Kaylee Jaymie Halstead

Diagnosis Part 2

Kaylee pov
Dr Charles: Alright so now that we know what we're working with let's talk about what happens next
Dad: Please tell me there's a way to fix this
Kaylee: I don't need to be fixed
Dr Charles: jay it's not something that needs 'fixing.' Kaylee's not broken.
Kaylee: hear that Dad? I'm perfect
Dad: Yeah, sure. Perfectly impossible
Dr Charles Look, ODD isn't something we treat with medication the way we do with ADHD. It's more about management, teaching Kaylee strategies that help her regulate her reactions and make life easier for everyone involved, including her
Kaylee: Ugh. That sounds like therapy
Dr Charles: That's because it is therapy
Kaylee: Pass
Dad: Not an option kiddo
Kaylee: Why do I need therapy just because some teachers don't like when I ask questions?
Dr Charles: Because it's not just about school Kaylee. Right now this pattern of behavior might just get you into arguments with teachers but what happens when you're older? When it's a boss? A police officer? Someone who won't find your attitude charming?
Kaylee: Well then I just won't argue with them
Dad: Oh, sure. Because self-control has always been your strong suit
Kaylee: rude
Dr Charles: Kaylee, this isn't about taking away your fire. It's about helping you. Right now, your instinct is to push back every time you feel like something's unfair or doesn't make sense. That's not a bad thing, critical thinking is important but it becomes a problem when it disrupts your life.
I didn't respond but shifted uncomfortably.
Dr Charles: Has this ever caused problems for you outside of school?

I could feel dad staring at me and I was suddenly interested in the hem of my sleeve
Kaylee: I mean maybe
Dad: Like when?
Kaylee: when I used to get in trouble in foster care a lot
Dr Charles: you were in foster care?
I looked at dad and he nodded. I just sat there not saying anything
Dad: when she was about 6/7 I had a complaint made against me about the kids. Whoever made the complaint paid off a corrupt member of DCFS and Kaylee and Brandon got put into care. No matter what I did they wouldn't give her back so I went off the rails. They were in the system for a few months until the DCFS worker was exposed
Dr Charles: you questioned rules?
Kaylee: Sometimes. Some foster parents were fine but others just wanted me to shut up and listen and like if something was dumb I said so. They hated that. Sometimes they would take away my food cause apparently that was a privilege. Brandon would always have to try calm me down
I noticed how dads body language changed
Kaylee: One of them told me I was gonna end up dead if I didn't learn to keep my mouth shut
Dr Charles: That must've been hard to hear
Kaylee: Didn't matter. I wasn't gonna fake it just to make some random lady happy bare in mind I was like 7
Dr Charles: Kaylee do you think you have to fight to be heard?
Kaylee: what?
Dr Charles: You're quick to defend yourself to argue. You challenge authority automatically. Do you think that's because during that time in care no one listened to you unless you forced them to?
He proper threw me off. I wasn't expecting that
Dad: Kaylee?
Kaylee: I erm I dunno
Dr Charles: That's okay. It's something to think about.
Kaylee: So what? I need therapy to learn how to not argue?
Dr Charles: No. You need therapy to learn when it's worth arguing and when it's not
Kaylee: Sounds like a trap
Dad: It's not a trap kiddo
Kaylee: Fine. But if this therapist is boring, I'm not going
Dad: You're the difficult one not them
Kaylee: Maybe they'll diagnose you with ODD too
Dad: oh my days
Dr Charles: Jay, you do have a bit of a rebellious streak
Kaylee: Ha! See? Runs in the family!
Dad: Im never gonna hear the end of this
Dr Charles: Probably not
Kaylee: can we go home?
Dr Charles: yeah

I walked out of the office and bumped in will
Will: you alright kiddo?
Kaylee: mhm
Will: what you doing here?
Kaylee: saw dr Charles
Will: everything okay?
Kaylee: I got ADHD and ODD
Will: it must feel good knowing there's a reason
I just shrugged
Dad: Kaylee
Kaylee: I just wanna go home
Dad: Will I'll talk to you later
Will: alright
We went to the car and I got in. Dad started driving

Jay pov
I kept glancing at Kaylee out of the corner of my eye as he drove. She was quieter than usual, feet propped on the dashboard, fiddling with the strings on her hoodie. I tapped her legs and she looked over
Jay: feet off the dash
Kaylee: no
Jay: it's for your own safety.
Kaylee: no you just wanna go off at me
Jay: no im not. If I didn't care I wouldn't be telling you.
Kaylee: you're just being a dick
Jay: you don't understand how dangerous that is? If we get into a crash and your feet are up on the dash your knees are gonna crush your face. So feet off the dash. Now.
She took her feet down and was just staring out the window
Jay: you okay kiddo?
Kaylee: dunno
Jay: Look I know this is a lot but it's not a bad thing. No one's saying you're broken or whatever
Kaylee: I know that. It's just weird
Jay: weird how?
Kaylee: I guess I didn't really think there was a reason I act the way I do. I just thought I dunno. That it was normal
Jay: Makes sense
Kaylee: Did you ever get in trouble for arguing when you were a kid?
Jay: You kidding? I was a nightmare. Ask Will he'll tell you how many times I got grounded for mouthing off or how many times Pat hit me because I didn't do as I was told
Kaylee: So maybe it does run in the family
Jay: Maybe but you don't have to fight everything Kaylee. Not everyone's out to control you
Kaylee: yeah. Guess I gotta work on that
Jay: You mean I was right?
Kaylee: Ugh, forget I said anything
Jay: Nope. That's going on the record
Kaylee: You're the worst
Jay: Love you too kiddo