What Have I Done

Chapter Three

The nice thing about being a senior is that school ends early, so meeting up for lunch with friends was even better than just chilling in the school's cafeteria. I enter the sandwich shop, spotting my friends in our usual booth in the corner of the shop next to two big windows. 

"So the elf and fairy are going to prom together?" Kayce,  who hasn't been able to pull since secondary, wiggled his brows at me. Holly is the fairy and I'm the elf. I've always been called an elf because of my tall, slender appearance and my pointy ears. Holly is called a fairy because of her pale, crystal-clear skin and small physique.

"Leave them alone, doorknob." Owen flicked Kayce on the head, resulting into Kayce glaring at Owen in pain.

"I'm not a doorknob!" 

"Oh, please. We are all surprised you made it this far." Jewel tucked a strand of her jet-black hair behind her ear, continuing to tease Kayce about his grades. 

"Well what's your excuse for not having a date." The immature male stuck his tongue out at the stubborn female.

"Well I would go with Holly but she's going with her boyfriend." Jewel glared at me for a split second. I rolled my eyes and took a bite out of my sandwich. "And Owen is going with some other girl." Owen looked up from his flip phone at the sound of his name, then recognizing it was Jewel and shrugged, going back to text someone. Kayce scooted closer to Jewel, a smug look on his face. "So, I guess I'll go with you." She gave in with a dramatic sigh. 

"Well I better get going." I announced, kissing Holly on the forehead and sliding out of the circular booth. 

I checked in at the front desk before heading into the back hall and into the the small cozy office where tears and screams were kept, soaked into the old wallpaper that was slowly fading into the wall. 

"Good evening." Mr. Archie welcomed me back in as I took a seat in one of the beanbags.  

"Not much is new," I paused and thought about my days events since my last visit. "Well, there is one thing." Mr. Archie raised his eyebrows at me, probably wondering what fight I caused at school this time. "I didn't feel the need to talk about it last time." I breathed in and let out a big sigh, "but lately it has been getting worse." 

I explained to him that I didn't remember much, it was always blurry, but I remember the  feelings, the emotions I felt.  sometimes I could even remember the acrid smell, and a hot, thick liquid feeling ran down my hands and arms. In this dream I could see my hands in front of my face, they were shaking but the muscles in my face pulled up as if I was smiling. I heard screams of a male, and  then there was nothing. It all went by so quick, it was horrifying. 

"Why do you think you are having this dream over and over again?" Mr. Archie took down notes on his worn out clip board. 

"I don't know." I shook my head, folding my hands together and leaning over my knees, the bean bag shifting with me.  

"Well, normally when someone has a repeating dream it means they are trying to cope with trauma." The older man set down his clip board and leant forward such as I did. "Do you think this has to do with when you were a kid?" Before I answered I had glanced up at the clock and noticed the time. 

"It's time for my leave." It was exactly 2:03 and I stood, making my way out of the office and back to the waiting room where I saw the twins, tobacco guy, and the little boy. I didn't notice but I was stuck staring at the boy. He looked bored. He was slouched and his arms were crossed over his chest. The little boy looked over at me, making eye contact. 

"What are you looking at?" The little boy snapped me out of my trance. His voice was small but bold. I shook my head out of habit. 

"Sorry, I was just wondering where your parents are?" I quickly made up an excuse, realizing that there was no one supervising him. 

"Why do you care?" He spat. "You're just a small town nobody. That's what my brother calls you." The little boy faced forward again, as I rolled my eyes at the mention of his brother. Adam really needs to learn his place. 

"Well, is anybody going to come back to pick you up?" I took a step towards the door. The little boy turned back to me and shook his head. "I can take you home." I suggested since he lives right across from my place. 

"Birdie, I'm ready to see you." The behavioral phycologist came out, her orange hair tied tight on the top of her head. The little boy jumped out of his seat, waddling over, adjusting the bag that was slung over his shoulder. 

After about thirty minutes, Birdie came out of the office and walked over to me, demanding we go home. I chuckled and showed him my truck, which he stared at in awe. 

Birdie was quiet the whole ride home. I parked in my driveway and helped Birdie out of the truck. The door can get stuck sometimes. Birdie ran across the street and I could hear him shout to his parents that he was home as he slammed the screen door shut. 

I took my backpack out from the bed of the truck and made my way inside. My house was clean, but small. Dad tried his best to keep everything under control between work and the little free time he has. 

Throwing my bag on my bed, I let out a long sigh, plopping in my desk chair, clenching and unclenching my fist.  Adam needs to learn his place.