"How are you doing? Feeling better now?" I asked my genie girlfriend.

  Jenna stared at me for a couple seconds with those big puppy-dog eyes of hers, then slowly nodded. She mumbled quietly, "I think so. Thanks for being so patient with me Vikki. I'm sorry for being such a big crybaby."

  She'd burst into tears practically the moment I got home from the hospital, and she didn't stop crying until after the pizza arrived. Now the two of us were sitting together on the sofa, we had a rge pepperoni pizza in front of us on the coffee table, and I'd opened a bottle of wine in hopes that it might help settle my genie's nerves. And my own, for that matter.

  I gave her a sympathetic smile, "It's ok Jenna. I'm sorry I gave you such a scare. And I'm really sorry for ruining our big anniversary date night."

  "Maybe we can reschedule the big date for another time?" I suggested, before having a deep sip of my wine. It was a cheap red from Niagara, something I figured would go well with our pizza.

  "Honestly," I added with a sigh, "After the day I've had this is the best evening I can imagine. Cuddling on the sofa with my girlfriend, eating pizza and drinking wine? This is perfect."

  My girlfriend sniffed again as she nodded slowly. Then she reached out and picked up a slice as she asked, "So um, what happened? How'd you get in a car crash?"

  "If it's not too upsetting to talk about, I mean?" she added quickly.

  I grimaced and took another sip of wine, then sighed as I slowly slumped back against the sofa cushions. "It was about two in the afternoon, I was going to meet with a client? They live on a farm about a twenty minute drive outside of town, and they were looking to sell the pce to one of their neighbours."

  "Anyways," I continued, "I was just about to turn onto their driveway when a pickup truck came barrelling out at full speed. I swerved to try and avoid them but they clipped the back of my Jeep. I spun around and lost control, then ended up plowing straight into the drainage ditch. Next thing I knew I was slumped against the steering wheel, and my client Mr. Walker was there calling 911."

  "The pickup that hit me was long gone though, apparently they didn't even slow down. Let alone stop to see if I was ok," I sighed, before enjoying another long sip from my wine gss.

  Jenna was staring at me with wide eyes like she might burst into tears again, although she was also quietly munching on her pizza. Actually she reminded me of a little kid totally engrossed in a cartoon or movie or something, just watching and listening and munching on her food.

  After another minute or so she seemed to realize I'd stopped talking. Then looking and sounding like she wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer, she asked "How bad... What did... Were you badly hurt? Are you going to be ok?"

  I winced slightly as I shook my head, "Don't worry, alright? I'm going to be fine, I promise. Yes it hurts right now, but none of it's that bad and I'll heal up good as new in a couple weeks."

  "It took about fifteen minutes before some EMTs showed up, along with the police," I continued. "They checked me over then helped me out of the car and into the ambunce. I'm pretty sure the cut on my head was from when the guy clipped the back of my Jeep and I spun around? I think I hit my head on the side window. And I got the bck eye when the airbags went off, those things really pack a punch. And finally I must have twisted my ankle on the pedals. The hospital confirmed it isn't broken, but it's a nasty sprain."

  I ended up draining the rest of my wine before I went on with the story, "So the police got a statement from Mr. and Mrs. Walker, and they took my statement as well. A tow truck showed up while all that was going on, and after the police took some pictures of the scene they dragged my car out of the ditch then hauled it off to see if it can be fixed. And the ambunce took me to the hospital so I could get patched up too."

  "That's where I spent the st couple hours," I grimaced as I refilled my wine gss. "Getting x-rays and bandages and the crutch and everything."

  Then after one more sip of wine I finally set the gss aside and helped myself to a slice of pizza. Before taking a bite though I sighed once again, "I'll have to call my insurance first thing in the morning. Oh but I might have to talk to the police again before that, to get a copy of their report? And I'll need to talk to the body shop, so I know what the damage is on my Jeep."

  "I sure hope they don't decide it's a write-off," I added with a frown. "I've only had it a couple weeks, I don't want to have to start shopping for another car so soon! And who knows what this is going to do to my insurance rates."

  After my first bite of pizza I ended up talking some more, "I didn't even get to have my meeting with the Walkers. So I'm going to have to call them tomorrow to reschedule that as well. And I guess I'll have to see about a rental car, while mine's in the shop? I better ask my insurance about that too, if they'll cover the rental fees."

  "Oh," I frowned as I looked down at my bandaged right ankle. "Except I can't drive right now anyways. So no point getting a rental car."

  "I can't exactly walk to work like this either," I said as my frown got a little deeper. "I might end up having to use ride shares to get around. Except I doubt my insurance will cover that..."

  With all that on my mind I ended up groaning, "Honestly it feels like anything that could go wrong this afternoon did go wrong."

  Jenna was still watching me with those big anxious eyes. She was already on her second slice of pizza too, while I'd been busy talking and drinking. So I stayed quiet for the next couple minutes and just focused on my food.

  I was still a bit hungry after I finished my first slice, so I leaned forward and helped myself to a second. Two was enough for Jenna though, after finishing hers she finally picked up her wine gss. Then after a small sip of wine she cuddled against my left arm while she stared down at the gss she was cradling in her hands.

  "So um," my girlfriend began after another couple minutes of silence, "Is there anything I can do to help, maybe? Like there might be something I could do about the car? Or perhaps I could help cover the expenses, like the ride shares or the tow truck or a rental car or whatever. Or um, maybe there's something I could do to help make the pain go away?"

