PSYCHOTIC

S e v e n

Chapter 7:

It's a week after her last visit when Lexi decides to visit Caleb in Riverfield again.

She needed a well deserved break from him. In fact, at some point during the week, she contemplated giving up the assignment altogether and never going back to that hell hole again.

She decided against it when she got a very angry email from Professor Collins threatening to cap her grades and kick her off the course for good.

That was just the kick up the backside she needed to drag herself to the sanatorium and meet with the very intimidating yet very attractive psychopath again.

She hesitated to knock on his large white door with a single glass square window, too high for her to see through. Then again, she's always hesitant around Caleb.

It must be something to do with him because Lexi acts like a complete different person around him. Stuttering and quivering like an idiot.

So when he doesn't answer to the knock on his door, Lexi just walks right in all confident and cool, but all that is thrown out of the window when her gaze is met with a very shirtless and a very sweaty Caleb- well more his back than him.

He's doing pull ups on the doorway to his bathroom. But what really catches Lexi's eyes isn't his ripped muscles and not to mention impressive body, not even the massive tattoo of a compass on his upper back. No, it's the dozens of scars scattered around his whole back, along the full length of his arms and everywhere else that isn't clothed. No doubt they're on his the front side of his torso too.

She can't help the pang of hurt that vibrates through her chest and Lexi wonders what they're from, who would do such a thing to him?

The audiable gasp is heard by Caleb who is now aware of Lexi's presence so she doesn't have time to look at his shirtless body properly, gaze locked in his back for only a couple of measly seconds.

She quickly turns her head in order to give him some privacy but more so to calm herself down. "Caleb-I uh, sorry you didn't- I didn't..." She trails off not knowing what to say as she turns her body fully around to face the door.

She can't see the scowl on his face but he gives it to her anyway. "Didn't your parents teach you any manner-" he cuts himself off, sighing.

He shouldn't have said that.

"Knock next time." He seethes as he pulls a white long sleeve shirt on, walking over to the bed and lying down on it.

"I..I did." She whispers, still facing the door, unsure if she should turn or not.

When he doesn't reply and shuffling can no longer be heard in the room, Lexi hesitantly turns and faces him. Only now, all she can see is scars even though a he's now fully clothed and they're no longer visible.

She wants to ask him straight about them, about every single one. She decides against it when she notices the everlasting scowl on his face which amplifies his annoyance towards her.

"Are you just going to stand there? I'm pretty sure we've been through this before. If you're slow, then don't waste my time and leave already." He states, matter of factly avoiding eye contact and staring at the ceiling.

Lexi gasps at his insinuation. "I am not slow."

Caleb smirks inwardly, not showing it on his face. He finds it amusing how easily annoyed she gets.

"I thought you gave up with me, having not been here for about two weeks."

"It's been one week."