Chapter 10
Monday through Thursday went by in a blur. When Deidara finally gave into the pull and found out Vivaldi left, he became pissed off. He made sure she knew he was pissed, but she did not seem to care. This pissed him off even more. Vivaldi threw herself more into her schoolwork and after school job. Pepper finally stopped hanging out with her. The rift between her and Emi has become worse as the days pass. During this entire time, not a single word passes between Deidara and Vivaldi.
On Friday, Vivaldi was the one to break the silence between the two. If anyone were to know about it, they would be shocked. It was even a shock to Deidara but he did not let it show. He has seen her let silence get between her and everyone causing a rift in all types of relationships, until she was alone and the people no longer bothered her. When Vivaldi broke the silence between the two, even though no words escaped the two out loud, both forgave the other.
Saturday morning Vivaldi is with her mother and sister to see Ms. Tekamah. Deidara of course tags along unseen, well by Emi and Mrs. Dupree. Unknown to Vivaldi and Deidara, Vivaldi has a gift to see what other people do not, a gift passed down from her father and his side of the family. Most people would say she is schizophrenic, but they just do not know the truth and want to explain everything with science.
Ms. Tekamah's office looks like most physiatrist's office. The walls are a plain white with one piece of artwork that looks like mutated rectangles of different colors. Deidara and Vivaldi look at the painting with disdain. In front of a large window sits a simple cherry wood desk. In the west corner of the room sits a plant known as the bird of paradise. In the middle of the room is a small wooden table with a brown leather couch on one side and a black leather recliner chair on the other side.
Sitting in the recliner is Ms. Tekamah. In her left hand, she holds a yellow legal pad and a pen in the other. She is wearing a white button up blouse with a navy blue skirt and black high heels. Her brown hair is place in a ponytail. She looks up at the three clients entering her office with dark brown eyes and smiles.
"Mrs. Dupree, the three of you made it on time."
"We were able to leave before traffic got too bad," Mrs. Dupree replies.
"The three of you go ahead and sit down."
Vivaldi walks over to the couch and sits on the edge. Emi sits on the other side of the couch far away from her sister as possible with a scowl on her face. Mrs. Dupree sits in the middle with a worried look. Deidara stands beside Vivaldi hating that he has to be here. Vivaldi is the only who has no emotion on her face. Ms. Tekamah notices this and writes it down on her legal pad.
"Hello you must be Vivaldi, am I correct?" Vivaldi only nods in reply and Ms. Tekamah writes it down. "I am Ms. Tekamah; it is nice to meet you."
"Don't waste your time talking with her, she won't really answer you. Isn't that right Freak?"
"Emi don't call your sister that."
Emi glares over at Vivaldi who just sits there quietly not responding with a blank expression. She argues to their mother that she is a freak, that she does not even show emotion. All the while, a pen just moves across paper. Deidara just stands holding his anger in check. Getting angry will not really do anything besides making things go haywire.
"Vivaldi," Ms. Tekamah says causing Emi and Mrs. Dupree to fall silence. "Last week I had learned about your mother and sister. Could you tell me about yourself?"
"I could, but I won't," she replies.
"That is okay," she replies with a smile as she writes on the paper. "We'll just talk later. Emi, how are you doing in school?"
"If Freak over there doesn't have to answer your question then I'm not answering as well."
"There is no need-" Ms. Tekamah starts to say but Vivaldi speaks up.
"She has always called me that and it isn't going to change. Our sister relationship doesn't exist...anymore," she mumbles the last word to herself.
"Why do you say that?"
"Emi hates me."
"You can't be sure about that."
"No what she says is the truth, I do hate her."
"Why do you hate your older sister?"
"She doesn't care about anything or anyone, yet everyone feels so sorry for her. She was dad's favorite but she didn't and doesn't care that he died."
"That isn't true," Vivaldi, says turning to face Emi.
"It is true; you're lying trying to wrap everyone around your finger."
"I did care, I do care that father died," Vivaldi chokes.
"Girls," Mrs. Dupree says but the two sisters ignore her. Meanwhile, Ms. Tekamah writes everything that is going on.
"You never cared. When he died you never shed a tear, not even at his funeral."
"You don't know anything," Vivaldi says standing up, her hands balled into fists.
"Stop lying, I am sick of your bullshit," Emi says standing up as well.
"Emi," Mrs. Dupree yells.
"Don't you Emi me, you always take her side. Miss Little Perfect never gets into any trouble. You and dad both always wanted me to be like her. Well I am not her and I cannot be her. I am my own person."
"No one wants you to be like me."
"Oh, just shut up Freak. I really do not give a damn what you have to say. After all, I was asked multiple times by both mom and dad why I don't act like you."
