Return What Was Lost

Chapter 15

Julian had to go home for Thanksgiving break today. He knew whether he liked it or not he would have to go. While there were a few kids who would remain on campus, Julian knew he could not be one of them. His brother, Mickey, and his mom missed him a lot and he didn't want to disappoint them. Still, Julian hated the idea of being home.

"Are you coming to practice?" Cole asked when he noticed Julian going in a different direction than him and Brady.

"Coach said he's squeezing one extra practice in while they have the meeting for the kids staying over break," Brady explained.

"No, I've got something going on," Julian answered. "Coach knows."

"All right, I'll see you before I leave," Cole said as he left.

Brady lingered for a moment.

"Hey, don't leave without meeting up with me, I've got to talk to you about something," he explained.

"I'll be back in my room probably around when practice ends."

Brady nodded. "Okay, I'll come over with Cole."

Julian nodded back and then went up to Doctor Hopkins' office and knocked on the door.

"Come in," she called.

He apprehensively opened the door and took a seat on the couch as Doctor Hopkins sat opposite of him.

"So, did you do anything with the journal?" she asked.

Julian sighed. "Kind of," he admitted.

He took it out of his bag and handed it to her. She opened it and began looking through the pages. Julian knew there wasn't much to look at and that it wouldn't take her very long.

"So, you drew a sunset, it's very pretty," she noted as she looked at the first page.

"Thanks," he mumbled. He had drawn it while sitting in his favorite spot in the boy's common room. Nikki had wanted to watch a basketball game together, but Julian had found the sunset more interesting.

"This looks like a part of your biology notes," she commented as she looked at the second page.

Julian had forgotten his biology notebook this morning and had taken notes in that journal instead.

"A stingray?" she asked, holding up the third drawing.

Julian twisted his ring nervously. He should have ripped that one out.

"Does it mean something?" she asked.

"I think they're cool," he offered weakly.

"Hmm," she said skeptically. "It looks familiar."

His cheeks reddened. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Julian," she said softly. "This isn't going to work if you don't trust me. I'm not going to expose your secrets, I'm not going to judge you, and the last thing I would do is hurt you."

He took a deep breath and slowly nodded. "Well I guess you know why it looks so familiar."

"It's the pendant Avery wears," Doctor Hopkins said.

"It just reminds me of some old memories," he offered as a small explanation.

"Okay," Doctor Hopkins said, nodding. "What about this?" she asked, holding up the next page of the journal where he had drawn lightning bolts coming down from the clouds.

"I like drawing lighting, I got a tattoo of it too," he said with a shrug.

"I know, I can see the tattoo peeking out of your Metallica shirt," she said. "Good taste by the way."