Today is a day like every other. While sitting at work, in my plush, yet cozy office, I just finished a short phone conversation with my good friend, Miranda, who sent over a book for me to flip through. It's called "Signlanguage," and at first i was completely baffled, since i have absolutely no interest in learning sign language or acquiring a book about it. That's when i called her, and asked why in the world she was sending me a book about sign language.
"Jess, just flip through it, this is that guy that i was talking about to you before. He's a wonderful artist! It's a book of his artwork!" Miranda sighed into the receiver like a school girl with a crush. I was beginning to understand that she was completely infatuated with this artist guy that she rambles on about so much.
"But i don't really care..." i said, as i opened the book and glanced at the first few pages before setting it back onto my desk. Miranda sighed heavily.
"Well remember when you said that you needed a nice painting to cover that bare spot in your office? You could at least look at what he has to offer! Maybe you could get a print of one of them or something... then maybe you could get me to come visit you more often!" She giggled incessantly, and i rolled my eyes. Suddenly, a loud buzzing disrupted my thoughts.
"Miss Ramone, your next client is here to see you!" The secretary's voice boomed over the intercom.
"Ok, just a moment!" I said, pushing the small red button impatiently. "Miranda, i really have to go now, my next client is here already. I'll look through your dumb little artsy book when i have a break, ok?" I tapped my freshly painted ruby red nails onto my new oak desk.
"Yay! you won't regret it Jess, i promise! he is so wonderful and amazing and just.. completely gorgeous inside and out! His work is just so..." She stopped to take a small breath, and i decided to intervene.
"Okay!! i get it. whoever this guy is, you need to just calm down, i'm sure no man can be that wonderful and great. I have to go now, bye!" I hung up the phone quickly, as i still heard giggling coming from the phone. Ok, time for work. "Nancy, send my next client in please!" I said as nicely and professionally as possible, clearing my mind of the previous conversation with my imbecile friend.
The door to my office suddenly opens, and I see Nancy showing a seemingly normal looking girl, probably in her early twenties, through the door. I glance down at the file folder in front of me.
"Rebecca Robertson! Hello, i'm Jessica Ramone, nice to meet you!" I stand up quickly and walk around my desk to shake her hand. She smiles back and after a moment, looks around the room quickly.
"Umm.. so you're my psychiatrist, right?" She says unsurely, standing oddly in the middle of the room.
"Yes, and all of our conversations, whatever you say in this room during our hour together, will be between just us, is that okay?" I gesture for her to sit down in the patient's chair as i go back to my seat.
"Sorry, i've just never done anything like this before..." She laughs lightly and starts looking around at random things -- bookshelves, pictures, a jar of pencils..
"It's all right, there's nothing to worry about. You're just here to find out what's bothering you, and i can help you out with that! So i see.." as i scan down her file quickly. ".. that your friends and your mother were worried about you lately? With how you've been acting? Could you tell me a bit about that?"
I look sympathecially towards her, and she smiles slightly. I can tell that she is a bit reluctant to start. "Well, what do you do during the day in your spare time?" I say, after noticing that she spends long hours online at certain websites.
"Well, i hang out with friends, listen to music, sometimes i go to the movies!" She perks up a bit at the last part, and i take notice.
"What was the last movie you saw in theatres, Rebecca?"
"Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers!!" She replies enthusiastically. "I've only seen it three times so far though, i plan on going again after we're done here too." She giggles at the thought.
"I see, so did you like the books, is that why you see the movies too?"
"Oh no, i just like the.. scenery, and the energy that they put into making the movies. It's really wonderful what they've done with them! A lot of hard work by the actors.." She stops suddenly, and a small smile comes across her face. "I also get on the internet a lot and just surf around a lot," she adds to my first question, but then immediately looks shocked, as though she realized what my next question would be.
"So, what kind of websites do you go to?" I prodded on.
"Well, sometimes i just do research for school papers, and then sometimes i just go to my friends' websites and fansites of actors and stuff.. no big deal." Her eyes avert around the room quickly. Confused, i keep asking.
