missing one," Kat added.
Jade and KatE exchanged glances, wondering how much to say.
"It's 7:00," called a voice from outside the door, and the three girls looked up as Marc pushed the door open, arms moving back to their sides.
"Jade, Kate," he greeted, then his eyes fell on Kat. "Kat."
"Hello, Marc," Kat replied, and KatE grinned at Jade.
"It's 7:00, you finished?"
"Yes," KatE replied. "Did you know that Kat is going to have fantas-"
She stopped abruptly, as Kat's finger collided with her side.
"Oops, sorry," Kat said innocently, standing.
Jade and Marc both grinned, and KatE chuckled as she got to her feet too.
"Yeah, sure you are."
Jade blew out the candles and broke off the incense stick, then reached behind her for her bag.
"How did you get here?" Jade asked.
"I drove, of course," Marc laughed.
"Good," Kate said, pulling on her jacket. "Will you give Kat a lift home? Jade said she was going to come over and see my brother, so if you'll take Kat home, I'll take Jade and then we won't both be going two ways."
"Sounds logical," Marc agreed easily, although his pulse quickened slightly.
Kat nodded agreement, and KatE and Jade said their goodbyes to Kat and Marc, and slipped out into the shop, KatE lightly elbowing Kat in the ribs as she passed, with a wink. Kat smiled and picked up her bag, and the slip of paper she'd written her question on, which she slipped into her pocket before following Jade and KatE out of the room. Marc locked the door, then closed and locked the front door to the shop after Jade and KatE had left.
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