Psycho Mate

CHAPTER SIX

   "Please put that away. You're making me nervous." Nate said.

  Forest sighed, putting the Swiss army knife back in her pocket. 

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  "Why do I have to come with you?"

  "Because it says to have someone with you, whether it be a parent, relative, or close friend."

  "You consider me a close friend?" Nate looked skeptical.

  "Depends...do you consider me a friend?"

    "Yeah!"

    "Then, you have your answer!"

   A girl who was about to walk past them suddenly stopped and stuck her foot out to trip Forest. Noticing this, Forest smirked, putting her foot behind the girl's own, hooking the girl's knee and pulling her leg out out from under her, laughing when the girl fell flat on her back.

  Forest bent over the girl, giving her a sickly-sweet smile. "Next time you try to trip someone, make sure you have good balance."

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  "Tell me about yourself, Forest." Dr. Hall said.

  "Well, two days before my seventh birthday, my dad died in an ambush on his unit." Forest went on to tell him all about herself.

    "Forest..." Dr. Hall wrote something down on a slip of paper and slid it across the desk to her. It read, 'Dr. Suzanne Young'. "You need to see this woman. I can't help you. You don't have anger issues, you're insane!" he yelled.

  "What?!" Forest exclaimed. In a moment, she had a hold of his shirt and was leaning over the table, so that their faces were almost touching. "So you'[re calling me a psychopath!" she spat.

  "She's crazy! Get her off of me!" Dr. Hall yelled, looking desperately toward Nate. Nate jumped up, wrapping his arms around Forest's waist. He pulled her away from the desk.

  "She isn't insane! You just don't understand her!" Nate yelled, putting himself in front of Forest.

  "Of course you would side with her: you're her boyfriend!" Dr. Hall yelled.

  Nate laughed. "I'm not her boyfriend! I hardly even know her! But what I do know is that you're misjudging her!"

  "I'm not misjudging her! You can go to any psychologist and they would tell you she's insane!"

  "Come on, Forest! Let's get out of here!" Nate exclaimed, wrapping an arm around her waist and leading her out of the building.

  He kept his hand on her waist until they got to his car. The ride back to the house was quiet. Forest did not say a word, just went up the stairs and closed herself in her room.

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  "Forest, please open the door." Regina begged.

  Forest could be heard crying. "It keeps screaming at me! It wants me to kill myself!" Forest cried, leaning against the door.

  "Forest, please come out here. If you don't come out here, I will come in there!" Regina exclaimed.

  The scent of blood became strong. Regina looked down to see a small pool of blood forming under the door. "FOREST!!!!" she screamed, catching the attention of the whole household. Everybody came upstairs to find Regina standing in the hall, staring at the pool of blood. She was crying and screaming hysterically.

  Nate gently pushed her out of the way. He lightly knocked on the door. "Forest, please open the door. You 're scaring your mother, you're scaring all of us."

  The lock could be heard turning in the door. Nate slowly turned the handle and opened the door. Regina started to rush forward, only for Mrs. Blackwood to hold her back. "Don't," she warned.

  Nate was horrified when he saw Forest. She had cut herself; there was a gash in her arm. Forest was wearing a tank top and shorts, and both were splattered with blood. He sat down on the floor, pulling her into his lap.

  She cried onto his shoulder. "Dr. Hall was right. I am insane." she whispered. 

  "You aren't insane, Forest." Nate soothed, petting her hair. "You're just misunderstood." he whispered.

  "I hear them. They are screaming at me. It is a jumble of voices in my mind, teasing and taunting me. They torment me!" she sobbed. "They will not let me sleep."

  "Ssshhh!" Nate hushed. Forest fell asleep in his arms. He stood up and carried her to the bathroom. He found the bandages, laying on the cabinet.

  He bandaged up her wound carefully. He carried her to the bed and laid her down gently, pulling the sheets over her.

  "She's asleep." he told Regina when he came out of the room. "But to keep her from hurting herself again-"

  "No! You aren't-" Regina was cut off by Ellen.

  "Regina! He could help Forest! You can't always be there to protect her, and he would be a great help! Please!"

  Regina looked between her and her son. "Fine! But I swear, if you hurt a single hair on her head, I will tear you limb from limb!" Regina got up in Nate's face.

  "Ms. Mooring, I would never hurt your daughter. Forest is a very kind girl, and I would never wish to change that by hurting her, whether it be physical or emotional." Nate spoke calmly and gently to Regina, giving her a reassuring smile. "Plus, I rather like Forest; she is very quirky and funny and an all around wonderful person."

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  Nate climbed onto the covers, wrapping an arm around Forest. He soon fell asleep, his face buried in her hair. 

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  Nate woke up alone. He looked around, and he was able to see Forest sitting in the window seat, talking on the phone. It was still night, but Forest seemed unfazed by the darkness, opting for keeping the lights off.

  Forest had taken off the tank top and shorts, and she was now wearing a big grey sweatshirt, that had 'ARMY' printed across the front. She had her legs pulled onto the seat.

  Nate listened to hear what was being said on the other line. "Forest, I'm really sorry, but something came up and I can't be there for your birthday." 

  "I know, but I just wish you could be here, because I really miss you." Forest said.

  "I miss you too, baby girl. I'll make it up to you. I really hope you won't be mad about this."

 " I'm not mad, but I just...this always happens. You're never able to come anymore."

  "Forest, I need to go! They need me for something! Love you, bye!" The call ended before Forest could say another word.

  "Yeah...love you too!" Forest muttered angrily. She got up and put her phone back on the desk.