Love Makes my Eyeballs Throb

We didn't talk that much. Mostly we just drank, smoked, looked
up at the moonlight...and each other. It was hard for me to
concentrate, her breasts were so firm and beautiful beneath her flimsy
top.

"I liked your movie Daredevil," Hawkgirl
declared.

"The critics didn't though," Daredevil
replied.

"Who cares, it was nice seeing you on the big screen...I got to
admit I was a bit jealous of Elektra...she was all over you like a
leech."

"True, but shes actually frigid...I'm pretty sure she is a
lesbian."

Hawkgirl giggled. "Let's not go there, I just left lesbian
utopia."

"Hmmmm."

When Hawkgirl giggled, her breasts would jiggle. Daredevil licked his
lips.

"Are you really blind Daredevil...its hard to believe."

"Why do you say that Hawkgirl?"

"Because I could swear you keep staring at my tits."

"Actually I can't really see them but my radar sense tells me they
are there and that they are quite nice...bigger than I'd remembered
from our previous adventures."

Hawkgirl giggled again, "I've been working out too!"

There was a long pause after that and I stared out at
nothing, feeling very relaxed and ...peaceful. It was not a feeling
that I'd felt much in the last few years. The moonlight was pale and
haunting.

Hawkgirl moved closer to me I could hear her breathing...it
seemed that somehow she wasn't breathing normally.

"Daredevil."

"Yes?"

"Would you like to touch them...my breasts?"

I wanted to scream yes but I felt confused and oddly cautious.
"I thought this wasn't supposed to be about...that?"

"Maybe I lied...so do you...want to touch me?"

I didn't say a word but reached out slowly. I cupped her right breast and
fondled it gently, perhaps tentatively. Her breathing became more pronounced
and I felt a surge of electricity in my groin. Damn!

Hawkgirl leaned against me and put her head against my collar bone. I had
to re-arrange her wings a bit but I'd had practice with that before
and it wasn't that much of a hassle.

I slipped my hand inside her top and found a rock hard nipple. We kissed and
her mouth tasted as good as it ever had to me...better. She seemed to melt
against me as if she was tired and needed me as much to lean on as to make love
to her. We kissed again and again. I massaged her breasts more vigorously
and pushed the yellow fabric away to expose a intoxicating pink tip. I pinched
it gently and stared into those deep dark eyes. Feeling confident I bent to
take her breast into my mouth when suddenly she pushed my head away. She did
it ever so gently but there was no mistaking that a redlight had been flashed
painfully before my face. It was an unsettling feeling.

"What's wrong?" I asked stupidly while searching her eyes for answers.
"I'm sorry, I just can't do this right now...I...I'm not ready for
it. I can't explain myself, just be patient with me...I know you will
Peter."

I reluctantly pushed myself away. "Sure, no need to rush into
things. I guess I just got caught up in the moment. It's that
outfit...it always made me hot...you know?"

"Yeah, I know exactly what you mean...but we really don't know
each other that well...I mean know each other now. Things are
different and we should make sure about it all don't you think."

What she said did make sense despite the protest my balls were
making. "It's cool Patty...nice kiss though."

She smiled again..."hell yeah!"


The rest of the week was exciting for me. There was no sex, not even
a kiss. It was great just having an old friend around...and I felt
certain things would heat up eventually. I could wait. Patty was great
around the house. While I was at work she did everything, the laundry,
the cooking, the cleaning...she even shopped for groceries and mowed
the lawn. I asked her to take it easy but she seemed to enjoy it all.
I had never felt more elated with the way my life appeared to be
going.

It was just an irrepressible feeling I had. Patty seemed to be happy
too...maybe it was just getting out of jail but I wanted to think that
maybe it was partly at least about me. We planned to go out friday night.
I came home a bit early that day, Patty was watching tv so after
we talked a bit and decided on going to see a movie I went out back
to trim a little tree growing in the back yard. That's when something
unexplainable and totally bizarre happened that signaled another big
change in what had been the boring life of one Peter Brady.

