Sweetheart

45

"I'm glad you came back. I was starting to think I might've scared you away."

Natsu took a seat in the chair that he did before and stared at Melanie. She joined him in her chair, sitting down and crossing her legs.

"So what did you wanna talk about today?"

"Uh, I don't know. What should we talk about? Doesn't the court give you instructions about that sort of thing?"

"Yes, but I would like for you to be able to get something out of this other than just fulfilling your requirements. Besides, you don't seem like a person who has anger issues, so I don't know where that came from."

"It came from my fights and stuff."

"So you're telling me they can't recognize a failing foster family that causes a child to fight?"

"Guess so."

She looked at him once more and followed his eyes over to the painting.

"You seem to like that painting a lot. Is there a reason for it?"

"Uh, no. It just catches my eyes I guess."

"Tell me something about what's bothering you. It can be as little as a papercut."

"I just found out that one of my foster families actually lived five minutes from my house even though they said that we were over an hour away."

"Go on."

"I would always ask if I could go to the graveyard to see my dad, but they always said that we were too far to go."

"Any particular feelings surrounding that?"

"Yeah, I'm fucking mad."

"Is visiting your dad important to you?"

"What kind of question is that?" Natsu retorted, his voice raising a bit.

"Well you didn't answer me when I asked how you felt about your parents, so maybe this time you will."

"I guess I just feel stupid."

"Stupid? Why's that?"

"It's just, I wasn't able to recognize my own neighborhood before, and I've never done good at anything other than cause trouble."

"Natsu, you were really young. I don't think anyone would expect you to know the layout of your town."

"Yeah but still."

"How did you do in school before this year?"

"Barely passing, and then I started high school and just didn't do anything."

"Why?"

"Because it's pointless. What's the point in doing anything if I know I'm gonna fail at it anyway?"

"What's the hardest part of school for you?"

"Uh, I can't understand a single thing the teachers say, and they don't particularly like me."

"And do you think that's because of the facade you put up?"

Natsu sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"Is there someone you wish you could be like?"

"No."

"No one at the top?"

"I wouldn't do so well at the top," Natsu sarcastically replied. "Too many expectations that I just couldn't do."

"How did you do in elementary school and middle school?"