Group Therapy

Thirty Three

Dallen

I haven't seen my mom since the ninth grade.

I remember the argument that led her to leave. I was in my room, trying to sleep, when all of a sudden I heard screaming. I went down stairs and I saw my parents arguing.

*Flashback*

"I can't believe this, you didn't tell me about this. Why now? After 14 years?" My mom yelled.

"I don't know. I'm sorry. It just never came up."

"What do you think everyone is going to say? When all our friends find out?"

"They aren't doing to find out," my dad yelled back.

"Well then, you're going to have to find a lie to tell them why we're getting a divorce."

"A divorce? We don't have to go that far, Katherine."

"Yes we do. I can't live like this. I'm leaving you."

"I don't want you to go."

"You're little girlfriend thinks you do."

"You know she's not my girlfriend. You're my wife, you need to stop. She wants me but I don't want her."

"Then why did you betray me with her?"

"It was 14 years ago, Katherine!" my dad yelled.

"You expect me to believe that you haven't done anything with her since then. Please, Anthony, you know I'm smarter than that."

*End of Flashback*

That was the last time I've ever heard her voice. I've always just assumed that my dad cheated on her with Carolina, so she divorced him. But she left that day and never came back. She's never called me and she's never checked up. I'm guessing I'm a constant reminder of my dad, so she can't even speak to me.

But I can't do much about it. Perry says he has no idea where she is.

I think about her a lot, especially now.

"Hey kiddo," Perry says once I wake up for breakfast.

"Hey."

He gives me a plate of pancakes once I sit down.

"Did you solve your girl problem?"

"Yes, well kind of. I'm dating the girls best friend now."

"See, I knew you knew what you were doing. At first I was against the best friend thing, but it seems like it won't be too bad."

"I know. Her name is Arden. She's fun."

"Is she better than Chasity?"

"Everyone is better than Chasity," I say and laugh.

"How's your group therapy going?"

"Dumb. I don't have any issues, Perry."

"I know that. But you do have some anger and you don't show it."

"I don't show it because I don't have any anger. I'm a happy person."

"Oh really?"

"Yes."

"Okay Dallen, keep telling yourself that."

"I'm not depressed like Jenna and I'm not sex crazed like Nolan. I'm not crazy like Marissa and I'm not obsessed with being pretty like Olena and I'm definitely not a dork like Remington."

"Wait, Jenna Withers is in your group therapy?" Perry asks.

"Yeah. How do you know her?"

"I don't. I just, um know her mom."