Jenalyn: From the Inside (#3) [Complete]

Chapter 25: Hayden

Monday, 3:16 P.M. EST

“A sociopath?” I ask in disbelief. Though come to think of it, it’s totally believable. “Like... a real sociopath?”

Dan nods his head, low-key eyeballing Ren before turning back to me to continue. “Yup, a real sociopath. I’m pretty sure she killed her foster brother, but that’s speculation.” 

Dan has been giving me a quick rundown on Ren since I stopped playing dumb. Apparently, the girl is just too crazy to associate with. We’re talking practically every personality disorder in the book here. 

“Okay, so she really is a borderline antisocial sociopath. That’s... interesting.” I say under my breath.

Dan hears it and responds with another nod, fiddling with a pen that’d been sitting on the table. “Why is it interesting?” he asks.

I’m not going to answer that question honestly. That’d require an epiphany about myself that I’m unwilling to recognize at this point in my life.

How am I supposed to tell Dan that all the disorders this girl is diagnosed with? They’re all the same ones doctors have been trying to pin on me for years. And that finding out her diagnosis shouldn’t have come as a surprise for me, because I’ve basically just been looking in a mirror?

I can’t admit any of that out loud…

“It’s just... good to know.” I lie to him as much as I do myself. 

He’s silent for a few moments, trying to choose his next words carefully. I haven’t told him I challenged the girl today; he’d probably warn me not to and suggest I avoid her at all costs as everyone else does.

Dan doesn’t know me though. 

Ren thinks she’s so big and bad because she can manipulate people by spreading her legs? Or because she can have an entire ward bending at her will? That’s only because nobody dares confront her in fear of an aggressive fit…

Please, that’s child’s play. 

I could accomplish 90% more than she does, and do 85% less work to accomplish it!.

“So enough about Ren,” I say after a few moments. I allow the part of me that needs to show her who wears this look better to take the wheel. “Tell me something about you. If I can’t be friends with her, I guess I have to find a new one, huh?” 

Dan laughs, loosening up after I push past Ren as a subject. 

“Well, Sarah seems to like you quite a bit,” he says with half a smile. “You could see if she’s accepting applications for new friends!”

I roll my eyes, letting out a small laugh as I do. I go to respond, but I’m interrupted by a palm slapping down on the table that separates us. 

Ren’s palm, of course.

“What’s up, Danny?… Hayden?” she asks, with her voice as fake as the smile she plasters across her face. 

I can see Dan’s whole demeanor shift, but it’s easy to maintain mine. 

“Oh hey, Ren!” I say with excitement I’m sure will throw her off. “Nothing! We’re just peer counseling! You didn’t tell me Dan was such a funny guy!” 

It definitely throws her off. Dan too, based on the shocked expression spread across his face. 

Ren clears her throat. “Oh...” she mumbles, distracted. “Well, what’re you two talking about? I can imagine this to be an… interesting session.” 

I nod my head, allowing a few moments to bask in the way her smile gets harder and harder to maintain on her face.

“It is! Very interesting!” I exclaim, intentionally in a way I know will irk her. “But... we’re covered with a confidentiality blanket… so that’s just going to stay between Dan and me.”