Malen'kaya Zemlya [2] [P. Parker]

3.1 Am I Crazy, Doc?

It wasn't even a week before something went wrong.

I mean, when you're an internationally known superhero who just got let off the hook after attacking the people closest to you, it gets a bit crazy. Especially when your boyfriend was one of the people you attacked.

Oh, and the fact that all your closest friends had moved back to where they originally were from but not you because your parents died after telling your enemies all about you.

Cue tears.

"But seriously," I said to Olisha Grant. "I'm cool."

She sighed. Again. "I know that you think that Ashley, but I also know you're not. As your therapist, I'm here to help you. I'm not going to sell you out."

"Oh, right." I nodded along. "You're just here to judge me."

I heard Peter quietly groan behind me on the couch and looked over at him with a smirk. After the first three sessions ended in me throwing pens at Olisha for asking personal questions (I was barely throwing them hard, really just tossing), he was 'invited' along in the hopes he could keep me, a troubled teen, in line. Really all he did was sigh and groan at my defensive quips.

"Like I said the first seventeen times, Ashley, I am not here to judge you. I'm here to help you."

"Oh, so you were keeping track of that?" I asked. "That means you're judging me."

"Ash-" Peter started to stand up but Olisha waved him down.

"No, no, it's fine," she said, her kind, dark eyes trained on me. "Why are you so scared to be judged?"

I scoffed. "I'm not scared, per se. More over it."

"Over being judged?" she asked, taking a note on her notebook.

"That is what I said isn't it?" I asked with a raised brow.

She sighed, clicking her pen off. "Listen, Ashley," she said, her voice hard. "I know you don't want me to help, but that's what I'm here for. I'm only here to help you."

"No, you're here to help a lot of people. Technically, it's me who's here to get helped. But," I stood up, brushing dust that wasn't even there off my jeans. "I don't want your help."

With that, I began my usual march over to the door. "Have a nice day, Ollie."

"Ash, wait-" Peter started.

Olisha cut him off again. "You walk out that door and everyone will judge you more. Is that what you want?"

My legs stopped without my consent and I cursed internally. I had given her everything she needed. Great. Against my will, I turned around slowly. "Really?" I hated how weak and vulnerable my voice sounded in that moment; shaky and quiet. The voice of a girl who's been through too much and was given too little. I swallowed and said stronger, "Really?"

"Yes." Olisha was standing up by then. "But while people will always judge you, I can make sure that it won't affect you so much."

I slowly walked over to the vacant seat, gripping the back of it with white knuckles. "How?"

"Sit down, and we'll start from the beginning," she suggested, taking her seat behind the large, mahogany desk. "Go on, no one will hurt or judge you in here."

I glanced over at Peter who took my hand and squeezed it briefly before nodding and sitting back down himself.

Slowly, I took a seat.