Chapter 53

I had no idea what I was going to say to Dr. Richards. Whatever it was, I knew I’d better figure it out and start talking.

I was dressed and waiting outside. I made sure Mr. Lopez wasn’t around. I hadn’t seen him since he asked me about Vicky, thanks to a lot of ducking and dodging on my part. It hurt hella bad, the fact that he acted like nothing happened. He’d even re-dressed me and tucked me in.

I stayed clear of the house. I sat on the sidewalk scared and trapped with my haunting thoughts. I stared at the curb reliving it all, looking up at cars as they approached.

I was sitting outside for three hours when a black minivan screeched to a stop. The engine was cut and Dr. Richards, white jacket and all, jumped out. She looked all business. I stood, and she walked to me, grabbed me and pulled me into a warm marshmallow-y hug.

I cried my ass off.

“Let’s go inside,” she said after a while.

“No!”

She looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

“I want to show you something.”

We walked in silence for a while.

“He was perfect.”

She looked at me. I loved that she never forced me to talk. And she hadn’t changed at all she walked silently listening.

“We have a lot in common, you know he seen his mom OD?”

She gave me the ‘What?’ look. I nodded and couldn’t help but smile.

“My brother, Free, had a best friend named AJ.”

We were strolling. I planned to give her the highlights and maybe she’d think my break down was because of my family.

I was still sore but determined to play it off. We turned onto Kavanaugh.

“King’s AJ’s little brother.”

“Wow!” she exclaimed.

“I didn’t know him, I only knew AJ. But he knew me from the jump.”

The silence was awkward, so I pushed on.

“Vicky decided to lose her virginity last night and, I don’t know. We were supposed to do everything together.”

“Awe baby,” she looked concerned.

I shook my head, “I’m still a vir-” the words caught in my dry throat. Clearing it I finished, “-gin.”

She looked at me funny. I was afraid she’d start asking questions, so I kept talking.

“He said he didn’t want me to lose my virginity in the back of an old car.”

Dr. Richards nodded, and I could tell she was impressed. I left out the smoking part.

“He was perfect,” I said again.

“I’d like to meet him,” she said. “If it’s okay with you.”

I smiled and we stopped walking.

“We’re here.”

She looked out at the blue and white two-story house. This wasn’t my first time seeing what became of my old house, but she didn’t have to know that. The yard was a bright healthy green. A bush went around the front yard like a fence. Two large palm trees at either end of the bush.

The garage was in the same place, but instead of my mother’s old Rabbit there was a SUV.

“This is my first time seeing it,” I lied.

She looked at the house realizing why we were there. My hand moved to the heart around my neck.

“That’s beautiful…” her eyes widened. “Is that it? The necklace?” I nodded, and she came in for a closer look.

She read the inscription as I said, “He gave me his heart. I might as well wear it.”