“What do you mean you can’t? Seriously, I am not working with someone who can’t even put effort into the task!” Emily Brown spat, rolling her eyes in disgust.
“Hey, I am doing my best to cooperate with you guys on this stupid project, but I have something really important after school,” Emma defended herself quickly, trying to keep her cool.
“I have things to do too, you know,” John Megan chimed in, clearly enjoying the drama.
“Come on, you guys,” Robert interjected, attempting to calm the group. “I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we meet this evening? We can come back to school. It’ll still be open if it’s not too late, and if not, we’ll have a little fun trying to get in. So, what do you say?”
“Fine then,” the group agreed reluctantly.
Later at home, Emma’s mother glared at her with that all-too-familiar smirk. “So, Emma, you’re going to behave and cooperate, right? You know what’ll happen if you don’t.”
“Yes, Mom,” Emma answered, voice flat and obedient, already tired.
“Hello! Come in, please,” Ms. Jones, the psychologist, greeted Emma and her mother with an overly cheerful smile.
I can't believe I’d rather be working on that dumb group project than sitting here right now, Emma thought as she slumped into the chair, sitting right at the edge like she was ready to bolt at any second.
“So, Ms. Lin Anderson, would you kindly wait outside…” Ms. Jones requested, but Emma’s mother didn’t need to be told twice. She was out of there in a flash, promising to return in an hour.
“Alright, Emma Anderson, you’re 16, a high schooler here in Sunnydale, California, right?”
“Yes,” Emma confirmed, eyes glazed over, clearly uninterested.
“You’re the oldest of three, with two younger brothers, ages ten and twelve, correct?” Ms. Jones continued, as if prying into Emma’s private life was just casual conversation.
“Yes.” Emma’s response was robotic, offering nothing.
“Come on, darling, you can be a bit more talkative than that,” the psychologist coaxed, trying to sound gentle but succeeding only in making Emma want to throw up.
“Well, then, why don’t you start by telling me about yourself?” Ms. Jones pressed on, refusing to give up.
“You literally just said everything about me,” Emma replied dryly.
“Haha, no, I mean the basic stuff—express yourself! Tell me about your feelings, your fears, your thoughts. Anything you feel like sharing.” Ms. Jones tried to sound encouraging, but Emma was already done with this conversation.
“Oh really, you want to know my thoughts? How thoughtful of you,” Emma shot back, sarcasm thick in her voice. “So, my thoughts are basically: ‘Leave me alone,’ ‘I’m tired,’ ‘What time is it?’ ‘I want pizza,’ and ‘What the hell is this nonsense you’re trying to pull?’”
She paused, glaring at the psychologist. “Oh, and by the way, our very nice hour together is over, so I’m leaving. Bye.” Without waiting for a response, Emma grabbed her things and stormed out before Ms. Jones could say another word.
Back home, Emma barely made it through the door before her mom started in on her again. “Mom, I’ve got a school project to go to,” Emma announced, already heading for the door.
“Right now? It’s evening! This is exactly what I’m talking about, Emma. You have no sense of responsibility, and that’s why you’re not succe—”
“Bye,” Emma interrupted, cutting her off.
“Hey! I’m not finished talking to you!” Lin Anderson yelled after her, but her daughter was already halfway down the street, not looking back.
YOU ARE READING
A Notebook From Hell
Mystery / ThrillerEmma's life was always boring and miserable. She at one point put up with it because she had one person who didn't hate her, moreover somone who loved her, her dear father. But everything changes after he dies in a car accident. Emma now remains a...
