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It was early on a Saturday morning, about two weeks after Nick came home from the airport. He and Sharon were just pulling up in front of their new therapist's office.
"I don't really know why we had to do a group therapy session," Sharon said.
"Well Doctor Ryan thought it'd be best. Cheer up, will you? Come on, let's go."
Sharon sighed and got out of the car.
***********Brian and Catey's
"Brian wake up, you promised to take me shopping today, remember?" Catey whined.
"Mmm just a few more minutes," Brian grumbled. Catey grunted in disgust and headed downstairs to the kitchen. She turned the t.v. on and began making some coffee. Finally Brian came downstairs.
"Hey sweetie, good morning," Brian said going to give Catey a kiss on the cheek. He never got that far.
"Brian, please, not now. When will you be ready to go?"
"I don't know, I have to shower and stuff. Hey have you talked to Sharon lately? I haven't heard from Nick since he dropped us off from the airport."
"Yeah um...I don't know, me and Sharon aren't really clicking these days. You know we never DID get along. We just were forced to hang out after a while because of you and Nick."
"Oh...that's too bad. I was really happy that you and her were getting along. Oh well. Hey, do you have any plans for tonight?"
"Umm no I don't think so. Why?"
"Well I'm making an appearance at the Starlight Club around 11 o'clock. It should be pretty wild, but we're keeping it kind of hush hush for now, so a riot doesn't break out or anything. What do you think? We'll be staying in the VIP room all night of course. Catey?" Brian noticed that she had turned pale and stopped speaking.
"Uh, sorry. Brian I don't know, that place is so sketched out. A bunch of wierdos are always there." Catey hadn't been at the Starlight since the dreaded night with Justin, and she hadn't thought about that night until now. She was shivering.
"What're you talking about, anyone who's anyone in Orlando goes there. Listen, I'm friends with the owner and I told him I'd do him this favor. Now how would it look if I went in there without my girl on my arm? Besides, I do so much for you and I never ask you for anything. Couldn't you just do this ONE thing for me?" Brian was getting irritated by now.
"Brian, I don't know. Do you...know if anyone else will be there? I hear some coke heads go there like every night..."
"Look, it won't be a problem. Just tell me you'll go, ok? For me?"
Catey sighed deeply.
"All right...I'll go. Now go get ready."
"Thanks honey, it'll be fun, you'll see," Brian said as he left to go shower.
******************Dr. Ryan's Office
"Doctor, please tell me why you think it's necessary for me to be here today," Sharon said to her new psychiatrist.
"Please, call me Sandy. Why shouldn't you be here? I think everyone could use some time to sit and talk out their problems."
"With a stranger?" Sharon asked.
"Well, I'm a professional. And sometimes the other people in your life may not be willing to listen. So, why don't we start by figuring out what it is we want to accomplish from these visits?"
"Visit. I never said I'd come back."
"Fine, no one's forcing you. Nick?"
Nick, who had been very silent thus far, finally spoke up.
"Uh, yeah?"
"Why did you suggest that we have these meetings."
"Well, I'm concerned about her. She's drinking so much and I don't know why. Instead of suggesting AA, I think I want to get to the root of the problem instead." Nick didn't want to look up because he knew Sharon's heated glare would only be there awaiting him. He continued talking.
"It's not only that. Ever since I met her-"
"Nick, talk to HER, not me," Sandy said.
"Ok." Nick turned to Sharon. She had her arms crossed just waiting to hear what he had to say.
"Ever since I met you, you've been rude and angry toward everyone. At first I thought it was cool, you were really different from anyone I'd ever met. But now I just think you have problems. I care too much about you to let it slide. I thought we were close enough that you could tell me anything."
"Nick, I love you to death but I do NOT have a problem, and certainly not problemS. I like to drink! And as for my bitter angerness toward the world, well more people should open their eyes like me and realize that everything isn't rose colored."
"Are you close with your family?" Sandy asked.
"My family? No."
"Why not?"
"Me and my Mom never got along. My sister is long gone, who knows where."
"Your SISTER!? What sister? You never told me you had a sister!" Nick said.
"You never asked, and besides I didn't think there was any reason to mention her since we never see each other anymore. My dad died and she figured she could do anything she wanted, so she split as soon as she was eighteen."
"Your DAD DIED?"
"Yes, damn it! What is your fucking problem?"
"My problem is that all this time I thought we were best friends and soul mates, but really you've never even told me about your life!"
"Well I'd rather not talk about this stuff and besides, why haven't you ever asked me about my family?"
Sandy and Sharon turned to Nick with more interest now. He felt slightly uncomfortable.
"I...I don't know. I assumed you had no siblings and that your dad was a lost cause or something. I mean I saw how screwed up things with your Mom were but you were so nonchalant about it, I guess I never really cared. It never seemed to bother you."
"Or maybe it DID bother you, and you used drinking as a release for the pain," Sandy said.
"I refuse to sit here and listen to you try and analyze my life."
"What tempts you to drink?" Sandy asked.
"EXCUSE me?"
"You heard me, WHY do you drink? When you feel that pull to have a drink, what's usually on your mind right before that?"
"I don't know...maybe a fight I've had with Nick or if I've been stressed out over something."
"Do you ever think about your sister?"
"No."
"No?"
"No!"
"You have never thought about your sister since the day she left?"
"Yeah I have but not anymore. Is there a reason for all of this?"
"All right, I want to ask you a personal question," Sandy said.
"Oh of course, since this entire meeting has been so IMpersonal and all."
"At what age did you lose your virginity?"
Nick definitely perked up at that question, since he himself had been wondering for so long.
"I was...young," Sharon said.
"Ok, how young?"
"Look, I was going through a lot of problems back then. My dad died, my sister left, my Mom didn't even know I existed!"
"So you lost your virginity around the time all of this happened?"
"Yes, but I don't know WHAT the point is."
"Just answer the question."
"I was thirteen, all right?" Sharon said. Nick looked horrified.
"Oh yeah right, like you were fucking a different German girl every night when you were thirteen," Sharon said. Nick shut up after that.
"Well it seems that when you started having family problems is when you began reaching out to men. I'm assuming this is when you formed a defensive attitude toward people as well. I think you have abandonment issues, and this may be the root of your drinking."
"Don't assume anything, lady, you don't know me at all. I slept with guys because I like having sex."
"Not lately," Nick mumbled. Sharon ignored him.
"I'm angry toward people because ninety percent of the population is made up of complete idiots. I myself am an idiot for spending an hour of my time in this wacked out office. Come on Nick, we're outta here."
Sharon grabbed her bag and left, being followed my Nick.
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