The Drummer's Boy

Chapter 10. Schizophrenia

Jon & George fell asleep on the floor. A knock on Jon's door awoke them. He got up to answer it. George was already up & about to make a cup of tea.

Jon was surprised to see that it was Barbara. "Hey. I didn't know they released you so early."

Barbara smiled & hugged Jon. "Yeah, well I'm better now. Don't tell him but," she leaned in close to whisper, "I'm here to make peace with George."

Jon smiled & glanced at George. He was sitting at the table, sipping his tea, eyeing Jon. He looked back to Barbara. "Yeah we had a rough night. I hope things are... better today."

Barbara smiled & asked to come in. Jon let her in. She stepped in to find George at the table. She smiled & waved at him. He saw her, and slammed his cup of tea down on the table, hard. He gave her an unfriendly look.

Barbara was confused by his behavior. She looked back at Jon. "What did I do?"

Jon shook his head & shrugged. "Like I said, rough night."

Barbara nodded, but she still wasn't convinced. She was here to make peace with him, not to fight. So she didn't argue. She walked over to George & attempted to hug him.

George pushed her away, hard. "Don't touch me. It's you're fault I did what I did." He looked down at his arm.

Barbara stepped back & covered her mouth. She stared in horror at his arms. "Oh my god, George. What did you do?"

George picked up his hot, steaming, cup of tea & threw it at her. "WHAT DID I DO?! DON'T EVEN WALK INTO THIS HOUSE AND PRETEND YOU'RE INNOCENT! YOU FORCED ME TO DO THIS! I SAW YOU!" He screamed.

Jon ran to George's aid. He rubbed George's back & held his arm back. "Shh it's okay George. You're okay. Nobody is going to hurt you. She won't hurt you."

Barbara was astounded. She looked between George & Jon. "Can you please tell me what's going on? Why George looks like he wants to kill me?"

Jon beckoned Barbara with his hand to sit down. She did. But just as she was getting comfortable in the chair, George lunged for her.

He grabbed her throat & pushed her down on the ground, pinning her by her throat. She tried to kick him or push him off but she wasn't strong enough. She couldn't breathe.

"George!" Jon pushed George off & grabbed both his arms tightly.

Barbara coughed & struggled to regain her breath. "What the hell?! He's a crazed lunatic!" She slowly got up.

George struggled to get out of Jon's hold. "Me? A crazed lunatic? Like you're any innocent! Look at yourself you conceited bitch!" George spat.

Barbara walked up to George & slapped him. It hit him hard enough to leave a red mark on his cheek. "I did NOTHING to you. If you want to kill me, kill me." She stepped back & looked at Jon. She pointed to George. "Let him go."

Jon shook his head & tried to keep the struggling George from getting away. "No. I won't. He WILL kill you."

Barbara threw her head back & laughed. "Really? That's just fascinating. Well, I have nothing to live for anymore so I don't see why not." She titled her head sideways & stared at George. "Why does he want to kill me anyway? You never answered my question."

George gave her a malicious look. "You tried to tell me to kill myself. I would have if it wasn't for Jon. I would say it's only fair for me to kill you."

Barbara snickered. She took a step closer. "You see, that's the thing. You were imagining things George. That girl who was apparently 'me', wasn't." She got down to George's level & got in his face. "You're either going fucking crazy or you're schizophrenic. Either way, you can't deny that you need help."

George spit in her face. He struggled like hell to lunge for her again. But Jon was holding him back, barely.

Barbara laughed & wiped her face. "The saddest thing is that I actually came here to make peace. I'm glad that, this time, it's not me who has problems to work out."

Jon shook his head at Barbara & wrapped his arms around George's waist. It calmed George's anger & he placed his hands on Jon's.

Jon smiled & folded his hands into George's. He kissed him on the side of his head. Something about this felt right.

Barbara smiled & shook her bangs out of her face. She suddenly was hit with a pang of guilt. She never saw anything quite like it. The way Jon was whenever he was with George.

She debated stepping closer to George, but she decided to do it. George was staring at the ground but Jon saw Barbara come closer. He shook his head. "Don't. He'll hurt you."

But Barbara wasn't listening. She grabbed George's arm. He look up, into her eyes. George couldn't believe it. Her eyes glistened with guilt & compassion. He couldn't look away. He never saw Barbara this way before.

She looked deep into his eyes. She saw fire and... love. He loved Jon, & Jon loved him. It was clear as day to her. She still loved Jon with all her heart, but George was here to remind her that it was never meant to be. George is Jon's meant to be. Not her.

She blinked & gave a small, weak, sad smile. She broke eye contact with George to look at Jon. She nodded & bit back her tears. "He can be saved."

Jon gave her a bewildered expression. He raised his eyebrows. "What are you talking about?"

Barbara sighed & walked over to Jon. She took both his hands in hers & smiled at him. "Anyone who is capable of love, is capable of being saved." She looked back at George.

He kept his eye on Barbara. He walked up to her. His eyes were filled with pity & guilt. She never expected what he did next. He hugged her. Tears were slowly falling down his face. "I'm sorry. I'm so... sorry. I'm so confused & messed up, I didn't know what reality was."

She hugged him back & smiled. She felt tears slowly falling from her eyes as well. "You didn't do anything wrong George. But promise me you'll get help."

George smiled & nodded. They continued to hug.

Barbara smiled & closed her eyes, taking in the moment. She finally found the peace she was looking for.