DAY 2
Ally's POV
Beep. Beep. Beep.
My eyes bust wide open as my loud alarm goes off before I smack it.
When I do, I realize it's the morning and sigh as I sit putting my hands in my face. I'm super tired and as enthusiastic I was coming in yesterday, the feeling is starting to fade. Austin is just so difficult and I know he's gonna make my time here as grueling as possible. But I promised myself, that no matter what this job throws at me, I was gonna help people and have a good time doing so. So, I will not let that Moon boy drag me down. No, he will not make me a Debbie Downer.
I stand up stretching and yawning before entering the bathroom. I get in front of the mirror and begin to brush my teeth when my phone dings from a text message. I go get it and bring it into the room with me so I could continue to brush my teeth while I reply to who it is.
*Mom*
Good morning, sweetie. How was your first day?
I smile at the sweet and comforting text and decide to reply.
It was really good. Thx for asking. :)
I put my phone down and finished brushing my teeth before entering the shower. Now I know I lied to my mom saying that it went way better than it did but I believe it will get better so why complain about something she already had doubts about?
When I get out the shower, I look through my suitcase of things since I decided not to unpack yesterday. Finally, I decide on a short strapless yellow dress with white sandals. I also wear a white cardigan that matches well with the outfit. I look in the mirror and smile as I curl the end of my hair. Thankfully, I just put in my new highlights before I came here, so I shouldn't have to worry about them for a while.
I walk out the room to see staff members walking around noticing that they have their scrub shirts on which I completely forgot about. Oh my gosh, how much of an idiot can I be?! I speed walk back to my room when I'm stopped by someone.
"Seems like you are the only one with common sense today Miss Dawson." Doctor Hahn says confusing me.
"Huh?" I ask not knowing what she was talking about.
"Everyone forgot that I said you only have to wear scrubs during your working hours. Meaning your sessions with your patients. During your own free time, you are free to wear whatever you want. Seems like you were the only one who listened." She said causing a raise of the eyebrows from me. "Oh.. uh yeah. Of course. Because that's what I do. Pay attention. All the time. Because listening is important. Yup." I said awkwardly as she stared at me strange. "See, this is why I don't enjoy interacting with people." She said with a shake of the head turning around. "Weird." She said lowly and walking away as I sigh because I have embarrassed myself in front of the head director for the hundredth time since I've been here. And it hasn't even been 24 hours yet. I sigh thankful that I wasn't the screw up this time.
When I walk down the hallways, I peek to see inside different rooms where people are having sessions with AA therapists. Some patients are talking and in other rooms, the therapist is.
I stop at a room when I notice Austin is in there. The older man I seen yesterday is talking about something but Austin is not paying attention. Shocker. I sigh as I look at him and how rude he is. What happened to him?
"Boo!" I jump holding my chest when I notice it's just Cassidy, the girl I met yesterday. "Oh my god, I didn't mean to scare you that bad, but that was good!" She said laughing her head off as I smile shaking my head. "Okay, you got me." I said putting my hands up as she smiled and came behind me to look at what I was looking at.
"So, what are we watching?" She asked referring to the room we were peeking in on. "My patient." I responded shortly as she nodded looking as well.
"He is such a hottie." She said as I looked at her weird.
"What? I would totally date him if he wasn't an asshole and alcoholic or a mur-" She started as I watched her pause. "Never mind." She stated as I face her completely. "What were you gonna say?" I asked curious. "Nothing of my business. If you don't know, you're probably not from this town then." She told me.
"I'm not. This place is completely new to me." I admit to her.
"That explains why you don't know. I was gonna say something that he should tell you. If he wants to. It's his business. I was only going to say something about it because I figured you knew already but I was wrong." She said as this just made me more intrigued in what she was talking about. "Oh...Kay?" I said leaving it alone. For now.
"So, would you?" She asked as I looked at her.
"Date him?" She continued.
"No, he's not my type." I told her honestly.
"I'm not talking about his personality and his issues. Let's just say based on looks. How far up on the scale is he for you?" She asked interested on knowing.
