Free Old Wounds by N.K. Smith Page B

before coming…or, you know, slit my wrists.”
    He grabbed my arm and pulled me away from Pinny Dalton and the others. “Don’t say shit like that here, Sophie. That bitch Robin will commit you and you won’t be able to do anything about it.”
    “I was joking.”
    “She won’t be.”
    I cocked my head. “Do we have time to get high?” I whispered.
    “No. And how was I supposed to know that you were as screwed-up as the rest of us? I had no idea Tom would drag your ass to something like this. You used to be all sweet and goody-goody.”
    “I stole a car.”
    I watched with amusement as Jason’s face brightened. “No shit? The Daltons all have sweet rides, so if you ever get the hankering to steal another one,” he whispered into my ear as I checked out all of the faces, many of them turned toward us, curious, “I bet we could make a run for Mexico.”
    “So what the hell is this shit?” I jerked my head back toward the group of kids.
    “Just what it looks like. The dumbass doctor and the therapist have put together this little group to make the parents of Damascus and the surrounding area feel like their kids won’t always be screw-ups. First, it’s all about the individual counseling with Robin, then we have group, and then we have to pair off with one of our ‘peers.’”
    “Oh! I’ll be your peer!”
    He gave me a look and said, “I already got one,” as he jabbed a finger to the corner where the angry girl sat messing with her phone. “I got stuck with Olivia. Bitch is whiney as shit.” He pointed to a boy who looked like her. He was laughing at another boy. “That’s her brother Jamie.”
    “So this is what I have to look forward to on Friday nights now?”
    “We don’t usually have one-on-ones because we’re a big group and it’s just her and one other guy who comes every other week. But since you’re new, you’ll probably have to do them every week for a while. Plus, stealing cars is a pretty big thing, you know. Very sexy,” he finished, flashing me a smirk.
    I heard footsteps on the stairs and Jason glanced up. My eyes followed his as we both watched Tom making his descent. Jason quickly went to mingle with the other Damascus Screw-Ups. I folded my arms around my torso and scowled as Tom approached me.
    “Robin’s waiting for you. Make the best of it, Sophie. I’ll be back to pick you up.”
    He was trying to be encouraging, but just my being here made me want to hit him. I brushed past him and moved up the stairs. I had no idea where to go, so I just walked down the hallway until I found an open door.
    “Sophie.” I turned, entering the room. Dr. Dalton smiled at me and motioned to an overstuffed leather chair. “This is Robin Wallace. You may know her daughter Rebecca from school.” I shrugged. “Well, I need to get back downstairs, but make yourself comfortable. There’s water or soda in the refrigerator.” He pointed to the small dorm fridge underneath the elaborate bookcase, but then looked like he remembered something. “Well on second thought, with your diabetes, you should probably just have water.”
    Nice. Like I needed reminding that I wasn’t supposed to have soda. His saying that only made me crave a Pepsi even more. Great job, Dr. Dalton. Tempt the diabetic car thief. Next, why don’t you dangle the keys to your BMW in my face? Idiot.
    He left and my eyes had nowhere else to settle but on this Wallace woman.
    “Hi, Sophie.”
    I took a deep breath. “Hello.”
    “Your father told me it was quite a shock for you to learn that you’d be spending time with me this evening. I’m sorry you had to find out like that.” I said nothing as I rubbed my hands over my forehead. “I’m not a doctor. I’m a counselor, so we’re just going to talk. There’s no real diagnosis of disorders, just--”
    “I don’t have a disorder.” I glared at her. Two seconds with me and she already thought she knew everything. Idiot Counselor Bitch.
    Her voice was