"There aren't any in particular where you spend most of your time?" She looks at me and then away quickly. "Any particular sites, Rebecca??"
"OKAY!! FINE!! I confess!! I do spend a lot of time at one site, but it's not a big deal, really! Everyone there is just like me! We're just focused, not obsessed!!! NOT CRAZY!!!" She pulls her legs up to her body and starts swaying back and forth, while staring down at my blue/green rug. "So pretty.. blue, then green, and then blue again..."
I sit up in my chair and lean closer. "Rebecca, what is blue, and then green and the blue again?" She looks up at me and glares.
"You wouldn't understand!" She yells, and then looks the other way. "No one can take him away from us.. our precious.. he's ours!" At this point, I am completely baffled. She must have joined some strange cult online that has sucked her in completely. I mean, what else could she be talking about? Whatever it is, it has brainwashed her and filled her mind with all of this meaningless babble.
"Rebecca, could you focus for a moment here? I want to ask you a simple question. Have you joined any sort of groups at this website? anything that you shouldn't be doing?" She continues to stare the other way, while swaying back and forth.
"They are like me, they understand the intensity.. the aura.. " She whispers lowly. "They help me with my disorder.."
"What disorder? Do you have an eating disorder?" But as i look at her, she seems perfectly healthy. "Are you talking about a mental disorder? If there's anything wrong, you know that i can help you better than any strangers can on the internet." As she looks up at me with evil eyes, i realize that i just said too much.
"No!! You can't help me!! You don't know him like we do!! You don't!!" She starts crying and runs out the door quickly. I hear Nancy shout something to her, but as the front door slams shut, i realize that i probably won't be seeing her again. I look down at my nearly empty pad of paper and sigh. Well, that was an interesting start to the afternoon. I close her file and return it to the cabinet. Looking around the office, i realize that i have probably 45 minutes to kill before my next patient arrives. Out of the corner of my eye, i still see that darned art book that Miranda sent over.
"I might as well look through it now, so she doesn't have a coronary later when i tell her that i hadn't yet," i say out loud to myself. i sit back down at my desk and set the book directly in front of me. slowly, i open the cover and scan through the first few pages quickly and uninterested. i sigh and flip quickly to the middle of the book. "i'm sure i didn't miss much anyway.." i mumble to myself, while scanning over some paintings. then i stop. hmm, this one looks interesting, i think to myself. i flip through a few more pages, at a slower pace, and begin to take slight interest. Ok, so these paintings aren't so bad. That doesn't mean i want to hang one in my office! I flip through the book for a few more minutes, when suddenly the phone rings and makes me jump in my seat. I take a moment to collect myself and then pick up the receiver.
"Jessica Ramone speaking," i say quickly, while doodling in the corner of my notepad.
"Hey Jessica!" Miranda squeals loudly into the phone. "I didn't think you'd have any spare time, but when i called to leave a message with Nancy for you she said that you were free!"
"Yeah, i had a very brief meeting with a client. and now i'm looking through your little art book, just because i'm such a good friend!" I sigh and laugh lightly into the phone, and Miranda continues.
"I just called to ask if you wanted to go to an exhibition of that artist next week! I just got the information for it and i thought you'd like to go! He's going to be there too!!!!" She squeals in excitement, causing me to lift the receiver away from my ear for a moment.
"Are you going to be acting like THIS?" i say, pointing at my phone as if it were her and that she could see me. Just thinking about it gives me a headache.
"Well, i really want someone to go with me, and i know that no one else has the time! It's next Saturday, which i know you have free!"
"I'll see what i can do..." I say reluctantly. I'd feel too bad making her go by herself, and anyway, she's done things for me before that she didn't want to do. What are friends for, right? Even if i am miserable, i'll be able to have a few laughs over this poor artist's work, since it probably isn't that good anyway. I look down at my watch and realize that i need to go for my next client.
"Yay! I hope you can come! I'll give you the details later on, i don't want to keep you from your work." I sigh in relief.
"Ok, great, i'll talk to you later when i have more time! Bye!" I hang up quickly, and look down at the book one last time. Who is this guy anyway? I look at one of the front page and see the name: Viggo. What a funny name! Oh well, all artists have weird names. Nancy suddenly calls in to me.
