Chapter 5

Chapter Five

I looked up at the counseling building with disdain, I might not have a problem coming here every day to spend precious hours, but it doesn't mean I like it either.

I walked into the building, and a receptionist greeted me with a polite smile. "How can I help you?' she asked.

"I have a section with Doctor Finn this morning," I told her politely; I’m not always grumpy, okay?

"Oh, you must be Samantha; Dr. Finn is on the second floor, fourth room to your left," she explained, and I thanked her before leaving. I knocked on the door to the office; This had Dr. Finn on it and a muffled voice telling me to come in answer from the other side.

"No way it's you!" I silently screamed at the person sitting behind the desk named Dr. Finn; he grinned at me, motioning me to come in quickly as he stood up to give me a bear hug

"Oh, how I’ve missed your cutie," he chuckled as I squeezed him tightly into the hug. I did tell you all I like hugs.

"How have you been, baby girl? You've grown shorter," he teased, and I glared at him playfully.

“I didn't grow shorter. You grew taller, and I’m fine good to see you finally became a shrink," I joked with a bright smile as we both sat on the small couch in the office.

“Of course, I did it to help a troubled kid like yourself; by the way, what brought you here," he asked with a frown on his slim handsome face, his brown eyes looking back at me with curiosity.

"According to Mrs. Williams, I have an eating disorder and anger issues, and I am going through my rebellious phase," I explained to him and got an eye roll in return.

“You and I both know you have none of those, you are the biggest foodie I’ve ever known, and you don't get angry except someone crosses the line. Let me guess, she still calls you that?" he asked, and I nodded.

"Figures, that's why she would say you have anger issues. You don't have nightmares anymore, do you?" he asked with concern.

"Not as much as it used to be. Your turn. When did you change your name, big brother Aiden? I mean, I would have never guessed it was you."

“When I got my degree two years ago, it was a much-needed change. I don't want anything that would remind me of that place," he sighed, probably recollecting his time in the house while growing up.

"You should probably change patient; I look too much like both of them,” he chuckled and ruffled my hair.

"No way! I picked you when I saw your name. It's been a while; let's catch up."

We talked about what we had both been up to since we last saw each other about four years, three years ago, when he decided to leave home and stay away from our parents and their controlling but uncaring nature.

He told me about his girlfriend and how they had met at the Uni, he showed me her picture and all I could say was she was sweet and beautiful. I wished him good luck with his relationship, then went ahead to tell him how I had become a shut-in after he left, and no one cared anymore; Ethan and Bruce were always too busy sucking up to our parents since they had thought Aiden was kicked out for being rebellious not knowing the older brother had left on his own, Ethan mostly.

Not eating dinner with them at night or breakfast in the morning was why my mother thought I had eating disorders, and I always got angry whenever she called me Sammy, which is the reason behind the anger issue report. I would go days without talking to them or acknowledging their existence; that is why my credit card was taken. I have to call them whenever I need anything.

"So, you are telling me they put you in here without money and want you to call whenever you need the smallest thing?" Aiden asked, amusement dancing in his eyes

"Yup, that is correct," I confirmed, and he burst out laughing, and I couldn't help but join in as his laugh was contagious.

"Oh my, they don't know you do them? If they think I was hard-headed, they've probably never had to deal with you. So, my naughty little sister, what do you plan to do to retaliate? I’ll be sure to help" he winked, and I smirked.

Only grandma knew putting both of us together against my parents was dangerous.

" I blocked them on all my socials and phones, and I have extra credit only three of us know about. With a purse full of 100 bills, it will last me six months," I explained, and he chuckled. "You knew it was coming? “He asked me.

“I heard her talking to someone about it on the phone while I was helping Alana with her makeup for her date, so I made Alana open one for me and pretended to go shopping while I withdrew money from the cards and sent it to the new account."

“I trust you would," he chuckled

“I have two problems I'll need help with though"

"Let’s hear it."

"I have over twenty dresses I would never wear; I already talked to Lana. She said if I could have a way to send them out, she could sell them on my behalf. The second one is I have determined after causing a scene yesterday that I would never eat dinner with everyone again, else I might be locked up for murder or something, so now I’m asking if you could help me with dinner," I asked with a puppy eye that I know always worked on him.

“Don’t give me that face; I can help you with the dresses but not with dinner. They made the dinner like that so that everyone could get to know one another and also get along well, so you have to eat dinner with everyone buuuttt" he dragged out the but " you can ask for a mini fridge in your room, and I’ll provide you with drinks and snacks" he winked at me.

“You are the best!" I hugged him just in time for his alarm to go off

"WELP, how are two hours up? I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

“Yup, I won't dread coming here tomorrow like I did today."

With that, I left the office with a bright smile, happy that I could see my brother again. My smile disappeared when I saw some other kids were also done with their sections and leaving. I put back my perfect indifferent mask, not knowing someone had already seen me smiling.