Matching Scars

Chapter 4

The lies movies tell you about therapists

"You're late," Marie stated, peering up from her cup of coffee to observe the panting teenage girl who had burst into her office only moments ago.

Maka was doubled over in the doorway trying to catch her breath; she had just run around the entire facility searching for this specific room. She had left at 1:15 and had been dashing around the third floor for a good 10 minutes. She would have found Marie's office quicker if she had only asked for directions but being the new teen in the program she was still shy and didn't feel comfortable talking and being guided by the strange people that she encountered in the hallways. By the time she arrived Maka was 25 minutes behind schedule for her private therapy session. "I'm sorry," she apologized in-between gasps for air. "I left my room late and then I couldn't find your office and –"

"It's no big deal," Marie cut her off with a small chuckle. "It's only your first day so no worries."

Maka sucked in another breath of air and nodded, taking in her surroundings as she did so.

Marie's office was neat and tidy. Everything from the papers on her desk to the books on the shelves had been sorted and ordered by size and color and framed pictures of her college diplomas hung proudly on the wall. Personal touches had been added to the room like the cinnamon scented candle that resided in the far corner and a throw rug that rested beneath the patient's chair. Photos of Marie and some of the teenagers from past years posing in different locations around the hospital were also being displayed on one of the shelves.

"You can take a seat right there," Marie instructed Maka to sit down in the leather patient's chair in front of her desk.

The teen sat as she was told to and began to fiddle with the hem of her skirt, wondering what was in store for her and what they would talk about. Maka was assuming that this session would be different from the time she went to go talk to Dr. Yumi. That therapist was very down to business and kind of harsh once she thought about it but Marie was giving off a vibe that this meeting was going to be laid back and friendly. But just because Marie was supposedly as Tsubaki had said "one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet" didn't mean she was going to spill everything to her right away. She had made that mistake with Dr. Yumi and look where she had gotten sent. No, this time would be different. She would give Marie a chance for Tsubaki but she wasn't going to talk to her about anything serious just yet because god forbid Marie decided to send her to a place even more rock bottom than the Troubled Teens program.

"How do you like the food?" Marie started off the session by asking.

Maka blinked; she had been expecting a more in depth question, questions like Dr. Yumi had asked her. "It's alright I guess….the meatloaf is kind of gross looking though."

Marie laughed and nodded, "I honestly don't know why we still serve it, it's just awful. So anyways moving on, do you think you could tell me a bit about yourself, Maka?"

"Well… I'm an honors student at South High," the teen told her shyly. "I'm at the top of my class."

"That's wonderful! Something to be really proud of" Marie beamed. "Which class is your favorite?"

"English," Maka answered without hesitation. "I love to read and I write poetry sometimes…"

"Ooh poetry! Do you think you could share one of your poems with me sometime?" Marie asked, her eyes practically sparkling.

Maka blushed and shook her head no. She had never shown her work to anybody before, mostly because of the fact that she had no one to show it to but just the thought of someone reading her innermost thoughts and feelings embarrassed her.

"That's alright you don't have to," Marie told her kindly. She was so understanding and sweet, a lot different from Dr. Yumi Maka thought as she compared the two therapists with one another. "Do you plan on doing something English related in the future?" Marie then asked.

"I think… it would be fun to be an author," Maka told the therapist. "Anything that involves books would be a perfect job for me."

"You're a real bookworm huh?" Marie mused.

Maka smiled softly, "I suppose I am…" The teen suddenly paused and quirked an eyebrow at Marie, "Why are we talking about these kinds of things?"

"What do you mean?" Marie inquired.

"Aren't therapists supposed to ask questions like 'how do you feel about that?'" Maka questioned.

Marie laughed, "That's just a stereotype seen in movies."

"Well that's along the lines of what Dr. Yumi and I talked about, not this kind of stuff," Maka told her.

"I do things a little bit differently than Azusa," Marie explained. "Azusa has a very professional approach to her job and likes getting right into things, but I prefer to get to know the person I'm working with before we discuss their problems."

"I get what you're saying," Maka nodded. "But wait...don't you think it's unfair?"

"What's unfair?"

"You're going to learn things about me but I'm not going to get to learn things about you? I want to know who I'm talking with just as much as you do," Maka said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"You really are smart, Maka," Marie praised. "None of my patients have ever brought that up before; well then, what would you like to know about me?"

Maka thought carefully. "Are you married?"

Marie literally smacked her head against her desk and groaned a pitiful no and the session continued on from there. In the 20 minutes the two of them had left together Maka listened as Marie told her about herself and about how she could never find a steady guy and Marie listened to the teen talk about her favorite authors and fictional characters. Towards the end of their meeting some guy came into the office to bring Marie some more coffee which she politely declined.

"That's Joe Buttataki our coffee and errand guy," Marie told Maka once he had left. "He's one of my ex's."

