Pangaia: Agendas (Year One: Fall)

Chapter Ten - Cheyenne

 Cheyenne was ready to reach across the coffee table in Dr. Andrea Warhol's office—the one thing separating her from the psychiatrist—and throttling the thirty-something-year-old woman.

The meeting was mandatory for Cheyenne. Starting her first full day of being on campus, she had to go however often the doctor felt it necessary. At first, she didn't have many objections. There was a lot going on in her life, and while she didn't like the idea of having to see a therapist, it was someone to talk to—someone who was supposed to offer help and support.

The key words being "supposed to", because Cheyenne found Dr. Warhol was neither of those things.

After their first meeting had started, she was having second thoughts on the idea.

"Do you always get so angry at someone who tells you the truth?" the psychiatrist commented, pulling her long, black, wavy hair, behind her head and into a loose bun. Dark spirals of hair framed her face as she picked up her notebook and jotted down a few more notes.

Dr. Warhol was an amazing beauty. Her eyes were large, dark, and almond shaped. Her skin was a wonderful golden tan, and she had the kind of curves most women would die for. She was gorgeous. It disheartened Cheyenne to learn she was such a cruel woman. Then again, she should have known better than to judge purely on outward appearances.

The doctor didn't look fazed at the built up rage starting to seep out of Cheyenne. In fact, she didn't look like she cared that Cheyenne was angry at all. If anything, she appeared to be amused by the reaction, which furthered Cheyenne's suspicions that the doctor was making her mad on purpose. She waited calmly for her patient to respond to her question.

"You don't know me," Cheyenne snapped. "How dare you insinuate I'm a slut."

Their first meeting had been held on her second day on the campus. Mrs. Orinda had suggested the visit. It made sense for her to have her first appointment before she became overwhelmed with homework.

Cheyenne had gone to the doctor's office not knowing what to expect. She'd never been to therapy before. The room appeared to be welcoming and inviting. The walls were painted warm and comforting shades of red; the furniture plush, black, and leather, gave the room an overall elegant feel. It didn't remind her of an office. Maybe more like a loft built for parties and dates, but not for seeing patients.

"I didn't do anything of the sort," Dr. Warhol replied calmly. "Your thoughts are what betray you. You're the one who was thinking about how much you wanted to see the vampire boy again and how intrigued you were by the twins you met yesterday. I never once said you were a slut, I only commented on how you were already checking out the new local men. That seems to be all you've thought about since you've come in here, that is, when you're not thinking of how much you hate me for being an unfair and heartless...Well, your language is colorful."

Cheyenne's cheeks flushed with heat, and she pulled her knees to her chest. She had never felt so exposed before. Was it possible she read minds like Mr. Thantos? If so, Dr. Warhol didn't have any objections with invading privacy.

"Can I leave yet?" she asked.

"You're scheduled for ten more minutes." The doctor got up from her seat and sat next to Cheyenne, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. It made her shiver. Her touch, which she hoped was meant to be comforting, came off as more of a power move.

"I don't find it fun to get into your mind and pick every thought apart," Dr. Warhol continued. "My job is to help you understand yourself. What better place to start than with boys? It's simple enough, unless you'd like to dive straight into the argument with your adopted mother? I'm rather curious as to why you called her all of those horrible things. Things you don't mean. You seem to be doing that a lot recently. Or there's always the ever intriguing topic of your birth parents. Why did they leave you? Are you really in danger? Since when did your life become such a drama? Why you? What exactly is a nymph? You have thousands of questions we could discuss. I just picked the most pleasant."