Woohoo chapter 2! I hope you really enjoyed the first chapter because I couldn't stop writing that chapter! Anyway, here's the next chapter and thank you again for reading my story. I still don't have a schedule for when I post the next chapters, it's still at random but maybe soon I will have one. And please comment because I'd love to hear your thoughts on my story! Thank you! :)
• • •
"So, how was your counselor? Do you like her?" my mom asks.

Other than the possibility of her being a drug addict, identity thief, and how she makes me uncomfortable. "She's fine, I guess I like her."

"Good. You will go to her office every Wednesday."

WHAT?!? "I'm going to see her again?! Mom, I don't think that's necessary." How did I not see this coming? Of course I couldn't just see a counselor once.

"Well, you like her so I'm pretty sure you can deal with her once a week."

But I don't like her at the least. "I'm starting to think you guys are doing this just to get rid of me."

A hurt expression crosses her face and we drive in silence the rest of the way home.

• • •

Currently, I'm in geometry and I have no idea what my teacher is teaching us, but I just doodle and hope I don't get called on. After a few minutes of staring out the window and running out of doodle ideas, I tune into what my teacher is saying. Panic rushes through me when he gets to the part of his sentence that involves "pick a partner for your project. And your project is due today." What project? I should have listened to what he was saying. Stupid Ariel! Everyone rushes for their best friend. But the thing is, I don't have a best friend in this class. Soon enough, everyone has a partner except me. There's an uneven number of students in the class. Now what?

"Hmm. Uneven number of kids. Ariel, I think you may have to work with me," Mr. Andrews says.

My face turns red. No! Please! I beg of you! And right then, a miracle happens. Caesar steps toward me and says "I'll take her in my group, if that's all right, Mr. A?" And for the first time I notice that he has a Scottish accent. Weird.

"Yes, of course," he says with a hint of relief.

"Come on," Caesar says and waves me toward his partner.

I follow him towards his partner and the room starts buzzing with voices. Once we are together, I study his partner. A certain familiar feeling comes across me and then I realize I know him. He used to be in my science class but switched to another one. His name is Bruce.

When I tap into the conversation, I realize their talking about the project. I switch back into panic mode. I don't even know what the project is about!

That's when my second miracle happens and Bruce says, "Hey, can you explain what we're supposed to do because I was not listening." He chuckles and awkwardly rubs his neck. Thank you Bruce, for not listening to the teacher too.

That's when I so stupidly add in, "Yeah, I wasn't listening either." And then I smile so stupidly that it makes me want to throw up.

Caesar laughs. "I've got you guys," and then winks at me. That's when I melt inside. Is he flirting with me? My cheeks burn. Get it together Ariel.

Finally, he explains to us carefully about what we need to do. And I listen carefully, not missing a single word.

• • •

I lay in my bed with my headphones turned up so I don't hear yet another lame and suckish fight between my mom and dad. But this particular fight is different from the rest. I have a bad feeling about this one and the loud shouts are getting even louder. I turn up my music even more but it hurts my ears so I turn it off and listen in on their conversation.

"I can't...I really can't do this anymore!" My mother shouts. She sounds mental. "I want a divorce! Now! Give me the paperwork! If we don't do this now, we will screw up her life!"

My dad rubs his eyes and looks particularly tired. "You're being too loud," he whispers in a hushed voice, "she will hear us!"

"I don't even fucking care anymore! Fuck you!" She walks away from him and goes into the kitchen. She grabs a wine bottle, chugs down some of it and carries it with her up the stairs. When she's a quarter up the stairs, I tiptoe/run into my room and close it. I hear her go into her room, slam it, and lock it.

• • •

I wonder what it would be like if my parents devorced. My mom would probably go to all the bars and get drunk and have one night stands. And my dad? I'm not really sure. Maybe he will just marry another women. And me? This will probably affect me a lot. I might become a drug addict and an identity thief and will team up with the fake Ms. Guinese. That sounds about right.

• • •

When my mom pulls her car up to the "Help For You" building, I go to get out of the car and that's when she stops me.

"Wait...I need to talk to you."

"Yeah?"

She rests her hand on my leg. "Um...I know you will be anything but okay with this but I just want you to be aware this might happen." A Divorce. "Your father and I have been thinking about," she pauses and sighs, "a divorce."

I put on my best surprised face as I can and replace it with hurt too. But somehow it stings even more than last night.

"I'm sorry," she starts, "I know what you're thinking...it's horrible." She sighs again. "But I do have good news." Really? Goody. "You get to stay with me! I knew you never really liked your father so I took on the responsibility of you."

What?! I never said I didn't like dad! Is she crazy? Sadly, I wanted to stay with dad. He's not as crazy. How could she do this without my permission? This stings so hard it hurts my head. I feel sick again. Like I'm going to throw up. Finally, my mother notices the hurt look on my face.

"What's wrong?"

I start to cry. "You didn't even ask me who I wanted to stay with. You just assumed I wanted you! To be honest, I wanted to be with dad. There. I said it." I get out of the car and run up the stairs into the building. This time, I'm actually looking forward to being with Ms. Guinese or identity thief Ms. Guinese. As long as it's anyone but my mom. I wonder how the ride back home will be.

• • •

"The past few visits have been very interesting and have shown many symptoms of being depressed," fake Ms. Guinese says. Depressed?! Why is my life filled with ONLY crazy people? I breathe. I need to get out of here or I'm gonna burst.

I stand up and Ms. Guinese finally notices my distress. "And you know what I have noticed?" I feel like I can't breathe. My pulse races.

"What?"

"I have noticed that these things I come to aren't helping me! And that I am not attending these 'meetings' or whatever they're called, anymore!"

"Fine, don't go to my meetings anymore, but I'm telling you, you need help."

I laugh. "You know what? I'm not the one who needs help. No-no. Your the one who needs it. I see you sneak those pills every so often!"

Her face scrunches in disbelief, but she still has her composure well kept. But a hint of hurt shows and I immediately regret saying that. Way to screw up.

I continue anyway, "I don't need help and I am not depressed."

"You may think you don't need help but you do. You just don't want help. That's what. You may not want help, but you definitely need it."

I walk out slamming the door. But soon I regret it. Can I get charged for that?

• • •

I got out early, so now what? I decide to walk home to avoid awkwardness in the car with my mother. I reach the house and get inside and lock myself in my room. I listen to happy music to cheer me up and to avoid thinking of all my regrets. Later I switch to sad music because I can't help myself. I stare out the window and at all the passers that probably have a better life than me.