Just My Imagination...

Therapy

After awhile of sitting with Ryan and some of the others (minus Lynn, who Max had led over to another table) I was confronted by a doctor.

"Are you Patrick?" He asked. I nodded and he motioned for me to follow him. I waved to my group and walked after the man. I followed him into a hallway before we made it to a light green room. There was a small woman sitting there, with dark, curley hair. She looked up and smiled warmly.

"Hello." She gestured to a long couch like chair next to her, and I sat down. The man that lead me left the room, so it was just the woman and I... Until I saw Pete next to me.

"I'm Elisa." She said sweetly, "I'm just here to talk to you for a bit."

"I'm Patrick." I said, cautiously sitting down on the couch.

"How are you today, Patrick? It's your first day here, right?"

I nodded. "Yea... It doesn't seem too bad here... People are actually really nice." I spoke softly, but somehow she could hear.

She smiled, writing some things down on a small clipboard she had on her lap. "So, you've made some new friends?" She asked.

"Mostly Ryan." I said with a nod, "I met Lynn and Brendon and Max and Dallon too though."

"They're some good kids. Just like you, Patrick. My friend is the one that saw you back in highschool." She said, tapping her clipboard.

"Miss Camper?" I asked, seeing Pete's head perk up slightly.

Elisa nodded, "She's part of the reason you're here... Instead of some juvenile facility. She saw what a good kid you are... And I'm sure what happened wasn't your fault."

"I didn't do anything!" I exclaimed, scooting forward on the couch. "I was on the ground after he had beat me up! I don't know what happened to that other boy!" I felt desperate in telling her, although she probably wouldn't believe me.

I saw Pete give me a sad look as he reached his hand out to touch my shoulder. I shrugged away slightly, not wanting his touch. Elisa took notice.

"What was that, hun?" She asked.

I shrugged. "Just a chill..."

She frowned, writing on her clipboard. "Miss Camper said you had a friend... Peter?"

"Pete." I said his name quickly, just wanting to get the crazy speech out of the way.

"Baby..." Pete's hand grabbed mine, squeezing it just slightly.

"Pete." Elisa nodded, writing it down. "Do you still see him?"

"Yes, ma'am..." I said in a tone barely above a whisper.

"Is he here now?"

"Don't tell her, Patrick." Pete whispered, "Just say I'm not."

"No." I listened to Pete.

"Patrick? Are you sure?" She didn't sound very convinced. I just nodded. Pete looked a bit scared next to me.

Elisa just sighed, writing on her clipboard again. I looked down. I felt Pete press his lips against my my cheek, trying to reassure me.

"How often do you see Pete?" Elisa asked.

"Not too often..." I lied.

More writing on the clipboard. It continued like this for what felt like hours. Back and forth with questions and some not so truthful answers. Finally, Elisa stood up and offered her hand.

"Alright, Patrick, we're done."

I took her hand and pushed myself up off the couch. She smiled, leading me to the door.

"We'll meet one or two times a week, okay?" She explained as the man that had guided me here appeared at the door once again, "There might be some doctors coming around with pills at dinner as well."

"P-pills?" I asked a bit hesitantly. I felt my heart drop a bit... As well as seeing a look of fear on Pete's face.

"Just some medicine, hun." Elisa assured me.

I thought back to what Ryan had said earlier... I really must of been crazy... That would be the only reason for sending me medication...

"Thank you, Andy." Elisa smiled at the man. He nodded with a smile back. He motioned me forward and I followed him once again; Pete walked right along beside me.

Once we were out of sight of the therapist, Pete grabbed my hand tightly. I really appreciated it as the man, Andy, lead us to my room. When we got inside, I turned and hugged Pete tightly.

"I'm fucking insane!.." I cried into his shoulder, hiding my face.

Pete ran his fingers through my hair soothingly. "Ssshhh... You're not, Patrick, I promise..."

I just shook my head, refusing to move from where I buried my face. I had to be insane... It would explain so much... There was no way I was normal...

"You're okay....ssshhh..." Pete comforted me quietly. I could feel myself calming in his embrace, but I couldn't shake the thoughts.

What was I supposed to think? My only friend was someone only I could see. For normal people, that ended when they hit like, nine or ten?.. I was almost eighteen, and he was still with me. How did that not point to insane? What if I had something really bad? Something that made me black out when I got violent?..

What if I had hurt that kid?.. What if I deserved prison?..

"Sunshine?" Pete's voice soothed, "Lay down... I'll stay with you..." I nodded slightly. I let Pete lead me to the bed and I rested on my side, facing the wall. Pete's arm wrapped around me and I felt his lips press against the back of my neck.

"You have to be real..." I murmured, feeling my eyes drop.

"I am real." Pete promised, "I'm as real as you need me to be."

I didn't hear the last part of his sentence, because I was already slipping into a troubled sleep...