A/N: This chapter is a bit longer than the others, though I'm sure you won't mind. This storyline has taken a different path than I had originally planned, but I like where it's going. There are plenty more one-shots ahead, and as soon as I get them from my head to my computer, they'll be here for you all to enjoy. Thank you for reading!

Also, I am not a therapist, so if any of the dialog in this chapter seems far-fetched, I apologize.

Quinn's POV

I stared at the bandage on my arm as I sat on the hospital bed in my room. It's been hours since it happened, but I swear I can still feel the blood trickle down my arm. I sighed and shivered as a tear rolls down my cheek. How did I get here? How did I become so messed up?

"Quinn?"

I looked up at the sound of my name. I brushed the tears away as the woman in the doorway stepped into my room. She's tall, with strawberry blonde hair, laugh lines around her eyes and mouth, and a calm, pleasant demeanor that indicates she's probably my new therapist.

"Hi, I'm Dr. Hunter."

"Hi," I respond.

"I've been assigned to your case. How about we go to my office and chat?"

I rolled my eyes and sighed, she's a bit too perky for me right now. "Yeah, okay."

I followed her down the hall and into her bright office. She motioned for me to sit in one of two oversize chairs while she sits in the other.

"So, what happened?" Dr. Hunter asked.

I sighed, where do I begin? "I cut myself," I said.

"Why?"

I sighed again. Tears welled up in my eyes. What do I say? Do I tell her? Am I brave enough to see if she'll accept me? "I, um… I'm stressed."

Dr. Hunter nodded, encouraging me to continue.

"I'm stressed because… because I'm secretly dating a girl," I blurted out. I expected Dr. Hunter to lash out in disgust, but she just smiles slightly.

"Tell me about that."

"About dating a girl?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know what there is to tell. We started our thing, relationship, whatever you want to call it, about a year ago. We started out just talking, and then kissing, and then…" I blushed and can't quite meet Dr. Hunter's gaze.

"Why do you have to keep it a secret?"

I let out a small chuckle before shaking my head. "You're gonna think it's dumb."

"Nothing is dumb. We have a reason for everything we do."

"My parents, my world, I can't be gay. I'm the popular girl, the prom queen, the head cheerleader. I'm not…" I paused, trying to choose my words. "My girlfriend, she's the exact opposite of me in the social hierarchy of school. And if anyone had told me a year ago that I'd be in love with her, I would have laughed in their face. But it's so hard, trying to pretend to hate her at school, only getting a few hours a week where we can be alone, having to keep all of this inside…"

"Do you talk to her about how you feel?" Dr. Hunter asked.

"Sometimes. I try to, but she doesn't understand. How could she? She has two gay dads. She's proud of who she is."

"That doesn't necessarily mean she wouldn't understand how you feel."

"I guess not, but I just can't… I see her strength, and you have no idea how badly I want to be strong like her, but everything else tells me I'm supposed to be this perfect person. And I have to pretend to be that person. Every single fucking day. And it hurts. It hurts enough to make me do things I shouldn't."

"Like what?" Dr. Hunter asked.

"Like cut."

"How long have you been cutting?"

"A few months, I suppose."

"And is this the worst cutting you've done?"

"Yeah."

"Well, Quinn, you know you've been admitted to the Mental Health Ward here because of signs of self-injury and depression. You'll be here for a week, and during that time, we will meet every day to talk about whatever you want to talk about, and hopefully we can work through some of the anxiety and depression caused by your relationship. Does that sound like a good plan?" asked Dr. Hunter. I nodded. "Good, then let's continue."