Kellin Loax's Story

While he pondered on what could possibly be the reasoning the person in question would give, the phone rang to his left. "She could be here, now..." He walked on over and took the phone to his right ear. "Hello. This is Zechariah."

"Yes, this is the front desk. Kellin is here, though she is being rather fiesty, right now. She is most likely going to need supervision wherever she goes. I hope that won't be too much of a problem, for you, at the moment, since she is supposed to meet you for counseling."

"No, ma'am. Not at all. I'm on my way."

The young man hung up and went on over to the front desk. It only took several minutes before he arrived at the scene. What he saw made him raise an eyebrow. This is going to be extremely tricky, I imagine... The young lady was indeed fiesty, considering two guards were on her. And yet, there was no hate dwelling within him. All he felt was a stern determination to do all he could to assist her with whatever was troubling her.

The woman at the desk glanced up at him with an emotionless face. [b]"Ah, Zechariah. Glad you could come. Here is the young lady who is supposed to meet with you. Hope you can handle her."

The young man did not answer her. Zechariah only walked up closer. He knew she would probably kick him or something, yet he was unwilling to appear harsh or unforgiving. After all, that would not be of much help. His confused demeanor turned into a heartwarming grin. Supportiveness was key to success, here.

He looked Kellin in the eyes as he spoke in a calm, yet comforting tone. "Kellin, it's all right. We're here to help you. That's the whole point of this place." His hand was raised as if to tell her to calm down. "Now, I know what's it's like to geraise a fist. I've been there plenty of times while growing up. You can let off steam in the counseling room. I have a punch bag set up, there, for such occassions. I even have a few rubber balls, in my desk, for you to squeeze. That always eases tensions." Holding out his hand, he posed the query, "Shall we get on with your appointment?"

Zechariah noticed Kellin flinch, plus what she was trying to hide. here were scars and burns on her arms that she pulled the sleeves to conceal. He was nto stupid, he has seen things like that before. One year of counseling does wonders for awareness. "Kellin, actions speak louder than words. By that flinch, I'm assuming the answer is actually 'yes'. I already saw the scars and burns." His eyes locked onto hers. "Nobody's trying to torture you, here. Relax." Bringing out a rubber ball, the young man handed it to her. "If you want, you can squeeze this while we talk. It may help ease tension." It may not show from the outside, but Zechariah did feel uneasy not knowing what led up to the current situation. Without knowledge, after all, he had no way of helping her. For the purpose of counseling, however, and because he was not particularly emotional, the young man kept calm. "It's all right. You can tell me."

Kellin took the rubber ball from his hand and directly set it back down on the table. That wasn't going to help her. Nothing could get rid of the pent up anger and tears and pain. But she wasn't about to take it out on him, she actually had to give him a bit of credit. He spent everyday trying to help other people, unlike her who spent everyday for herself. Though you can't really help other people when you don't even know how to help yourself. Along the way, starting back at the orphanage, she lost herself. The sweet, innocent little girl was no where to be found, just this hard almost empty shell of a person. "Look, Zehariah," talking to him like he was an equal helped, and that meant she had to use his name. "I know you sort of expect me to walk in here and tell you all my feelings and past and we'll just walk out feeling real happy and all better." That was at least half true, right? "But it's not going to happen. No one knows what happens but me and the people that did it to me. If I've never told anyone else, why would I tell you? You're not my friend. You don't care about me. Likely this information is either being recorded or will go straight back to whomever is in charge here." Kellin paused, not sure how to continue. So she didn't, leaving the empty silence between them.

---

"Yeah, he's my brother," JC said weakly, still unable to meet the others eyes. It was so embarrassing to be found this way, he almost wished the boy had just continued driving. Everyone else did, what help could they be to the "little faggot" on the ground? "-that's why I'm still sort of surprised you stopped. Everyone loves him, so if they see him beating me up a bit they don't mind much." Beating him up a bit? Understatement of the year. It felt like his ribs were shattered, even though he knew they weren't. Just bruised probably. But the blood running out of his nose was getting annoying, and he pressed his sleeve against his nose.

The other helped him off the ground and he gave a grateful smile, pulling his hand from his nose even though a bit of blood still came out. He needed a new shirt, that was for sure. And he wasn't really up to going home to be screamed at about ruining a shirt, so when the boy said to come with him, he nodded. "Thank you." was mumbled a bit quietly, still half-expecting for it to all be a prank and someone would run out and kick him in the balls or something. "Oh, uh, by the way, my name is JC."