I had worked up a pretty big sweat sawing off limbs with my cheap
little handsaw. A gardener I am not but I do the best I can. It seemed
to me a good time to take a break and grab a sip of gatorade that
I'd brought with me to help battle the heat. I had just turned away from
the little tree to pick up my drink when I heard the voice.

"Peter"

A cold chill ran over me...you know, the kind you get when you're
taken completely by surprise. I jerked myself around but there was
nobody there...not a damned soul. I looked around in every direction
but saw nothing. Weird, very weird. Maybe I'd gotten to hot and was
having some sort of freaky hallucination?

The gatorade bottle was quickly turned up and I choked down a huge
drink...then splashed a bit on my wrists and the back of my neck. It
was still really cold and felt good on my skin.

"Peter." Shit, I heard it again. It was soft..like a woman's voice or
maybe a child. I looked around. It had to be Patty playing a trick on
me. I walked towards the house and peeked through the back door.
There she was relaxing on the couch watching the tube. I felt really
odd...almost like I was going to be sick or something. I didn't want
Patty to see me like that so I went to turn on the garden hose. The
chilling water cooled me off really quick. I let it run down my back
for a long time. Satisfied that my brain fever had been cured I
switched the hose off and sat down on the deck steps. Freaky.

"Don't you remember me Peter?" I heard it again and started to get
really scared. I felt myself tremble and realized that maybe, just
maybe this was it...I was finally going nuts for real. Stupidly I
found myself mumbling "who...who are you...am I crazy?"

Then I though I heard a sort of musical sounding laugh...a melodic
giggle or whatever. I was totally scared at this point.

"Its me silly child...don't you remember your friend Marie?"

Marie!! My eyes flew open wide. I hadn't heard that name in a long,
long time. Marie!?? No way, it just wasn't happening. It was
impossible. I barely whispered this time..."is it really you Marie?"

The voice answered right away, "Of course its me you playful boy,
I was afraid you had forgotten me...it has been a long time."

In an instant ancient memories flooded back into my startled brain.
I recalled things from long ago, things nearly forgotten except for
a few shards reserved somewhere in the deep recesses of my
psychic. You see, when I was a kid...about five or six or seven..I'd
had an imaginary friend. Her name was Marie. I really had very
little recollection of that time it was so long ago. Sometimes my
relatives would talk about it though...how little Peter spent so much
time playing along with his imaginary friend...a friend he lovingly
called Marie. Yes, I'd nearly forgotten...even I had recalled it as only
a silly childhood manifestation and little more. However, hearing
that voice again I was suddenly in the yard at my parent's again and
I knew without a doubt that the voice I had heard was real...or at
least it seemed as real as real could be. Now, I had no doubt that
it was real. I think?

"Marie? What are you doing here...I..I had thought that you were only
something I made up as a child. I do remember your voice though...
am I crazy? Did you really speak to me..like I kind of remembered
from when I was a kid?"

"Oh Peter, of course its me...I have missed you so."

The voice was beautiful, soothing and melodic. And it was speaking
French! My mother was a french Canadian, she and my
grandmother spoke french all the time...I understood it well and
suddenly realized I was replying in french also. Totally insane!

"I'm sorry I went away for so long. But nevermind that, I have
returned and you certainly are a handsome young man...my! If only I
had flesh and blood...what times we two might have together!"

Marie sounded sorta bawdy. I certainly didn't recall that about her.
Still, I wasn't a kid anymore so I guess she wouldn't address me as
one. One thing I was though was curious as fuck...and pretty sure
that yeah I was crazy...but damn, could you have memories that were
unreal too. "If its really you Marie...sing for me."

"Very well Peter, I would love too!" She sang in lovely french, it was
about flowers, the country, lovers...and it was sad. I sat there and
listened. Soon I was absorbed by the song and forgot that maybe
this was all just in my head and that I was crazy.

