Troubled

TWENTY TWO

KYLE GARCIA

"Sir, with all due respect. Did you even see how she reacted after I signed up for her when she did want to sign up? Just a difference of hand writing."

Stefan nodded his head vigorously.

"Oh that I saw, and no, she is angry because what if she didn't want to sign up, and now you signed up for her, she would have gone and embarrassed herself when her name was called up on stage without prior notice."

It was like a veil was lifted from my eyes. It was a major controller move. She didn't have a say in what goes on in her life. I felt like crap.

"s**t. Sorry. I didn't think of it that way."

Stefan waved the air as if he was waving my crappy excuses away.

" That's you young people's problem this days, none of you think, you just do. But in this case, it is necessary."

I look at him uneasily. It was true I hadn't thought of anything besides getting her signed up when I walked in here earlier.

"You see, in all the years I have known Cora, she has never shown any emotions, not even by accident. All the teachers think she has a problem, she didn't have emotions, but I don't think so, I would like to think nothing pushed the emotions hard enough, and she has become an expert in holding them tightly. Nobody can be as indifferent as her, nobody can be that stoic."

I mulled this information over in my head. So if that was her problem, maybe that was why she was coming in to therapy. With that much temper she packed, I was very sure she didn't come for therapy on her own Accord to fix her emotions. The teachers must have said something to her parents so they forced her to go, poor Cora.

"All the years I've known the girl, that was the most she has ever shown emotions. And it was you who provoked it. From what she says I can see it's not the first time you have had a go at each other, and she did show a flicker of emotion the first time."

He looked at me, beaming.

"Okay, asides from inflating my ego by telling me I'm the chosen one and the other bullshit. What does this mean? I'm not a therapist, why do I need to be a muse."

Stefan didn't even say anything about my use of cuss words. He only clapped in excitement.

"This year's theme is Emotions. Anything you will be doing, it should be able to elicit emotions from the audience, doesn't matter what type of emotions. Just make sure the crowd is swayed. But as you can see, you can't show what you don't have." He added the last part with a wince.

I nod.

"Then why did you get her to sign up? When you know she doesn't have any emotions."

I knew for a fact that she would never have signed up on her own, he probably told her something, offered her something.

He gave me a sheepish grin.

"She is the best student I have, she actually has talent enough to win. Her talent will be the one to bring victory to the art department after ten years of losing streak."

I scoff.so he was just using her.

"Did you tell her about the emotion part?"

He eyed me.

"Do you think I'm crazy? She would have never agreed."

I quirk an eyebrow at him. I did think he was crazy. Else, why would he hide such an important factor needed to win.

"So I will be doing fifty percent of the work. My job is getting her to show emotions. And she has to draw emotions from the crowd. Actually make that seventy percent."

"You will be doing just twenty percent of the work. Her drawing already makes me shocked as she is unassuming. And shock is an emotion. I just need them to be a little swayed, that's all. After that, she is sure to win."

He did have a lot of confidence in her, I wonder if someone had half that size of confidence in me.

"Let's say I don't think your plan is crazy, what's in it for me? I'm not in the art department. How can I partake of my twenty percent?"

He actually looked like he was thinking about it.

"Twenty percent of the cash prize given to the department."

I almost laugh. But the guy looked serious. He either didn't know who my parents were or really didn't care at all. But I nod like it's the best deal ever. Because it was going to be an excuse to see her more.

Stefan clapped once more.

"Excellent!! I would like for you to report to me every week. On Fridays. You can start today."

I nod, it's not like I have other plans anyway.

I start to head out thinking we were done before he called me, causing me to pause at the door.

"This whole department is counting on you Kyle. Cora is counting on you. She needs to feel like a teenager, whatever is holding her back doesn't matter. Make the girl start to feel things."

I walk into my first class late but I don't care, I never would have. I didn't even want to be in school. My mind was honed on the assignment Stefan had given me. Granted I made her mad, but that was an accident, all the times I made her angry, was not even my intention.

"Where did you go?" Ray asked me.

"Here and there." I tell him.

He only gave me a long look, I had to pretend I was engrossed in whatever the teacher was talking about to avoid further conversation with him.

The bell rang. And I dash outside, for some reason I was eager to see her. It was lunch time. So I head to the cafeteria.

"Kyle?" Ray called out.

His head was c****d to the side as he eyed me.

"I'm really hungry." I lie.

He didn't scrutinize me, he just led the way to the cafeteria. And I followed. My eyes scan for her and that boy she was talking with the other day, I couldn't find any of them.

And I didn't find them till after school. They were going to ride the guy's car together. I smile broadly.

"Where are you guys going?" I ask as casually as I could.

She turned to me, her head hidden inside her hoodie but I could see disbelief on her face.

Maybe it won't be so hard getting her to show emotions.

"Get lost."