"Jessica, your next client has arrived!" She says in a cheerful voice, and i knew why. The next client is Audrey, and Nancy really likes her. The girl is always so happy and talkative, everyone around the office loves her! To tell you the truth, i don't even think she really needs my help anymore, she has shown such great improvement in the last year. I was planning on telling her today that she should cut back on meetings with me again.
"Send her right in, Nancy!" I say back happily, thinking that this should be an easy session. Audrey comes bopping in the door, closes it behind her, and takes her seat in the patients' chair.
"Hey Jessica, how are you?" Audrey smiles brightly.
"Not too bad, Audrey. Do you have anything in particular you want to talk about during the first part of the session?" Her expression changes quickly, but i'm unsure of what she's thinking.
"Well.. sort of, i think. Well, you know that i've been doing really well lately, and I don't have any problems now. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, and it still is, but.."
"What's wrong Audrey?" I ask inquisitively.
"Well, nothing's really wrong, i guess. It's just weird, ya know?" Well, I didn't know, to tell you the truth, because she wasn't explaining herself very well. "I guess i should explain. I was online last night, but not for too long, like we talked about, but i was just visiting some websites about movies, and i came across one in particular.. and i really liked it there.. there were all of these people, and everyone was so nice.. and.. " She stopped and gazed off into space, as if imagining whatever she was desribing.
"What was the website about?"
"It's a fansite sort of thing, with a message board, and there aren't too many people there, so it's all really focused --" Hearing the word 'focused' made me think of my previous session.. oh nevermind, i need to pay attention. "-- and everyone is nice and we're so alike!" She giggled, and i started to sit up and listen more closely. "It's just like sitting around and chatting with a bunch of friends, it's not a big deal, just really nice and fun!" I pondered what exactly i should say for a moment, and what exactly she wanted me to know this for.
"So what is this fansite for? a celebrity?" I inquire, and she smiles back brightly.
"Yes! It's for an actor. He also paints and does photography and stuff, he's really talented. I just went there looking for movie pictures and stuff, and he was an actor in the movie.. and well, yeah..." She gazes off again, but i interrupt.
"So was there a problem, did you feel like you were spending too much time there?"
"No, because there's so much to do! I love reading through all of the messages! But i did end up spending a few hours on there last night.. and i checked back this morning to see if there was anything new. and there was, so i spent another hour this morning just reading messages and looking at pictures." She looked down guiltily. We've talked before about being addicted to the internet, and she always knew how to control herself, so this was sort of surprising.
"When you're there though, don't you ever want to go do something productive, like take a walk, walk your dog, take some pictures, play basketball, anything?" She squirms in her seat slightly.
"Well, i remembered when we talked before, and once i thought about it for a while, i did want to go do something else, so that's why i finally go offline this morning."
"That's good, at least you realize when you should stop. But you should have done that earlier." I pause, not sure of what to tell her. We continue talking for a while about self control, and i realize suddenly that we only have a few minutes left. She's in the middle of describing one of the posts on the message board.
"And there's this one post that keeps coming back, about the color of this guy's eyes! No one knows what color they are! Isn't that funny! One minute they're green, and then blue, and then green again..." I jump up in my seat.
"What did you say?" She repeated what she had just said, and i stared at her in shock, while putting all of the pieces together. Suddenly, my wall clock chimes as it begins the 4 o' clock hour.
"I have to go, i have a dentist appointment in 15 minutes. Can i go now?" She stands up, as i continue to stare.
"Uhh..." i regain my composure. "Sure.." she starts out the door. "Wait! Wait a second!" I call back to her, and she turns around and smiles. "What was that website that you were at? Could you write it down for me really quick?" I hand her a post it note and a pen. she jots something down and hands it back.
"Is that all?" She says in a singsong voice, as i read the note.