"Hey Peter, what are doing sitting all humped over like that...are you
alright. Why don't you come inside and chill...why are you all wet like
that?" It was Patty who had appeared in the door. I was afraid to
look at here. I was paranoid that she would see in my eyes that I was
crazy or whatever.

I pretended to be messin with my flipflop. "It's all cool Patty, I was
just sitting her thinking about how we need to plant some flowers back
here. I got a shitty boring backyard don't you think?"

"It's not bad...at least its yours...you should be proud of yourself. Are
we still going to the movies later?"

"Er...yeah sure. Why don't you go ahead and shower and whatever. As soon
as you're through I will get my bath while you do your face
or whatever it is you cute girls do....we'll leave early and grab a bit
to eat before the flick..Ok?"

"Ok, I'll get going...sure you're fine?"

"Fine as can be...sure am looking forward to tonight though."

I heard the door shut. In a few minutes the faint sound of the shower
reached my ears.

"Who is that girl Peter? She is very pretty...like a little angel."

"That's Patty, she's an old girlfriend who has sorta come back into
my life recently. She's very nice."

"And she lives with you?"

"Well its probably temporary, she doesn't have a place of her own
right now and I thought I'd help her out."

"You are so thoughtful Peter, she is a lovely girl and I can see it in her
eyes."

"See what...Marie?"

"That you are very important to her...but I am worried."

"You are worried...that makes two of us...I'm sitting in my backyard
soaking wet talking to a disembodied voice and I'm living with a
woman who killed my father."

There was a long pause. "That girl, I fear that she brings with her
things that are dark and disturbing. I don't know that her being here
is in your best interests Peter my dear."

I wasn't quite sure what to make of that but I did have a lot of things
I wanted to ask Marie...like what in the fuck was she any freakin' way?

"Marie, are you a ghost...am I crazy because I can hear you again
after all these years. Did I really hear you back then like I barely
remember...what in hell is going on?"

"I'm really sorry to upset you my dear lovely child. Yes, it is I, the
silly girl who entertained you when you were tiny. You were so pretty
and sweet and I was so lonely then...I couldn't help but try to love you
...I love so easily you see, and I especially wanted to love you dear
boy. And now I have simply returned. And you are such a handsome
young man that I'm sure I will fall in love with you yet again and even
more passionately than before."

None of this was making a damned bit of sense. I decided to just go
with it though...why the fuck not...I was going to be in a strait jacket
soon anyhow. "So why did you go away?"

"I was worried that ....others...would think strangely of you if you
should continue to talk with me as you grew older. An imaginary
playfriend is all well and good for a child, but not an older child you
see. I didn't want you to appear odd...I could never do anything to
harm you Peter...my precious pet."

Bizarre as it was, the things she said sort of made sense...in a
twisted, freaky, supernatural kind of way. "But what are you Marie,
why can I hear you but not see you...I don't get it?"

"I can't explain it all myself Peter, if I tried I would only get confused
and confuse you. I am, isn't that enough. I don't think I'm a ghost...
at least not the kind in books that frighten simpletons. And I'm
certainly not a witch although I have sinned heavily in my time...
and received punishment you can be sure! You can be very sure of
that...I have endured pain and grief enough that I can barely stand
the memory of it...and I have caused others to suffer greatly...ones I
cared about deeply and loved. That is why I went away...I could never
hurt another one that I loved Peter. I ruined so many in the past."

"Yet you have returned it seems Marie...why?"

"I wanted to all along and then a friend whispered to me that it was
time."

"A friend? You mean someone like you...a voice?"

"Yes, I will tell you about him in time...I can't stay long at the
present however. But do not fear I will return soon."

I did not say that my fear was about her returning, not the
opposite, but I held my tongue. "Well, could you tell me who you
are then?"

The melodic laugh floated on the air again. I realized that I liked the
sound of it very much..despite the nuttiness of it all. "Well, my name
is Marie Duplessis...I used to live in the greatest city in the world...
a town called Paris. I had little happiness there however, I was often
sick and finally I had to leave."

"Leave, what do you mean?"

