Wicked Game || CURRENTLY EDITING

Chapter 64: The Star-Spangled Man

6 months later

These past few months have been quite stressful. I've been on trial and the evidence against me was daunting. However, my lawyer pulled the Insanity Defense card, using the testimony of a professional psychiatrist to claim I have PTSD as a result of my 32-year sleep and witnessing Tony's death right after I came back to life for the second time. This luckily persuaded the judge to rule in my favor and she ordered for me to attend court-mandated therapy. The trial ended three weeks ago and my first therapy session was last week.

I sigh as I observe my reflection in the mirror. It's only 7:05 and I already want this day to be over. I have therapy after school, which is... not my ideal way of spending the afternoon. I sling my backpack over my shoulder then place my camera strap around my neck. I'm about to leave my room when my phone starts buzzing. I check the screen, expecting Peter's name to pop up since he sometimes likes to call me in the morning to talk to me on the way to school. However, Bucky's name appears instead. I told him about the Westview incident six months ago and it became a tradition for him to call me every so often to check on me. I call him as well to make sure he's okay. We slowly became friends over these last few months, bonding over the loss of our mutual friend, Steve.

I go to sit on my bed and tap the green button. His face pops up on the screen. "Hey, Buck," I greet with a small smile.

"Hey."

"I see you figured out how to make FaceTime calls," I remark with a teasing smile. He rolls his eyes and scoffs.

"We've been FaceTiming for a while, I've known how to do this," he claims.

I shrug and reply, "whenever we FaceTime, it's because I called you. You always call me over the regular phone but okay, sure." He rolls his eyes again, causing me to laugh.

"Anyway," he speaks, applying emphasis on the word. "How've you been? You must feel good knowing the trial is over, huh?"

I slightly nod and shrug. I never gave him full details about it because I was in a rush the last time we spoke. "Yeah, I definitely feel relieved... although I'm not completely off the hook," I mention.

Bucky furrows his eyebrows, giving me a skeptical look. "What do you mean? I thought everything went fine."

"Yeah, it did but I have to go to court-mandated therapy. I started last week and I have to go back today after school," I inform him.

He raises his eyebrows, taken aback by this new information. "Huh, what a coincidence," he mutters.

"What is?"

"I'm going to therapy too. Also court-mandated," he admits. I stare at him in shock. I knew he was pardoned by the state but he never mentioned the therapy.

"Oh- wow. How come you didn't tell me?" I ask. He looks away from the screen in thought.

"I'm not a fan of it. Didn't think it was worth mentioning," he answers. I hum in response. I understand that completely.

"How long have you been going?" I curiously question.

He blows a raspberry and responds, "a while." I nod as I get off the bed, deciding I should leave so I can arrive at school on time. I open my bedroom door and walk through, making my way to the front door. "Which shrink are you seeing?"

"Uh, Dr. Raynor I think is her name," I answer. He freezes, gazing at me in surprise. "What?" I question.

"Christina Raynor??"

"Yeah, you know her?" I reply while unlocking my car. I get into the driver's seat, carefully setting my camera down and tossing my backpack in the passenger's seat before peering at my phone screen.