The Nerd Duchess

Chapter Thirty Two

Chapter Thirty-Two
More than a month had passed since the Welcoming Ceremony. A month since she had been taken against her will. More than a month since she left school. A month since she had been confined in the hospital. And at least a week since her first trip of the psychiatrist Charles suggested. She would be due to another session again soon.
It had been so long since she had stepped foot at Cross Academy. Victoria was not exactly sure how she could keep up with school. Winter Exams were just around the corner. She could take the exams. But she is not that assured with her ability to pass the exam not without pulling more than a weeks' worth of all-nighters if she is being honest.
And that is currently not on the table especially since despite being discharged from the hospital a couple of days ago, she is still under strict observation. There was always someone on to her. But often than not, it would be Ryan, especially when he had decided it was good idea to camp in her bedroom. To make sure she wouldn't do something that could hinder her progress.
"What are you doing?" Victoria asked as she spotted her older brother walking in her room armed with a couple of pillows and a blanket. It was the first night back at their summer house,
They had decided that it was better if she were to be move back to their summer home in the outskirts of London. Considering that the place was away from the limelight and paparazzi in London.
"Sleepover!" Ryan said as he plopped down on the couch.
"Sleepover?" Victoria asked. "Seriously? Are you sure it isn't babysitting?"
The slight hesitance visible in Ryan's face was enough to Victoria to know that that is what is in the forefront of her brother's mind, what is in front of everyone's mind. That it is what she needs, a babysitter.
But it's not. A babysitter is not something she needs. Being smothered is not something that she needs.
Even her psychiatrist, Dr. Edward Stan, thinks so too. What she need is someone to talk to, someone to help her make sense of what is happening. And instead of that happening, it was the complete opposite that Ryan and the others are doing.
"Andrew's dead." Victoria stated when she and Ryan were lounging in the living room. A book on each of their laps, "I wanna see him."
She turned to looked at him, when she didn't receive any reply.
"What?" she asked curious, cocking her head to the side.
"I don't think that it's good idea."
"What do you mean? How is that not a good idea?"
"Well⸺"
"I just want to visit him."
"Well, the doctor said that you should avoid any stressful situations."
"And visiting Andrew is a stressful situation?" she said straightening up, closing the book on her lap.
"Well, Andrew is dead, Anya." He said in a placating tone, calling her in her first name.
"I know that, Ryan." She said. "That's why I want to see him."
"But," he started.
"Who are you to decide it's stressful for me or not?"
"I know." Andrew started. "But,"
Victoria didn't him finish. She took a deep breath before standing and turning her back towards him and walking out of the room on her crutches.
"Where are you going?"
"To get change."
"You are not visiting Andrew." Ryan said grabbing her hand.
"You're right," she replied. "I'm not. But that does not mean, I don't have somewhere to be."
"And where would that be?"
"Doctor's appointment." She replied. "So, please let go of my arm now." She said staring where he had taken her arm.
"Oh, of course." Ryan said. "Sorry."
She gave him a brief nod before hobbling up the stairs, a maid following behind her closely.