"My heart could take no more and I left that world forever...and now I
am here with you!"

"Marie Duplessis? That is a pretty name...and it sounds familiar...
were you..are you someone famous?"

The lovely laugh fell upon my ears again. "Infamous, more to the
truth I should think my lovely boy."

"I see," I lied.

"Very well then, I must go for awhile but I will return. I love you
Peter. Goodbye my beloved."

"Goodbye?"

I sat there for perhaps another forty-five minutes. So this is what
crazy is like then? "Peter, the shower is free."

It was quite a relief to be jolted back into the real world again. I
got up and went into the house. I avoided looking at Patty but I could
certainly feel those big dark eyes checking me out. After a quick run
for the bathroom I locked myself in, peeled off my clothes and took
one of the longest showers of my life. The warm, near scalding liquid
relaxed me a bit and slowly but surely my thoughts began to
reorganize themselves. At last I dried myself off, wrapped a towel
around my ass and darted for my bedroom to get dressed.

My mind wasn't near boggled enough for me to not notice Patty when
I finally emerged and announced I was ready to go. She looked
absolutely divine. She was dressed in really tight jeans and a snug
yellow top not a lot unlike Hawkgirl's. My focus began to return in
no time flat and need I comment as to what I was focused on. I did
think about Marie...it had happened. I had no doubt that it was the
same Marie that had talked to me as a child. Maybe I wasn't crazy
but had some kinda of weird esp like that guy on tv who talks to dead
people or whatever. Patty gave my hand a little squeeze as we left
and I forgot about Marie. Maybe my balls had taken control over my
brain. I was thinking that it could be for the better too.

It was still early. The roads were jammed with friday traffic. We sorta
just went with the flow, cruising around and chatting a bit...trying to
decide where to eat, what movie to go see, etc. "Hey Peter, would
you mind doing me a big favor while we have a little extra time?"

"Sure Patty."

"Could you stop by the library for a second, I'm dying for something
interesting to read. I went through everything they had back at the
lockup and I'm sorta text starved."

I shrugged, "sure that's cool. You could read my comic collection, still
got it you know."

Patty smiled, "I know, already did that while you were at work this week."

I was amazed, "Shit Patty, there must be several hundred comics in
there...you read all of them and still kicked ass with the housework?
Damn, I'm impressed."

"I work fast Stud," she said and gave me a wink and another hand
squeeze. Something told me I might be running into Hawkgirl again
really soon. That would not be a problem my bloating nuts were
reassuring me.

I sat in the car and sipped a bit on some vodka while Patty walked
briskly into the library. She was only in there maybe twenty minutes
before she returned smiling broadly. "Any luck?" I asked.

"Hell yeah," Patty replied with obvious enthusiasm. "They were having a
sale on old books and I scored me a couple of gems."

"Oh yeah, what did you get?" I'm not a huge reader of regular books
but I wanted her to think I was interested.

"Well, I got a copy of the Iliad by Homer for starters."

"The what by who...Homer Simpson?"

Patty smiled again but rolled her eyes...."The Iliad by Homer...a famous
ancient Greek poet dummy. You know, its sort of like the
movie 300."

"Yeah, I liked that movie, it kicked ass..."

"I knew you'd love it Peter, all those naked sweaty men."

"Fuck you Patty."

"Fuck you Peter. Anyhow, the Iliad is sort of like that only different.
It's about the Trojan war. Haven't you heard of that?"

I shrugged, "do you mean the game between USC and Notre Dame?"

"It's not about football...try love, death, glory, fate...stuff like that."

"Hmmm, sounds interesting...what else did you get."

"Well actually I have already read both of these books before...but
they are well worth reading again. This other one is called Camille.
Its one of my all time favorite books. Its so beautiful and profound,
so sad and bittersweet. If you see me crying its because of this
book and not because I'm upset or anything."

"Sounds like a chick book."

"Oh God Peter, you really can't go through life reading only comic
books and the sportspage. Weren't you required to read anything
in college for cryin' out loud?"

