A. H. Wong

Chapter Five

 

 

March 3rd, 2012

 

Early Afternoon

 

Beatrix rapped on his door. Taylor had been waiting for her for most of the day, meditating on what she had said. He went through his mental notes--she had been nervous, afraid....Of him? Or of simply feeling a way that now felt impossible for her?

 

Partially, her fear was of him, of course. He couldn't deny that she was frightened of him—most patients were, in fact. It simply came with the territory; he was, after all, a member of the seventh floor.

 

He smiled to her as she entered. "Why, hello, Beatrix! Here for your official session, I see."

 

She flushed faintly, smiling. "Yes, I'm here. It feels a bit silly to come, though, after all of the conversation we had yesterday."

 

He grinned at her. "Well, too bad, because this time is a real therapy session. Now, please, take your seat. I'd like to discuss your father."

 

<3 <3 <3 </3

 

Early Evening

 

Kevin held court at the table, gesturing meaningfully at the others with an extra-crispy french fry. "Now, now, look here! You have it all wrong! Taylor's not a dick—he has a dick in him. He's so uptight at times that that's the only explanation! It's a good, long one too."

 

Beatrix just rolled her eyes. Fighting back a strange urge to combat his view of the strange young therapist, she asked instead: "Has anyone here ever actually seen his credentials? I thought that people like him always had their diplomas framed."

 

Lily blinked at her. "Yes, it appears you are correct. None of us have ever actually seen his degree—or, at the very least, I have not. Has anyone else?"

 

Leslie snapped in, "Nope, and I don't give a fuck. He's a dick—sorry, Kevin, the dude ISN'T gay....."

 

Kevin wagged his eyebrows at her. "And how do you suppose YOU know? I mean, gee, girl....You ain't exactly a prime example of womanhood. How do ya know he—"

 

He shut up as a ketchup cup was thrown into his face, the red liquid slopping its way down onto his polo shirt.

 

Less than a second later, a carton of chocolate milk found its way into Leslie's hair.

 

Within ten minutes, the entire cafeteria had erupted into a food fight.

 

<3 <3 <3 </3

 

Evening

 

Taylor sighed, pressing a hand to his face. Of course there had been a food fight. Of course there had been, and of course it was started by the members of the seventh floor table. Of which, he was almost certain that it was Kevin who had began it—likely with some prodding from Leslie. He shook his head quietly, before exiting his room.

 

He wasn't ready to deal with this, but it looked like he had no choice.

 

<3 <3 <3 </3

 

Late Evening

 

"Master John, I apologize."

 

"Don't."

 

"But I—"

 

"Was the one responsible to make sure the occupants of the seventh floor weren't being idiots."

 

"Yes. Which is why—"

 

"Don't. Apologize. Look, Taylor.....It was a food fight. You can relax. Go back to your room."

 

"Yes, Master."

 

"Go get yourself a pudding on the way, or something. You earned it, for spending so long cleaning up the mess."

 

"Yes, Master. Thank you, Master."

 

"Wait. Please, quit being so damned formal. My title here may be 'Master', but you don't need to call me that every sentence."

 

"Yes, Master."

 

"You're just...."

 

"Doing that to bug you, Master. Of course I am, Master. You should know me better by now, Master."

 

"I really can't stand you sometimes."

 

"And I, you."

 

<3 <3 <3 </3

 

March 18th, 2012

 

Mid Morning

 

"You are doing well in class. Caught up quickly, and everything. Do you have plans for after you leave here?"

 

Beatrix looked at the teacher, Miss Monroe, and shook her head. "No. I have....I have no idea where I'm going after this. I mean....Just being here has been a shock to me."

 

Miss Monroe smiles faintly. "Oh, yeah, I can see how that might be. Will you need anything from me? I do want to help you, Beatrix."

 

"Everyone does."

 

Miss Monroe blinked at her, before shooing her to her seat. "It's class time, Beatrix. It was lovely speaking with you."

 

Feeling pleased with herself, Beatrix took a seat.

 

Well, at least she was doing well in English....

 

<3 <3 <3 </3

 

Night

 

A knock sounded at the door, rousting Beatrix from sleep. Without even stirring from her bed, she called out: "Come inside, Martin."

 

The door popped open, and before too long, she felt Martin's weight sink into her bed. His hand rested softly upon her back, and a kiss found its way to the side of her neck. "Hello there, love."

 

"You aren't really allowed in here, Martin."

 

He went silent for a few moments, unsure. He looked closer at her, trying to find some semblance of anger in her face, but there wasn't enough light in the room to see. "W-Why not?"

 

"No boys in girls' dorms after dark."

 

"You didn't....."

 

"Care the night we had sex. Yeah, I didn't."

 

"So what's....."

 

"What's changed is that I still don't feel you love me."

 

"Beatrix, I didn't mean to force myself on you."

 

"You....You didn't. No, Martin, you didn't. I just wanted to make you happy, Martin. I just always want to make you happy. More than anything else, your happiness means so very much to me."

 

"But then....Why are you angry with me?"

 

"I'm not. I'm mad at myself. I shouldn't have gone that far with you. I wasn't ready for that, and I don't blame you for it."

 

"Do I....Do I make you happy, at least?"

 

She sat up in bed, hugging her tight. "Martin, you've been spending every minute with me that you can. You've given me kisses. Love. Hugs. You've been good to me, Martin.....I don't have that. I never have that from anyone."

 

"So does....Does me trying so hard for you make up for my mistakes?"

 

"Of course it does....." she murmurs into her ear, her sleepy-warm breath tickling his neck. He held her close to him now, rubbing her back softly and planting a kiss upon her cheek. "I do love you, Martin. I know I'm not that good at showing it, but I...."

 

"Hush, now. Let it go. I know you love me, and I....I want to...."

 

"Just....Just spend the night with me, okay? I....I need to be held."

 

"Of....Of course."

 

<3 <3 <3 </3

 

Early Morning

 

Taylor opened her door on silent hinges, peering into the barely-lit room. Grateful for the soft red glow of the sunrise, he was able to make out a pair of bodies—curled up together in a sign of love—beneath the covers. They spooned, Martin's arm covering her breasts, his leg over both of hers. She lay in his embrace, her eyes shut in peaceful sleep.

 

Refusing to acknowledge the surge of pain in his chest, Taylor turned away and closed the door as he left.

 

He had seen all he needed to see.

 

They had been clothed.

 

<3 <3 <3 </3

 

Late Afternoon

 

Maverick and Janelle were exhausted. They stared up at the clouds in the sky, stretched out on the roof together. A handful of others were up there as well, all of them escaping from the horror that is normal life. They were meant to be in therapy sessions, or with friends, or training—instead, all of them lay atop the roof together, gazing up at the clouds. Some tried to speak, but most stayed silent. Hands, lips, and bodies pressed close. Clutching each other against the chill of the wind, Beatrix and Martin lay beside their two friends, waiting for the world to pass them by.

 

The group of them would be found, as they always were, but not for some time yet. The only one who was ever willing to make the climb up to find them was Taylor, and he never seemed very interested in doing so. He always seemed more interested in leaving them alone, and waiting for them to return when they were ready.

 

Beatrix supposed there was something good about that. He was easy going, in a way, as often as the residents found him frustrating. He was a good enough man.

 

He was a good enough man.