Off One's Rocker - Lashton

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty

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"Luke! Wait!" Alex yelled quickly as the blonde was already about to step out of he door.

Luke did not want to have someone look after him just because he liked his mother. He generally thought Alex cared about him and in some sort of weird way that helped Luke to like himself that little more.

"No." he stated bluntly not wanting to hear anything else. The anorexic wanted to go home and be with his family. Not a bunch of mentally ill freaks and lying therapists.

"Please Luke," the grey haired man begged, grabbing Luke's frail arm. His hand practically grabbing the bone. Turning round to glare at his therapist, Luke's eyes softened. The man's eyes were watery and filled with panic and concern. "Please Luke," he begged again before gulping. "Please let me explain everything. And after that, if you still want to leave, you may leave," he said sadly hoping the blonde would listen and agree to stay.

"Alex!" Victoria frowned at what he just said. "He can't just leave!" She was also stood up, seriously worried that Luke was going to try and leave. Moreover, what his mental state was going to be like after this.

Looking down at his feet Luke took a minute to think. He did actually want a little more information. Maybe it was worth listening for a few extra minutes. "Fine," Luke muttered. He flung himself back into his chair and crossed his arms over his emancipated torso.

Pulling another chair closer to the boy, Alex reached out to take Luke's hand. The boy tried to pull his hand back but Alex just held on tighter. Giving up the blonde allowed the elder to hold his bony hand even though the gesture was slightly weird.

"I am so sorry you are in this situation Luke," he started with a sigh. "You don't deserve to suffer like this and it's unfortunate I guess that I like your mum."

"You don't have to like my mum," Luke argued back. To him, his mum still was with his dad even if they were getting a divorce and he didn't want to see any other man with her.

"It's not that easy Luke. I've liked her since we were ten." Sighing in annoyance he admitted. "I always have, but I just don't think he shares the same feelings.

"Good," Luke stated bluntly. He didn't want his therapist as a possible step dad. Luke did not want a step dad at all. He and his mother were just fine. And Jack often acted like a father figure.

"At first she was the only reason I wanted to help you. She talked about you a lot to me and I knew you were her favourite son. She couldn't lose you, Luke. So I said I'd help. I guess in a way I hoped she'd like me for it and we would become something more. But, that was just stupid hope," he explained. His fingers smoothing circles into the blondes fragile hands.

"So you didn't care about me?"

"Of course I did. I care about all my patients. It's always sad to see a young person suffer from a terrible mental illness but I just didn't really care about you in a meaningful way. But as time has gone on I have learnt a lot about you, Luke. You are an incredible young boy who is rather stubborn and I know you are going to grow up to be a fantastic young man. I care about you Luke a lot more than I care about any other patient. I hate seeing you suffer and not wanting to eat. I just want you to get better so I don't worry every day that you are going to possibly nearly die again."

"You worry about that?" the anorexic asked generally surprised.

"Everyday. As soon as I wake up I hope you are going to eat something that day and you'll gain a little weight. It's weird that I feel like this for you Luke. Sid thinks I should maybe sign you over to Victoria fully because I'm too close to you. But in the less creepiest way possible, I love you, Luke. I love you like the son I have never had but always wanted."

Luke stared gobsmacked at the man whilst Victoria just smiled in awe at how cute it was despite it being weird.

"Only b-because you l-like my mum," Luke stuttered extremely confused.

"No Luke. I do like your mum a lot. But this is different now. I want to help you get better and I really do care about you."

Luke slowly pulled his hand from the man's grip who allowed it this time. Closing his eyes to think about what he had just heard, he sat up in his chair.

"Do you still want to leave?" Alex asked, hopeful that he would not. But did realise that he probably just creeped the blonde out.

"Yes. But I'll stay for now."

Both elders sighed in relief knowing Luke would not survive being without suitable care for his needs.

Smiling Victoria then flattened the mood. "So you're staying. That means eating," she laughed slightly whilst pushing the bowl of porridge towards Luke.

Rolling his eyes in annoyance and groaning Luke began to refuse the meal once again. "I'm not hungry."

"You are. You have not eaten in over twenty-four hours," Alex stated.

"I'm not hungry."

"Doesn't matter, just eat it."

"No," Luke refused stubbornly

Biting his lip with concern filling his body, the grey haired man placed one firm hand on Luke's shoulder. "You're going to kill yourself one day."

Luke let out a small laugh as if he didn't care and the man felt his heart shatter. Pulling a draw open Victoria admitted. "I keep some in here now for whenever you might want some," she revealed pulling out a pack of cookies. "Have some."

And to everyone's surprise after a few offers, Luke began to eat cookie and cookie after cookie.

Five cookies later, and both elders were counting, Victoria decided to speak up wanting to understand Luke's way of eating.
He refused to eat a bowl of porridge but not cookies.

"You prefer snacks to main meals?" she questioned curiously.

"Sometimes. They're lighter," Luke admitted grabbing his sixth cookie.

Concerned that he was eating too many and would relapse and purge like earlier, Alex grabbed the packet of cookies off the desk and passed them over to Victoria. Of course, he wanted the blonde to eat but not like this.

"Would you eat the whole packet of cookies if I left them there."

Shamefully Luke nodded. "I'm fat, I know," he pouted looking down at his tummy which was stuffed from the six cookies.

"You're not Luke," both adults reassured him.

"I know but I am going to be."

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