Kayline stood in the centre of the waiting room, and frowned at her plush surroundings for lack of other things to frown at. She didn't understand why she was here, why she was "summoned", so to say, by the school psychiatrist. She wasn't psycho, she assured herself nervously. So why on earth would she be standing here, staring stupidly at the close door, which read, "School Psychiatrist: Quinney Whitney". Kayline had to remind herself repeatedly that she had been summoned, all the while glancing at the piece of paper grasped tightly in her hand. She had gone through the customary therapy sessions after the school had found out about her parents' separation; but those were customary, and she was soon released after Quinney had ensured that she was able to attend lessons again. Of course, she had been back for a few follow-up sessions since then, but they had been part of a schedule, and she had known about them weeks in advance. This, though, was different. If the sessions weren't about her parents, then why would she be called here? But before she could muse further, a brunette head popped out. "Miss Kayline? Quinney would like you to go in now".
Kayline nodded nervously and stepped up to the great wooden oak door and rapped quicl;y.
"Come in".
The room was cosy, the walls painted with a muted tone of soothing blue, as was the cushioned chair beside the dark wooden table. But Kayline hardly noticed the furnishings of the room; her gaze was fixed upon the person behind the desk.
"Well, Kayline", Quinney smiled, gesturing to the chair beside her. "It had been a long time since we've last met, hasn't it? How have you been?"
Kayline refused to sit, but rather, stood where she was, eyeing Quinney with just a hint of hostility and wariness. Sessions with Quinney always left her tired and troubled, which was why she never looked forward to it. Also, she was unsure of the motive behind this little get-together, and was determined to find that out before she stumbled into something unknown. "Why am I here?" She blurted, never one to skirt around the topic.
The only hint of surprise that Quinney showed was the delicate raising of one of her finely sculpted eyebrows. "Why, Kayline, surely it's fine for us to just come together once in awhile to have a little chat?"
"No, it's not fine", Kayline snapped. "If you have nothing better to say, then I'm leaving". With that, Kayline spun on her heels, and was about to leave the room when Quinney's soft voice wafted towards her again.
"Kayline, please, have a seat", Quinney requested quietly. "I do have a purpose in asking you here, my dear".
Kayline gritted her teeth. She hated the way the psychiatrist went about with her terms of endearment, supposedly to put her "patients" at ease, but rather set her on edge. But she knew the quickest way about this was to go through it, and so, much as she hated it, she strode forward and slumped down on the chair before eyeing Quinney suspiciously. "Get on with it then".
With a sigh, Quinney leaned forward. "Kayline, it it really so impossible for us to have a civil conversation? I am, after all, a psychiatrist, and it's hard for me to do my job when you're being like this".
"I'm not in the mood for small talk".
"Alright, alright", Quinney gave up. "Well then, I'll be frank with you. I'd like to know how you're coping with the loss of your parents".
Kayline refrained, unsuccessfully, from rolling her eyes. "I'm doing fine".
"Oh? So what other troubles do you have now?"
"None".
"Yet someone witnessed you banging the lockers and swearing at a teacher, Kayline. I believe something must have been important enough to cause that. Why do you try to avoid it?"
Kayline had to take several deep breaths to calm herself down. She would, she promised herself, rip the tattletale who had ratted on her from limb to limb. "Who told on me?".
"That isn't important".
"It is". It came out as a growl from Kayline, who had gripped her chair so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. "Tell me, now".
"How about we do a trade? You tell me what's bothering you, and I'll tell you who told me about the incident". Quinney had absolutely no intention of doing so, of course. She merely planned to manipulate Kayline until she forgot about that trivial question.
"No, you either tell me now or I leave". It was a weak threat, and Kayline knew it. The school psychiatrist could suspend Kayline if she deemed that Kayline was mentally unstable to attend school. Indeed, all Quinned did was raise her eyebrows as she waited Kayline out.
"I... Heard that you had nightmares".
Kayline immediately snapped up, eyes blazing. "Who the HELL told you that?" Her breathing was ragged by now, coming in pants as her eyes sparked fire.