I look back at him and his somewhat curly blonde hair and his pink lips that looked very soft while chewing on a pen. His hazel brown eyes with a hint of gold in them and his body build which was very masculine by the way. "I mean...I guess he's alright." I said now walking away as she giggles following me.
"Look, I don't want to talk about him anymore. How's your patient?" I asked genuinely interested. "Oh, Leonard is good. I can tell it's an everyday struggle for him but I'm gonna be by his side building him up. He wants to live as long as he can for his kids and his grand kids. He doesn't want his obsession with alcohol to stop him." She explained as I nodded inspired by his story. "Wow. We didn't even talk with our patients today and you already have a good report for Hahn later." I said as she smiled. "I know. Hopefully that will makeup for idiotically putting on my scrubs during non work hours." She said rolling her eyes as I giggled.
"You look very pretty by the way. I didn't notice how gorgeous you were till I saw you in the sunlight." She said as we stepped outback in the gated yard. I chuckled at her sweet observation. "I could say the same about you Miss Jones." I said bumping her shoulder as she laughed.
Suddenly, the loud speaker came on. "All staff members prepare for meeting 1 with your patients. Patients will be meeting you outside in the garden for your first talk of the day in 10 minutes." Doctor Hahn announced as all the staff members ran around preparing their own area for their patients while I excused myself to Cassidy and ran to my room to change.
I throw on a cute pair of jeans and my scrub shirt pinning my ID tag on there. The other staff members may have mistakenly gotten dressed early but at least they had an advantage. I pick up my package book and bring a note pad and pen and run as fast as I can back to the backyard. Thankfully, he's not back here yet so I go to a table and sit. I look through my book for a while rereading a couple of things when I notice he hasn't shown up and it's been at least 10 minutes. I continued to tap my long painted nails against the table over and over again growing impatient.
I almost got up when he suddenly walks in, looks over to me, walks over to me and sits down. He says nothing, takes out his phone as if I'm not even there. "Um...hello! Where have you been?" I asked as he looked up and put his feet up on the table. "If I'm being honest, I wasn't gonna come. But Hahn caught me sneaking to my room and vuala." He said as I rolled my eyes at his arrogance. "I won't respond to anything immature or rude you have to say. I'm gonna ask you questions and you answer. That's all to it. Got it?" I asked feeling myself being pushed to the edge as he stared at me for a while before smirking and throwing his hands in the air basically telling me to continue.
I sigh and look into my book before looking at him.
"So, did you go over your file yesterday like I told you?" I asked even though I already knew the answer.
"No." He responded careless.
"Why not?"
"Because I don't need a damn sheet of paper to tell me what I already fucking know."
"No cursing at me, please."
"I didn't curse at you. I said a curse word in a sentence to you."
"Which is still...at me. The point is, it's pointless. You're so angry. I don't know why, so I won't judge of course. but maybe you should learn how to take it up with the people who actually did something to you."
"Who says I haven't?" He questioned and when I looked into his eyes, they got darker as if he was actually thinking about something really bad.
"Well if you did, obviously it didn't work because you're taking things out on me."
"Because you're annoying."
"And you're mean, but you don't see me treating you like crap every five seconds." I say as he opens his mouth to say something but he can't because he knows I'm right. "I'm outta here." He said pissed and walking off again for the second time since I've met him.
I sigh getting up and following him. "You gonna walk away every time we get into an argument?" I ask as he doesn't respond as I walk behind him in an empty hallway. "Oh, so Austin Moon doesn't get his way, so he storms to his room like a little baby." I said causing him to violently storm up to me but I keep my pride. "Don't ever talk to me like that again." He threatened. "What? You gonna hit a girl?" I ask folding my arms because I did not fear him. He looked at me before punching his hand on the wall closing me in.
"I won't hit you." He said coming real close to me as I back up. "But I could touch you. If you wanted..." He said leaning in to connect his lips to mine but I push him away before he could and smack him very hard.
"Look, I don't know who the hell you think you are, but if you try touch me again like that I will do much more than a smack!" I yell beyond angry walking away as he grabs my arm. "Get the hell off of me!" I said as he completely turned me around. "No. Look, I was only coming on to you because I was trying to seduce you." He admitted as I looked at him like he was crazy. "Why in the world would you try to do that?" I asked beyond confused. "Because I figured if I had you wrapped around my finger, you wouldn't make me do all this stupid shit for the past month." He said and the more he said, the more it did make sense.
