The Checkup

Purveyor of Sin

The Checkup

Dr. Elena Vasquez glanced at the chart clipped to her desk, her dark eyes scanning the intake form. Male, eighteen years old, routine physical examination. She set the clipboard down and smoothed her white coat, the fabric crisp against her navy blouse. The top two buttons were undone, professional enough for the clinic but showing a hint of the curves beneath.

Her heels clicked against the tile as she crossed to the door, pulling it open.

"Daniel Matthews?"

The boy in the waiting room jerked his head up, his face flushing instantly. He stood, his movements awkward, his backpack clutched against his chest like a shield. Acne dotted his jawline, his hair still damp from what she guessed was a hasty shower before the appointment.

"Y-yeah. That's me."

Elena stepped aside, gesturing him in with a warm smile. "Come on in, Daniel. I'm Dr. Vasquez."

He shuffled past her, his gaze locked on the floor, his shoulders hunched. She caught the faint scent of body spray, too much of it, and suppressed the urge to comment. Teenage boys. Always the same.

The door clicked shut behind them.

"Have a seat on the exam table," Elena said, motioning to the paper-covered surface. "We'll just go over a few questions first, then I'll do the physical portion. Sound good?"

"Uh-huh."

Daniel perched on the edge of the table, his hands gripping the sides, his knuckles white. His gaze flickered to her, then away, then back, his eyes lingering just a second too long on her chest before darting to the wall.

Elena pulled her rolling stool closer, settling into it with practiced ease. She crossed her legs, the hem of her skirt riding up slightly, and picked up the clipboard again.

"Alright, let's start simple. Any major illnesses or injuries in the past year?"

"N-no."

"Medications? Supplements? Anything like that?"

"No, ma'am."

His voice cracked on the second syllable. His face turned crimson.

Elena kept her expression neutral, her tone gentle. "Allergies? Food, environmental, anything?"

"Um. Peanuts. I think. Mom said—" He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I haven't had them in a while, so I don't know if it's still a thing."

She jotted down the note, her pen scratching against the paper. When she glanced up, his eyes snapped away again, but not before she caught where they'd been focused.

Her cleavage.

She didn't react. Didn't adjust her blouse or shift in her seat. Men his age couldn't help it. Hormones, curiosity, inexperience; it all mixed into a cocktail of awkwardness she'd seen a thousand times.

"How about sleep?" Elena asked, her voice soft, non-threatening. "Are you getting enough rest? Seven, eight hours a night?"

"I—yeah. I guess. Sometimes."

"Sometimes?"

"School's... there's a lot of homework."

She nodded, scribbling another note. "That's pretty common. Just try to prioritize it when you can, okay? Your body needs rest to grow."

His gaze flickered to her again—longer this time. His pupils dilated slightly, his breathing shallow. The way his hands gripped the table, the tension in his shoulders—he was nervous. Not just about the exam.

About her.

Elena set the clipboard down, leaning forward slightly, her elbows resting on her knees. The movement made her blouse shift, the neckline dipping just a fraction lower. She watched his throat work, his eyes widening before he forced them to her face.

"Daniel," she said gently, her tone warm, reassuring. "I know these appointments can feel a little uncomfortable. But I promise, this is completely routine. I've done hundreds of these. There's nothing to be embarrassed about, okay?"

He nodded, his jaw tight, his hands still white-knuckled on the table.

"Good." She smiled, soft and maternal, the kind of expression that put patients at ease. "Now, let's talk about any pain or discomfort. Anywhere in your body? Joints, muscles, anything like that?"

"N-no. I'm fine."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

Elena tilted her head, studying him. "You sure? You seem tense."

Daniel's shoulders remained rigid, his whole body wound like a spring ready to snap. He managed a jerky nod, his eyes refusing to meet hers for more than a fraction of a second.

"I'm just... I've never done this before."

"A physical?" Elena kept her voice light, encouraging. "First time for everything. I promise it won't be bad."

She stood, the movement fluid, and crossed to the counter where she'd laid out her examination tools. The stethoscope, the blood pressure cuff, the thermometer. Standard equipment. She...