Therapist's therapy

Past

When Travis read the plot he knew it would be a long day. A long annoying day. The hero was stupid and his hero name wasn't helping, the damsel in distress was not a damsel at all and sounded like a voice actor for nursery rhymes, and the fact that they spoke French almost throughout worsened it. Despite all this, Travis tried to concentrate and suppress his emotions with occasional deep breaths.
"Can you not?" He finally complained. Arianna had been eating her chips as loudly as she could.
"I'm just giving it background music" she defended
"That's not even music"
"Oh? Getting angry" Travis clenched his fist and focused on the movie where the hero was outrunning a train. Arianna thought she should try it.
"How are your swimming lessons coming along?" Travis was glad for the unrelated interruption.
"More treacherous thanks to you" he took a swing at the bag of chips and filled his mouth.
"I just felt bad for Cal wasting his talent"
"And I was thinking it was for my good" Arianna just shrugged and filled her mouth with chips.
"Has your mom always been like this?" Arianna asked. Travis hung his head not because it was a sensitive topic but because his eyes hurts watching that movie.
"Yeah she always wants what best for me always wanted me to be great"
"I wonder about that, or she could be doing all this for herself"
"I'm not getting angry over that. I'm not falling for your tricks anymore"
"Got me" she lied bumping his shoulder. Deep down Arianna thought that she hadn't been cheated much in life but she still found it hard to believe there were people with pure good intentions.
"My mom really cares for me" Travis finished
"You are getting better" Arianna said with a bright smile
"But it's not enough. I want to be perfect. No I have to be perfect for my grandfather to acknowledge me"
Arianna wanted to say he didn't need anybody to acknowledge him but thought in this case maybe you did.
"Hey you are going to miss the good part!" Arianna screamed drawing Travis attention back to the movie.
The hero was holding the rescued princess bridal style while riding a plane as a surf board. Travis couldn't help but laugh at that. He was grateful when Carl arrived and said it was time for practice and Arianna had to call it a day.
When he was done changing he met Arianna sitting in the parlor.
"Your not going to watch me practice again, are you?"
"Sorry to disappoint you but no, I need to have a word with your mom before leaving" Travis shrugged and headed out back "and also be well prepared for tomorrow I'm going to take it seriously"
Travis got a bad feeling.

! @ # % $ ^

When Arianna arrived the next morning she was ready for the worst. This, like all her methods was dangerous but if it worked it would be a breakthrough. She greeted Matilda and bid Mrs. Juliana and Jasper good bye, and headed straight to Travis room.
She knocked and for the first time waited for a response.
"Come in"
She pushed the door open and strolled in. Travis was sitting on one of the couches. She placed her bag on the table and took out a CD.
"I thought we were doing something else today" Travis asked. Arianna didn't respond she just slipped in the movie and relaxed on one of the couches. They watched in silence but Travis couldn't relax he knew Arianna was up to something but didn't know what. He kept stealing glances at her but she didn't look away from the screen.
When Carl arrived later she took her bag and left without a word. Travis grew more paranoid. He knew she spoke to his mom yesterday but didn't know what they spoke about. When his mom got back he approached her but she said they only spoke about work.
A lot of thoughts swarmed his mind. If Arianna kept this up he wouldn't be ready by the time his grandfather came. He knew this was some sort of test which he had to pass but didn't know how. He just had to stay calm and control his emotions he decided and went to bed.
The next morning wasn't any different in fact Arianna was gloomier. They watched another movie in silence.
"What happened to your father?" Arianna asked after a while. Travis was surprised at the questions and at the fact that she finally spoke.
"My parents got a divorce and I haven't seen him since"
"Why?" Arianna didn't look away from the screen.
"I don't want to talk about it. Is that why you spoke to my mom?"
"Yes, I knew you wouldn't tell me because like your father you are a coward" the words slipped right out of Arianna's mouth impaling Travis in the chest.
"What?"
"Are you deaf as well?"
"You are trying to get me angry again, it won't work"
"I got thinking after talking to your mom, about how lame you are. But then I thought I couldn't blame you, you just took after your father"
"You are wrong!" Travis was on his feet, fist clenched
"Your father divorced your mother because he couldn't stand his incompetence compared to his wife. And it's the same with you"
"Stop it" was all Travis could mutter he was shaking with rage.
"You should have run away too, you are weak, foolish and so stupid for not even realizing it. At least your father knew when to leave I guess he wasn't completely useless one point for him" Travis jacked Arianna by her collar lifting her off the couch
"I asked you to shut it!" his eyes were red and furious Arianna was scared but did a great job hiding it
"Are you going to hit me? Go ahead maybe hitting me will make you achieved. Travis beat up a weak woman because he had daddy issues, so brave! Go ahead! Do it! Show mommy you are now a big boy" Travis raised his fist and Arianna closed her eyes.
"Why?" He asked .Arianna opened her eyes in time to see a tear roll down his cheek "why can't I do it?"
He released Arianna's collar and she tumbled to the ground her knees weak with fear.
"Why can't I run too? You are right I'm a coward" he sat on the ground backing Arianna his face in his hands "when my dad was leaving he told me to come with him but I was scared. I couldn't defile my grandfather and I was scared of life without all this luxury. I'm scared of everything and weak. I'm scared of being a disappointment to my mom and Jasper" he buried his hands in his hair.
When Arianna thought about this plan she hadn't imagined this scenario. She imagined she would be in the ER by now. And she knew nothing about comforting a broken man. She moved closer and wrapped her hand around him.
"When your mother told me the story she said you dad was a very brave man, she spoke about how he had fought your grandfather to get married to your mom. How he couldn't live been controlled by him at the end. Honestly I thought he was a very indecisive man who still left after all that fighting" Travis looked up at Arianna. "I don't think he is a coward, but I think you are brave Travis for not running away. And there is nothing wrong with being scared I'm scared too" Arianna showed him her shaky fingers.
"That's because I nearly punched you"
"I knew you wouldn't"
"You did?"
"Yeah no. I even told my grandmother I might not be coming home tonight. I'm glad you didn't though" Travis glared at her "as for jasper and your mom I think you can stop being scared because you are going to make them proud. You passed" Arianna said ruffling his hair.
It was then it dawned on him that although he had gotten angry he was able to control it.
"I did it? I did it!" he pulled Arianna to her feet along with him and engulfed her in a hug." Thank you thank you thank you!"
Arianna felt her heart skip but shook it off as excitement at the progress of her client.
"It was all you buddy. All you"

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