Author's Note: This chapter is a huge time lapse from the last one. The ending of the story might be at either Chapter 49 or 50.

Road to Recovery

September 1st, 2011

It feels like everything that happened this summer, was some bad dream. I guess when you never expect something crazy like that to happen, that when it actually does happen, it seems surreal. There were nights when I'd just stay up, recapping everything that happened and thinking what the real cause of this chain of events was. I know I've asked myself this question before, but the thing is, I'd never find an answer. It wasn't until 2 weeks ago that I came to some sort of conclusion. It was the day I told Margaret about how I really felt about Repar. When I said that, is when she went off on me and then I went to Rhonda for support and then shit hit the fan with her and everything fell apart after that.

I could only imagine if I had kept my opinion of Repar to myself that day. The whole fight would have been avoided; Margaret and I would have still been friends.

But then...I'd probably still get into that sticky situation with Rhonda.

And the rape thing was all a lie anyway, so I'd still be part of her little story. I'd probably find out sooner or later by myself or by someone else and then lose Margaret as a friend

In short, there really was no good outcome to all of this, no matter what I could've changed it I had the chance.

I talked to Skips about all this, in hopes he could give me some type of therapy. His talks were better than any kind of appointment I could have set up with a therapist.

I would tell him how the situation that occurred over the summer still sticks with me: That I still feel anger to all the people that screwed me over. I wanted to curse out Margaret at her own job and tell all her friends about the lie. I wanted to call out Shell and Rhonda on their bullshit. I wanted payback and I wanted it bad.

But of course, Skips would calm me down. He said that if I kept being angry at them, they would psychologically still have control over me. They'd stick with me for as long as I let them.

It all sounded very typical, but I can't deny that he had a point. Whenever I would just play games with Rigby and wipe all of that crap out of mind, I felt better. Whenever I'd do chores around the house, I'd forget about it. And whenever I thought about Adria...well it made thankful to know she was still my friend. I never told her about my problems and instead just do our regular small talk sessions that would then turn into full fledge conversations.

Now even though I making things sound good, that doesn't mean there aren't bad things still lingering around.

I still see Margaret every time Rigby and I go to the coffee shop. It would be for a quick second that our eyes would meet and then we'd turn away. There was also one day where I had to pick up a sandwich for Benson from Cheezer's. When I got my order, I went to get some napkins and some fell on the floor. As I went to pick them up, I ended bumping into none other than Margaret.

She said calmly, "Hey." Nothing like a "Hey you bumped into me!" kind of way.

I said "Hey" back and quickly walked out the door.

Once I walked out the door, my overactive imagination kicked in. I remembered when Benson told me that Mr. Ken wanted Margaret to apologize to me. Was that "hey" a way of starting a conversation about the whole. After all it's been long enough, right?
No, the whole thing sounds so stupid for me to even think about. It's been a month, and she hasn't addressed what she has done. I doubt she'd say anything now.

Still, the possibility of it bothered me.

I went to the coffee shop for lunch, while Rigby was already too full to have lunch from breakfast.

The shop was extremely empty. It was just me and someone in a hoody in the corner. I sat done at my normal table and Eileen came to take my order. She always does now, knowing that Margaret and I are on bad terms (That's all I really ever told her; didn't get into the details).

"Hey Mordecai, you look like you're in a good mood," Eileen said as I sat down.

"Yeah well, I guess it's just a good day. Hey where's Margaret?"

"Wasn't feeling well today, so it's just me and the boss here. It's really dull today.

"Can't you guys close early?"

"I wish, but the boss always has the shop stay open until scheduled closing. Doesn't want to miss any chance of a customer...Idiot."

"Sorry to hear that."

"Eh, it happens. So what do you want to eat?"

"Um...a coffee and a slice of sweet potato pie."

"Okay, it will be just a few minutes."

As I waited, I looked at the person wearing the hood again. I started to notice that he or she was definitely a bird, by the beak that was sticking out. Then I noticed their wings on the table which were blue. I decided out of curiosity to check on them, see if they were alright.

I went up behind them and tapped them on the shoulder. "Excuse me, you alright?"

"Huh?" a female voice answered. She turned around to reveal herself as a blue jay like me...long hair on the side...I've seen her before.

"Have we met?" I asked.

"I think so...Mordecai, right?"

"Yeah. And Lizz?"

"Yeah...Hey."

"Hi." She didn't sound as peppy as she was when I first met her. It was surprising to see her here.

I took a seat across from her in the booth.

"So...you live here, huh?"

"Yeah, me and my boyfriend always leave the state for the summer. Used to anyway..."

"What do you mean, where is he?"

Lizz kept her head down, the hood only allowing the tip of her beak to show. I heard a sigh come from her and then she looked up at me with tired and saddened eyes.

"...I've...I've got to go." Lizz got up and walked out of the shop, leaving me very confused. Did something happen?

"Hey Mordecai, you're food is ready!" Eileen called.

"Coming," I said. I got up from the booth and went to eat my food, being the only one there.

The next chapter will be up on April 3rd.