After the Storm (Gifted and Special Adolescents Hospital Book 1)

by Cheryllynn Dyess

  Thinking back, Bec remembered her conversation with the doctor.

  Georgia sat back in her chair, “Can you tell me about the house?”

  “I can tell you lots about the house. What do you want to know?” Bec replied sarcastically.

  Releasing a breath that the doctor had been holding, “Bec. Tell me more about the things that happened with your mom in the house?”

  “Ah, more specific then. Okay. So, my mom...well, I remember her telling me since as far back as I can remember that she didn’t know why she had me. How I was her biggest mistake?” She turned to look at the doctor from across the room, “You’d think some of those men she brought home would’ve been worse than me,” she shrugged, “but I guess I was the worst. The other hard part was watching her dote over my sister. Nearly ten years younger, she was the favorite. I was in charge of watching the brat and keeping house. Like at fourteen, all you want to do is watch a five-year-old and clean house, when it’s not even your kid.”

  “Clean the house? Like chores?”

  “Chores?” Bec laughed at the implication the doctor was making, “No, chores are like cleaning the room and doing dishes. For me, it was clean the whole house. Dust. Vacuum. Wash laundry. Dry the laundry. Iron the laundry. But not just mine, everyone’s!” Bec’s attention was on a wooden apple she had levitating just above her as she twirled it around in circles then up and down close to the ceiling and back down to her. Sitting up, Bec let the apple fall. Reaching out just in time to catch it, Bec looked at the doctor, “I couldn’t do anything until every inch of the house was spotless and then, the answer was usually no because I had to watch the kid.”

  “I see,” Georgia scribbled on her notepad, never looking up she asked, “Was this once a month or more?”

  “Every week.”

  “That seems extreme.”

  Bec looked up at the doctor, “Yeah, I’d say.”

  With each moment relived in her, Bec ran faster. Kyle and Maria watched Bec go from jogging to a grey blur as she progressed. Maria attempted to get up and start running with Bec, but Kyle grabbed her arm, “Don’t. She obviously doesn’t want to talk today.”

  “She needs to have a friend. Can’t you see that’s what she wants?” The teen looked down at her friend.

  Kyle laughed just a little, “Yeah, I can see that, but I also know what happens to people when they try to push their way in, especially when she doesn’t care for them. I’d hate to see you get hurt just for trying to be nice.”

  Marie looked at the blur that was Bec and back to Kyle, “Think he can help her?” She pointed to Jack who stood watch along the fence at the door next to the other two guards.

  Chewing on the inside of his cheek, Kyle nodded, “Its worth a shot, for her at least.”

  Maria looked at Jack and sent a telepathic message, “Is Bec okay?“

  Jack turned and looked her, scrunching his eyes before replying, “No. It was a hard session today.”

  “Think you can talk to her. She doesn’t like me much.”

  Chuckling, the usually stoic man replied, “No she doesn’t. Yeah, I’ll try later. Let her burn off the anger her way first.“

  “I’m just worried for her. She doesn’t really have any friends in here.”

  Jacks eyes trailed over to Kyle, “She has one or two in here. Trust doesn’t come easy for her, give it time.“

  “Time is one thing I don’t have much left of, in here. I leave in two weeks.”

  “I know. You ready for that?”

  “This isn’t what the conversation is about Jack. Just take care of her.”

  Turning to face forward once again, Jack gave one last response, “You’ll never have to worry about that.”

  “Well, what did he say?” Kyle nudged Maria to get her attention.

  “He’ll talk to her,” Maria rolled her eyes.

  Looking blankly, Kyle asked, “Is that all?”

  A ding sounded from the girls watch. “Times up today. Let’s go.”

  Bec slowed to a jog, looked at the two other teens and headed towards the door.

  Chapter 18

  The computer screen shone brightly on the Bec’s face in the dark room as she clicked away at the keyboard. She’d tap away then jot down some notes on the notepad that set next to her. Kyle leaned on the doorway behind her, watching her for at least twenty minutes as she worked. He couldn’t see the screen to know what she was working on, but he knew it had to do with helping someone. Bec hated computers and most technology, staying away from it as much as possible.

  Looking down at his watch, he saw it was past dinnertime, so he rolled his body off the threshold and went into the kitchen looking for a possible quick meal. Opening the fridge, he leaned in with one arm on the door. Frowning, he quickly gave up, reached for the delivery menus with one hand while shutting the refrigerator with the other. Calling out from the kitchen, “I’m ordering Chinese. What do you want?” No answer. “I’m just going to order your usual.” Nothing. Sighing, Kyle opened the app to order their dinner for delivery then headed back into the room where Bec sat entranced.

  Knocking on the threshold with one knuckle, “Hey, what you working on?”

  Bec sat back in her chair, “A woman called me today. Gave me a name of a guy and said he was a problem? Very little details really...so I’m trying to figure it out.”

  Bec released a sigh when Kyle started to massage her shoulders, “Anything I can do?” He offered.

  Reaching for the notepad, Bec passed it backwards to him, “Here. Take a look.”

  Skimming through the notes, Kyle froze when he saw the name. Gerald Joseph Hawks. “Who called you?”

  Looking back up at him, Bec asked, “Why? What’s wrong?”

  Dropping the notepad on the desk, Kyle leaned over and nodded to the screen, “Let me see what he looks like.”