Zechariah expected her to react that way. Still, this sort of hurt his feelings, even if it did not show. "Kellin..." He placed the papers down and looked completely at her, this time. "If I did not care, I would not be here as a volunteer. I, too, was raised in an orphange, and I've seen others like me not be adopted. We were all we had over there, we stuck together, even when we fought each other. Besides, this is not a one-meeting process. Most patients I've seen took much, much more time to recover from whatever ailed them. They don't call this rehabilitation for show. Plus, the information is strictly confidential. Nobody is going to see it but me."

This is going to be extremely tough. Tougher than I thought. Zechariah may have been backed to a corner, yet there was still fight in him. He never backed down from a patient situation before, and he was not about to. A smile entered his features as he shook his head. "No way. And who said this was a project? Like I said at the beginning of this, I don't give up. Ever. You'd be surprised at my persistence when it comes to things like this. I could set up one hundred meetings on the same topic, if I have to. There is not one patient that I would give up hope on."

Zechariah listened to Kellin's words with a serious face. He cannot be happy all the time. So, she was abused by a foster parent, at the time? Well, this is a start to pinpointing what all led to the overdosage. He nodded to her after listening to confirm that he heard every word. "I see." Picking and straighteninghis papers, he added while keeping an emotionless face, "Well, I think that concludes it, for now. I'll expect to hear about the scars, soon. The next appointment will be... oh, let's see... next Monday at 6:30 pm?" Standing up, he opened the door for her. "In the meantime, do you mind if we walk on over to the lobby? I'm expecting a friend of mine, and I don't want you in trouble with the guards. Nothing against you, I just know the circumstances."

So he really couldn't just be happy she'd given him that much? "I wouldn't set high expectations with me buddy, you'll just get disappointed." That was what her "caretaker" used to say. He would usher her around from home to home and try to find some family that would take her in. And even if they did, she's end up going back to the orphanage within a few weeks. It was pretty much the first thing he would say to the new parents, or whoever. "Hello, I'm Mister Georege, this is Kellin. I wouldn't expect..." Meetings with him where always so pleasant. "Next appointment? Oh, uh, monday, yeah. It's not like I'm going to be allowed to leave this prison until you deem me "safe" or whatever." Kellin rose to her feet, following him out the door and planning to accompany him wherever she was being led. Monday seemed so far away at that moment, and in a way it sort of upset her. She'd actually had a tad bit of..uh, what do you call it..?, in there.And now she had to wait until monday to do it all again. "You know, if you ever get a free space in your little schedule, you could come keep me company." She wasn't a completely recluse, and even though she would pick someone elses company over his, this would have to do. "You know, maybe if we spend more time together I'll 'trust' you enough to tell you some secrets." As if, that would never happen.

Jonathan sighed, slouching a bit more in his seat. He'd been waiting in the lobby for Zech for a while. The lady at the front desk seemed to be glancing his way every so often and John could tell she was silently wondering why he was there. He didn't blame her, he just walked in unannounced with no appointment and sat down. Eventually, as expected, the woman called him out, "Sir? Do you have an appointment with one of our counselors?" Jonathan couldn't help but be offended, how dare she just assume he needed help? Couldn't he have been a counselor himself? Ok maybe not, but still, it offended him and John couldn't pass up the opportunity to mess with the lady. Standing from his seat, he walked over to the front desk, leaning on the counter, "Oh, no, of course not. I'm just waiting for one of the patients, they're the leader of this... Well let's call it a 'group'. And I'm just trying to get him his supplies. We're gonna get cooking." He watched as the lady gasped and John walked away, rolling his eyes, It was funny how they always thought the worst of their pacients, but common, even John didn't know what the hell he was talking about. Out of the corner of his eye he could see two security guards approch him. And, as if on que, Zech walked out into the lobby, a blonde girl following him. Jonathan ran up to them, practically crashing into Zech, 'casually' standing beside him after regaining balence, "Hey Zech, Buddy ol' Pal." he glanced back at the guards who seemed to be retreating, turning back to Zechariah he grinned, poking his shoulder, "You have no idea what good timing you have." John turned his attention to the blonde that came out with Zech, "Hey, you must be who Zechariah was preoccupied with, I'm Jonathan." he smiled, extending a hand for her to shake. Jonathan couldn't help but notice the burn marks she had were similar to the ones he had on his arms. Extremely similar. His smile faded for a second and John almost wanted to point it out but refrained, instead just putting up a smile again.

Zechariah's eyes widened as Joanathan crashed into him. Always takes me by surprise. I probably should be used to it, by now, but... A smile came to his features when he realized it was John. The poke on the shoulder was normal for them, he was used to it. "Heh. Good to see you, too, John. And, well, the timing bit is not always perfect, but whatever." His smile faltered when John noticed the scars and burns on Kellin. "Anyway... you said you wanted to talk to me about something?"