"Your ex works with you?" Maka asked with wide eyes, imagining how uncomfortable that must be for her therapist.

"A few of my ex's work here," Marie confessed, further shocking her patient.

They continued to talk and before the teen left Marie pulled out a glass jar filled with peppermints and offered one to Maka. "Hmm alright so…Tsubaki has an afternoon appointment and Liz, Patti and a few other girls have night sessions so I guess that means I'll have to squeeze you in in the morning. Does 9:00 right after breakfast sound like a good time for us to meet?"

"Yeah that's fine," Maka agreed to the time as she popped the mint into her mouth.

Marie smiled, "Thank you for speaking with me today, Maka."

"You're welcome…um so where do I go now?" She had left her schedule with Tsubaki by accident and had forgotten where she was supposed to go after her session had ended.

"Well right now everyone should be on their way to outside rec," Marie told her.

A distasteful expression appeared on the teen's face, she had always hated participating in outdoor activities, especially sporting events. "Do I have to go?" she asked, hoping Marie would be kind enough to let her stay inside where she felt more comfortable.

"Yes it's a requirement," Marie replied much to Maka's disappointment.

"Do you think I could skip just for today?" the teen tried to change the therapist's mind.

Marie sighed, giving in to the request. "Alright but only because it's your first day, for the rest of your stay here I'm expecting you to attend."

"Thank you, Marie," Maka smiled.

Marie smiled back, happy that she was getting Maka to open up to her and that she was leaving her office on a pleasant note. "No problem."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Once Maka had left the office she replayed the session over in her head. Tsubaki had been right; Marie was so caring, open minded and real. Even though Marie was supposed to be the one giving Maka advice on how to get better she still had issues of her own and wasn't perfect. It gave Maka hope knowing that even the people who were counseling her had problems too and it made her feel less alone.

The hallways were silent; the only noise that could be heard was the soft clicking of Maka's boots against the tile floor. The staff and the patients had all gone outside leaving behind a peaceful, still atmosphere. It was nice to be alone Maka thought as she tried to find her way back to the small library that she had passed by earlier that day. She planned on picking up some books to take back to her room to read but as good as that plan sounded it couldn't be accomplished because the teen had gotten herself completely lost. When she went on the tour with her parents and Marie the place didn't seem so hard to navigate but when she was on her own the third floor turned into a maze. She thought about retracing her steps to Marie's office to ask her for help when suddenly she heard a strange melody drift down from a corridor.

She turned an ear towards the music. 'That's weird; everyone should be outside shouldn't they?' Maka thought. The teen began to walk in the direction of the song, 'I'll just follow this music and it will lead me to someone who can show me where the books are.'

At first the music was just acting as a guide for Maka but as the teen walked on further and listened more carefully it turned into an eerie lement unlike anything she had ever heard before, being composed by an instrument no other than a piano. With every key the mysterious player hit shivers shot up Maka's spine, but no matter how creepy or frightening the sound was she couldn't help but keep moving towards it.

She soon found herself heading down the hallway where the art and music room was located and before she knew it she was standing in the doorway of the room where the melancholy tune was coming from. The room was completely deserted except for the single soul that was sitting at the piano in the back corner, and it would be a lie to say that Maka wasn't shocked. The person playing this haunting melody was a teenage boy about her age with white gravity defying hair. She didn't believe it, the piece was so advanced it couldn't be played by someone like him could it? She had been expecting one of the staff members to be in here not a teenage guy. How could someone so young master an instrument that took some people ages to learn? But despite his youth the boy's tanned hands skillfully moved over the keys with such grace and passion, so absorbed in his playing that he didn't even notice that Maka was watching him in awe.

Maka was just staring at him with admiration of his incredible playing; she was so impressed that a few minutes of her watching him had gone by before she remembered what she had come here to do. She was about to walk over to him and ask him for directions to the library when she clumsily tripped over her own two feet and was sent crashing to the floor.

The playing abruptly stopped with a sharp note and the boy swiftly rose from the piano bench to face his intruder. Crimson eyes glared at Maka, "who are you?"

Author's Note: AHHHH! MY COMPUTER KEEPS GLITCHING! I'M SO SCARED! Thankfully I was able to put this chapter up with no problems :) Anyways Summer is almost over, well for me at least, and that means back to school :p But even though I shall be busy with things I swear I will not forget you guys! You readers are what get me through school and life and other crappy things. You guys are like my secret weapon and together we battle evil! Mawahaha! Ummm sorry for this really strange author's note. I hope you liked chapter 4 and chapter 5 will be coming soon.

Soul: It's about goddamn time I made my appearance in this thing

Me: Shhh go eat some ramen and be happy I'm even putting you in the story

Soul: What are you talking about? Your story is tagged Soul/Maka you HAVE to put me in it

BlackStar: I think I should be the main character

Me: Stfu BlackStar. Byeeee guys!