S O P H I A

I watched in horror as Caleb volunteered to end our frightened states. The sound of bones snapping made me gasp as the waiter's bloody body fell to the ground.

"Caleb, stop!" I quickly grabbed a hold of his shoulders and tried to yank him away from causing anymore damage.

His soulless eyes finally connected with my own, his ragged breathing accelerating with the rise and fall of his chest.

I could see the darkness take over his senses, taking over his mind and thoughts.

"Get the fuck off me."

I allow my arms to drop from his shoulders, silently terrified at the way he was acting.

He looked as if he were about to murder someone but without any recognition of his actions.

I looked up to meet the gaze of Caleb, who was staring at me with a blank expression. He was internally dead inside; couldn't even feel the pain of his red knuckles.

And that was how Caleb Knight reached his ultimate record of knocking out multiple subjects in front of me, all adding up to more than the fights I've witnessed in movies.

Emily was in a more shocked state than I was. She didn't seem to notice the external damage he had caused to himself and his surroundings.

"You piece of shit, what the hell's wrong with you?" She slaps his chest repeatedly but fails to get it through his thick head.

His response only considered a sharp intake of breath and anger displayed across his face.

"So you would have rather allowed this shithead to stalk you and consequently lead to something far more potentially harmful?" He raises his voice slightly, becoming defensive over his cousin.

She whispers a "no" under her breath, seeming like she didn't want him to hear her answer.

Looking between the two, I could tell the frightened state of Emily and how this happened at a daily basis, if not, rather regularly.

His emotions were cradled up in one place within him and allowed him to break out into something he wasn't. His overprotectiveness of his cousin further led to his outburst.

He finally takes a step away from the lifeless body and turns to walk away, but not without giving him one last kick to the stomach.

-

Most people probably didn't know I went to a counsellor for my "issues." Actually, nobody ever knew except myself, not even my sister Grace.

But what was surprisingly unreasonable was that Caleb also went to counselling. In fact, he attended the same counselling session as me.

Most probably didn't know he went to visit a councillor on a regular basis. Because who would think a guy like Caleb would ever use his time wisely for something so important.

The only reason I did know was because I had an appointment every week after Caleb's, which was the last one of the day.

Though, today was slightly different. He was sitting rather calmly outside the office, his arms crossed with an earbud in one ear. His eyes were closed as his face was neutral.

I was too busy staring at him that I jumped when his eyes had snapped open and stared straight into mine. He raised an eyebrow.

"Hey, um is anyone sitting there?"

I pointed to the only vacant seat available, which was right beside him. I didn't plan on standing for another half an hour.

I had thought he completely ignored me, but he pulled out his earbud. "What?"

I spoke again, clearing my throat rather nervously. "I said—"  I bit my lip hesitantly, "is that seat taken?"

He looked like he was trying to murder me with his gaze before answering, "Yes."

I astonishingly watch him put his earbud back in his ear, completely zoning me out of his life, like he was prioritised with something else.

I shook my head slightly and mustering up my courage, I placed my bag on the ground beside the chair as I sat down next to Caleb. He seemed dead as he remained in his neutral position.

My brain was in a frenzy as I decided it was a good time to do something that kids these days missed out on and didn't do much these days.

"SOOOO, CALEB!" I said rather charmingly, slapping my hands on my thighs. Oh my god, what the hell was that? Yep, I was definitely planning my death wish right then and there.

He hadn't even moved an inch from when I reluctantly turned to look at him.

"How loud can your music even be?" I whispered under my breath.

"It's not music. I'm just ignoring you." Caleb stated, still unmoving with his eyes closed.

"Oh."

I sat uncomfortably in my chair, my legs uncontrollably shaking and bouncing up and down. We sat in an awkward silence before I mustered up even more courage to say something else, even though I knew I'd forever regret it.

"So...you're not listening to music?"

"Obviously not if I'm responding to you." He grunted aloud, hissing through his clenched jaw.

I had to laugh at his remark. "So you are listening to music?"

Caleb suddenly shot up straight and turned his head towards me. I gulped nervously, realising how much I actually loved my face.

"Can't you just shut the fuck up for one second?" He pulls out his earphone rather forcefully, standing up abruptly. He sneers at me and points a finger at me. "Tell him I'm not coming in today."

I remained seated as I watched him leave the waiting room without another word.

"Caleb, wait-"

But he had already turned the corner. Surprisingly, that was the first ever longest conversation I have ever maintained with Caleb.

Harold peeks his head through the doorway. "Sophia? Did you see Caleb in here at all?"

"Yeah, he was here. Anyway, I'm heading off. I'll see you next week." Heaving my bag off the ground, I begin to follow the footsteps of where Caleb had left.

"Sophia? Are you okay?" Harold calls after me.

A forceful smile appears as a replacement for my discomfort.

"Perfect."

~*~