In The Scenes

Fifteenth

WARNING: May be mentions of abuse, panic attacks, trauma, blood, etc. If you are sensitive to these topics, please don't read.

Alex POV:

"This way to Dr. Owl's room," a lady said. I followed her into the psychiatrist's room. The walls were decorated with flowers and leaves. There was a desk and at the desk was a lady. She was tall and serious but she smiled at me. The lady who guided me here left and I took a seat.

"Hi. Alex, right?" she asked me.

I didn't respond to her. I didn't want to be here but Lia practically shoved me into the car.

"You have to respond. I'm here to help you."

I ignored her and looked around. There was a picture with a man, woman, and a girl.

"That's my family. My husband is a police officer and my kid studies at Faith High School. You went there, right?"

I felt bad for ignoring her. She's only trying to help.

"Yes."

"How did you feel when you were attending Faith High School?"

"Safe."

"Can you explain?"

"I'd rather spend 6 hours of my day in classes than go back . . . home."

"Okay."

She wasn't pushing me. I liked that.

"What exactly do we do here?"

"That depends on what you want to do."

"I want to go home."

"Besides that."

"Fair enough. Can we listen to music?"

She got up and put some music on. It was Permission To Dance by BTS.

"Thanks."

"No problem. Do you have any recommendations? My daughter listens to BTS so I assumed that's what you would like."

"It's perfect. I do listen to BTS when I'm not being chased by psychopaths."

"Psychopaths?"

I mentally slapped myself. Me and my big mouth.

"It's an inside joke."

"A man throwing baseballs and chasing you is not an inside joke."

She knew about the Dolphin Man. I laughed nervously. She seemed to notice my worry.

"Just tell me the truth. The faster you tell the truth, the less time you'll spend here."

That was just what I needed to hear.

"Well, it's kind of complicated."

"Try me."

"The Dolphin Man is related to my lawyer."

She didn't expect to hear that.

"Really?"

"He's my lawyer's son. Crazy, right?"

Dr. Owl tensed and looked up. I wasn't sure why.

"It is a little crazy. How does Mr. Crow feel about his son being . . . "

"Being a friend of my ex-foster parents and Lia and Jane's stepfather? Not too good."

Dr. Owl leaned back.

"How do you feel about it? Do you still trust Mr. Crow?"

I thought about her question.

"I don't have any reason not to."

"You still trust him?"

"He's not a friend of the trio, his son is."

She looked confused.

"Trio. My ex-foster parents and Lia and Jane's stepfather."

"Oh, okay."

Dr. Owl stood up and grabbed a clipboard.

"What's that for?"

"Standard procedure. I need to ask you a couple of questions."

"Great. More questions," I said sarcastically.

She rolled her eyes.

"Question 1: Why are you so sarcastic?"

"Because I totally don't enjoy doing it."

"Question 2: Why are you answering a question about sarcasm with sarcasm?"

"Because I can."

She thought about that for a moment.

"Touché. Anyway, back to the real questions. How are you? Don't answer good."

"Well."

Dr. Owl gave me the you-better-answer-my-question-before-I-punch-you look.

"Not good but not bad."

"Explain."

"I mean . . . I just feel stressed all of the time. I'm worried something bad will happen to my friends. I love my friend group and would hate for anything bad to happen to them. I just . . . want to feel safe."

Dr. Owl nodded. It's like she understood.

"You know, I married someone before I met my current husband."

"Oh."

I wasn't sure what to say. Congrats on the divorce. Before I said anything else, she continued with her story.

"He was really nice at first. Together, we had my daughter. After that, he changed. He became colder. He stopped talking to me and would often hit me and my daughter."

My eyes widened. She did understand.

"Eventually, I got the courage to call the cops and have him arrested. One of the police officers helped me by taking me and my daughter to see a therapist. We were reluctant at first but now I realized how much that helped me. I married the police officer and we're a happy family now. I want that happy ending for you, too."

My eyes teared up. She just wants to help me. She wants what's best for me.

"Tell me what I need to do."

Together, we walked through my entire life. I told her about each one of my foster parents and whether they were good or bad. I told her about my grades and how my school life was going. We discussed about our group and how I got my ex-foster parents into prison. By the time we were done, I felt better.

"I feel like you still have a question for me," she said as I was leaving.

"Who was the person you married? The first person?" I asked. "You don't have to tell me."

Dr. Owl smiled.

"His name was Jason Crow. You know him better as Dolphin Man."