Chapter 3: Rising Action
Scarlet nervously twirled a strand of her long brown hair between her fingers, casting her baby blues around the sterile, white-painted walls and high-tech machines. Her heart hammered loudly in her chest with each passing second, ticking down the minutes as she waited for the orthodontist and the chair that was about to put her through dental hell. She shifted uncomfortably in the cold, faux leather chair, the flimsy magazine in her hands now limp and forgotten.
She knew she needed the braces, but that didn't make the idea of having a strange man's hands, no matter how skilled, in her mouth for the foreseeable future any less unsettling. Besides, she was used to her regular dentist, not this new guy - Dr. Jack Stone.
But, sometimes change was good, she told herself, as she took a deep breath and set the magazine aside, preparing herself for her fate.
Just then, Dr. Stone stepped through the door, stopping short when his eyes met Scarlet's, lingering for a few seconds too long, causing an unfamiliar flutter in her chest.
He was nothing like she expected. His short, black hair was artfully disheveled, and his gray eyes held a warmth that instantly put her at ease, despite the foreign toolbox he carried in with him.
"Ms. Johson," he greeted, flashing a dazzling smile that set her heart racing yet again. "I'm Dr. Stone.
I'll be assisting you today with getting your new Herbst appliance attached to your teeth."
"Nice to meet you, Dr. Stone," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's, uh, nice to meet you too." she stuttered, flustered by his sudden presence.
He snapped on a pair of latex gloves and picked up a few tools from his box. "I'm going to apply some numbing gel to your gums to make this process more comfortable for you.
It might feel a little cold," Dr. Stone explained, snapping on a pair of latex gloves.
Scarlet nodded silently, anxiously chewing her lower lip as she braced herself for the cold sensation that was about to fill her mouth. She closed her eyes and felt Dr. Stone carefully lift her lip, exposing her teeth. The cold numbing gel hit her gums, and she let out a small gasp.
Dr. Stone looked up as he worked, meeting Scarlet's gaze and holding it for a moment.
"Almost done," he said, his voice soft and reassuring.
Scarlet nodded, taking a deep breath and trying to relax her body, but the combination of the cold gel and the proximity of Dr. Stone's hands caused an unexpected tingling sensation that she couldn't ignore.
"There," Dr. Stone announced, stepping back and admiring his work with a satisfied nod.
"All set!"
Scarlet opened her eyes and smiled, but her teeth felt so strange that she couldn't help but wince a little. "Wow, it's so tight," she mumbled, her lips feeling heavy and thick.
Dr. Stone chuckled and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it. Besides, it won't be long before your teeth are perfectly straight."
His warm touch sent another wave of tingles down her spine, but she tried her best to ignore her growing attraction towards him.
Dr. Stone was her orthodontist after all, the last thing she needed was to mix business with pleasure.
"We'll need to schedule another appointment for next week to tighten the appliance," Dr. Stone said, breaking the silence. "But for now, you're all set."
Scarlet nodded, feeling a little disappointed that their time together had come to an end. She took a deep breath and stood up unsteadily, still getting used to the altered feeling of her teeth.
"Thanks, Dr. Stone. I'll see you next week then."
He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Take care, Scarlet."
The sound of her name on his lips sent a jolt of excitement through her body, and she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to hear him whisper her name in a different setting, in a lower, more intimate tone.
Dr. Stone walked her to the door, his hand lingering on her back for just a moment longer than necessary, igniting a spark of desire within her.