St. Mary's

17

Jay was sitting in Mr. Marshall's office, he was desperately trying not roll his eyes as he droned on about the tendencies of pyromaniacs and their need to destroy, he'd had this lecture many times before. The man had salt and pepper hair, Jay thought he was good-looking, for a therapist anyhow. He clenched his eyes to pray this would end sooner than later, he knows they probably think that he set the fire. He has a predisposition to do just that. Surly he isn't the only pyromaniac here though, there's about 300 boys at this camp. His jaw clenched as he focused on the ticking of the clock over the psychoanalyst's well bred, and mannerly voice.

"I'm not saying it was you, it's just the other pyromaniacs haven't been known to set fires as big as you have... And well, I suppose that doesn't technically mean anything, but I've already spoken to the other boys. I guess I just need you to tell me exactly where you were during-"

Jay looked up as the door slammed open, revealing a slightly dishevelled boy, Jay took in his soft features with large doe eyes that match his golden caramel hair. Jay smirked, he was rather cute.

"Adam! What do you think you're doing you cant just barge in her-"

"He didn't do it!" He exclaimed.

"And how would you even know that Adam? Have you met Jay before?"

"No, I'm just saying he didn't do it."

"Elaborate."

Jay was thoroughly amused, he wondered the relationship between the two, it seemed more than just a patient and his therapist.

"Father, don't get mad."

That solved it, Jay thought.

"For Christ sake Adam! What have you done now? God, your worse than your mother! Go on then, spit it out!"

Adam shook slightly at his father's hurtful tone, Jay was slightly taken aback. Aren't therapists born with an unusual amount of patience? Apparently, that doesn't apply to their own children.

"Well you see Father, I think it's best you take a few calming breathes. As you say, a patient responds better to things they don't particularly want to hear after a steady breathing exercise."

"Adam." His father warned.

"Ah, okay well as you know, us humans tend to turn to various compulsions to numb our emotional state. As a therapist you of all people know that after a parental divorce the child is conflicted, emotionally unstable and rather lonely."

"Get to the point."

"Right well, I know he couldn't have started the fire... well because, I did."

"Why on earth would you do such a thing Adam? I know full well you are not mentally unstable."

"How would you really know that Father? You hardly speak to me and I'm locked up in a single cabin, the last two weeks have been rather tortuous, and I wanted attention."

"You wanted attention, so you set the storage cupboard on fire?"

"Yes Father, I did." He lied smoothly.

"We'll talk about your punishment later, leave." He seethed.

"You can go too Jay." He added in a more professional tone.

"You should treat your son better, ya'know." He hummed as he left.

He rounded the corner to see Adam crouched down with his head in his knees. He pondered just leaving the boy, after all it was nothing to do with him. He decided to leave. He was just about to turn the corner when the boy lifted his head.

"You're Jay, right?" He asked in a shaky voice.

"Yes, I am. You're Adam?"

He nodded.

Jay crouched next to him, watching as the boy wiped away a solitary tear. He seemed conflicted, as if debating whether he should speak. His mouth was opening and closing, letting out the occasional sigh.

"Just say it, you'll feel better once it's out." Jay encouraged.

"Okay so, I didn't actually start the fire. Actually, I don't know if you know someone named Tim? Well I guess you do, he knows you after all."

"Yes, I know Tim?" Jay was confused, what did Tim have to do with it?

"Well, you see I'm not good at the whole making friends thing and well I guess I was a little desperate, so when he asked for your file, I just... "

"You gave it too him." Jay finished.

"I'm sorry, I just thought he wanted your number or something. Then the fire was set, and I remembered you were a pyromaniac, it all just clicked..."

"He was trying to set me up."

"Well yes, I'm sorry. I didn't know, but don't worry I'll take the blame. My Father is too prideful to call the police on his own son."

"I'm sorry." Jay sighs.

"Why are you sorry? I gave out your personal information, it's my own stupid fault."

"Well, I must admit you stood your ground in there. It was impressive, extremely so."

"Really?" Adam asks.

"Hell yeah, you were bad-ass." Jay agrees.

Jay gets up and brushes off his pants.

"I'm going back to my cabin, if your father doesn't kill you, stop by sometime." He smiles kindly.

"Which one's your cabin?"

"The gay one." Jay shouts and laughs as he walks away.