Learning All Things Owen Jackson

Chapter VIII

I looked up at the large building in front of me and let go of the breath that I had been holding. My hands slowly slid off the steering wheel and rigidly reached over for my handbag.

Pushing down on the car door handle,  I opened the door and, with one last deep breath, slid out of the warm car.

"You can do this, Cameron," I murmured to myself as I clenched and unclenched my fists.

With a shake of my hands, I slammed the door that I was gripping onto, locked the car and steadily made my way towards the entrance. The faint click-clack of my small slip-on heels beneath the crumbling tarmac echoed all around me and I warily glanced over the deserted carpark with uneasiness.

On arrival, the automatic glass doors parted and I carefully walked through them whilst keeping my eyes on the reception desk.

Clearing my throat, I smiled at the lady behind the wooden desk.

"Hello, I'm here to see my brother, Leon Jenkins," I announced clearly, ignoring the small sympathetic look in her eyes.

She nodded and darted her eyes to her computer screen before typing speedily on the keyboard, making a satisfying clicking sound.

"Could I see some ID, please?" She asked kindly, turning her head towards me.

"Sure," I said, digging into my handbag frantically and handing her my ID.

"So... Cameron Jenkins...yes," she muttered to herself, nodding along as her eyes scanned over my ID and shot back to the computer screen.

Lifting her head, she handed my ID back and pointed her finger over towards the chairs on the back wall.

"Take a seat. Dr. Mallory will be with you in a minute to take you to him," she instructed before flicking her eyes back to her computer.

Huffing out a nervous shaky breath, I silently made my way over to the chairs and ran my hand through my long, wavy hair. A few minutes past and I soon found myself begining to dig my thumbnail underneath my other thumbnail as well as picking at the loose thread on my denim skirt.

The last time I saw Leon was a little over a month ago and that was when he wasn't in the best of places. I was afraid to see him; I was anxious to see the person who he had suddenly turned into. My brother used to be the 'golden child'- he never once got in trouble and was always ten steps ahead of everyone he knew. His thought process was way beyond what anyone could have imagined.

And I loved that about him.

Smart, protective and optimistic. These three traits were a rare combination and my brother possessed them all.

It was why he was my rock for eighteen years of my life... until-

"No," I whispered harshly to myself, shaking my head from side to side.

On the fourth shake of my head, my eyes landed on a tall figure in a grey hoodie and black shorts outside of the rehabilitation centre.

No way. Surely he hadn't found where Leon was rehabilitating in?

My ears grew hot and I shot up from my seat, eyes blurring with hot tears as I made my way towards him.

His eyes widened once they saw my storming figure headed right towards him and I immediately sped up.

Slamming my hands onto his chest, I pulled his face towards me with his hoodie and scowled at him.

"What do you think you're doing here, Owen!" I exclaimed, shaking him angrily.

"Cameron, look, just listen to me-"

"No! How about you listen to me!" I screeched, letting go of his hoodie and slapping my arms to my sides. "I told you that you weren't allowed to come here. That you weren't allowed to be here. And look what you go and do...try to visit my brother who is doing just fine without your 'help'!"

"Cam-"

"I actually can't believe you would-" I scrunched my nose up and squeezed my eyes before looking into his eyes. "No scratch that, I do believe that you would do such a thing like this because you've never liked to abide by the rules, have you?"

Letting out a loud and an annoyed groan, I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Whatever little trust I had is broken...you clearly don't listen to me and respect my wishes."

"Cameron, that is not fair!" He uttered out, staring sadly at me with those chestnut eyes as his blatant hurt shone through his tone. "I've always listened to you and tried my hardest to keep the promises that I made to you."

I snorted and pointed at the large building behind us. "How on Earth did this happen then if you kept your promises?"

"Are you forgetting the entire conversation that we had before I left your house?" He responded with a  dumbfounded expression as he squinted his eyes at me. "You know, the one where I said it was none of our faults but Leon's. He chose to inject himself with heroin, not you nor me, so why are we even arguing? Logically, we should be on the same side."

Owen's eyes averted from my face to behind me and on turning around, I was met with Dr Mallory who nodded her head in greeting at the both of us.

"Are you ready to see Leon, Miss Jenkins?" She answered in a professional tone.

"Yes, uh, sorry," I replied before turning around to Owen. "Uh...I'll speak to you later, ok?"

"Want me to wait for you?" He asked, surprising me wth his question as well as his caring and concerned tone.

"That would be...great, thank you." I smiled unsurely breaking our gaze before heading in with Dr Mallory.