Part 11 (2/2)

”Um, I am doing better now,” I told him.

He didn't respond.

I coughed. ”Yeah, I was sick for a little while.” My hands were shaking and I could feel drops of sweat forming under my arms and in the palms of my hands. I scratched the back of my neck, making it bleed. I wiped the blood and sweat on my jeans.

He continued to crunch.

”Dad?”

His voice came in suddenly, like the sound of unexpected thunder cras.h.i.+ng nearby. ”Look, Kristen, I don't have any money, if that's what you are calling for. I just got out of rehab two weeks ago. I just don't-”

”No!” I yelled. ”That is not why I am calling you.”

The tears started building up. I tried not to cry. Geoffrey and Ms. Mosley were behind the desk. I didn't want them to hear me.

”Then what do you want?” He was yelling at me.

”I only want to talk to you,” I cried.

”Please,” he sighed. ”Just stop crying. I know it's been a while. I just got out of rehab. When I get my job back, I will send you some money if you need it. Did your mother tell you to call me?”

”No,” I said.

I covered my mouth with my hand to keep myself from crying out. I leaned against the back of the chair and unfolded my legs. I moved the phone away from my mouth and wiped my eyes as fast as I could before anyone could notice. I heard the others coming back onto the unit. A few of them were leaning over the desk, asking to use the phone. Janine was one of them. When I looked up, I saw her leaning over the desk. She looked down at me. I covered half of my face with my hand to block out her staring at me. I didn't want her to see. I wished everyone would go away.

”What's that noise?” he asked.

”Nothing,” I lied.

I looked back up, and Janine was gone. Two other kids were talking on the phone and sitting in the other chairs. I saw other kids waiting for one of us to hang up so that they could make their phone calls.

”Okay. I have to go. I just wanted to...bye.”

I handed the phone over to Geoffrey. Without saying a word, I got up out of the chair and ran to the Girls' Unit. I could hear the kid who was next in line yell to Geoffrey to dial his dad for him. I didn't know why I had asked Geoffrey to dial my father in California. I wanted to tell my father that I was in the hospital, but it didn't seem like a good idea. Once I got in my room, I threw myself on my bed and buried my head under my pillow, where no one could hear me cry.

CHAPTER 14.

There was a knock on the door. Before I woke up to realize that I wasn't dreaming about someone knocking on the door, Ms. Mosley was standing over me. She scared me.

”I'm sorry,” she said. ”I didn't mean to scare you. If you're hungry, there's food. Geoffrey brought your lunch on the unit for you. I know you are not feeling well, but you need to eat.”

My stomach growled.

”Come to the front area,” Ms. Mosley encouraged.

I rose out of bed and followed her. My head was swimming in pain, but the cramps in my abdomen were worse.

When I arrived on the main unit, I sat at the table where Geoffrey had placed my food. I thanked him, and he told me that it was not a problem. When I saw the food, I couldn't help but immediately tear into it. I was glad that none of the other kids were here. I felt dirty. I needed a bath. It was disgusting to think about what had happened in Dr. Cuvo's office. That made everything worse. I tried not to think about it. I was just going to eat my lunch and go back to the room to lie down. Ms. Mosley surely wasn't going to make me to go group therapy and meetings in my condition. At least I hoped that she wouldn't.

I bit into the triangular shaped peanut b.u.t.ter and jelly sandwich on wheat bread, and I felt the table shake. I looked up. Geoffrey had sat down next to me.

He greeted me with a smile.

”Hey,” he said.

”Hi,” I said in almost a whisper.

I placed my sandwich down on the tray. Nervously, I looked away from Geoffrey's unfamiliar stare.

He started drumming his fingers on the table. His presence at the table, mixed with my embarra.s.sment and the silence around us, became annoying. I wished he had left me alone.

I looked at him. He stopped drumming his fingers.

”So,” he started, ”You're taking my group today.”

”What's your group?” I asked.

”Drug and Alcohol Group. It is moderated by Dr. Pelchat, but I help out.”

”I don't know if my group has that today,” I said.

My stomach started growling again. I picked up my sandwich and took a bite. I was embarra.s.sed to eat in front of him. It felt like we were in school. He looked young. He didn't look much older than me.

”You're in Group Two?”

I nodded. I was too hungry to speak. I got down to the last bite of my sandwich and then reached for the small pint of whole milk that sat next to the tray.

”Yeah, okay, so you have that group today,” he said.

I drank all of my milk and put the empty carton back down on the table. Geoffrey looked at me as if he was in awe.

”Wow, you must have been really hungry,” he said. ”You eat like that in school?”

”I don't go to school.”

”What do you mean?”

”I mean I home school. I used to go to a public school, but I don't go there anymore.”

”Really?” He looked at me differently. ”Do you like that better?”

463'>

<script>