Falling Colors

Chapter Eight: Introducing Cleo Patricks the Lunatic

     Leigh was staring, waiting for me to get out of the car.  We were in the parking-lot of Dr. Cleo Patricks’ therapeutic practice.  Supposedly we would be talking to her about the program she did, then find out the schedule and leave. 

       We had been sitting in the parking-lot for the past ten minutes; I being silent and Leigh trying to talk me into getting out of the car.  The only way she would get me out of it would be by physically dragging me out.  She wouldn’t do that though; she wasn’t a violent person.

       “Hon, please.  This is important.  The sooner we set everything up with her the sooner we can go home.  Doesn’t that sound nice, hon?” She gave me a hopeful smile. 

      I rolled my eyes and didn’t make a move to leave the care.  Leigh’s smile faltered and she sighed loudly.  People did a lot of sighing when they were around me.

       “I didn’t want to have to make threats, but that isn’t an option anymore.” 

       Giving Leigh a disinterested look, I yawned and leaned forward to turn up my seat warmer.  She let out a breath then leaned forward and turned the key making the car shut off.

       “If you don’t go in there now, Odette, you will be submitted into a mental hospital.  Your doctor only agreed not to send you to one if you had a therapist.  Please, just go in there.  Don’t do it for me, do it for Neal.”  Her eyes searched me desperately until I finally met her gaze. 

      As angry as my father and Leigh made me, as betrayed as I felt by them I wasn’t going to get myself sent away to an asylum.  I respected myself too much for that.

      Slowly I pulled on the lever that opened the car door.  A sigh of relief escaped Leigh’s lips and she followed me out of the car.  I slammed the door and stalked towards the building where Cleo Patricks practice was located. 

       Leigh jogged after me and caught up right before I was about to enter the building.  She opened the door and let me in first, then followed after.

     Inside it was similar to a dance studio, except no balancing beam or mirrored wall.  There was a mirror but it was an old-fashioned one that stood on a stand.  I kept my eyes unfocused on the mirror and looked around some more. 

      There was a desk shoved into one corner with a filing cabinet behind it.  At the desk was a woman sleeping.  She had short, straight red hair, I couldn’t see her face though since it was buried in her arms that were placed on her desk.  She wore a fuzzy green sweater, it looked like it was two decades late to even be considered fashionable anymore.

      Leigh let out a squeak of surprise when she saw the woman asleep at the desk.  The loudly she cleared her throat hoping that would awaken the woman. 

     The woman jolted up and blinked quickly.  Looking around she brushed her vibrant red hair off her face revealing her bright green eyes.  She looked to be in her early thirties.

      “Can I help you?” she asked in a southern drawl.

      “Hi, is Dr. Patricks in?”  Leigh asked stepping closer to the desk.  I trailed behind her looking around the small room as if it were a grand castle.  “I’m Leigh Evans, this is Odette Green.  We had an appointment for today.”

       The woman’s eyebrows shot up.  “Oh shit, that was today?” she mumbled, then quickly covered her mouth.  “Sorry, ya’ll.  I’m Dr. Patricks, you can just call me Princess though.” 

     Leigh and I stared at her dumbfounded.  Was this woman serious? 

      Cleo burst out laughing then stood up from her desk.  “Do ya get it?  My name is Cleo Patricks… Princess Cleopatra… bahahahaha!”  She slapped the side of her leg like this was the funniest joke in the world.