Whatever It Takes

Chapter Six

"Good morning!"

Giving Mary, who had enthusiastically greeted Paige and I as we walked through the mechanical door, a winning smile was the only thing I could do before Paige all but shoves me aside and makes a swift beeline to her new girlfriend.

Blue eyes shoot a fond glare at my childhood friend before righting my swaying body, quickly resuming my trek to the reception desk.

"Oh, that's right!" Mary pulls her concentration away from the conversation Paige had engaged her in and turns it onto one of the drawers she opened. "I have something to give to you, Mr. Horan."

My eyes narrow at Mary's teasing tone before widening when she shoves a schedule-my new schedule, I quickly realize-into my unsuspecting hands.

Scanning the contents, I notice with some disappointment that I still had group sessions and still had to attend them first.

At least I had private discussions next.

Deciding not to take the gift in the horse's mouth for granted, I let a smile grace my lips.

"Thank you," I murmur to Mary, who just smiles in response.

"Better start heading in," Paige points at a clock nearest to us that read's 5 minutes till my group session begins.

"Yeah," Agreeing, I give Paige a parting hug and wave goodbye to Mary before heading down the hall and into room eleven.

Before I can take a seat, however, I'm pulled to the side by Lisa and herded into a corner.

"Good morning, Niall," Lisa cheerfully greets, her lips-thankfully colored in a similar pink color as yesterday-curling into a sweet smile.

"Good morning," I return her smile, my feet shuffling as my eyes flick towards my seat. "Is there something you needed?"

"Yes, I just wanted to let you know that today you are required to say something other than your name and age," Lisa answers, her bony hand gently patting my shoulder as if that would ease the bundle of nerves that had suddenly popped up.

"O     Okay," I breathe out the single word while trembles begin racking my form, my mind struggling to regain control and stop all trembles. "A     Anything else?"

"No, that's all," Lisa gives me an apologetic look once she realizes her attempts of being reassuring have done no good.

Trying to ease the guilt my counselor felt, I manage to get a small smile in her direction before walking back towards my chair and collapsing in it.

"Well," Lisa claps her hands as everyone sits in their chair, looking around the circle with nothing but kindness and understanding in her eyes. "let's begin, shall we?"

And one by one, a repeat of yesterday was put in cycle.

However, when it was my turn I didn't state my name and age, instead, I stated a new fact.

"I've been drinking since I was seventeen, did it for a dare."

The proud smile that colors Lisa's face makes the statement and the nerves-that had slowly loosened when the group session started but then instantly tightened when it was my turn- that went along with that statement all the more worth it.

~

"Ready for the private discussion?" Lisa inquires as we move from room eleven to her office, which was actually inside room eleven.

"Yes," I immediately answer, already feeling far more relaxed now that I was away from prying-and judging-eyes.

"Let's start with what you said during the group discussion," Lisa begins as she sets up the tape recorder before giving me her full attention. "would you care to elaborate?"

Nodding my head, my pink lips part and inhale a deep breath before my voice escapes and begins elaborating.

"I was seventeen when I was dared by some     friends     to try a couple of beers; I took the dare as I did not want to be called a chicken, but as soon as I tasted the alcohol I became addicted: I started off drinking just a couple-three, I think-a week but then it turned into four, then five, then six, then seven-basically the amount I drank raised until I was drinking every day."

"You hesitated when saying the word "friends", Niall, why is that?" Lisa's question instantly causes me to sigh.

"They weren't really my friends, they just hung out with me 'cause I had a reputation for being untouchable-you know, the kid people couldn't bully less they wished to be sent to the infirmary," I explain before shrugging my shoulders, my voice going quiet as I sit and recollect the past.

"You did really well today, Niall," Lisa's voice brings me out of my memories, her hands stopping the tape recorder with a simple click of a button.

"Thanks," I murmur my gratitude before pushing my body out of the chair, my body arching like a cat's as all the kinks popped and cracked simultaneously.

"You're very welcome," Lisa responds before opening her office door, letting me out first before following.

Giving my counselor a departing nod, I move out of room eleven and enter the lobby; Paige, after giving her new girlfriend a kiss on the cheek, quickly bustles me outside and to my next appointment at Positive.

~

At Positive, another secret came to light: I've always had a temper.

Like, for instances, when I was six I threw a giant tantrum when my mum said I needed a haircut; I was filled with such rage that I actually hit my mum.

Shaking my head, I pull my focus from my past appointment to Paige, who was laying food out on the table.

"You are going to eat every last bit of food on this table because I, out of the goodness and kindness of my heart, have kindly taken over your finances-short term, I paid for this food and am currently paying for your bills-while you are out of commission," Paige sweetly explains, plopping down in the chair across from me with a smile-one that made me want to run away as fast as my legs could carry me, I might add-painted over her lips.

Doing as told, I quickly dig in and stuff as many items as I can into my mouth.

After all, you'd be suicidal to tell someone of Paige's nature "no".