Sorry that I'm posting a few hours later than normal, I had an exam today. Thank you to gypsy rosalie for reviewing :)

Chapter 10

'You seem to be in a better place at the moment,' Alex's counsellor noted. Alex looked up from her hands, and regarded the woman thoughtfully. After a moment an easy smile spread across her face, her first genuine one in quite some time.

'I really am, I think I've reached a brief clearing of clouds,' she nodded.

'While you're feeling a little better, I would like you to consider the idea of maybe talking to your family about what you're going through,' Her counsellor watched carefully for Alex's response.

'I think I want to, but I'm not sure how they'll take it,' Alex sighed. 'It would make it even worse if they were stepping on eggshells around me as if I was a crazy person about to go into a meltdown.'

'Well you could all come in for a family session if you'd like, and I can talk to your parents and discuss how they might feel and give you a safe place to talk about what sort of support you might need from them,' the counsellor offered.

'But I'd still have to talk to them about what I'm going through first, right?' Alex screwed up her face, knowing the answer.

'Just have a think about it, you don't have to tell them until you're ready.'

'I will consider it, and I'll give you a call to let you know if you should expect more people than usual for the next session,' Alex decided.

'Alright, well Alex, you've made good progress, I'll see you next session.' Her counsellor stood and opened the door for her.

'Thank you Doctor Bryant,'

'So, my counsellor wants me to talk to my family about what I've been going through,' Alex blurted out as soon as she hopped into Uncle Mitchell's car.

'Oh,' Mitchell waited for her to continue.

'I sort of want to...but I just wish I knew how everyone would react. What if they think I'm crazy and try to medicate me?'

'They won't!' He protested. 'You're just nervous; I was the same while I was trying to work up the courage to come out.'

'Yeah, and how did that work out for you?' Alex raised an eyebrow.

'Touché...no, no! That's different; they're not going to be like that! And you've got your dad, Cam, and Gloria who balance out all the Pritchett uptightness, and your mum, when I came out she was so supportive of me!'

'So you think I should?'

'I think it's up to you, but it will make things easier, yes,' he nodded.

'But how? I mean, what do I say? Should I talk to my parents first or should I talk to them and Haylee and Luke all at once?'

'I would suggest speaking to your parents and siblings together, rather than having to go through it all twice,' Mitchell said. 'As for what you say, maybe just start with "Mum, Dad, I have depression," and go from there.'

Alex lay down on her bed that evening, thinking over the events of the day and when and how she would confess her problems to her family when the door suddenly flew open.

'Luke?!' Alex's voice wavered between surprise and anger at being barged in on. What surprise she had felt though, was eclipsed instantly when he threw his arms around her, pulling her close into a hug. 'What?' She managed to choke out, dazed by the caring contact from her disinterested in family teenage brother.

'We all need a hug sometimes,' he gave her a small smile, and exited, leaving Alex to think that perhaps there was a lot more to Luke than she had cared to notice.

Please leave reviews, I'll be off to the middle of nowhere for a week (or as we like to say in Australia "out woop woop") but I shall be back in time to post the next installment next Friday afternoon :) I can't wait to read all the reviews when I get home.