Jonathan looked back to Zech, "Ya, um Danny actually, but I'll wait in your office, so you can finish up here." Stuffing his hands back into his pockets he nodded towards Kellin. "Nice to meet you, maybe we'll hang out sometime later." he said somewhat absent minded, already walking past her to Zech's office. He plopped down on one of the chairs, his mind wandering back to Danny and their situation. He wondered if Danny actually went to her sister's house. John's first instinct was to pull out his phone and text her but he was torn. He pulled his phone out and placed it on Zech's desk, wanting it out of reach. Turning in his seat, he watched the door for Zech, he really wasn't sure how to bring it up, much less how he'd react to it. 'Hey, how's it going? I'm fine, just got my girlfriend knocked up is all.' John shook his head turning back in is seat, he suddenly felt like he was in a principal's office rather than his friend's office and his nerves were getting to him. Sighing, he slumped in his chair, waiting for Zech to come and praying that their discussion might be quick and painless.

Zechariah nodded at Johnathan's response. Did something happen between them? Whatever the possibilities are, I will listen to find out. I wonder what's bugging him?

Towards Kellin, he stated, "Not unless you have to. I can escort you back to your quarters' door, if you want. The guards are just a little too... rough... in my opinion."

The youth counselor did not appreciate keeping people waiting, yet he was not about to have Kellin have an unnecessary encounter with the guards. These momants cause him some stress during his routine. His inner thoughts, at the moment, were, Sometimes, I wish I did not have these dilemas, but I know they do happen, so I shouldn't complain all that much.

Zechariah had to laugh a little. There was just no convincing her, was there? Well, at least not anytime soon. "I'm not worried about 'drama'." He could have menioned his reasoning again, yet he already did once, meaning she would probably not buy it. "And, I guess I can come see you once I'm finished." He handed the map he had to her. "From what I've read, your room is 231, which will the the first one to your right after reaching the seond floor on the elevator."

Another warm smile, and he was off to the counseling room. He entered with a half-grin. "Sorry to keep you waiting, John." Sitting across from him, he posed the query. "Anyway, what's going on? Did something happen?"

Jonathan grinned at his friend, laughing slightly, "You can't always have some sort of miracle success every time, right?" he stood, leaning over and patting Zech on his shoulder, "And you're probably right you know, with the thing about how problems have a way of catching up to us... And about the fact that Danny would be pretty sad if I just left." John muttered that last part scratching the back of his neck. For a moment he paced slightly, in front of the chair he was just sitting in. Finally he just plopped down in his chair, "I really need to do something... Anything actually. I need Danny off my mind, this is driving me crazy." he mumbled looking to Zech, "We need to go somewhere. I need a break from my life and you never give yourself a break from this place. If you want bring that girl I talked to earlier, she seems nice, I'll be waiting at the Arcade, you know the one. Don't waste time, chop chop, I need some hang out time!" He rambled, not letting Zech get a word in edge wise, and had already snatched up his phone and was out the door by the time he finished.

With a small smile, he walked out to his car, grinning as he drove to the arcade. He actually felt like an excited little boy again, going to the arcade with some of his friends. John hadn't felt this good in a while. Actually, this was the way he felt whenever he was going to pick up Danny. Aww crap, way to get her out of your head he let his head fall against the steering wheel, groaning as he did so. John pulled out his phone, finding no new messages, almost wishing Danny would text him first so he didn't feel so conflicted. A huff and 6 text ideas later, John had a text he found semi acceptable.

To: Danny
From: Jonathan

I hope you made it back home ok... Are you ok?

Quickly sending the message, John stepped from his car, walking into the arcade and getting some tokens. He made his way over to the skeeball machine, getting one hundreds practically every time. John was oddly very good at arcade games, well, skeeball at least. With another hundred he could practically see Danny standing next to him, bouncing in joy. John had taken her to this arcade for a date and won her a stuffed bear. It was a date right out of the movies, and John couldn't help but cherish the memories, no matter how much they hurt right now.

Zechariah shrugged when John patted him on the back and mentioned that success cannot come every time. "I guess not."

He felt somewhat better hearing his friend ramble on about the arcade and bringing Kellin. The youth counselor's chuckle was stifled enough for only him to hear. Well, this would probably be great for all three of us, anyway. Kellin could use some time away from the rehab center, every once in a while.

Remembering where he told the girl to go, Zech made his way to the elevator. With such a busy atmosphere in most areas of the building, the elevator usually contained several people at once, not that he minded. Although, the times when he could go to something low key and calming was sometimes preferable. For example, Zech always did enjoy going to one of the local coffee shops for a decaf mocha or latte, sometimes even one of the fruit smoothies available.

It did not take long to reach floor two. Once out in the hall, he took a right before shortly arriving at the door to room 231, where Kellin was staying. So to be polite, Zechariah knocked three times.