"Okay...well I believe you." He nodded a little.
"Just don't try that shit again." I said folding my arms pissed.
"Oh, so she does curse." He smirked.
"You deserve it." I said walking away as he followed behind.
"I never had a woman reject me before. Must be because of the rules." He said as I scoffed at his ego. To think that the only possible reason for someone not to like him is a rule? Who the hell does this kid think he is? God? "Or maybe for the fact that I have a boyfriend and you're not my type." I stated honestly as he raised his eyebrows a bit. "Boyfriend? Who'd date you?" He asked with a chuckle. "Ha. Ha. Very funny. Don't be sad because you're alone." I said as he laughed a bit and this was the first time I've seen him pull his guard down a bit.
"We can finish the questions in my room since you're prone to fits in public places." I told him as he didn't respond and I opened my door. He walked in behind me and looked around silently.
"This place is wack." He said as I rolled my eyes ignoring his insults. He sat in my desk chair as I sat on my bed and folded my legs.
"So, why did you drink on school ground?" I asked as he looked at me.
"I'm not answering anything." I groaned frustrated. "What is with you? Do you think you're entitled or something? That you are too good or better than the people around you?"
"Yes. That's exactly it." He said as I stared in awe of how despicable a person could be.
"Why. Did. You. Drink. On. School. Grounds?" I asked one last time with a temper I could feel coming on but I tried to hide it. He could see it and it looked like it made him a little uncomfortable so he groaned a little before facing me. "Because I wanted too." He said as I nodded. It wasn't really a deep answer but an answer. You gotta start somewhere.
"Okay, but people don't just wake up and decide I want to get wasted in school." I replied as he scoffed.
"How would you know? You probably haven't had a drink your whole life."
"I actually have. But I do responsibly. If you knew what that was like, you wouldn't be in here." I said smartly for the first time as he looked offended but raised his eyebrows impressed. "You're something, Dawson." He said as I looked down at my package book.
"Two of the suspensions were from your high school and the other from college. Wow. I didn't know you-" I stopped myself from saying it cause it would have been insulting. "Went to college? It's okay, Dawson. Don't be afraid to be like everybody else." He said and I could tell he was hurt but didn't want to show it.
"I'm sorry. I should've have assum-"
"No, forget it!" He yelled storming out and slamming the door.
"Ugh!" I groaned loudly slamming the book down and plopping down on my bed. Why does this have to be so hard?
I pick up my phone and dial my mothers number. "Hey darling. How are you?" She asked nicely and I smile because it was just nice to hear my mother's voice. "Hey mama. It's not bad here, but the guy I got assigned to is so difficult. I'm trying to be positive here but he is driving me insane." I finally said getting it off my chest. "Okay, calm down. What's the main problem?" She asked. "He's just not willing for anyone to help him which I know is a common symptom to people in denial but he's so mean. I don't know how to make progress with someone so stubborn." I said putting my other hand on my hip frustrated. "Yes, you do. You are a Dawson. We handle people how we always do. Kill em' with kindness." She said as I stayed quiet for a minute before realizing she was right. "Thank you, mama. I'll talk to you soon. I love you." I told her grateful. "Love you too sweetie." She said as we both hung up.
I head back out and when I do, I see Leonard, the 70 year old man in the hallway against the wall with shaking hands. I fury my eyebrows in confusion before running over to him. "Sir? Are you okay?" I ask as he faces me and reaches for my hand as I kindly hold his as he paces his breathing. "Is there anything I can do for you, Mr. Cress? Anything I can get you?" I asked worried as he looked at me grateful at how nice I was being. "Alcohol, but I'm pretty sure that's against the rules." He jokingly said as I chuckled a bit but still looked at him concerned.
