Watch Your Back

Chapter 18

Dr. Harrison hadn't returned for hours after he left. Aaron was sitting in the middle of the room when the man pushed open the doors. Aaron had a hurt look on his face.

"I'm back!" Harrison shouted. He dumped a pile of things onto the dirty floor. "I didn't know what to bring, so I brought almost everything!" He noticed Aaron's face. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"You were gone for SEVEN hours! Do you know how late it is?!" Aaron yelled.

"Wow, you sound like my ex-wife." Harrison grumbled.

"You can't just LEAVE someone alone like that! Do you know what that does to someone?! Someone like me?! I'm just a kid!!" Aaron was panting and his face was turning red.

"Calm down! You'll pass out if you keep breathing like that!" Dr. Harrison grabbed Aaron's shoulders and rubbed them frantically, "it's cold in here." Harrison said. Aaron threw his arms around Dr. Harrison's neck and hugged him.

"You left me." Aaron said sadly. He had ceased hyperventilating and his breathing was slow and quiet. Dr. Harrison seemed uncomfortable that Aaron was hugging him, but he didn't do anything. Aaron eventually let go and rubbed his eyes. He wasn't crying.

"I brought you clothes, some toothpaste, a pillow, a phone charger thing, a notebook, backpack, pencil, erasers, some bed sheets, and this stuff. I don't know if you need it." Dr. Harrison dug into the pile and held up a blue package that read Always on the front.

"I DON'T NEED THAT!" Aaron blushed and smacked the package to the ground. Dr. Harrison picked up a gray hoodie from the pile. It was Aaron's favorite sweater.

"Put this on. It'll be cold." Dr. Harrison gently handed Aaron the clothing like it was thin glass. Aaron unzipped the sweater and slipped his arms into the sleeves. Dr. Harrison picked up a can of spaghetti from off the floor. "I also brought food." He held up the can. "I might have an old microwave somewhere in here." There was a long silence.

"Where's the bathroom?" Aaron asked.

The warm water felt hot on Aaron's cold face. He looked at himself in the mirror and saw someone who was tired, scared, and had bad hair. He once again questioned himself why he had trusted Dr. Harrison. Something about him seemed innocent and...safe. Aaron splashed more water onto his face and dried his cheeks off with his shirt. He smelled ravioli. Harrison, along with the help of punches and swears, had finally got the microwave to work! Aaron's hopes were immediately killed as he heard what sounded like a big "pop!"

"AAH! Aaron, the ravioli DIED! IT EXPLODED! AAHHH, IT DIED!! Hey, IT BURNS!!" Dr. Harrison ran over and was pounding on the bathroom door. Aaron yanked it open and his lab coat was covered in meat sauce and ravioli bits. There was steam coming from his coat. He was licking off the meat.

"No, don't lick it! There's BLOOD on your coat!" Aaron ripped off Dr. Harrison's coat.

"There's always been blood on it." 

"Well, you need to wash it!" Aaron inspected the coat and rubbed at a piece of cheese.

"Do you have a washer?" Aaron asked.

"Yeah, it's near your room."

"I hope this comes out." Aaron said. Dr. Harrison gave him a confused look.