Homebound (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 16

My knee bounces up-and-down against the carpeted floor while we sit in the waiting room. My elbow leans on the armrest and my chin sits in my hand, looking around at all the people also seated in the uncomfortable chairs. Every so often, someone dressed in nice clothes will come out and call a name before a person follows them to one of the rooms in the long hallway.

"Everything's going to be okay," Paige whispers to me, patting my knee. My therapist, some woman named Melanie Owen, came out to the waiting room to meet us about 20 minutes ago before asking to meet with one of my 'parents' since we all agreed that it would be best if someone else explained my situation, so Lukas went with her. Now, Paige and I sit in the waiting room until I'm called back to talk with Melanie myself.

My knee starts bouncing even more when a couple is called back by a young-looking man with a pearly white smile. Paige settles her hand on my leg again to get my attention and I glance up to see concern deep in her eyes. Before she can say anything, my mouth moves on its own. "I'm okay. I'm just... nervous. I don't know what it's going to be like."

"It's okay to be nervous," she whispers, patting my knee. "today will just be an introductory session, meaning she'll probably ask you questions to get to know you more. She'll want to know a little about your past, but today, you probably won't go super deep. She just wants to break the surface with you and figure out what you want and are willing to work on."

I nod my head, feeling better that I know I won't be confessing any of my deep, dark secrets today. Even if I barely have any. I go to say something, but I'm cut off by Melanie walking back in with Lukas, who gives me a smile when we make eye contact. I turn to the woman wearing orange dress pants and a white, flowy shirt to see her giving me a smile as well. She motions to the hallway they just walked in from. "Blaine?"

I look up at Lukas and Paige to see them giving me nods and supportive smiles and some weight is lifted off my shoulders. They wouldn't put me in harms way, I know that, and I need to learn to accept it. I push myself to my feet before following Melanie away from the waiting room until we get to a room that looks more like a living room than an actual office. 

There are two white couches facing each other with a chair on either side and a coffee table in the middle of the furniture. There's a laptop on top of the table along with a notebook that looks old and worn; the pages must be filled with notes and secrets of her patients.

Melanie motions to one of the couches filled with different colored throw pillows. "Make yourself comfortable. Would you like some water, tea, or coffee?"

"No, I'm alright right now," I tell her before sitting down on the couch that's a little too soft, but comfortable nonetheless. Melanie sends me a smile before sitting on the loveseat opposite of me and starts explaining confidentiality, telling me how everything we talk about here is a secret between us unless she's worried for my safety or anyone else's safety. Once that's done, she smiles at me again before motioning to me.

"So, what brings you here?" She asks in a sweet tone. She flips her dark hair behind her shoulder before folding her hands in her lap, waiting patiently to hear what I'm going to say.

I clear my throat before running my hands over my jeans to rid them of the clammy feeling building on my palms. "Uh, well, Lukas probably told you about my past, so that's why I'm here."

"Well, why don't you tell me about your past?" She asks, leaning back against the couch slightly before crossing her legs. Her smile hasn't dropped since we've walked into the room and even though it would usually strike me as creepy, on her, it's sweet and makes me feel comforted. When I don't open my mouth to speak before closing it, she motions to me. "Start wherever you want."