I watched as his hand tremor began to stop and he smiled a little but sadly. "I'm sorry you had to see that. It usually happens when I'm alone. It's the withdraw...from-"
"I know sir. You don't have to explain." I said as he sighed putting his gray hair against the wall. "I know how it looks. Old man still can't control his liquor. Never got his act together." He said as I looked at him feeling nothing but sympathetic. He looked at me and that's when I notice the tears in his eyes. "It's just so hard. It's not easy to say I'll just quit. It's not realistic." He said making his hands cover his eyes. "There is just so much bad that happens in this world and those bottles of liquid...have become my best friend." He said before looking into my eyes. "I know I'm a mess." He said as I shook my head placing a hand on his shoulder. "No, you're not. And if I judged you, I wouldn't be any good at my job would I?" I say with a small smile as he chuckled with a nod. "You're right." He said as he started to stand up better with the help of his cane. "No, you are. You just made me realize something I've been doing all wrong. Thank you. I'll walk you to your room and then call Miss Jones okay?" I told him as he smiled grateful as I walked with him.
Austin's POV
What the hell happened? I use to be so high on life and now I'm sitting in this boring ass room because of this stupid fucking place that my mom placed me in. Trying to keep me from drinking? Are you fucking serious? There's nothing wrong with alcohol. Especially when it makes you forget...
*Knock Knock*
"Leave me the hell alone, Dawson." I said bouncing a ball off of my wall when the door opens. I get ready to yell when I notice it's the Head Director Hahn also known as my grandmother. I sighed annoyed knowing she was going to say something about my behavior as usual. I went back to bouncing the ball ignoring her as she shook her head and closed the door. "You Moon men. So stubborn. Just like your father." She said as I looked at her for a second because it's been so long since my father has been mentioned. She's my grandmother from my dad's side. He passed away when I was 10. Then I continue to do what I was doing.
I watched in the corner of my eye as she gets a seat and places it in front of me basically stopping me from throwing the ball. She gives me her death stare which I can't turn away from. Frustrated, I stare back at her out of respect. "Your father never could admit his faults. When he was a teen or young adult, he was convinced that he was always right and no one could tell him otherwise. He didn't wanna listen when people tried to make him realize what he could be." She explained as I fury my eyebrows.
"I don't remember him being like that."
"That's because your mother was the one who did."
"My mom?"
"Yes. When he met her, she was like this light at the end of his tunnel. He didn't appreciate her at first but soon he fell for her and when he did, he fell hard. He never experienced that kind of bond between two people before and he never wanted it to end." She said with a slight smile remembering her son as I looked down.
"I just want him to be proud of you. Don't you?" She said kind of emotional.
"Grandma, please don't start." I said leaning back annoyed.
"Look here." She said roughly grabbing my face and turning it to me.
"You are too damn young and smart to be throwing your life away on a bottle of liquor just to hide feelings you don't want to admit you have." She said as I looked at her deeply in the eyes. "Your father turned his life around and I will not give up on you until you for the same. I will not watch you waste your life because you do not see your worth! You are worth it, Austin." She said as I feel tears in my eyes but I refuse to let them fall. "I don't want you to ever experience what you did and I wish I could take it all away, sweetie but I can't. That's why you have to try. That's what Miss Dawson is doing." She said as I looked up at her name.
"Does she know?" I asked as she looked confused until I made a face and she had a realization.
"No, she doesn't. Do you want me to tell her? Maybe she'll understand your situation better." She offered as I shook my head violently.
"No. She doesn't need to know anything. She annoys me enough and if she knew she would never leave it alone." I said as she smiled.
"What?"
"She annoys you because she cares." She said folding her arms.
"Cares? She's not doing this to help anyone but herself. Don't forget you pay well, grandma." I said smartly bouncing the ball against a different wall this time.
"I do pay well, that's very true. But you couldn't be more wrong about Ally Dawson." She said as I caught the ball and turned my head to her. "I've seen that girl's resume and the amount of experience she has for only being 20 years old is extraordinary. I can't tell you what was in her personal essay because of confidentiality but you should not judge a book by its cover. I may not show it towards her but she truly is one of a kind, Austin." She said as I looked into her eyes and I knew that she believed it. But that doesn't mean I care.
"Promise me you'll give this a chance?" She pleaded.
"Grandma, I've been giving this a chance since I was 16." I said not really wanting too.