"Yeah," i stammer vaguely, and she walks out the door. I stare down at the note. it says: viggofanbase.com (what else would it say?? heh). i rush back to my computer, and as i'm typing it in, i stop and look at my cursor blinking in the url text box: 'http://www.viggo' is what i've typed. "Viggo..." i think out loud, and then it hits me. The book!! I reach over for the book, and open the cover and look inside. there, clearly printed for me to see, is the name 'Viggo Mortensen.' Is this the same guy? I wonder to myself. I quickly type the rest of the url in, and a website pops up with a picture of the guy, i presume, in the top left corner, along with some topics, news, links, etc. "Hmm... not that bad looking, eh.." i say to myself, while scrolling down the rest of the page. After perusing the news quickly, i scroll back to the top and see this label: 'We Are Not Affiliated With Viggo Mortensen In Any Way!" Ah-ha. So this is the same artist guy. And this is the website that is ruining Rebecca's life. And this is the place that is sucking Audrey in! Let's just hope that Miranda never catches wind of this place, or i'll never forgive myself. Ok, let's see.. i'll start by looking through some of these posts. I have about an hour until the office closes, so if i look around for about 20 minutes i should be able to get my work done in time. I sigh. How can this website be the cause of all things strange that have happened during my day? I begin clicking away.
What seems like five minutes later, Nancy buzzes in. "Jessica? Is it all right if i leave for the day? I don't want to leave you here alone, but i need to get home to cook my husband dinner and pick my kids up from the sitter." What? I glance down at my watch in amazement. 5:45!! how could time have flown by so quickly? I spent over an hour just reading and reading... and giggling a little. To be quite honest, it's quite addicting, but i know better than to come back again, don't i? i look for another moment, close the window, and walk out into the lobby.
"Sorry about that Nancy, i'm finishing up right now, i just need to get my things together and then I'll be leaving. Have a nice night!" She smiles and nods, and i stride back into my office, completely exhausted from sitting at my desk for over an hour straight. 'I need to go home now.." i mumble to myself, as i grab my purse and files. I look over and see the art book that i had tossed carelessly aside. I now take more interest and care as i pick it up gingerly and hold it close to my body as i walk out of my office for the night. Before closing the door, i take one last glance at the bare spot on my wall, and consider the fact that i could really use something to cover it up. I shake my head and close the door tightly, leaving all of my previous thoughts at work, and begin thinking about my weekend ahead.
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One Week Later
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"Oh my gosh, I can't believe we're here!!" Miranda screeches into my ear loudly, as we approach a long line of females in front of an art gallery. A sign in the front says 'Viggo Mortensen exhibition open today.'
"You know, i was reading today that there is a girl that is coming that was going to tell viggo..." Miranda stares at me as I babble endlessly about one of my new friends online and what she was doing here today. After I finish, I look at Miranda in confusion. "What?"
"What?? What?? What is wrong with you Jessica! You didn't even want to look through his book before when i gave it to you! You don't even like art that much! He is MY obsession, not yours! What in the world has gotten into you!"
"Nothing! I've just been visiting this website that i've been telling you about, it's not a big deal Miranda! It's just that the sisters of the Disorder wanted me to come by today and get a full report of what was going on.. and i brough my camera..." I drifted off, realizing that i probably sounded crazy to her. Suddenly, I look up, a few feet ahead of me, I see Rebecca, that crazy girl that ran out of my office last week. Oh. my. gosh. I just realized what I've been doing!
"Miranda, i'm sorry, i must sound so crazy --" She cuts me off.
"Jessica, you are crazy! Sometimes i think you need to use some of your psychiatric help on yourself! You really need to chill out. Just seeing you like this makes me never want to go to that weird website of yours! I don't want to end up crazy and in your office trying to get help from the psycho herself!" She laughs, and i turn away. Okay, it's okay. just calm down, it will be okay. There's nothing wrong with you. I keep saying things like this in my head, and i start breathing normally again. I'll just go inside, look around, see if i can meet Viggo, and that will be the end of that. I'll stop going to the website, and this will just be a nice experience that i can remember for myself.
"C'mon Jessica, the line's moving a little," Miranda pulls on my sleeve, and I start walking.