"They never wanted you to be like me. They just wanted you to be more responsible."
"Stop trying to act all goody good. You're just trying to get Ms. Tekamah to buy your act."
"Why don't you stop acting like you know me so well," Vivaldi replies trying to reign in her emotions.
"I know you so well I can see through your act of lies."
"You don't know me at all," Vivaldi yells out.
"Yes I do, you're a careless coldhearted bitch."
Vivaldi bites down on her tongue refusing to say anything. Mrs. Dupree sits on the couch in despair not knowing what she should do. Emi glares at her sister with hatred. Deidara glares at Emi with almost the same amount of hatred he has for the Uchihas. Meanwhile pen continues to scrawl across paper. In the corner of the room unknown to all, Femi is standing in the corner watching everything, more precisely watching Deidara.
"So you hate your sister because she is coldhearted and people treat her differently than you?"
"It is nothing but the truth."
"How about your mother? How do you feel about her?"
Emi opens and closes her mouth. She looks out the window thinking over Ms. Tekamah's question. She does not know how she feels about her mother; it was never something that crossed her mind. Meanwhile, Mrs. Dupree sits waiting, wanting to know her daughter's answer. Vivaldi looks down hoping the question does not get directed to her.
"How about you Vivaldi; how do you feel about your mother?"
For a moment, Vivaldi keeps her head lowered. She folds her hands together and fiddles with her thumbs. Deidara not sure on how he could help places his hand on her shoulder. It gives her strength to look up and answer Ms. Tekamah.
"I love my mother and nothing can change that. It is the reason why I use all of my paycheck to help with expenses and bills around the house so she doesn't have the burden of responsibility alone, as well as trying to have her home as much from work as possible because she is emotionally fragile. She tries to be strong for my sister and me, but I know when she thinks we are not looking or when she is alone, she becomes sad and cries. She can be so fragile that she gets caught up in her, I guess you call it depression, which she didn't know about the trouble Emi would get in; and sometimes I worry that she might commit suicide."
"Vivaldi, I would like the two of us to get together and have some private sessions for an hour three times a week."
"Why does Freak get to have private sessions?" Emi yells.
"That is something to be discussed between me and her, not you."
"Of course it is always about her," Emi spits out.
"No, you make it out to be all about her. What I see her is a dysfunction family because the death of a family member. It seems to me that you are trying to make it all about you and get all of the attention. The way you are handling things because of your father's death is dangerous, but I am more worried about Vivaldi. You say she does not care, but I beg to differ. I think your sister does care but has been unable to handle or deal with your father's death. She is a lot closer to the edge than you are, and something could cause her to fall."
Emi grinds her teeth together. She practically throws herself onto the couch. Mrs. Dupree places her hand on her youngest daughter's shoulder in a calming way. Emi just shrugs her mother's hand off. Mrs. Dupree winces and looks away. Ms. Tekamah seeing this writes it down.
"Now Vivaldi I would like for us to meet on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Also Mrs. Dupree on Wednesdays and Fridays I would like to have some private sessions with you."
"That would be fine," Mrs. Dupree replies.
Vivaldi nods then looks down at her lap. Deidara starts looking around the room bored until his eyes land on Femi. She removes her hood and smiles at him beckoning him over to her. He lets out a small audible growl that causes Vivaldi to lift her head just a bit to look at him out of the corner of her eye. Deidara walks over to Femi and crosses his arms over his chest once he is standing in front of her.
"What do you want, un?"
"I am simply checking in on you."
"That isn't the only reason why you are here, un."
"True, I also wanted to let you know that you have two weeks and that time is ticking by."
"Two weeks for what, un?"
"To tell me what do you see when you look at Vivaldi. When you are able to give me an answer, not only are you able to see, but you are starting to do your job and you will be able to keep it. If you are unable to answer, well I have already told you what would happen."
Femi replaces her hood and disappears. Deidara mumbles under his breath and walks back over to Vivaldi. Ms. Tekamah calls the session to an end. The three family members rise from the couch. Emi walks past her mother and sister with fury radiating off her. Mrs. Dupree walks by her oldest daughter wringing her hands together in worry. Vivaldi with Deidara beside her walks behind her mother with a blank expression. Meanwhile, the emotions rage in a battle trying to claw their way up to the surface. Ms. Tekamah is right about Vivaldi being on the edge. Time is running out and she is tittering at the edge. The question is will anybody be at the bottom to catch her if she falls.
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Masashi Kishimoto owns Deidara. I only own the characters I have created and the plot. Thank you to everyone who has read this so far. Please review and stay tuned for the next chapter. Until next time. ^.^