ANATHEMA

chapter six: the judge

Soon, a tall man with swoopy, dark brown hair in a white coat called to everybody in the room, saying, "Alright, you guys, time for group session."

I looked up to see Josh and Ashley standing to dump their trays. Tyler didn't get any food, either, so he stood and waited for me to do the same. I furrowed my eyebrows, while he rose his, like he was expecting me to follow. I shook my head at him, but stood and followed him to get a chair.

Once we had our seats, we sat them towards the wall, far away from the others.

"I've always hated these things," Tyler muttered.

"Will he able to notice notes?" I whisper to him. He shook his head and brought out his notebook, slowly. I smiled a little.

Soon, I heard the group session start.

"Alright, everybody; in case you're new or don't remember, I'm Dr. Urie," the swoopy-haired man said with a charming smile. Not bad, Dr. Ross.

He then turned his gaze to me, his eyes lighting up.

"We seem to have only one new member, would you like to start?" he asked, gesturing towards me.

My heart started beating faster and my eyes widened, and I managed to stutter out, "O-Oh, I don't know, I don't know how these things work, I don't-"

Dr. Urie held up his hand and said, "Just say your name, where you came from, and how you're feeling today."

I bit my lip and held my hands in my lap so they wouldn't shake again. I felt Tyler lean a bit closer to me, and, somehow, the warmth he created calmed me.

"W-Well, my name is Ophelia, Ophelia Jones. I came from Pawnee, Indiana. And I guess I'm feeling...okay today," I said, jumbling most of the sentences together and in a rush.

Dr. Urie simply nodded and turned to the girl next to me, saying the same thing he did to me.

After a few seconds, a notebook slid into my vision, the page opened to a new conversation:

'Was that a lie?'

I took the pencil he slid to me and wrote my response;

'Was what a lie?'

I gave him the notebook and pencil back, and our conversation continued as such.

'When you said you were okay.'

'Isn't that what you're supposed to say in the situation?'

'I just don't say anything, they move on fast enough.'

'You never say anything, though.'

'I've said things to you.'

When I read the last message, my heart jumped to my throat. Not only did it remind me vaguely of something Strings once said to me, but it made me wonder; why does Tyler speak to me?

I decided to ask that same question in the next response;

'And why is that?'

'I don't know, honestly. For some reason, I trust you enough to talk to you.'

'You've known me for barely a day.'

'I know, I'm as confused as you are.'

'Why don't you talk to other people? Why not Josh, or Ashley? They've known you longer, haven't they?'

'They have. They're my best friends. But, I don't know. Something about you is...diferent.'

'In a good way?'

'I hope so.'

"Tyler?" Dr. Urie's voice broke me from my thoughts. "Are you okay to talk today?"

Tyler looked up at the sudden noise, as well. He glanced at me for a split second, then back to the doctor and shook his head. The doctor looked disappointed, but understanding at the same time.

"Well," Dr. Urie sighed as he stood. "That concludes this week's group session. If you have any other comments about you, you know where my office is. You guys are free to do what you want for the rest of the day. Please, put your chairs back where you got them." And with that, the doctor left.

I felt a tap on my shoulder as I was stacking my chair. I turned and saw Ashley, looking nervously around her.

"Hey, ah," she started, wringing her hands together. "Josh and I are going to go for a walk, we have to talk about...unimportant things, but, uh," She looked behind me. When I turned, I saw Tyler behind me, flipping through his notebook. "Stay with him," Ashley said, grabbing my attention again. "Don't leave him out of your sight. I mean that." I look into her eyes and see how serious she is.

I nod slowly, and say, "Of course, why would I-" At that, Ashley turned and grabbed Josh's waiting hand, pulling him into a different corridor.

I turn to face Tyler, who was already looking up at me, expecting something.

"W-Where did they go?" he asked, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"To talk about something, I think," I said, staring at the floor.

"Okay," he said. "What do you want to do, then?"

"I'm not sure," I sighed. "But, I want you to keep talking. I like listening to your voice."

Tyler blushed furiously and looked immediately to the floor. I smiled at this.

"Follow me, then," Tyler said, suddenly. "I'll show you something."

/This is a bit shorter than my other chapters, but i just needed to end it there lmao oops