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Another week later
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As i sit at my computer late one night, i begin to respond to another response to my report of the Viggo exhibition. I giggle out loud, and my cat looks at me strangely. Looking over, I realize that my digital camera isn't plugged in all the way, and as i fix it, my Viggo pictures start to download. I quickly type up some descriptions and send a post of my pictures that everyone has eagerly been anticipating. Suddenly, the doorbell rings. Who could that be? I wonder eagerly. Wait! Maybe it's Viggo, he's come to take me away to his secret hideaway! I quickly click the 'post new thread' button to share my revelation to my sisters, when i hear the doorbell ring again. Oh yeah. I minimize the screen, so i now see my Viggo wallpaper, and I run to the door.
Looking through the window, i see that it is none other than... Miranda! I squeal with excitement and open the door quickly!
"Hey! Just thought i'd stop by and say hey while i was in the neighborhood!" She walks in and throws her purse down with a thud. "So, what have you been up to?"
"Oh.. nothing," I respond as nonchalantly as possible. Just sitting around, watching tv, spending some valuable time with Sammy." I point over to my computer desk, where my little kitty is perched atop a pile of books. Miranda sighs when she sees my Wallpaper, and then sighs again when my screensaver comes on and she sees a slideshow of Viggo pictures.
"So you're still obsessed, eh?" She laughs and walks into the room to sit down. I follow and sit back in my desk chair. "I brought some movies over, but come to think of it, I don't think it would be very good for you right now," she says, gesturing over at my computer. "You're probably still going to that website too, aren't you?" I look up and start to tell her no, but she sees it in my face.
"Yes.. but only when i have the time! I don't go ALL the time. Anyway, it's a good way to pass the time between clients while i'm at work! I have nothing better to do, i might as well do something that makes me happy!" She sighs and takes out a few DVD cases.
"Okay. I brought A Perfect Murder and A Walk on the Moon. Which would you like to watch first?" I ponder for a moment.
"Oh, it doesn't really matter..." I smile and giggle to myself, and Miranda just rolls her eyes. She walks over to get the movie ready, and while she's doing that, i turn back to my screen and maximize the window again. Wow! Already seven responses, in only a few minutes. My pictures are a hit! heh... i laugh to myself as i read the responses of mainly *drool*, *dies*, and *swoons* over and over again. I hear Miranda come up behind me, and i try to switch screens quickly. She sighs and sits back down.
"You really shouldn't be spending all of your time there, you know? You have better things to do, like watch Viggo on your tv right now!" She has a point, and in more than one way.
"Okay, fine. I'll watch the movies with you, and i promise, i won't get back onto the message board for the rest of the night." She looks at me unsurely for a moment, and then hits the 'play' button.
"I don't think you should go there at all anymore! I mean, what's the big deal, really?" She looks over, as i am about to close the window.
"Well, come here, i'll show you what's on here before i close it. it will only take a minute." She looks at me thoughtfully for a moment. Hesitant, she remains seated.
"You better not get me hooked or anything. Promise me that you will stop going to this website after you show me around! I don't think it's good for you!" I sigh.
"Fine, just come over here and let me show you around so we can get to the movie!" She jumps up and sits down beside me as i begin to describe the site and what posts are the most interesting this hour.
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Yet Another Week Later
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'Fine.' I type. 'I'll just go to the next exhibition without you if you're not going to share Viggo with the rest of us sisters!' I laugh out loud and send the response in quickly. Miranda is getting along great with the rest of the sisters. Right now we're all planning on what we're going to do when one of us finally gets our hands on Viggo. Miranda responds.
'No! I'm so sorry sister Jessica! please forgive me! Here, i'll give you a free ten minutes with the Saint, and i'll let you do whatever you want! hee hee, this is so fun Jessica, i'm so glad you showed me this site!! *drools at Viggo pictures* omg! *faints*.' I stare at the screen blankly. Oh my gosh. What have I done?? I decide that i need to set up an appointment for Miranda at my office. Better yet, maybe I should get myself some psychiatric help too. Wait, maybe I--
I lost track of my thoughts as I see a new post come up on the main page. 'OMG!! VIGGO PICTURES!! *FAINTS*' Oh yay! a new post!! I must go see...
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THE END!
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