"Something tells me this time will be different." She said as I sighed knowing that even though I didn't want to do this, I'd do anything for her or my mom. I don't say anything but nod slowly as she smiled kissing my forehead. "Thank you, sweetie. I appreciate it." She said as I nodded as she left before I sighed hitting my head against the wall upset.
My phone rings and I immediately pick it up thinking it's my mom finally realizing it was mistake putting me in this fucking dump. "Baby, hey!" I hear my girlfriend say as soon as I pick up the phone. I sigh disappointed. "What, are you not happy to hear from me?" She asked offended as I sat down on my bed frustrated. "No, I just wish I didn't have to hear from you over the phone because I'm in here." I say as a cover up because she's so freaking emotional. "Aw, okay. I understand baby. It's hard being apart from you especially at night when I'm feeling...all kinds of lonely." She said teasingly as I groan.
"Shit. How the fuck am I gonna go a month without sex?" I said realizing the wait which made me groan even more.
"I don't now babe. It'll be a struggle for me too but don't mess with anyone in there." She told me sternly.
"I don't know. I just might." I said seriously.
"What? You better be joking."
"I'm not."
"I swear to god Austin if you fucking cheat on me, I'll fucking hate you and we'll be done!"
"Calm down. I'll try really hard if it means that much to you. But I make no promises."
"Oh my god, Austin. What happened? We are in a great relationship and now you're acting like this?"
"Brooke, don't act surprised. I told you this from the day I met you. I just wanted a one night stand but you wanted more. I said I'll give it a chance because you were cute and not as annoying as the rest of the girls I knew but I'm not a commitment guy. I don't need anything serious." I told her not changing my mind.
"I can't fucking believe this. So, what are you saying? You're breaking up with me?" She asked and I could tell she was really upset and probably on the brink of tears. "No! I just don't think I can be faithful, but I don't expect you to understand that. If you feel you need to end it, go ahead. I won't stop you." I say as I hear her begin to cry which causes me to roll my eyes but I do feel somewhat bad because I do care about her. "I don't wanna break up with you Austin. I wanna be with you for the rest of my life but I can't handle you cheating on me. Trying is not enough. I have to be the only one." She said as I nodded even though she couldn't see me.
"So, what do we do?" I asked unsure of what was happening.
"I don't know. I think I need some time to think on it." She admitted with a clearer voice then when she was crying.
"Okay, I'll respect that." I told her.
"Alright. Bye." She said quickly hanging up on me which I don't blame because I basically told her I might cheat on her whenever I wanted. God, maybe I wouldn't have those feelings if I wasn't in here! I hate this place. It's ruining my fucking life!
I stand up straight opening my closet door to get something when I hear feet running down the hallway.
Ally's POV
I find myself running down the hallway to where Austin's room is. He turns around quickly looking at me as if I'm crazy. "I was wrong." I said out of breath. I bend down with my hands on my knees because phew, I really am not a runner. "Uh, shit. Here. Sit or you're gonna pass out." He said pulling up a chair for me as I shook my head still trying to breath. "I don't need to sit. I need to talk." I said as he groaned. "Don't you do that enough?" He asked sarcastically as I try not to roll my eyes.
I walk closer to him as he looks at me. "I was wrong about the way I approached this program. I thought that it was gonna be much easier than it is. I thought I was gonna tell people what they were doing wrong and that's it. But it doesn't work that way. Someone showed me that it is a process and people move at different paces. It's an addiction and I shouldn't be blinded thinking that it'll just go away. I'm sorry if it seemed like I rushed you and I'm sorry that I wasn't understanding of your boundaries. I just want to help. That's all I wanna do." I said the last line lowly because it really was true. He looked at me and I could tell he believed every word I said.
He sighed before sitting on his bed. "Maybe...I wasn't the easiest person to work with." He admitted as I look at him a bit shocked. I was quiet but he looked up to me and I guess he expected me to say something. "Oh...um no, you were fine. So...nice..." I said as he chuckled a bit which was pretty weird because our conversations don't consist as that. "You don't need to lie, Dawson. I may not like you, but I respect how you tell the truth. Even when I don't wanna hear it." He said as I really feel shocked at him saying that. Okay, was my speech that powerful or am I mission something?
