Therapist's therapy

Dangerous method

Another chapter I hope you love it 😊

When Travis ran out of things to throw at Arianna and strength to yell, he realized that he wasn't getting rid of her. It's not like he hated the idea of therapy, he wanted to get better but he just seemed so angry and annoyed but didn't know at what exactly. It must be Arianna, something about the way she was looking at him, judging him, like he was feeding on grass and enjoying it.
"I still think android is way better than iPhones" she argued. Somehow, she managed to contradict everything about him. She thought pink was better than blue, dogs were cuter than cats, aliens were real, Man united was better than Chelsea, she brought up reasons to argue one after the other. She had even thrown a book at him because he preferred math. Was she meant to do that? Wasn't she meant to make him less angry?
"Sure" he muttered defeated. She definitely had more issues than him.
"How about a break? I'll ask Matilda if there are any snacks" she said before skipping out of the room bare feet. Anyone looking in would think she was the owner of the house and he was the guest. With a sigh he concluded that she wasn't helping and was going to tell his mother to find him someone else. He had to get better soon.
Arianna appeared back with a plate of cookies soon after and perched back on the chair legs folded. She didn't offer him any of the cookies.
"Matilda says your coach will be here in thirty so I should round up for today. What are you been coached for?" he wondered why she didn't ask Matilda that.
"Swimming" he said simply and when she didn't reply he knew she was still waiting for another response "my mom thinks physical exercise will help me channel my stress"
"Wow that's a great idea. Your mom is really smart you know"
"Yeah she is" Travis said soberly. "She is amazing" that was the only thing they agreed on.
"I have to get ready do you mind?" Travis got up and pointed Arianna to the door.
"Oh sure I'll wait in the parlor"
"Wait for what? I thought you said we are going to call it a day?"
"Oh yeah I'm just going to watch your practice from a distance"
"That's not creepy at all"
"Yeah I know" she said before skipping away like she owned the place. Travis couldn't waste brain cells thinking about it so he just shut the door and went to change.
Minutes later he came to the parlor and met Arianna and his coach chatting merrily like they were reunited childhood relatives.
"Hey Carl" Travis greeted his couch who was intently laughing at the joke Arianna must have said
"Travis! Why didn't you tell me your therapist was Arianna we were next door neighbors back in California her dad was my best friend before I moved here" of course, they were actually reunited relations.
"She just started today" aside from that Travis didn't see any reason why he should have to introduce his coach to this therapist.
"Well enough dawdling let's get started" His coach scolded. Travis thought he should be the one saying that since carl was the one dawdling but just followed them to the backyard while he and Arianna bickered ahead.
Arianna sat under an umbrella on one of the beach chairs note at hand. Travis wondered what exactly she wanted to take notes on. He concluded that she just wanted to take free swimming lessons.
"Okay kid let's see a back stroke to the other end I hope you can beat your record today" Travis ignored the let's and put on his gear.
Diving into the water that had been warmed by the sun, he felt cooler and lighter like everything that had been bothering him had been washed away. He emerged at the other end and sucked for breath.
"Nice kid nice, twenty seconds. Five more seconds than yesterday. Sometimes it's nice to take it slow" Carl praised. Travis left the water and dried himself with a towel.
"You are too lenient Carl" Arianna strolled to then she had somehow found her shoes. "His backstroke is all wrong and he is too slow"
"He doesn't have to be perfect, it's is just a leisure activity" Carl explained to Arianna.
"But still, swimming is a sport if he doesn't want to do it well he may as well take up knitting or bead making" Arianna defended. This made Travis blood boil
"Oh just shut up! All day I've listened to you talk big when you have zero achievements whatsoever so for once just shut up!" Travis barked breathing heavily gripping his towel tightly. Arianna stared wide eyed.
"I'm sorry if I forgot my place I just thought you won't know when seriously learning this would come in handy" she turned to carl "I'm sorry Carl for interrupting I'll just leave" with that she left.
"She is right you know and I'm sorry I should have taken this more seriously she is a good kid and means no harm' when Carl noticed he wasn't getting anymore response from Travis he continued " let's call it a day I'll draw up a plan on how to improve your skills and speed" with that he left.
"Whatever" Travis mumbled under his breath
Travis hated everything about today. He hated how Arianna made him feel like a fool, he hated how Carl agreed with her, he hated how he was always looked at like someone who was just angry and had no sense of reasoning. He sat at the pool till his mom got back
because Arianna was in the parlor waiting for jasper and Mrs. Julian to come back so he could drive her home. She wanted to leave but that was against her contract. Although everything she did was according to her plan, she felt like she took it too far. She felt relief when she heard car tires on gravel, packed her bag and headed out. Mrs. Juliana got out and smiled when she met Arianna at the door.
"So, how was your first day?" Mrs. Julian asked as she handed her bag and coat to Matilda.
"It's a work in progress" Arianna tried to make it sound convincing.
"I would love to chat more but I wouldn't want you to keep Jasper waiting it has been a long day" Arianna nodded and got into the car after saying her goodbyes.
She didn't bother greeting Jasper before settling into the back seat knowing he wouldn't bother to reply. She thought about what to do next as she drew a plan.
"So, how was your first day?" Arianna was startled when Jasper spoke.
"Um.. great" she fumbled for words clearly not expecting the conversation. They had arrived at her apartment.
"Travis is a bit of a handful but just give him time he will come around" Jasper said as Arianna got out of the car.
"Thanks I will do my best"
"Okay then see you tomorrow" and with that he rolled up the glass and drove off" Arianna was grateful for the advice and the fact that he was warming up to her at least but if time was all it took for Travis to come around then there would not have been need to employ her.

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Travis didn't wait for his mom to even change out of her work outfit before storming into her room.
"Mom you made a mistake hiring that girl she doesn't even know the first thing about therapy" although he didn't know the first thing about therapy either, he was sure Arianna was doing it wrong. Mrs. Juliana didn't flinch at Travis's outburst; she had grown use to it.
"Calm down and tell me everything" Mrs. Juliana said dragging her son to sit with her on the bed.
Travis told her everything. Including the part of her not offering him any cookies.
When he was done he expected his mother to rage and prepare Arianna's sack letter immediately but instead she just laughed.
"Arianna is an amusing girl to think she would use such a dangerous method" Travis was struck
"Mom! Don't tell me you are on her side as well" Travis thundered he couldn't even remain seated
"There are no sides in this Travis, there is only you getting better" when Travis didn't contradict her, she went on "you are a smart boy I'm surprised you didn't catch on with her method. Arianna understands that people are scared of they don't understand, and in your case you are angry because you don't understand why exactly you are so irritated and annoyed so she is giving you a reason, her "
It all made sense to Travis he felt so dumb for not noticing she was making him channel his anger to her and when he didn't see anything else to hate about her, it will fade away.
"But why would she do that she didn't know what I was capable off I could have hurt her I did hurt her..." Travis remembered him hurling books and shoes at Arianna some which she managed to dodge but some did hit the target. He remembered shouting at her at the pool when she was only trying to help.
"And concerning the swimming I am Arianna's side since you are taking time you may as well be the best at it" she moved over and gave him a warm hug "because my son is the best at everything".
Travis thought about what his mom had said as he tried to fall asleep and for the first time he didn't feel so angry it was replaced by guilt.

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