I'm Not Afraid Of You

Attraction

Dr. Woods knocked on Dr. Pelissier's office door. Two seconds later, Dr. Pelissier had opened the door. He smiled when he saw Dr. Woods.
"Shall we, Dr. Pelissier," asked Dr. Woods.
"We shall." Dr. Pelissier says as they start walking," and feel free to call me Donald."
"I prefer Dr. Pelissier, if you don't mind?" said Dr. Woods.
"Of course, I don't," said Dr. Pelissier.
The couple took a cab to a small diner in the city. It wasn't too crowded nor expensive. Dr. Pelissier ordered chicken fried steak and Dr. Woods only got coffee. He offered to buy food for her, then offered her some of his. But she declined both offers.
"What was it that you wanted to talk about," Dr. Woods asked.
Dr. Pelissier placed his silverware on either side of his plate. He took a deep breath, and looked into Dr. Woods' eyes. He leaned forward slightly, taking her hand. Celeste raised her eyebrows as she looked at her coworker in surprise.
"In my time, I have dated many beautiful women. But none of them could compare to your beautiful face." His thumb began to caress her hand. "Your curvaceous body. Your flawless skin. And long, curling hair-"
"How sweet of you," Dr. Woods interrupted. "But could you kindly get to the point."
Dr. Pelissier nodded and cleared his throat." I love you and want to date you."
"You are so kind, but no. I'm sorry," Dr. Woods said with a sympathetic smile.
Dr. Pelissier's smile crumbled. Then quickly returned. He shook his head.
"No, no. I should be apologizing. I should have known a beautiful, young woman like yourself wouldn't have any attraction towards an old man like myself," Dr. Pelissier said. Dr. Woods almost felt sorry for him.
"Oh, that's not true. There are women that are even younger than me that are married to older men."
  He smiled at her as if she were a little girl who said 'It'll be okay'. As if she were so naive it was both sad and amusing.
  "Then again those are normally slutty, gold-digging brats," Dr. Woods said and sipped her coffee. Then smiled innocently when she saw Dr. Pelissier staring at her. He smiled slightly in return.
  "Perhaps we could be friends. I do enjoy your company," Dr. Pelissier said, as his smile widened a bit.
  "Sure. But I must be going. I have an appointment with a schizo."
  Dr. Woods placed the money for her drink on the table and left. Before she walked out she waved goodbye. Dr. Pelissier waved back with a small smile. It was the most fake smile he could ever remember forcing upon his face. He was angry, to the point of madness.
  She stood him up. How could she do that? He professed his love for her. Is she in love with someone else? Could it be, that she is in love with Gramm?
  At his thoughts, Dr. Pelissier's fake smile became a sneer. He was so disgusted he had lost his appetite. Dr. Pelissier payed the check and walked back to work.
  As he walked he thought. I'll make her love me, even if I have to kill Kidd Gramm.

  Well, that wasn't awkward at all, Dr. Woods thought as she sat in the taxi on her way to her next patient. She sighed and leaned back on the seat
  She began to think about her plans for Mr. Gramm. How was she going to pull this off? What if he figures her out? What if she falls for him?
  Dr. Woods smiled and shook her head. Now that is crazy, She thought. She could never have any attraction for someone so demented. At least Gerard/Frank Armstrong, her next patient, wasn't as difficult... Or bloodthirsty as Kidd Gramm.
  "Good afternoon, Mr. Armstrong," Dr. Woods said as she came into the office.
  "Which one," asked Mr. Armstrong in a small voice.
  "The one that is physically here. Which is..."
  "Gerard. I'm Gerard," he said mostly to assure himself.
  "That's right. Now," Dr. Woods opened Gerard's file." How have you been, Mr. Armstrong?"
  Mr. Armstrong kicked his feet up onto the table. His persona suddenly shifting.
  "Oh, I'm good, baby. How 'bout yourself," his voice had suddenly more confidence and flirtatiousness.
  Mr. Armstrong quickly covered his mouth and put his legs down. He looked mortified as he mumbled an apology through his hand. He looked down, ashamed of his other persona. Dr. Woods took his hand from his mouth,  gave it a reassuring squeeze, and let go.
  "Gerard, don't apologize for Frank. It's your body, and your mind. Don't let him control you. How have you been?"
  "Well, I think I'm alright." Mr. Armstrong said after a while.
  "That's good," Dr. Woods said as she scribbled down some more notes.
  She looked up again, making sure to maintain eye contact. He smirked and his eyes were darker. He stared right back at her, licking his lips. Dr. Woods took note of this change, barley glancing down at her notepad.
  "Gerard."
  His eyes lightened, and looked as if he had just come out of a dream. He hummed as Celeste​ addressed him. She scribbled.
"Who is... Or was Frank Armstrong, Gerard," Dr. Woods asked, making sure to say his name.
Gerard looked down. His face was crestfallen and full of shame.
  "Well, he- he was my best friend. We were kind of " friends with benefits " for a while, too. After a while, though, he didn't want that anymore. He wanted an official public relationship. I was 25 and he was the only man I had ever been with. I wasn't ready, to say the least. Frank wasn't okay with that. Some things happened and he ended up in a car accident."
  "I'm sorry to hear that. Do you think you loved him? Or that he loved you?," she asked her face full of sympathy.
"I do think I loved him. I know I admired him. He was so outgoing and live-in-the-moment, you know? But he was also calm and would often talk about philosophical things that I didn't always understand, I just liked how the words sounded coming from his mouth. As for him, I think he genuinely cared about me, at one point."
  "What are some of Frank's more desirable traits, Gerard," Dr. Woods asked.
  Gerard thought for a moment, looking down. He had trouble with this question as he mainly saw Frank now as controlling and annoying. But Frank did have some traits that Gerard wouldn't mind having.
  "He's outgoing and confident."
  Celeste nodded and scribbled again.
  "Okay. This week I want you to go out. Meet people, make friends, maybe even go on a date. Or just go out and have fun by yourself."
  "Oh, I couldn't. I'm too awkward. Only Frank is good at stuff like that," Gerard said, shaking his head.
  "You don't need Frank. Just be your usual charming self. Frank may be good at meeting people, but you're more likable than him. He is obnoxious. You're not, you don't need him. Remember that," Dr. Woods advised.
  "I... Don't need him," Gerard repeated.
  "That's right. That concludes today's session. Allow me to walk you to the door."
  Celeste got up and walked Gerard out. Before he left he turned to Dr. Woods.
  "I don't mean this in a 'Frank' way, I promise. But you're good at your job. You're very charming, persuasive. And, dare I say, you're quite attractive."
  With that he walked away. Celeste took this as a complement. Her plan, after all is to charm Kidd Gramm into sanity through attraction.