"Did you know it's one of only two planets to spin backwards? All the others are in prograde motion, but Venus and Uranus are in retrograde! Also, did you know all the planets got their names from ancient Roman gods? Venus is named after the goddess of beauty, because they thought it was the prettiest - and I agree with them, I really do. It's colour is so vibrant, and it's covered in awesome patterns." Logan stopped to catch his breath, smiling. The doctor sitting across from him blinked, and sat back.
"Thank you, Logan, but that didn't really answer my question," The doctor looked down at his notepad. "I asked what your hobbies were." Logan looked quizzical.
"That was my answer - I like Venus!" The doctor frowned.
"Logan, Venus isn't a hobby."
"Well, not strictly speaking, no. But I like thinking about it. And talking about it. And looking at it. I got a telescope for my fourteenth birthday, and it's visible for most of the year!" The doctor coughed here, before Logan could start trailing off again. Logan didn't mind, he was just happy someone had let him speak for so long about Venus. He really, really liked Venus.
"Thank you. I have a few more routine questions to ask you, which shouldn't take too long, and then we'll be finished." Logan suddenly remembered how weird he was finding this situation. He had been taken into a strange room, with a strange doctor he hadn't seen before, and been told he was going to take a short assessment. He hadn't asked what for, but now he was quite concerned about it. But now the doctor was talking again, and it was too late to ask. The whole rest of the process took about an hour, making the doctor seem very untrustworthy to Logan. He had to answer about 20 more questions, then sit in the hall for a half hour. Finally he was brought back in, and the nice lady who had got him settled in on his first day was there. He felt a little more relaxed, and sat down opposite her.
"Hey Logan. So, you've probably figured out that you were being tested for something today. Firstly, I want you to know that this isn't something for you to worry about. Our doctors has diagnosed you with ASD, autism spectrum disorder."
"What! No I don't!" Logan said immediately.
"As I said, Logan, it's not something you should be upset about."
"Well I am! I'm not autistic." Logan stood up. He didn't know why that made him so upset, but it did.
"Logan, please try to calm down."
"No! You're being dumb! I'm not autistic, I'm smart." Logan defended himself.
"It's not just that, Logan - almost every other answer you gave lined up correctly."
"Stop! This is stupid. You can't make me stay here." Logan marched over to the door, and flew down the hall before anyone could stop him. He had been here long enough now to know where he was going, and he paced the corridors with his head down. Before long, he was stopped, because as a result of his not looking where he was going, he literally bumped into Kendall coming out of his room.
"Logan! What's up with you?" He stabilised them both, finding his whole demeanor unusual.
"People back there are trying to tell me I have autism." Logan said bitterly, looking up at Kendall.
"Oh. That's all?" Logan stared at him.
"Yes that's all!"
"Oh," He repeated, then paused. "What's the big deal?"
"The big deal is that that's weird, and I definitely do not."
"I don't like this place as much as you do, Logan, but it is kind of their jobs to know what's going on with everyone. And if they're right, so what? Lots of people in here are."
"I'm not lots of people."
"Sure, but I still think it doesn't matter. You're still you. You're still my friend. It really isn't that important." Kendall shrugged. Logan's frown softened.
"I guess. Maybe you're right. I don't know. I still don't like it."
"You don't have to like it, but you might as well get used to it. Do you think I like having OCD and anger issues? No. But it would be a lot worse if I was constantly trying to convince myself I didn't have them at all." Annoyingly, Kendall made a good point. Logan sighed.
"You really don't think I'm weird?"
"No."
"Thanks, Kendall." Logan was suddenly overtaken by the urge to hug him, and so he did. A little taken aback, Kendall reciprocated.
"Really, thanks a lot."
"No problem," Kendall smiled. "I'll see you at dinner." Logan nodded.
