Troubled

FIFTEEN

CORA PHILIPS

I could not believe I actually spoke to the boy in front of me. But I had to know. I heard the wind or whispering of my name and I had to know what he was saying about me. Usually I did not care, but since we were going to be stuck with this woman in her tiny office because of her unprofessionalism, for who knows how long, I thought I should ask. Although I should know it was risky as whatever he said could have set me off, one of the natural disasters off rather.

While he explained himself, I narrowed my eyes at him. Because as much as the unique power to hear whatever someone says about me goes, it was distorted by technology. I only knew he talked about me to whoever was on the other side of his flashy phone. I felt Miss Suzie's gaze glued to us , it was as if this was her first class in college and we were her professors, she wanted to grab everything we did so she could do well in her practice. If only she actually did that with her real professors.

I didn't want to believe his explanation but what could I say when I had no proof. Again, I really didn't care. I just wanted to go home and sit beside Cory for a few minutes before mom came back from wherever it is she would go to avoid seeing me.

I was missing Cory, usually after school we sat down together, have lunch, then we would do his homework while he told me about everything that went on in his class that day, and everyone he hated from his school. And if mom was still not back, we would watch TV together. I sighed inwardly, I missed the little guy. If only the natural disasters did not take over my life so much.

When he says he thinks he knows me from school I almost scoff. He must have not seen me in school even if I had seen him at least thrice this week.

"Oh yeah, you guys do go to the same school." Miss Suzie says it like it is a big revelation. I am surprised she doesn't comment on the fact that we don't know each other.

"Aha! I found it. The activities we would be doing over here at Happy clinic." Miss Suzie was too excited to listen to people talk about their shitty lives, I briefly wondered if that did not affect her friendship with others. I could not imagine an extra preppy, overly excited psychiatrist as my friend, she would nitpick my brain. My eyes scanned the sheet of paper, the cliche activities she had written down had me scoffing. It looked like she was not even trying, if this was what she had to show after getting into school and scaling through it, I'm deeply disappointed.

"I'd like to release you guys for today, since it's the first day. But first, you have to do a little exercise." That sentence brought an unexplainable happiness to my heart. I could not wait to leave this place, and leave the boy whose name was Kyle.

She drummed her palms against her thighs like she was playing a suspenseful theme song from a children's cartoon. I roll my eyes inwardly.

"Share something that made your day uplifting. Even the slightest things will be appreciated." Her voice was chirpy.

Kyle snorts unattractively. If only the girls from school could see him now, I bet they won't be putting themselves down in the girl's bathroom just to have a chance with him.

"What's this? Intervention?" At least his sarcasm was biting enough.

Miss Suzie smiled in appreciation. It seems we would be doing her job for her here.

"Should we think of it as intervention? Yup, we are definitely doing that. Thank you for that Kyle!" She was beaming.

I could find out where she schooled and put them on my black list. There was no way she could be this clueless.

"So I'll go first. The best thing that happened to me today was the two of you coming in. I can see we will have a bumpy, scary, fun, exhilarating, but the best journey." Her tone was ominous but to be frank, I didn't care enough to decipher it. I just wanted to go home.

"Okay, who's next?"

"Oh come on, or we'll be here the whole day and night."

I had nothing to say to be honest, there was nothing good about my day. My life was the most mundane, boring, crappy and most especially nothing good ever happened. Something reminded me of the leaf from this morning, the one sitting in between my jotter, that was a good thing.

If I said anything about a leaf, I was sure they would think I was crazy.

I hear Kyle say something like 'all of it'. Typical. High school sweetheart with no real problem. Of course every part of the day would be swell. Everyone at school adored him.

"My brother." I tell them. He was the only light in my otherwise bleak life. I should have said Xander, but who knows if he would ditch me one of these days. Cory would never.

Miss Suzie clapped once more, I can honestly say she needs the help. Who claps so much?

"That's all for today guys, see you again Wednesday!"

It was like there was a spring underneath my butt, as soon as she says those words I bolt. Relief was my name. I could not stand to be in that room any second longer.

As I ran down the stairs, I felt something press down the sides of my head. Like it was being clamped on. I sigh, something was coming.

"God please not here, not here please." I say under my breath and try to pick up speed.

I find Kyle by my side, he was walking in the same stride as me. I wanted him gone.

"f**k off." I say as meanly as I could. Which was a lot of mean. But I could not feel bad even if he did me nothing. He could not be beside me when it came.

The headache hit me harder, I start to stagger. My head started to feel heavy. I knew it was coming, no matter how long I have had them, i could never get used to the pain.

It was like an explosion inside my head, like a bomb went off. I fell to the ground before I could stop myself.