Group Therapy

Six

Nolan

"Can't you stay a little longer Nolan?" asks Hannah as I zip up my pants.

"Sorry babe. I have to go to work," I say. Which isn't a lie.

"Well maybe we can do this again after school tomorrow, right?"

"I kind of have some place to be after school tomorrow," I say putting on my shoes. I'm trying to get the hell out of her house before she asks anymore questions. God she's annoying. I should have listened to Foster when he said I shouldn't sleep with her.

"I have to go but..um I had fun," I say. I'm not entirely bad. I like to at least leave them happy.

I leave Hannah's house and get into my car. I immediately call Foster.

"You were right dude. She's a fucking psycho."

"I know man. Why do you think i've been trying to avoid her for the past two years? After I slept with her she practically stalked me. She would always be at my baseball practices and would always be at my locker, it was creepy."

"Fuck," I say, hitting the steering wheel.

"So do you want to come over?" asks Foster. I look at the clock.

"Nah. I have to be at work in a half hour," I say. I work at the Party City at the mall. Now that I think about it, everyone in the group therapy has a job at the mall except Jenna. Well she might, I mean I didn't even know she went to our school until the first group therapy session.

I put on my work shirt when I get into the mall parking lot. I walk into the mall and immediately see Olena entering her work. Olena works at the hair salon. When I walk passed it, I see Olena sitting down on a chair crying and talking to a woman.

I walk pass the Foot Locker and see Dallen putting shoes out for display. I'm surprised him and Remington even have jobs considering the fact that their lives depend on school and sports.

I walk into the Best Buy because it's a short cut to the Party City. I don't see Remington at his regular post. I know he's part of that Nerd Squad or whatever it's called. I don't even have to walk passed the Barnes and Noble to know that Marissa isn't there. She didn't come to school today so I doubt she'll be here.

I walk into work as soon as Amber is leaving.

"Hey Nolan," she says and winks.

"Dude, when are you going to hit that?" asks Bradley after Amber leaves.

"Man I don't know. It's been like four months of us flirting and still not even a kiss from her". When I started working here a couple of months ago, Amber was my consultant. She basically taught me what to do. She works at Party City too, she just has different shifts. When I told Bradley about her, he literally got a job here because of her. But he eventually gave up and he decided he might as well keep working here.

"Dude I'm so hooking up with Olena," says Bradley after our shift ends.

"She just broke up with Julian," I say.

"Well I know that. That shit was all over school today. But since she probably feels lonely and depressed, she is probably also very vulnerable. So I just act like I care about her feelings and then I swoop in for the kill."

"Good luck with that," I say, getting into my car.

I live relatively close to the mall, so the drive is close. When I walk into the house, I immediately smell dinner. My mum is wearing an apron and is running around the kitchen frantically. Ever since we moved here from Australia five years ago, she's been trying to be more "American". We moved here a little while after her and my dad got divorced. Turns out my dad is gay. I don't care whatsoever. I might be a complete jackass but I feel like everyone in this world should be happy. So why aren't I?

"Nolan sweetie, can you please get the bread sticks out the oven?"

I talk the bread sticks out the oven and put them on the counter. Just then my mum's husband comes in his fancy suit and tie.

"Patrick, you're just in time for dinner," says my mum, a little too happy. Patrick is usually home super late at his job. He makes ass loads of money. But then again so does everyone else in this town.

Patrick talks about some guy at his job who is an asshole. I can't hear him ramble for much longer. I'm getting a major headache.

"I think I'm going to bed a little early today," I say. My mum nods and looks at Patrick again. She admires him so much. She never looked at dad that way.

As soon as I lay down I'm asleep. The day of Nolan Tate is a very exhausting day. Being perfect isn't as easy as it seems, trust me.

The next morning I'm beat. I fell asleep in first hour today even though I went to sleep early. I go to my locker after first hour and of course Hannah is already there.

"Hi Nolan. How was your day? Good I presume."

"Yeah I'm good I guess," I say.

"Well I was wondering-"

"Nolan, I need to talk to you," says Marissa, completely ignoring Hannah's existence.

"Well well well, look who decided to show up to school for once. Even I come to school more than you."

"Shut up. It was one day."

Hannah coughs. Marissa looks over and acknowledges her presence.

"I need your help," she says.

"What can I do for you darling?"

Marissa looks over at Hannah, who is obviously not going anywhere.

Marissa whispers in my ear. "I need you to teach me not to give a fuck."

I look at her, confused. "What?"

"I know you don't give a fuck about anything and I need you to teach me how you do that. I put on this whole act and I pretend like I don't care about shit but I do. I was actually going to skip today but Barbara said I had to come. You know how many people I've heard talk about what happened on Saturday? A lot Nolan, a lot. It bugs the hell out of me. Did you also hear that Logan is bragging about this whole situation. Like what the hell? He's proud that he fucked me over for Dana? Fucking Dana? I mean we all know I have a better ass than her," Marissa rants. She is still whispering.

"I'll tell you what. If you get rid of Hannah I'll help you."

Marissa looks over at Hannah. "Oh Nolan of course I'll be your girlfriend. We'll be together forever. If anyone tries to cross our path, they'll be sure to regret it," says Marissa, loud enough for Hannah to hear.

Hannah puts on the angriest face I've seen in awhile. She then stomps away.

"She's gone. Now help me," says Marissa.

"Nope."

"What? I thought we had a deal?"

"I lied," I say.

"You ass, you played me."

"Darling, when will you learn? I play everyone."

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PIC ON THE SIDE OF NOLAN TATE