Forever and Always

Chapter 7

    It was a week before Scarlett was released from the hospital and, despite her still fragile state, her dad went Rockefeller on her. It was complete lock-down, not to mention she was forced to see a counselor.

     Scarlett hadn't recovered much in the hospital and, to make matters worse, she didn't seem to register theseriousness of suicide. Jared had been by the house almost every day, he, like the rest of the household, thought if he was around she wouldn't sway out the window again. On the other hand, Annie had become distant to her once best friend, finding it difficult to deal with all the depression.

     "Morning, Scarlett," Emma said, peeking her head into the dark, dank room.

Scarlett turned over to look at her mother, anger penetrated her words, "I'm not going."

   "Sweetie, you need to see someone."

    "I don't need some shrink telling me I'm crazy!" Scarlett shouted, burying her head into her pillow.

    "It's not like that!" Emma said quietly, playing with some necklaces on the bedside table. "I'll be waiting in the car," she said finally, leaving her daughter.

   "Mom/... I like this sweater, Dad gave it to me!" Levi protested, he was standing in his messy room arguing with his Mom.

   "You've worn it all week! Levi, the sweater needs to be washed."

   "Yeah, but it smells, masculine."

   "No, it smells dirty! Dad giving it to you has nothing to do with washing it, it's a lame excuse."

  "But it's my excuse," he said, grinning.

   "Please give it too me. I don't need you getting mud on it when you play football."

   "Mom, I was gonna give it to Scar today if she got cold, you wouldn't want her to get hypothermia, would you?"

   "It's seventy nine degrees outside! Besides, I think she would appreciate it more if it didn't smell like sweat."

   "Fine, but I'm wearing it tomorrow." He unzipped the green hoodie and handed it to Sarah.

   "I don't care, although I don't know why you would wanna wear it in this heat!"

   "Style, duh Mom," Levi imitated a girl's voice and pretended to flip his hair.

   Sarah laughed and headed for the laundry room. "You're such a clown."

   "A clown? Mom, really? I'm a diva!" he kept his girl voice as he made his mother laugh. He had that effect on people, even the stupidest jokes, worst situations--he made em' laugh.

    It didn't take long for Scarlett to get up, throw on the hoodie and go out to the car. She didn't wanna go see a therapist, but she knew her Dad would be pissed if she didn't. The drive there was quiet, only the sound of the wheels over pot holes interrupting their small thoughts.

    When they arrived at the small private practice, Scarlett crossed her arms. She opened her mouth, beginning to  refuse exiting the SUV, but suddenly she remembered what Jared had said to her just the other day.

      "You've been through a lot Scar, but your parents have been through just as much. They have to live around your grief and I'm not saying you shouldn’t be sad, but maybe you should go to at least one session with this therapist."

   She took a deep breath and got out, slamming the door behind her. She followed her Mom into the almost empty building and up to the circular desk.

   "My daughter, Scarlett Jones has an appointment with Renny Polwalski,” Emma told the small woman, with obviously dyed black hair, who sat behind the desk.

Renny?

   "Oh yes, of course/... she's waiting for you, the first door on the left." The woman pointed to a large wooden door and gave them a genuine smile.

   Emma looked at her daughter, running a hand down Scarlett's short, red hair and gave her a small smile, "Ready?"

   "No," Scarlett snapped, but followed her mother down the hall nonetheless.

    As they entered the room she was hit with the scent of lavender, which made her sneeze rather loudly.

   "Scarlett, correct?" A petite woman in a black pencil skirt and white blouse held out her hand. She had long red hair that made Scarlett envious.

   "Yes, um, should I wait out in the lobby?" Emma spoke for Scarlett and received a gentle “yes” from Renny.

   "Good luck." Emma paused to look into her daughter's amber eyes before she left, closing the door behind herself.

   "Have a seat." Renny motioned towards the patterned sofa. She took a seat in a large, plush looking, chair and crossed her legs.

   Scarlett sighed heavily and flopped down on the seat, wrapping her arms around the green sweater, burying herself in the scent.

     They sat cross legged in the grass, feeling the warm spring breeze rush over them. Scarlett loved it in the wildlife park, it was so calm and peaceful. Luckily, the rain hadn't been too bad the last few weeks of April and the ground wasn't soggy.

   "This is the only thing I like about Virginia," Levi announced.

   "What about me?!" Scarlett asked, slightly offended.

   "Well, that's debatable."

  She rolled her eyes and pushed him lightly.

    After an hour of staring at the clouds, Scarlett asked abruptly, "What happens when you go to college?"

   Levi sighed, his thumb rubbing at her hand. "I'm not sure, I mean I would hope we can work it out."

   "You think?"

   "Well, if you stay in Virginia, I'll be back on weekends," Levi told her knowing it was the truth.

    "Yes, but you know I want to travel a year before college with Annie."

   "I know Scar, but ... listen when the time comes we'll figure it out, but for now let's just focus on the time we definitely have," he said, kissing her lightly.

   "You always know how to change the subject," she whispered, kissing him back.

   Soon, they were making out and Scarlett figured she would stay in Virginia if it meant she got to keep Levi.

    "So? Do you?"

   "Do I what?" Scarlett pulled herself from her thoughts and zoned in on Renny's face.

    "Do you think you can ever move on?"

   "What is this crap? Huh? Move on? From Levi? Just leave him in the dust, forget about him?" Scarlett laughed bitterly, as if Renny was a joke.

    "So, you think if you start going to school and hanging out with friends that you're pushing Levi out of your head forever?" she asked her hands quickly jotting something down in  her small notebook.

   "Yes!!! Wouldn't you?"

     She ignored the question and pushed forward, "But it's almost November, you haven't been to school or done the work in a month, don't you think he would want you to study?"

   "Screw this, you just wanna get inside my head and make me answer your little questions. Well guess what, Renny, I'm not going to sit here and listen to your crap! I'd be happier jumping off a building," she shouted and slammed the door, running down the hall and past her mother.

   Renny sat there thinking. She had dealt with these sort of things before, but it was hard and she felt shaken. She would call the Jonas's and get Scarlett some medication and make more appoitments. Scarlett had to move on before it was impossible.