  "They actually gave me something for pain at the hospital," I replied. "It wasn't very effective, but it feels like it's finally kicked in now. Or maybe the wine gave it a bit of a boost?"

  "As for the car and the expenses, I think the best bet is to wait and see what the insurance says first? Thank you for offering though," I smiled before taking another bite of my pizza.

  Jenna responded with a nervous worried smile of her own. That quickly faded again as she commented, "You were worried about your insurance, right? That it might not cover everything? Or that it might get more expensive? So I don't know, maybe there's something I could do about that?"

  I put my half-finished slice down on a napkin then picked up my wine gss again. After another sip I sighed, "I know you want to help Jenna, and I haven't forgotten about your magic. Honestly there were a couple times today I thought about how you could fix everything for me if I just used the W word."

  "That's one option," my genie girlfriend replied quietly. "I wouldn't expect you to waste a wish though, not on something like this. We're friends, that means we look out for each other and help each other out, right? And you're my girlfriend, I'd do whatever I could to help you Vikki."

  "Thanks Jenna," I smiled. "Let's wait a day or two before making any decisions though, ok? We'll see what the insurance people say, find out how bad the car is, and how my ankle and head are feeling."

  Jenna nodded slowly, "Ok Vikki. If you're sure."

  "I am," I assured her, before draining the rest of my gss.

  After setting the gss down I leaned back on the sofa again and stifled a yawn, "I think I've had enough to eat. Actually I'm probably going to go to bed soon, if you don't mind? I'm already starting to feel kind of sleepy."

  My girlfriend nodded again then suggested, "I'll put the leftovers in the fridge. Maybe we can have pizza for breakfast tomorrow?"

  "That sounds great," I smiled. "Thanks Jenna."

  She got up and picked up the rest of the pizza, but as she turned to leave with it something came off the bottom like it had been stuck to the underside of the box. A colourful brochure fell to the floor in between my feet and the coffee table, so I leaned over and picked it up.

  "What's this?" I asked as I turned it over. "Has our pizza pce started advertising for the local college?"

  Jenna's cheeks flushed and she bit her lower lip before admitting, "That's mine. I was going to surprise you with it during our date tonight."

  I frowned, "What do you mean? What sort of surprise?"

  "I'm thinking of enrolling at the college," she expined nervously. "I was going to take their 'Art Design and Fundamentals' program. And maybe the photography course?"

  Unfortunately I was already tired enough that I wasn't thinking clearly. And maybe the wine and painkillers were also contributing to that too. Whatever it was, instead of being supportive or enthusiastic or congratuting her on doing something productive I just gave her a bnk stare and asked, "Why?"

  My genie hesitated again, while her blush grew a little brighter and her expression shifted to a slight frown. Finally she shrugged, "I guess for a couple reasons?"

  She sounded a little quiet and maybe a bit sad as she eborated, "For one thing I get kind of bored and lonely while you're off at work all day long? And since you told me not to drop in on you while you're busy, I have to find something else to keep me occupied. And I guess I thought college would be a safe productive choice."

  Jenna continued, "I also thought it might help me learn how to blend in a bit better? Since I'm living with you and trying to pretend to be human and everything. I figured actually being around people would be better than just watching them on TV."

  Finally she sighed, "And I thought learning art would be fun? It seemed like a course I'd actually have a chance of passing. Not like Small Business Repair or Marine Accounting Technology or Automobile Cuisine."

  I found myself staring at her for another couple seconds as my mushy brain slowly muddled through all of that. When I did finally get to the end though, I found myself smiling. Not because of the way she'd obviously mixed up a few different course names, but because I was proud of her.

  So I grabbed my crutch and struggled to get myself up onto my feet. Then I hobbled over to where she was standing, and gently took the pizza box from her so I could put it out of the way for now. And finally I pulled my cute genie girlfriend into a tight one-armed hug, since my other arm was helping to keep me upright with the crutch.

  "Jenna that's a fantastic idea!" I told her.

  She tentatively hugged me back as she asked, "You're sure? You're not worried I'll get in trouble in css, or disrupt other students with magical hijinks or anything?"

  "Not at all. I trust you," I replied firmly. "And I'm proud of you too, for coming up with this idea."

  Then I gave her a kiss before apologizing, "I'm sorry for not saying that sooner."

  "And I'm sorry you've been feeling bored and lonely," I added, along with another kiss. "I should have realized that might be a problem."

  Jenna smiled as she returned the kisses, "It's ok Vikki. I know you've had a lot going on tely. And a lot of this is new for both of us, right? Plus I know your day's been a lot rougher than mine."

  We were still holding each other, which turned out to be a good thing as I fought off a sudden wave of dizziness that left me leaning against my girlfriend.

  "Definitely not a good day for me," I agreed with a grimace. "And now I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't have had that second gss of wine, after the hospital gave me those painkillers. Feeling a lot more tipsy than I expected."

  A worried expression settled on Jenna's face as she asked, "What can I do to help?"

  "Can you just get me upstairs into bed? That'd be perfect," I replied as I continued leaning against her.

  She smiled, "Of course!"

  There was a Poof! and an explosion of violet flower petals, then I found both my genie and myself cuddling together in the big pillow-pile in our bedroom. She was in her favourite pink and purple polka-dot nightshirt, I was in my kitty silhouette pyjamas.

  "Thanks Jenna," I mumbled as I gave her a kiss. "Good night love."

  She kissed me back and whispered, "Good night Vikki. I love you too."

  PurpleCatGirl