"Kayline, you need to calm down. Getting worked up isn't getting us anywhere-"
"Who. Told. YOU!?" Kayline screamed, jumping to her feet as she slammed her fists into the wooden table. To her credit, Quinney didn't even bat an eyelid. She had treated Kayline after her family had broke apart, and she knew just how angered Kayline could get when she got royally pissed.
"Kayline. It wouldn't help if I told you". Quinney said, trying to soothe her down, but failing terribly. Without another word, Kayline stormed out from her office, slamming the door so hard that the entire office vibrated. "Quinney?" The brunette, Quinney's secretary, poked back in again, worried by Kayline. "Are you alright?".
"It's nothing". With a wave of her hand, Quinney dismissed her. And gave a frustrated sigh when she was alone.
###############
Leeane had been rifling through her locker searching for her missing biology textbook when the locker door beside her slammed with such ferocity that a small gust of wind burst past Leeane. Startled, she looked up, and involuntarily took a step back when she met the blazing eyes that belonged to Kayline.
"Kay-"
"Who the FUCK did you tell!?" Kayline interrupted her with a low growl, smashing her fist into the locker while keeping her gaze on Leeane. And when she saw her eyes flicker just for a second, Kayline knew that Leeane had indeed told someone.
"I don't... I don't know what you're-"
"FUCK, Lee!" Kayline screamed at her and grabbed Leeane's collar. "Stop lying to me!"
Leeane took a deep breath. "Finn".
Instantly, the fire in Kayline's eyes extinguished, to be replaced by twin gleams of ice that froze Leeane's blood. It was, she decided, much more scarier when she held her anger like that. Leeane would have preferred Kayline to scream and shout and rant than to go into this icy mode.
"You told Finn about my nightmares". It wasn't a question, more of a statement, delivered in deceptively calm tones as Kayline eyes Leeane. Apprehensively, Leeane nodded, and tried to justify herself.
"Kay, I was just trying to-"
"Shut up". With that, Kayline turned and walked away, anger lengthening her strides until she was almost breaking out in a run. Behind her, she heard Leeane call out. "Where are you going?"
"To find that asshole bitch of a teacher". Kayline yelled.
Leeane stood there for a split second, then sprinted after Kayline. She wouldn't be able to stop her now, but maybe if she tagged along, she'd be able to keep Kayline from some serious, and possibly permanent damage.
#####################
Finn sat at his table in front of the empty auditorium and rubbed his eyes tiredly. He had been marking scripts ever since morning, and still here he was, waiting for Kayline. Where was she? She was supposed to have physics remedial here today... And to be honest, he was quite looking forward to it. All too abruptly, his answer arrived, Announcing her arrival with a door slam that shook the door, no less.
Finn raised his eyebrows. Kayline looked... Disheveled. Her long blond hair had obviously been messily tied into a simple ponytail, and her bag was nowhere in sight. But it was her eyes that arrested him. God, those sinfully brown eyes, which usually sparkled with life, was today so incredibly intense today. But there seemed to be a slight hint of terrifying anger behind it. As he sat there, attempting to puzzle it out, Kayline had stormed over and slammed her hands on his table.
"What the hell gave you the idea that I needed psychiatrist treatment for my nightmares?" She hissed, and in that single sentence, Finn understood what had happened.
"Due to the fact that you're reacting as you are now". Finn replied, noticing the confused expression on Kayline's face. "If the the nightmares had been nothing, you'd brush off the session and simply treat it as an irritant. But seeing how worked up you are now just shows that it did have a large impact on you".
Kayline gaped at him. She'd expected evasions, excuses, but no the calm rebuttal that she had just heard. Then, she recovered herself and snapped again. "Look Mr Gerald, that is MY private and personal life, regardless of what YOU think. I so do not need you to worry for ME, you get that?".
"No". With another word, Finn had her effectively stunned again. "I am your teacher, and I do care about you, regardless of how you feel about it. It is a teacher's right to be concerned about the welfare of his students".
Kayline stood where she was. She wanted to spit at him, but she was so enraged that all she did was merely walk out of the room. It didn't help to hear his voice.
"Oh, Kayline, don't forget about the ball this Saturday".
Outside the auditorium, Kayline cursed, both at the man and at the fact that she had indeed forgotten obout it. She glared at Leeane, who was still lurking outside, and walked off in a huff, leaving Leeane hurrying to catch up.