Opal shot a despairing glance over her shoulder, but by the time I’d shoved them out, Ezekiel was already chatting her ear off. She nodded as they walked away, appearing out of her element.
Opal was too shy to say much, but it wasn’t like Ez needed much input when it came to talking. The guy had whole conversations with himself. He’d keep the conversation going until he got to Professor Ellender’s classroom.
“Who are you, the prison’s local matchmaker?” Kallie asked me.
“My brother needs to be with a good girl. I’m tired of seeing him hook up with giant bitches. Opal’s perfect,” I responded.
“She obviously likeshim, but that doesn’t mean he likes her. He was practically oblivious to her presence,” Kallie pointed out.
“Give it some time. I know my brother.”
Kallie sounded skeptical. “If you say so.”
We left then, because our counseling session with Professor Takahashi was supposed to start soon. Marcus was already there, sitting in one of the chairs in the therapy circle. Charlie, though, had yet to arrive.
It was strange he wasn’t early. I swear, the man drove me fucking nuts lecturing me day in and day out about how I needed to show up on time— because, you know, I was a better-late-than-never kind of person.
Wherewashe? He was never around anymore. I saw him during our shared classes and at meals, but other than that, it was like he always had somewhere to be.
When Kallie saw Marcus, she straightened up. She threw her boobs forward and pushed her butt out, prancing from side to side as she deliberately strolled in front of Marcus’s vision. She was trying to be sexy, but it came off totally awkward.
“Uh… what are you doing?” Marcus asked, completely clueless.
Kallie’s expression was aghast. “This… this is just how I walk, Marcus. Gods!”
“No, it isn’t,” he replied. “You’re walking like you have a stick up your butt.”
Kallie’s face turned bright red. “Well, screw you, Marcus Taylor!” She plopped down in her seat and crossed her arms with a huff. Marcus gave a questioning look to me, but I acted like I didn’t know anything. He took a drawing pencil out from behind his ear and fiddled with it nervously, avoiding Kallie’s pouting.
Takahashi came in at three o’clock and sat at the head of the circle. His beautiful bird companion sat on his shoulder, lifting pages from his clipboard for him with her beak.
Takahashi glanced around. “Where’s Charlie? He’s usually the first one here.”
I was worried he wouldn’t show up, until the door opened behind me. “Sorry I’m late.” Charlie hurried in at the last second. Oberi nickered when she saw him coming. “I got held up.”
Doing what, I wonder.
Charlie took the seat next to me, while Oberi changed into a husky and nuzzled his head in his lap. Charlie petted the top of Oberi’s head absentmindedly, like his thoughts were anywhere but here.
“The four of you have made good progress since your entry in the Darke Games,” Takahashi said. “I have to say that I’m proud of this group for continuing to be so open.”
Takahashi’s praise was nice to hear. Since the new semester had started, we hadn’t really discussed anything deep, but all of us had been contributing to conversations that Takahashi chose the subject on— things like learning how to overcome procrastination, deep breathing exercises, and how to get along with others without punching them in the face— a good Institute life skill. I think we all found it easier to muse on stuff like that rather than go too deep.
“I believe it’s a good idea if we try something new,” Takahashi started. “I’ve noticed with this group in particular, the four of you have difficulty connecting with your feelings.”
Oh, great. Here we go.And things had been going so well.
“We have emotions for a reason,” Takahashi continued. “And sometimes, those emotions can overpower us and cause us to make harmful decisions. But this happens when we shove down what’s bothering us and do not confront how we are feeling inside. At some point, those emotions must come out. To avoid allowing them to erupt in a destructive way, it’s best to face our emotions, and allow ourselves to feel what we are going through without trying to block it, for fear of being uncomfortable. I would like each of us to go around the circle and explain how we’re feeling today. Marcus, why don’t you start?”
He always picked Marcus to go first, because Marcus was the easiest to open up. Marcus cleared his throat. “Uh, I’m feeling confused. I finished this painting— took me all week— but I think it’s kind of shit, so I don’t know if I’m going to paint over it or not. I just can’t decide.”
Takahashi nodded. “Ah, I see. Being creative can be very difficult at times.”
Marcus sighed. “Sometimes I want to just throw it all in the trash and give up. I’m never happy with anything I make.”
“What are you talking about?” Kallie asked. “Your paintings are amazing. All your art is.”
“No, it’s not. I’m a terrible artist,” Marcus replied glumly.