"Okay..." I say as I slowly walk over and sit next to him on the bed.
I turn my head towards him and he looks at me too with a sigh. "I'll do it." He finally said as I fury my eyebrows.
"Do what?"
"This. Whatever this is. I'll participate in this 30 day experiment. But only because in a month, we won't ever have to see each other again." He replied as I smiled widely with a nod. "Exactly. This is great." I responded feeling good.
"But there are rules. I'll answer questions that I feel comfortable with answering and if I don't give you much detail it's because I don't wanna talk about it all at once. Got it?" He said as I smiled again. "Sure. I'm so happy you changed your mind." I smiled as he laughed shaking his head.
"Are you always this happy?" He asked as I shrugged.
"There's a lot to be happy about." I said causing him to turn away.
"Can't say the same." He said as I felt bad but I had no idea what he was talking about.
I slowly put my hand on his shoulder as he looked at me strange. "Oh, sorry. Right, boundaries!" I said with an awkward giggle standing up. He shook his head and grabbed his leather jacket. "Alright, blondie. Let's go." He said walking out the door as I quickly follow him. "Um, you know my hair is not blonde. Like at all. You must be thinking of Cassidy." I said as he opened the door to the backyard and we went to go sit at a table since no one was occupied out here. "I wasn't because I'm obviously not colorblind and you obviously can't take a joke." He said with raised eyebrows as I fake smile to pace myself from slapping this boy across his face.
"But Cassidy is fucking hot." He said as I gasp a little.
"Hey, could you not talk about a female is such a derogatory manner?" I asked as he smirked.
"Oh, don't be jealous, Ally. Maybe in another lifetime." He said jokingly as I pulled his chair up to mine shocking him.
"Stop playing around and start focusing." I told him as we were beyond face to face.
"I didn't know you were so strong. It's kind of a turn on." He said softly biting his lower lip which was becoming a distraction before I snapped out of it.
"How about you not be a pervert for five seconds and try like you said you would five minutes ago." I said as he sighed sitting back.
"Fine. Go ahead." He said as I looked at him a little longer before nodding ready.
"What age did you start drinking?"
"16." He admitted though it didn't shock me.
"Why?" I asked but he didn't say anything and that was my cue to skip over.
"When did it become obsessive?"
"As soon as I started."
"Did you ever want to quit?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"It helped."
"Helped what?" There it went again. Silence.
"Why did you decide to do it at school?"
"I don't know."
"You know. Think. Why would a teenage boy bring alcohol to school knowing it's not allowed or legal?"
"Kids do illegal things all the time."
"Yeah, but I'm not talking about other kids. Why did you?"
"Because I didn't care."
"About the consequences?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you care anymore?"
"My grades sucked, home sucked and I think deep down I wanted to get in trouble. I wanted to piss off people like people pissed off me." He finally admitted shocking himself because I'm pretty sure he didn't even know that. "Are...we talking about somebody in particular?" I asked as he looked at me with a blank face before standing up. "We're not talking about anybody." He said grabbing the pen he's always chewing on and walking out.
I close my book and run inside to catch up. "Look, you did great. It was much shorter than a regular session is suppose to be, but you tried." I said swinging him around to face me as he looked bugged about the topic we were heading too. "I'm proud of you." I said as he smirked. "Careful, Dawson. I might just think you're coming on to me." He said as I raised my eyebrows.
"You must have forgotten that I have a boyfriend. And you're not my type."
"I'll believe it when I see him."
"Yeah, okay."
"Plus, I'm everyone's type."
"Then date Leonard." I said making him genuinely laugh.
Cassidy then comes up to me with a smile. "Hey Ally. Austin." She said looking at him as he checked her out causing me to shake my head at his whorish ways. "I wanted to thank you for what you did for Leonard. He told me what happened when I was on lunch break and I really appreciate it." She said grateful as I smiled with a nod. "It really wasn't a problem." I told her.
"What did Miss Perfect do this time?" Austin asked leaning against the wall.
"She helped my patient with a hand tremor and talked him down to steady and calmness." Cassidy bragged as I blushed.
