So...new story.

:)

Don't own anything...what else is new?

"Miss Truscott?"

I looked up at Hilary, my receptionist.

"Good morning," I said cheerily as I shuffled up to her desk.

"You were supposed to have an appointment with Johnny Collins today, but he canceled a few minutes ago. There was a call from someone named 'Adam' who was crying and in desperate need of a counseling session, so I scheduled him for 2:30, when Johnny was supposed to come in. Is that okay?" Hilary asked me, blinking innocently through her thick glasses.

I shrugged. "Okay," I said happily. "I'll be in my office. When my first appointment comes, send him in, okay?"

"Yes, Miss Truscott," Hilary said formally.

I stared at the short 60-year old. "How many times have I told you to call me Lilly?" I asked her with a smile.

"Several times, Miss Truscott."

I groaned. "I'll be in my office."

--

Tick.

Tock.

The silence is haunting me.

The stiff air is getting stiffer.

The time between appointments gets really boring sometimes. But don't get me wrong, I really love my job. I really love to help people, which is why I am a psychologist. I have worked here at Sunny Hill Psychology for a little over a year. I am twenty-seven years old and I went through eight years of school to become a psychologist. It took until I was twenty-six to finally get a degree in this particular field and be able to start working full-time here. Over the last year, I have helped a lot of people. Everyone in the building agrees that I am one of the best around. There are five of us who work in this building, two men and three women.

My office phone rang. I reluctantly reached for it. "Miss Truscott?"

Ugh. Hilary.

"Yes?" I sighed impatiently.

"You have a phone call on line 2," Hilary informed me.

I sighed again. "Thanks." I clicked over to line 2. "Lilly Truscott speaking," I said into the phone.

"Hi," a voice said quietly.

"Um, hi? What can I do for you?" I said politely.

"Um, is this Miss Lillian Truscott?" the male voice said.

"Yes," I replied curiously.

"Hi, I was wondering...do I have to fill out any paperwork in order to have an appointment with you? I asked your receptionist and she said I did, but I was kind of hoping that I wouldn't have to...because I don't really want anyone to know who I am," the voice said quietly.

I was surprised. "Um, why can't anyone know who you are? You're not some kind of murderer running around with a chainsaw, are you?" I asked, with slight sarcasm in my voice.

The man on the other end of the line laughed slightly. "No, I'm not a murderer."

"No chainsaw?" I asked with a laugh.

"No," the man said.

I smiled. "So, if you're not a killer, then why can't you fill out the standard forms that everyone fills out?" I asked.

"Well...could I just explain that to you when I get there? I'll tell you, but I'd rather not have everyone else know," the guy said quietly.

I was confused. "But-"

"Look, I really need some help. When you see me, you'll understand why I don't want anyone to know who I am," he said.

I tilted my head to the side curiously. "Um, what is your name?"

There was a hesitant pause. "Adam," he replied.

I thought for a moment. "Okay, Adam. Do you have a last name?"

"Possibly."

I snickered. This guy was smart. He knew just how to avoid a question.

"Okay, well, come on in to my office at 2:30, and I'll see what I can do for you. If I see that you have a legitimate reason for everyone else not to know who you are, then I will see what I can do. Okay?"

"Okay, thank you, Mrs. Truscott!" 'Adam' said thankfully.

I chuckled. "It's Miss..."

"Sorry."

"Bye, Adam. See you later."

"Bye."

I smiled as I hung up. I could swear he sounded so much happier after I finished talking to him. And I could swear he also sounded really familiar. Where have I heard that voice before?

I leaned back in my chair and thought. I tapped my pencil on my desk impatiently. That voice was definitely familiar. Hmmm...

"Knock knock," a voice said from the door.

I looked up and saw Karen Smith, a usual patient of mine, standing at the open door.

"Karen," I said warmly. "Come on in!"

"Hi, Lilly," Karen said with a smile. She carefully walked into the room. I ran over and gave her a hug. She walked over and sat on the couch in the corner of the room. I went over and sat on a chair in front of her.

"How are you?" Karen asked me.

"I'm fine. How are you?"

