Poison

Oswald help the door open to a large dressing room. Ivy moved past him into the room leaving a trail of her scent as she went. She flipped a switch on the wall bursting the room from the darkness with the lighted mirror. She flopped onto the large red couch that sat against the back wall. Oswald set her bag on the chair in front of the vanity. He felt like he should leave but he really didn't want to.

     "What are you studying?" he asked quietly. He braced himself for her to tell him to get out of her dressing room.

     "Botany and toxicology. I adore plants and flowers."

She smiled at him and moved to her bag. She set a larger box on the vanity. He detected a hint of mischievousness in her eyes. She opened the box and pulled out two plants. One had beautiful pink dandelion like flowers the other was leafy with dark purple flowers.

     "This pink one is called Mimosa Pudica. Also referred to as the touch-me-not. The compound leaves fold inward and droop when it's touched or shaken. This purple one is called Atropa Belladonna. Also referred to as...."

     "Deadly nightshade." Oswald interjected. He blushed slightly for interrupting her.

     "Very good Oswald. Belladonna is one of the most toxic plants in the Eastern Hemisphere. It's flowers are beautiful though and used properly it makes a wonderful sleep aid."

Oswald was fascinated by her. Not only was she beautiful but she was intelligent. She was also being nice to him. Something Oswald was not used to. Women had constantly overlooked him or made fun of him because of his limp. His confidence was almost non existent and he assumed there was no woman on the face of this earth who would ever want anything to do with him sexually or romantically.

     "Do you like plants Oswald?" Ivy asked setting her things on her vanity.

     "I do. My mother had a garden when I was young."

     "Would you like to see my garden sometime?"

Oswald felt his heart jump in his chest.

     "My landlady has a huge rooftop greenhouse. She is getting to old to take care of it so she is reducing my rent if I do it for her. I would love for you to come and see it sometime." she said smiling at him.

      "I would like that Ms. Isley."

She walked to Oswald and put her hand on his shoulder. He was a little taller than her. She was surprised at how solid he felt.

      "Please, Oswald call me Ivy. Well, I guess I better get ready for the show."

Oswald turned to leave.

     "Goodbye, Ivy." he said softly.