Twisted ways

Chapter 6

I stand slowly; once again blocking out Cole's voice and open the door. The creaking seems like a drum in an empty room. I slide one foot in front of the other, the hall seemingly stretches on forever and ever. Taking a deep breath I start towards the stairs, slowly walking down them afraid of what I will find in our kitchen. I reach the swinging cream colored door and slowly push it open, the soft voices speaking cease. Everyone stares at me and I fix my gaze upon our light yellow walls and white cabinets; pretending to find them extremely interesting.

My mom is the first to speak, "Clair, baby, I'm sorry I lashed out and I know you don't understand what's going on, but if what we think is going on then we need you in medication."

Anger rises in me and I point harshly at Susan,

"She said I was going to hear your side of the story not be told I need help."

Duke and Conner exchange glances before nodding and leaving the room.

Good wasn't their problem before. This is a family matter. No need for them to be involved.

My anger must have taken some of my focus so I work on blocking him out again, I don't want to hear his rude remarks, even if I do agree with them.

My mom nods and motions for the table. Susan is the first to sit down, she does it rather loudly and with a sigh.

"Oh, sorry Susan if this problem is taking up your precious time. I wouldn't want the world to cease existing because it can't revolve around you for a minute."my voice reaches her and she looks taken back As if I slapped her,  looking towards mom for help, but mother just chuckles lightly covering her mouth and offering a shrug of shoulders. Glaring Susan leaves.

My moms smile falls and she sits down heavily, but it's more like the weight of the world is weighing on her. Gingerly I sit too.

"Clair," reaching over the glass table she takes my hand, "this is going to be hard and long, but I need you to listen and try to ignore Cole." At the mention of his name I see worried green eyes, but I listen and push them out of my head. My mother takes a deep breath and squeezes my hand and I turn my gaze to the wooden floor, following the lines with my eyes.

"You're schizophrenic."

I snap my head up, my mouth falls open and I begin to rise shaking my head at Mom.

"Clair honey wait. I can prove it." I stop slowly lowering back into my cushioned seat. She can prove it.

My mom nods and walks towards the white cabinet and slowly pulls open the second drawer left of the fridge.

I wonder what she is doing, rummaging around the silverware drawer. What is a fork going to show me I'm crazy?

I hear Coles laugh and lightly laugh with his. My mom turns around and nods, pulling a piece of paper out if the stack.

"Here." She hands it to me and I turn it around to face me.

"Mom is this a joke?" She shakes her head no and comes and sits back down, "Oh so a crudely drawn stick figure is supposed to prove I'm crazy?" My mom's mouth open and closes like a fish and her brow scrunches together like it always does when she is planning something.

"Clair," once again she reaches across and grabs my hand. "You aren't crazy and that stick figure," she motions to the paper In my hand, "is Cole."

I look down at the paper. Laughing I rise, making my mouth a tight line I turn on my heels and walk up the stairs and into my room.

No one follows and I'm left alone with my thoughts, even Cole says stays silent for now.

I don't know how much time has past as I stare at this piece of paper. At the green orbs that were supposed to be eyes and the scribble of blonde that I took was hair. The red shirt and black jeans. I stare and stare and stare. Finally I feel exhausted and carefully lay the paper on my night stand, pull back my covers and lay down.

For a while all I do is find designs and animals on my plaster ceiling.

As sleep over takes me, I see him.

His green eyes and crooked smile. His mop of blonde hair and his chiseled features. His red T-shirt and converse and his black skinny jeans. Cole.