Underneath My Skin

Ch. 26

The most deranged people are those who see indications of insanity in others that they don't notice in themselves.

_________________________________

I step out of the shower and wrap a towel around my body. I hurry over to my room and grab some blue jeans shorts and a blue halter top. I get dressed slowly because my body is weak and exhausted.

This whole week has been horrible. Zayn avoided me up until yesterday, and today is Saturday. I've gained a few pounds from sleep deprivation. Since Tuesday, I've been having these panic attacks. They don't last long but it appears around the same time every day. Right after a night mare I wake up at exactly three a.m. and I can't fall back to sleep. The nightmares are always the same. Jonah rapes me, then strangles me to death.

But on the bright side, Niall and I have been spending a lot of time together this week. As a matter of fact, I'm suppose to meet up with him after my appointment with Dr. Styles. I haven't spoken to Harry since Monday and to be completely honest, I don't want to go to my appointment today, but my insurance is paying for it plus I really need someone to talk to.

I walk into the bathroom to fix my makeup but when I look into the mirror, all the air escapes my lungs. On my mirror written in some red liquid are the words, Stay Away From Him.

I blink a few times and the words are gone. A lump rises in my throat.

"Jackson?" I call out.

As soon as his name falls from my lips, Jackson appears in the mirror standing behind me. I don't turn around I just stare at him in the mirror.

"Stay away from who?" I ask shakily.

A smirk creeps onto his lips. "You know who Bri."

My mind jumbles. I really have no clue who he's talking about. Zayn? Niall? Harry?

"Remember what I said," he whispers.

"What?" I whisper.

He disapears. My head starts to throb. What the hell? I do my makeup quickly and hurry into the living room. I grab my purse and exit my apartment. But when I walk out into the hallway I gasp and drop my bag. On the halls the words You're not crazy, are written hundreds maybe thousands of times in black ink, in all kinds of different hand writing. Jackson is seriously starting to scare me.

I walk into Harry's building and walk to the front desk. But the woman behind the desk is not sweet old Jennifer. No, instead it's a young woman. She looks to be in her mid twenties. She has long dark brown hair, piercing green eyes, full lips, and has way too much cleavage showing. She smiles you at me.

"Hello. My names Bianca. I'm the new receptionist."

I don't return her smile and she frowns. She looks at her computer screen.

"Do you have an appointment hun?" she asks politely.

Hun? I'm most definitely not her hun.

"Yes, Briella Jones. Nine thirty."

She looks up at me again. "Go on back. Dr. Styles is waiting for you."

I give her a death glare before turning on my heels and hurrying  down the narrow hallway. I don't bother knocking. When I open the door, he's on the phone. He notices me and gestures for me to sit down. His office is different. He has a new desk and instead of chairs in front of his desk, theres a big comfy looking couch.

I shut the door behind me and sit on the couch, sure enough it's comfy. He ends his phone call and looks me in the eyes. He shows no emotion, just strictly profession.