Fifteen minutes later found the two siblings seated at the back of one of the family cars on their way to the doctor's appointment. She had refused getting a house call from the doctor stating that she wanted separation.
"If I'm telling you something personal, I'd prefer if we do it somewhere that is not my house. I don't want to walk in on my living room or in one of the lounges and remember what I'm going to tell you. Besides, if I'm on house arrest our session is going to be the only time I get to be outside of the house. It's an opportunity I would like to take full advantage of."
The doctor had been quite understanding. It is how they were currently at the driveway of one of the tallest building in London.
"I don't know why I can't just drive you to Dr. Stane's office."
"I don't want you to." She replied before brandishing out a pair of sunglasses and a cap.
"Let me help you." He said as he quickly slipped out of the car in order to assist her with her crutches. Victoria still had the cast on her right leg.
"Oh no," she replied, standing up with her crutches. "I'm good." She sent him a smile.
"I still have a at least three more weeks on this thing."
They entered the doctor's office and the kind secretary was waiting for them. She had ushered Ryan and their attendant to the waiting room while she directed her towards the Doctor's office.
"Doc, your ten-thirty is here."
"Please bring her in." came the elder man's reply.
"Good morning, Miss Williamson." The doctor greeted the moment the door closed behind her. "Please have a seat. As I've mention please feel right at home."
"Good morning, Doc." She replied as she took a seat in the couch, leaning her crutches on the side. "And please, call me Victoria."
He nodded. "So have you done what I asked of you, Victoria?"
"Not exactly," she replied in hesitation. "But."
"But?"
"I don't think know what I'm doing."
"What do you mean?" Stane asked, a pen and a notepad on hand.
"Last week, you told me I should write down all the questions that I need to ask. Or questions I need answers to." She replied. "I can't do that. Especially, with how my brother has decided that I shouldn't be immersing myself to what he deems as 'stressful' situations. How am I even going to find out on what to ask?"
Victoria released a groaned before she shuffled on the couch and plopping on her back along the couch.
"It's stupid."
"What is stupid?"
"The smothering. It's stupid. Why can't they get that I need space? You said so yourself, Doc. I needed space and time to actually make sense with everything. And, I can't do that if they keep smothering me and breathing down my neck. It's annoying and insulting. It's like they are telling me that I can't be trusted on my own. My brother practically is everywhere I go. He's even waiting outside at the moment." At the end of the tirade, Victoria was breathing a little hard.
Stane was silent in all of this. And after Victoria's tirade, the only thing that could be heard aside from the deep breath she had been taking was the scraping of the pen in Stane's hand across his page of his notepad.
It was moments later when he spoke up, who you want me to speak to him?" he offered.
"Can you do that?" She said sitting up.
"Of course," Stane nodded straightening the glasses perched on his nose. "I may not be your medical doctor. Does not mean I am not a doctor? I am still your psychiatrist and you are my patient. Whatever it is that hinders you peace of mind is my business. I can speak to your brother at the end of the session."
"Thank you!" Victoria smiled, before plopping back down on the couch.
"So is there something else, you wanted to talk about? Aside from that."
She hummed.
"I never thought that I would like these sessions of our, Doctor." Victoria started, as she looking up at the ceiling, and making sure she was comfortable along the couch. "I was completely against coming to a psychiatrist the moment they suggested it to me."
"I mean, not to insult or anything, but I thought only crazy people come to see a psychiatrist. And as far as I know I am not a crazy person. I just-you know---have this thing going on about my memory. I thought coming to see one would be like a proof that I might be indeed someone crazy. I mean, I have survived numerous kidnapping and near-death experience to last a lifetime for an average person and I'm still not beyond myself with PTSD. Or I think I'm not."
"I don't what to admit something is wrong with me. Because doing so would mean I'm weak. I don't want to be seen that. But..."
"But?" Stane prompted after five minutes of silence from the young woman on the couch.
"I realize I might be a little hypocritical in that aspect."
"And why would that be?"
"I preach to others that they shouldn't be stupid enough to handle things on there one and if need be, they should ask for help. And there I was immediately turning down someone's advise to ask or seek help from someone. Now I realize, how some of them always thought that I was a know-it-all."
"And why would that be?"
"Because I felt the same way. I thought that them suggesting something like that-it was as if they knew me better than I know me. And didn't like it. I was stubborn. I still am. There is no doubt about that. But, I think it is better if I also realize compromising can come a long way."
"This is amazing, Victoria." Stane complemented. "We are merely on our second session and it would seem that progress has already been made."
"I did a lot of thinking back home. It's what happens when I have nothing else to do. I'm basically under house arrest and I can't really watch too much TV or stay in my computer for too long. My eyes tend to blurry up. And reading for long periods of time cause a migraine. I can't leave the grounds without a chaperone. And I can go because I'm still in cast for the next three to four weeks, moving from one place to another is a hassle. So I usually just sit under the shade or in the living room and think."
"I could not believe I am actually considering my sessions with you to be the highlight of my week, Doc. This is nuts."
"If someone had told me this weeks ago, I would have told them to fuck off. Not lady like to curse I know. But bloody hell, is this what happen when you have too much time in your hands? Your attitude does a 180?"
"I don't think so, Victoria." He said with a chuckle. "I think that is just you."
"Seriously, you never had a patient like me?"
"All my patients are different and are special in their own way. Just like you."
After that, the two had continued on talking until the grandfather clock against the wall chimed signaling that it was already twelve noon already and the end of their session.
"I shall be seeing you next week, Miss Williamson." The doctor said as he assisted the young lady with her crutches.
"Of course, doctor." She said with a cheeky smile. "This is the highlight of my week, remember?"
"Of course, of course. My apologies." The elder nodded as he opened the door for her.
They could see Ryan moving back from the doorway when it had been opened.
"I will see you again later, Doctor."
"Of course, Miss Williamson." The good doctor nodded, before directing his gaze to her brother. "Mr. Williamson. A word, if you would?" he gestured for his office.
Ryan turned to look at her but Victoria just gestured for him to follow the doctor back.
"Go, I'll wait."

Author's Note:
I am extremely sorry for delay. Fear not, I will finish this story however, it may tke awhile for that to happen. But nonetheless, this book will be finish I promise you.

But it is Christmas, and this is my gift to you.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year...