A/N I'm trying to make Rose sass come back but it's not fitting in with the story yet. It will soon and I'll try to make it great, just be patient XD Sorry for this being a bit late too, it's long for that reason!

I woke up to the sound of my alarm ringing like a hawk's screech. I slammed my hand down onto my phone, my fingers skimming the screen and turning the alarm off. I tossed and turned but couldn't fall asleep, I had forgotten why I had set an alarm today.

The therapist.

Today was the therapist.

It had been a week since I had talked to another person, even Dimitri. I mumbled, I nodded and used any form of communication that didn't use my vocal chords. I didn't trust myself right now. I felt that if I opened my mouth then all my feelings would flood out, as would the tears.

But, there was no escaping that today I would go to the therapist for the sake of Dimitri and myself. I wanted to be fixed and this was supposed to work so I would give it a go. That didn't mean I was completely willing, in fact, I was still much against the idea- and I wouldn't go down without a fight.

On reflection, I can see why people found me irritating and obtrusive but I stood up for what I believed in and even now, there wasn't much I would take back. I wasn't one to regret my actions but some things were too severe to pretend that it was the right thing to do.

I pushed myself up, leaning against the headboard of the bed and finally, after minutes of tensing and relaxing my legs- readying them for the movement they had been deprived of for so many days- I found my way out of the comfort of the bed and into the bathroom.

I was ready quickly, knowing I was already running late and when I found my way to the kitchen, breakfast was laying out and Dimitri was there with a smug look plastered on his face.

'I think you owe my ten dollars.' He smirked. I had convinced myself that he was joking, trying to sway me into talking but it seemed not. Dimitri was not one to joke- he was serious and if he made a bet, you would pay him what you owed.

I had only shrugged when he made the bet that I would be late for the therapist but I could see that he took it as a yes and there was no going back on that now.

I pushed my hands into my pocket and paid him a ten-dollar bill, not caring that he was the one that gave it to me in the first place- I had nothing of my own anyway. He didn't mind as his smile grew wide. It seemed that he had grown accustomed to my silence and was hoping that the therapist could open me up.

Truly, I was ready to throw things back in the woman's face- I had been given the name Dr Petrov. I had even looked up jokes beforehand and I was sure I could manage to fit one in somewhere.

Though, I was sure I would not get a laugh when I pointed out the obvious flaw in the word therapist. Just take the letters apart and arrange them into two words, I should probably not have pointed it out to her and simply let her forget about it rather than coming to the rather ironic conclusion.

When I had finished breakfast, I scrambled out of the chair, rushed to get my coat on and was led outside by Dimitri and into the old, battered car. I sighed, the warmth of the car surprising in the current cold weather.

The journey was not too long, nor was it short, so I strapped myself in and turned on the radio, silently glaring at Dimitri- no way was I listening to eighties or country music for the forty-minute journey.

The journey was smooth in the end, although Dimitri and I still had not said a word to each other. The block of offices appeared in front of us. I stumbled out of the car, my hands now shaking and made my way inside.

It was signed and the therapists were on the eighth, and top, floor. Dimitri and I, used to a horrendous amount of stairs, was up in seconds and waiting for the hour session that was about to ensue.

When my name was called, Dimitri stayed in the waiting area, and I walked into the almost clinical room. The whole process was not much different to one of a hospital's and the atmosphere set me on edge.

'Hello, Rose.' The old, but rather nice looking lady, called from her desk. 'I'm Alberta Petrov, I'm here to help.' She smiled. Her voice was soothing; she was exactly what a therapist was supposed to be.

Instead of replying, I scoffed and leant back in my chair. 'Why will you not speak to me?' She asked, no hint of annoyance catching in her voice. I scoffed again, avoiding eye contact and glancing around the room.

'I heard you rely on alcohol a lot and have even been hospitalised for that, is that true?' She asked again, the questions feeling like a weight on my shoulders. I shrugged then nodded, not sure of what information I should have revealed to the woman with a beaming smile in front of me.

Her smile, rather than lifting me up, only caused me to fall down- I felt like gum on the bottom of one's shoe when in comparison to the bright smilers.

She seemed to notice rather quickly and lost her smile and an impassive look passed over her face, she was matching me. 'Rose, can you speak for me?'

I didn't answer her question, I didn't want to. I didn't want to speak, especially for her. 'Rose can you not speak?' She smiled, her features suddenly looking as childish as her speech.

I flipped her the middle finger and said no more to which she only laughed again. I pursed my lips and tried to push down the anger raging within me, keeping quiet in the process. 'Rose, I need you to talk so I can know what's wrong. Do this for Dimitri, not me, I can see he cares. Can you speak for me, please?' Her voice was calm but begging. She had sunk low to involve Dimitri in this.

'Don't. Involve. Him.' I spat, my voice hoarse- it hadn't been used in days. She laughed. 'He's your guardian and he cares more than I've seen many fathers care for their daughters. He is involved. What does Dimitri mean to you?' I clenched my jaw. I wasn't about to tell her that I loved him and get him thrown in jail nor was I going to say that I felt he was my father.

'He's like a brother to me.' I lied, my voice trembling under the pressure. Alberta simply stared at me for the next minute. She was trying to decipher why I was lying, I could only assume. After the clock had struck twelve, she stopped.

'It seems we have run out of time, Rose. I look forward to next time.' I looked up at her, my eyes wide. Had it already finished? I hadn't realised just how long I had spent contemplating answers and sitting in silence.

We had gotten nowhere. Despite my wishes, we had gotten nowhere. It only proved just how pointless this all was yet it was saving me from going to a school that I knew I would also hate.

When I was back in the waiting room, Dimitri was waiting calmly. He raised an eyebrow at me and I shook my head. That said it all, there was no point in lying. The therapy wouldn't work and we both knew that.

I was screwed. So, so screwed.

word count: 1304

published: 25.02.17