"Of course she did." He said giving me an 'I should have known' face.
"Yeah, well alright. I have to go. Getting ready for a date." She said excited as Austin's face got disappointed a bit.
"How the hell did you find a date while being hideaway in here?" I ask beyond in disbelief.
"Well, this guy came in today. Doctor Hahn hired him last minute and he's our age. Ally, he is so cute but stay away cause I got dibs." She said as I chuckled at how happy she was.
"That's great, Cassidy but is it really a good idea to be dating your coworker?" I asked concerned.
"Live on the edge Ally." Austin budded in saying.
"Yeah, I don't care. If we don't work out. I won't be petty. I'll let it go." She said as I nodded understanding.
"So, what's his name?" I asked curious.
"Dallas. Dallas Centineo." She said smiling as Austin's mouth dropped.
"WHAT?!" He yelled as we looked at him like a nut job.
"Yeah...I guess it's not the best last name but it's not that bad-"
"No, that's my friend!" He said looking around confused as we looked at each other.
"Oh no...is he anything like you? I really wanted a good boyfriend." Cassidy said pouting while Austin looked offended and I tried not to laugh.
"He doesn't like options so you're good." Austin said smartly as Cassidy hit my arm giggling before walking away.
"Geez, Austin don't get your panties in a twist."
"Don't tell me what to do."
"Well, technically I am the boss of you..."
"No one's the boss of me. "
"I am."
"No, you're not."
"Yes, I am."
"No, you are not." He said stepping closer to me as I smirk for the first time since I've met him. I
"I don't know what's funnier. The fact that you are insanely in denial that I am in charge of you or you not getting that you don't intimidate me." I said with a soft smack of his cheek walking away. "Oh, and stop calling me Miss Perfect!" I yell back as he glared while I smiled turning the corner.
I head down the hallway and knock on Doctor Hahn's door. After a few seconds she answers emotionless as usual and lets me in without a word. I close the door and sit down in the chair across from her desk. "I'm here to give Austin's report for today." I said as she nodded and laid back while listening. I awkwardly waited for her to give me a signal to go and when she doesn't I decide to start on my own. Awkward...
"So...the beginning of today was very much difficult and he was not participating but there was a change. I decided to approach him differently and kill em with kindness." I said with a smile as she looked at me strange.
"Kill em with kindness? Is that a new phrase or something?" She asked as my smile went away.
"Not really. I mean sorta...I guess kids use it more now than ever before." I said and she didn't respond and I looked back at my note pad.
"Anyway, when I did that, he let his guard down a bit and we came to a nice agreement that we will uncover things a little at a time. I don't want him to feel rushed or anything. I know we only have 30 days for this experiment but a real recovery takes time." I told her as she listened. "
"I asked questions about when his drinking started and it was in his teen years. He explained that he thinks he did it because he wanted to hurt people the way people hurt him? I think that's what he was trying to say. If I'm being honest, he didn't really give detail answers but he did great from where we started. I'm sorry, maybe that's my fault. Maybe I didn't listen bett-"
"I'm gonna stop you right there, Miss Dawson." Doctor Hahn said as I zipped my mouth nervously.
"You did a great job today. No need to stress about it." She said as I looked at her shocked.
"Really?" I asked baffled.
"Yes. You gave me more information than anyone could ever give me from Austin since he's been in here the past 4 years. It shows me that you are capable of making a difference and I'm hopeful for Day 30." She said as I smiled accomplished even though I felt pressured for Day 30 because I don't know if I can make that much of a difference in him.
"Thank you so much, Doctor Hahn. This job has really been a God send and I'm so grateful for the opportunity." I said with a sweet smile and I thought I saw a little smile from her too but then she stood up.
"Work even harder tomorrow. You can go now." She said with her usual hard exterior and I nodded leaving.
Doctor Hahn's POV
When Miss Dawson leaves, I smile to myself. That girl is something special.
END OF CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS
1.) What was your reaction to Hahn being Austin's grandmother?
2.) Why do you think Austin is struggling to open up more about his past?
3.) What do you think Hahn's thoughts on Ally are?
