"So how have you been, Reina?" My counselor asks, clicking her pen to take notes.
The fish tank seems a lot louder than it usually is, and for a second I want to go and unplug it, but I don't. I'm nervous for our session today. My appointments have dropped from once a week to once a month now, so this is the first time I'm going to have to talk about Carter to her. I'm not sure why I'm nervous, because in reality I have nothing to be ashamed of. I'm just worried that everyone will think I'm moving on too soon. I suppose it does look like that, but I don't remember Justin. I'm trying to move on from memories I don't remember.
"I've been alright I guess..." I trail off.
She can tell that I'm wanting to say more because she cocks her head to one side before she asks, "Anything new?"
"Kinda." I finally reply, sending her a little grin. "I met someone."
"Really?" She smiles. "When did this happen?"
"A little over two months ago. Well, we met two months ago at work, but last month we..." I stop myself, but I don't need to insinuate what I'm trying to say because she laughs and rolls her eyes. "His name's Carter."
"You're happy?" She asks.
"For the most part. He treats me really good. I've never been the type to settle down and fall in love with someone, well... that I know of." I stop myself again, but this time the counselor is looking at me with a confused expression. This is the part of the session I really didn't want to get to.
"You're still thinking about the accident." She notes, nodding her head like she's trying to piece together a puzzle. "Have you remembered anything?'
"No." I mutter. Then I bring my gaze down to my shoes to sulk until I suddenly remembered the experience I had last month. "Well, actually. I don't know. Something weird happened after Carter and I first slept together."
"Go on," She says. "Continue."
"Well, I don't know. It was just a weird feeling I had."
"Do you think you're feeling guilty for hurting Justin?"
"No." I immediately reply. "It wasn't guilt. It felt like I was missing something. I can't explain it though. It was like I was trying to remember something, but I couldn't. I haven't had a feeling like that at all since the accident."
She's scribbling away on her notebook, and I'd really like to peer over at what she's writing about me. It probably says I'm crazy, or that I need to go into a mental institution. I wouldn't blame her. I feel insane ever since the accident. People look at me and treat me like I'm some sort of charity case. It's annoying.
"Interesting..." She finally says, clearing her throat. "Did something trigger it? What happened before that feeling came on?"
"He zipped up my dress." I shrug, watching her write more down. "What do you think that means?"
"There could be many possible reasons why you felt that way. It could be because you felt guilty for sleeping with someone else, when you know that so many people want you to be with Justin. Or, it could be that in your relationship with Justin the zipping of the dress signified something for you. It could mean that he, or someone else, used to do that at some point."
Letting out a frustrated sigh, I roll my eyes and stare down at the floor again. I can't seem to look her in the eyes, because I feel like she's scrutinizing everything I do. "I don't feel guilt. He knows about Carter. We're friends now, so we talk."
"You talk?"
"Yeah, we talk. Like, as friends."
"And how did he handle you telling him about Carter?" She questions.
YOU ARE READING
Just Friends: The Sequel.
Dla nastolatków"Basically rehabs are as horrible as everyone says they are. You are completely taken away from everything you've ever known and you're stripped of the clothing you wear, you're stripped of any connection you have with the outside world and for mont...
