Give Me Therapy

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

 It's been six hours since the tour bus left the parking lot. I looked at the clock on the wall at yawned. 11:58 PM. When the bus first started rolling, I mainly just stayed in the kitchen, watching the guys as they hung out, either chilling with each other, practicing guitar solos, or just goofing off. I didn't say anything to them yet. There was nothing I could say. I was afraid that when I did talk to them, I'd have a meltdown.

 For the most part I just scribbled down whatever it was they were doing for the documentary. Not like the guys drawing bananas and pretending the bananas referred to their penis size was important to the articles.

 Around nine o'clock pm I went to the room at the back of the bus that I had just for myself. It was a small window to the road behind us, a small night stand, a cramp closet, but a large comfy bed. I curled up on the bed and spent an hour and a half laying there staring at the wall. How could they have forgotten me so easily? I asked myself angrily in my mind. I hugged a pillow to my chest and listened to the sounds of their voices from the other side of the bus as I tried to quiet the anger that was slowly rising. For all of the nights I wished they would have called, they just partied like nothing mattered. For every time I cried because they left me alone in Maryland, they were hooking up with the newest groupie.

 I hated it.

I hated them.

Most of all, I hated Alex.

Alexander William Fucking Gaskarth.

 Here I am now, at 11:58- err make that 11:59 PM. I squeezed my eyes shut hating that all I could see was that stupid grin on Alex's freaking face in my mind. I opened my eyes and let go of the pillow. My arms felt sore and I realized how hard I actually was clinging to it. I crawled out of my bed and opened the closet door. After stripping out of my clothes I pulled on some blue plaid pajamas pants and a black lacey cami.

 I turned off my lights and got back into my bed. I burrowed under the covers trying with all of my might to pretend I was at home. It didn't help with Jack's donkey laugh from the front of the bus. I covered my ears with a pillow and stared out the window, watching city lights go by until I fell into a restless sleep.

 **Flashback**

Spring// April 1994

Six Years Old

 I sat on my bed, looking at the empty boxes stacked around my room left over from unpacking. Normally I would have arranged them into a fortress or a castle with an impeditrable pillow mote. Normally I would have a daddy to be the dragon or opposing army. Normally I would have a mommy who would giggle and tell us that it's time to wash up for dinner. Things just weren't normal for me right now. I looked around my new room at grandma and grandpa’s house. I have to live with them now. I miss my old house, it smells like mommy there. At least grandpa lets me sneak a cookie in before dinner sometimes.

 I heard the doorbell ring and looked up. I listened as footsteps went past my room and to the front door. I heard grandma greet the visitors. I tucked a strand of hair behind my left ear and started walking to my door. I listened to the people walk inside the house. I opened my bedroom door slightly and peaked out. From my new room I could see three strangers sitting in the living room. "It's good to see you Isobel," my grandma said as grandpa sat down next to her on the couch.

 "As it is good to see you too Betty, though Peter and I are so sorry to hear about the accident involving your daughter and son-in-law," the lady on the second couch said. I looked over and saw a man sitting next to her with a boy about my age on his lap.

 Grandma smiled sadly and looked at her hand folded in her lap. "I've been holding up, but Isis got the worst of it. Poor dear, she hasn't talked for days since she got here."

 Hearing my name, I stepped out of my room and into the hall. "That’s just so unfortunate, especially for a child her age," the man said as he looked down at the boy on his lap.

 My grandpa nodded and shook his head sadly, "It is isn't it. She used to be so full of life and such a happy child. Now," he paused for a moment and sighed; "Well now she just stays in her room and doesn't say a thing. Betty and I are beginning to worry." My grandparents looked at each other in such a sad way I felt like I needed to do something. Grandma and grandpa didn't deserve to be unhappy. I ran over from the hall into the living room and jumped up onto the couch and threw my arms around them. My grandma smiled and hugged me tighter while grandpa patted my back. I pulled away to smile and quietly I said, "I love you."

 "Your first words since you got here," grandpa said with a smile. I smiled and nodded before he picked me up and turned me and nestled me between him and grandma.

 I looked at the guest and instantly grew shy. The lady smiled at me, "Hello there. It's Isis right? Isis Switzer?" I nodded and played with the bottom of my shirt.

 "Well it is my pleasure to finally meet you. Your grandma Betty has told me so much about you. My name is Isobel, this here is my husband Peter, and little man here, well he's my son Alex. Say hi Alex," she said as she looked at Alex. This made me wish my own mommy could look at me that way again.

 "Hi," Alex said grinning at me with a missing bottom tooth. I smiled a bit, but looked down at my lap. Alex jumped down from his daddy's lap and walked up to me. I peeked up at him through my lashes and he leaned in real close whispering in my ear. "I think this is the part where you say hi back."

 He leaned away and I smiled slightly. "Hi," I said quietly. Alex smiled widely at me, "There you go." He turned around and sat back on the couch next to his dad.

 I watched Alex as I listened to his mommy talk to me. "Alex is just a year older then you. We live right next door, so if you ever want to come over, our door is always open for you," she smiled kindly. I looked up at her and climbed down from the couch and walked over to her. I gave her a small hug.

 "Thank you," I whispered more to myself then to her. Alex's mommy smiled and un-tucked the strand of hair from behind my ear. "You're welcome sweetheart."

**Flashback Over**