"Yeah, we read the Hobbit, Silar Marner, and some other shit too."

"And?"

"And what?" I asked.

"Well, the reason you were assigned those books was to get you
into reading worthwhile works that have meaning."

"All that shit about a ring that everybody wanted that made them go
crazy didn't make much sense to me."

"Well, you got a point there. If I asked you to read Camille when I
get
done with it would you...for me?"

"Maybe, what's was it about again?"

"Its about a famous prostitute who lived in Paris and a guy who fell
in love with her."

Paris? I thought to myself. That was the second time the french
city had come up in a conversation I was involved in...or thought I
was involved in at least. Weird thing was...I sure as fuck didn't feel
crazy. Course they say if you do feel crazy it means you aren't.
Sooooo?

We had a nice meal at a cool restaurant and then went to the movies.
It wasn't bad either, nothing special but I've had lot worse evenings
and plenty worse company. After we returned home the conversation
seemed a bit awkward....like there were things we both wanted to say
but were a little scared to do so.

We sat down on opposite ends of the couch and turned the tv on...I
don't remember what program we watched. Actually we didn't
really watch it at all. Patty seemed nervous and I tried to break
the ice. Tonight was different from the other nights. After all we
had been out on our first date in a manner of speaking.

"Tell me about that book again." I requested.

"Which one?"

"The one about Paris."

"Ah, well he was a prince of Troy and he stole a the world's most
beautiful woman away from her husband and started a terrible war."

I guess Patty could see that I was deeply puzzled. "Uh, wasn't that
the one?"

"Didn't you have another book about the city called Paris...not the
guy called Paris...or whatever?"

"Oh, I'm sorry...Camille is the one about Paris. Although its really
about a famous courtesan who lived in Paris."

"A what?" I asked.

"A prostitute dumb shit...a whore...hooker...got it?"

"Oh yeah, sounds interesting," I lied; stupid romance novels,
I couldn't believe anybody actually read that retarded shit.

I must have put a good face on it cause Patty continued. "She was
really high class, only saw the richest clients...dukes and counts
and famous people and such. She was incredibly beautiful and every
man who ever met her fell in love with her at once. Her name was
Marguerite Gautier and she was actually a real woman but her
named was changed for the book...to protect the innocent I guess."

I played along, trying to keep the conversation flowing until the
time was right to make my big move. "So what was her real name?"

"Her real name was Marie Duplessis."

"WHAT?" I almost yelled.

Patty glared at me with astonishment in her beautiful eyes. "Good
grief Peter, you look like you've seen a ghost. What the fuck is
wrong man?"

"That book is about Marie Duplessis?"

"I take it you've heard of her then?" Patty asked, her tone still
betraying the sudden, and to her, perplexing turn in the conversation.

"N..No...err...no I haven't actually heard of her...I..err....look Patty,
I think that I'm gonna hit the sack. We have a big weekend ahead of
us and I want to get rested up for it...you know. By the way...were
you gonna start reading that book tonight?"

"No, I hadn't planned on starting it right now..why do you ask?"

"Well, err...that is...it sounds like just the kind of book I would
really love...do you mind if I used it to read myself to sleep?"

"Take it Peter...I'm sure you will like it...its a great, great book.
Verdi based on of his famous operas on this story."

I had no fucking idea who Birdy was and couldn't have cared less at
that moment.

"But you say this book is actually about Marie Duplessis from Paris?"

"Well yeah, but she's called Marguerite Gautier in the book. The man
who wrote this book knew her...in fact he was her lover, one of them
anyhows. If anyone knew Marie Duplessis he certainly did."

"Ok, thanks," I said before snatching the book out of her hand
and heading for my bedroom, my whole body tingling and feeling
really strange.

"Goodnight Peter, I'll see you in the morning sweetie."

"Goodnight Patty, thanks for the book...it means a lot..really."

I rushed into the bedroom, yanked off my clothes and jumped
into bed. After turning on my lamp and pulling it closer I opened
Camille and started to read.