Part 12 (1/2)

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”Yes,” I told him.

”Does your Mom home school you?”

I shook my head. ”No,” I said, ”I home school myself.”

”Are you taking the summer off right now?”

”No,” I said.

”That sounds like it would take a lot of discipline.”

I wanted him to stop asking so many questions. I would have gotten up and walked away, but a markedly tall man with a potbelly who was dressed in black suddenly walked through the double doors that led to freedom.

This man was welldressed, and he had a clean face. He wore his thin, red hair slicked back. He seemed to tower over everything he was standing next to, except the walls. He caught Geoffrey's and my attention.

”Hey,” Geoffrey greeted the man.

The tall man looked over at us and smiled. He waved to Geoffrey as he walked around the counselor's desk. He grabbed about six patients' charts.

”How's it going, Geoffrey?” The tall, well-dressed man approached us.

”It's going,” Geoffrey said. ”SSDD. You know how it is.”

The tall man laughed. He put a hand on Geoffrey's shoulder, gave it a squeeze, and said, ”I'll be seeing you. I've got to get back to it.”

Geoffrey said goodbye as the man started back out the double doors. When he was gone, Geoffrey turned back to me.

”That's the boss,” Geoffrey confessed. ”That's Dr. Pelchat. He runs this place.”

My heart jumped. I hoped Geoffrey didn't hear it.

”He's cool,” Geoffrey said. ”I hope that, when I am a doctor, I will be as educated as he is.”

I looked at him in awe.

”You want to be a doctor?”

Geoffrey nodded with a proud smile on his face. ”Yes, I do. I am a full-time student, all year round, just like you. I work here as a counselor part-time while earning my credits, but I still have a long way to go. I am getting my Masters at the end of the year, and I hope to do well enough that Dr. Pelchat will write a letter of recommendation for me to get into State. That's where I want to earn my Doctorate.”

”How old are you?” I wasn't in so much of a hurry anymore. I was curious.

”I'm twenty-five. Why?”

I took a deep breath to suppress my shock. ”You're young,” I let slip out of my mouth.

He laughed. ”Yeah, so are you. It's cool that you are home schooling yourself. If I had home schooled, I would have screwed around. You must be very disciplined and focused.”

”Home schooling is hard. Well, it's better than being in school. This place kind of feels like it used to-” I made myself shut up.

Geoffrey was staring at me. He was good. He knew how to get me talking. He'd probably learned it in school.

”You know, it's not so bad, though. Everyone in here is in the same position.”

”So I hear,” I said.

”No, really,” he continued. ”You don't have to feel like an outcast. I know you are having a rough time right now, but nothing is new here. We have seen and dealt with it all. Moreover, if any of these kids have anything to say about anyone else in here, they need to look at themselves. Honestly, though, I doubt anyone will give you a hard time. Besides, you are here at a good time. Since it is summer, you don't have to go to the cla.s.sroom.”

”Is there a cla.s.sroom here?” I almost laughed because I thought that he was kidding. I didn't let it come out.

”Yes,” he laughed. ”There is a cla.s.sroom here, but it is summer. Therefore, there are no cla.s.ses. Instead of having study time, you will get to go to the gym, and even outside in the garden. You see, it's not that bad.”

”No.” I allowed myself to smile at him. ”It's not that bad. Not for prison.”

”Okay, Kristen. You'll see. It'll get better. It will get better for you in here and out there too.” He pointed out the window.

My smile disappeared. ”Are you sure about that?” I asked as I watched the sun s.h.i.+ne in through the window.

”I'm living proof, because I used to be right where you are. I was here at Bent Creek when I was fifteen. I didn't have a clue. Now, I know where I want to be. I know where I am going. It's all going to work out.”

His eyes were glowing. He was smiling confidently. It was almost as though he knew he was going to succeed.

I wanted to ask him about his days in Bent Creek, but I didn't.

”Do you know what you want to do when you graduate?” Geoffrey asked.

I shook my head. ”I just need to graduate.”

”That doesn't look like that was your plan, Kristen.” He gestured to my wrists.

I got up from the table with the empty milk carton and the Styrofoam tray. As I headed for the trash can, Geoffrey got up and followed me. I didn't want to talk to him. I wished that I hadn't even started talking to him.

”I'm sorry,” he apologized. ”Kristen, please wait.” I tossed my garbage into the trash can. I tried to walk away, but he cornered me. ”I'm not trying to be mean to you. I am just kind of shocked to see a very smart and beautiful girl like you in here.”

I stopped breathing. I couldn't have heard him clearly. Did he really say the word beautiful and refer to me? I felt my stomach turning from the cramps. I heard Mr. Sharp whisper to me. He convinced me that I'd misheard Geoffrey. He reminded me that I was a loser and that Geoffrey didn't know me.

”Kristen.” Geoffrey looked worried. ”Are you all right?”

”Yes,” I told Geoffrey.

”What are you doing in here?” Dr. Cuvo said. Suddenly, he was standing in the doorway. Dr. Cuvo looked at Geoffrey and then he looked at me. I wondered what was running through his mind, because he looked angry.

Geoffrey told Dr. Cuvo that he was about to take me to group therapy so that I could be with my group. He explained that I'd had to have lunch late. Dr. Cuvo seemed annoyed. He was harsh when he told Geoffrey to get me to Group right away. Without argument, Geoffrey hurried me along. I tried to keep some distance behind Geoffrey and me. I followed as Geoffrey led me to my group meeting. I didn't want him to start talking to me again about being beautiful or school or my future. I didn't want to hear it or think about it.

”Here we are,” he said as we came up to the door.

”Thanks, bye,” I said. I opened the door and entered the room quickly. Shutting the door, I found all eyes on me. I suddenly wanted to be on the other side of that door with Geoffrey.

I saw Tai laughing at me. She covered her ugly, yellow smile. It must have been the embarra.s.sing and scared look on my face.

”Come on in and sit down, Kristen,” Dr. Bent said.