Karen has been coming to sessions with me for about eight months. She is eighteen years old and reminds me a lot of myself. When she first came to me, she was seventeen and just out of rehab. She got into bad things during the middle of high school and ended up going crazy with partying and alcohol. Once she started doing drugs, her parents found out and intervened. After a few months in rehab, she came back and tried to finish high school. Her parents knew she was in desperate need of some professional help, so they sent her to me. I was happy to help her just because she was a really cool person, and now that she is in a better mindset, she is an even cooler person. Karen's parents say that they are eternally grateful and don't know what they would've done without me. It makes me smile to know that I helped someone as much as I apparently helped Karen. It's not hard to talk to Karen, especially since she is only nine years younger than me. I was a teenager not too long ago.

Karen sighed and crossed her legs. "I think that I am going insane," she said simply.

I chuckled. "Why?"

"Because I am seriously considering going to dinner with-"

"No!" I screamed. "Don't you dare go out with your ex, Sean. You know how bad he is, hun. He is the reason why you tried-"

"I know, Lilly. I know," Karen said, tears starting to form in her eyes. "You keep telling me that!"

"Well, honey. It's true. He got you to try marijuana. He is no good. How many times can you keep going back to him?" I asked gently.

Karen looked down at her feet. "Well, I don't know what to do," she said quietly.

"Maybe you could talk to your mother about this," I suggested quietly.

Karen looked up at me, alarmed. "Why the hell would I do that?" she asked defiantly.

I shrugged. "Well-"

Karen's eyes flashed. "You know how much I hate her," she said, her voice rising.

"Karen, you don't hate your mother. She is a wonderful person," I said calmly.

"She's a rotten bitch and you know it," Karen said angrily.

"Karen!" I scolded, surprised.

Karen waved a hand dismissively. I was really surprised. Karen has come a long way over the last few months, but it seems like she is starting to go backwards now. "I'm out of here," Karen said suddenly.

"But! We aren't done!" I protested loudly. This wasn't like Karen at all. She's come so far from her rebellious days, so I don't understand why she is willing to throw it all away for the same guy who turned her life bad to begin with. And why is she refusing to talk to ME now?

"Bye, Lilly. We're done here for sure," Karen replied.

"Karen, please don't walk out that door," I begged, as she made her way to the door.

Karen turned around and stared at me. "I'm eighteen. You can't tell me what to do."

And then she was gone.

--

"Lilly?"

I looked up at Hilary, who was standing in the doorway of my office. I quickly glanced at my watch and noted that it was 2:25. "Yes?" I asked, also noting that she finally called me Lilly.

"There's someone here to see you," she said.

"Oh, they can come in," I said.

"Yes, but he refuses to fill out the standard paperwork. He said you told him he doesn't have to," Hilary said nervously.

I instantly realized what she was talking about. "Oh, send him in."

"Oh...okay," Hilary said uncertainly. She disappeared, then someone else appeared in the place she had previously stood in.

"Um, hi," he said.

I stared at him, eyes wide. He was wearing sunglasses and a hood so that you couldn't see his face at all. I raised an eyebrow. "Um, should I be scared?" I asked.

"No, I told you I am not a murderer," he replied with a laugh.

Once he laughed, the tension inside me wore away. He sounded friendly. Something in my gut told me that he meant no harm. "Well, you're appearance is telling me otherwise," I giggled.

"Listen, can I just come in and close the door so I can explain?" the man asked me.

"Um, why do you want to close the door?" I asked, slightly startled. Suddenly, I recognized his voice. "Oh my gosh! You sound familiar! Are you-"

"SHHH!" he exclaimed. He quickly shut the door and locked it. If I hadn't already recognized him, then I might have been afraid by him locking the door. But I know knew who he was, so I was just really surprised. I stood up and slowly walked over to him.

He stared at me for a moment. "Are you-" I started again.

The guy put his hood down and yanked off the sunglasses. "Yes," he said slowly. "I am Joe Lucas."

I gasped and covered my mouth, even though I had suspected that. "Whoa. What...what on earth are you doing here?" I yelped, gesturing around my office.

Joe ran a hand through his hair slowly. "Long story," he muttered.

I raised an eyebrow. "I have time."

Sooo what do you think?

idkk. Do you like it at all? Some feedback would be nice...and if ya put this on story alert and don't review, that's just gonna piss me offf. But oh welll.

Byees for now! :)