Unusual Beings

One • Rocco to Rehab

I don't want to go but I'm left with no choice.

I got arrested for public intoxication and my only options were to attend rehab or go to jail so here I am.

Anyways, I'm Rocco Bellemere.. and no I'm not a boy.

Apparently I'm what those would call an "alcoholic" but I think that's just an exaggeration.. I only drink everyday at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

I took a deep breath before entering the building. Looking down at the piece of paper I was given, I read the room number and began to look for it.

Ah, there it is.

I pushed the door open before walking in quickly. Oh great, we have to sit in a circle like kindergarteners.

I awkwardly found an empty seat and sat in it as the councillor smiled widely at me.

I haven't even had a drink today so I'm not feeling as bubbly as she seems.

"Hello! Welcome, Who might you be?" She asked cheerily.

"Rocco." I shrugged, as she looked down at her clipboard.

"Why, it's so nice to meet you Miss Bellemere."

I slouched back into my seat, just wanting to get this over with.

If attending this means I won't end up being someone's prison bitch, then so be it.

"Now since this is your first time attending, why don't you tell us about yourself and why you're here?" She insisted with an encouraging smile.

I looked to the ground, uncomfortable with all the eyes waiting for me to speak.

"I- I'm Rocco, thats all. And uh apparently I like drinking a bit too much." I said as I awkwardly scratched the back of my neck.

A man sitting across from me began to dramatically clap his hands as he stood up, giving me a standing ovation.

"That was a very touching backstory." He said as he pretended to wipe a tear from his eye.

I stared at him with wide eyes as he walked over and took a seat in the vacant chair beside me.

"You should really write an autobiography about yourself. Now that would be an interesting read." He chuckled whilst I rolled my eyes.

"I wouldn't have much to write about." I shrugged without looking at him.

"Is your name really Rocco?" He asked while crossing his legs, seeming very intrigued.

I inhaled a long breath, slightly throwing my head back. "Yep."

When I was a kid, I jumped between many different foster homes and orphanages which resulted in me going to many different schools.

Each school that I went to, I was made fun of for my name.. because it's a boy's name.

"Cool! Like the cartoon Rocko's Modern Life." He laughed.

"Oh fuck me." I said under my breath.

He had heard me because he dramatically gasped while looking around over his shoulders. "Shh, we can't right now."

I couldn't help but smirk at his stupidity. "I doubt I'm even your type.." I said while looking down to the side at his laced up pants.

He followed my gaze, with a goofy smile plastered on his face. "These would look dashing on you."

I finally made eye contact with the funny stranger, slowly beginning to enjoy his company.

".. I like women too you know." He laughed.

I put my hands up in defeat. "Okay, I believe you." I chuckled.

"So what's your name?" I asked, wanting to get to know him.

The two of us weren't even paying attention to anything going on in the class anyways.

"Klaus Hargreeves."

"Like the talking fish from the cartoon American Dad?" I smirked.

"Fair play." He bursted out laughing and I joined in.

Our counsellor looked at us, politely asking that we pay attention so we both shut up for the remainder of the class.

Well, at least I did. Klaus would randomly chime in whatever we were discussing in the group. He really made the class more bearable.

When it was over, Klaus and I walked out the building side by side until a sudden thought hit me.

I lightly grabbed his arm as we both came to a stop. "You said your last name is Hargreeves right?"

"Yeah, I believe it's an English name.. although I'm not very sure. You'd have to ask my father but you can't because he's dead." He giggled.

I stared at him in shock for being so nonchalant about his dead dad.

"Are you from The Umbrella Academy by any chance?" I curiously questioned.

"Yep, unfortunately." He shrugged as we continued walking.

"What do you mean unfortunately!? Don't you have superpowers or something?" I asked, as Klaus grinned at my excitement.

"Yeah but mine aren't that cool, you'd love to meet my brother Ben. His are insane but he's also dead so.." Once again talking so nonchalantly.

"Jeez, I'm sorry. Is everyone in your family dead?" I hesitantly questioned.

"No, no, the rest are very much alive. What about yours?" He asked as he held the door open for me.

"Who knows? Probably not." I sighed.

"You don't know your family?" He questioned with pity in his voice.

"Nope, I'm an orphan." I shrugged as Klaus' eyes filled with sympathy.

"I'm really sorry, I was nearly orphaned too but my old man decided he needed science experiments." He laughed, looking to his side as if someone else were there.

"Wish I could've been someone's experiment." I said lowly, looking down to my feet.

"It's uh- getting kind of late, I should probably get going." I smiled as I tried to dismiss myself before I got too sad.

"Wait! I have a crazy idea, do you wanna like hang out sometime?" He asked with a hopeful tone in his voice.

"Isn't it a bad idea for us addicts to be around one another? We could end up enabling each other." I laughed.

"That's true, I can't argue that." He chuckled in defeat.

"Here. I'd like to get to know you better Klaus Hargreeves." I smiled while taking his phone out of his hands to put my number in.

With that, the two of us went our separate ways and I couldn't seem to wipe the smile off of my face.