  “Um. Okay,” Bec clicked the mouse pulling up the man’s social media profile. Looking back up at Kyle she noticed the expression on his face as he stared at the screen. She asked, “Do you know him?”

  “Yes,” he replied as he stood back up. “I do know him very well.”

  “Wanna fill me in on the details?” Bec had turned her chair around to face him now.

  A knock on the door got his attention, Kyle turned and walked out saying, “Dinners here.”

  Bec turned back to the screen, staring at the face she wondered what Kyle wasn’t telling her. Wanting to know more about this man than she wanted to eat, the woman began going through Hawks social media accounts in more detail. Three pages in and she found her answer. From about nine years prior, a photo of Kyle and Gerald posing in front of a car together with about six other guys. This has to be before GASAH, she thought to herself and continued to search for more. After about forty minutes she found that Gerald and Kyle had been childhood friends, growing up in the same neighborhood. Twisting her mouth, Bec knew that this case would be hard on him but she had to find out why his name was given to her.

  “Dinners getting cold, Bec, come on,” Kyle yelled out from the den.

  Dropping her shoulders in resignation, she knew she’d have to face him. When she came into the den, Kyle was slouching so far down into the couch cushions that he was practically laying down. Now that they were more than just friends, Bec felt torn that she’d have to ask him about Gerald more. Before this she wouldn’t have cared, but now that she had opened herself up to him guilt tugged at her. mentally scolding herself, she was reminded of the goal she set so many years ago to help others who needed it.

  Deciding to lighten the tension that was lingering in the air, Bec used her telekinetic abilities to pick up Kyle’s fork. Dipping the fork in his food, she let her mind guide it to him. Kyle cut his eyes at her, “What are you doin?”

  “I’m feeding you. Isn’t that a couples thing?” She smiled, trying to show that her attempt was genuine.

  “Uh, yeah. Yeah, it is. So, we gonna make this official and call it a relationship?” Kyle sat up
quickly. This was a topic he was glad to pursue and hoped she wasn’t going to ask about Gerald.

  Bec plopped down on the couch next to him, leaned against him, “Yeah. We can do that. So, you want this forkful of food or do I need to eat it?”

  Smiling, he opened his mouth, letting her feed him with her gift. The two went back and forth like this for about thirty minutes and the tension eased quickly between them. Once they were done eating, Bec spoke softly, “You know I still have to ask.”

  Closing his eyes, Kyle filled with regret, “I know.”

  “Tell me, tell me everything.”

  “He was the reason I got sent to GASAH. He wasn’t why I was troubled... just the reason I got caught. He knew what I could do and convinced me to play with a gas store attendant so we could rob the place. Made the man think he was going crazy when two kids came into the store and he was hearing a voice. We just stood there staring at him. I spoke to him through telepathy and it really freaked him out a lot. Worse part was that when the guy crumpled to the floor in the fetal position, Gerald when around to the register and emptied just before he started beating on him.” Kyle wiped a hand over his face and made a sucking noise thorough his teeth before continuing, “Gerald broke four of the guys ribs, his nose, his eye bones and the guys jaw. We got less than hundred dollars to split between us.”

  “How d'you get caught?”

  “Gerry, that’s what we called him, was bragging to some guys trying to be a big shot. Well, one of them knew the attendant and turned him in. Only when the police questioned him, he told him I did it all and manipulated him with my gift and he couldn’t help it.” He glanced at Bec.

  “You know that sucks. He has a long wrap sheet now. Assault and battery, breaking and entering, and domestic violence.”

  “I’m not surprised, to be honest,” Kyle put an arm around Bec and pulled her in close. She never judged him for what he had done and that made him love her more. Bec understood everyone had a past and never judged people by them. She did, however, judge people according to their current actions and if Gerry’s name landed in her lap, he must be into something of poor character. Bec would find out and determine the punishment he’d get. She was always just.

  Chapter 19

  Three weeks have passed since Maria went home, leaving Kyle to Bec. Kyle kept to himself the first week. He and Maria had gotten very close and he spent a lot of time with her in class and in the yard, now the one person who could do telepathy that he trusted was gone and he was feeling quite alone.

  Bec watched him from a distance. She noticed how he turned inward and fought within himself. She knew the struggle of having no one like yourself around to connect with, but she also knew she wasn’t offering to get any closer, at least not yet.

  Kyle sat alone on the metal bench in the yard. Bec watched him from the good doctor’s window. “He’s sad,” she spoke softly.

  “You seem concerned. Is he a friend?” Georgia asked from her usual spot. The young girl turned and looked her. She didn’t smile, but she didn’t frown, her face just was then she turned back to the window. Georgia jotted down some notes about the girl’s reaction to the question and knew by the silence that this session was over. “Ok, why don’t we leave it there and I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  Bec nodded before turning and leaving the office. Jake, as always, fell into step behind the young girl. “Good session today?” Bec remained silent. Jake chewed on the inside of cheek; he was always nervous about pushing her, but he felt they had gotten far enough into a relationship where he could. “Bec? Is everything okay?”

  She stopped with her hand on the door to the outside. Slowly she leaned back into him and sighed. “Today was different.” Pushing off of him, she let the motion push her into the door and outside. Once completely outdoors, she stood and inhaled deeply. The air was hot and dry. Summer was there and the young girl missed it dearly.

  At home, Bec would always find a way to sneak outside and indulge herself in nature. She knew the daily routine of chores and made sure that her younger sister was as eager as she was to romp through the woods. When she opened her eyes, instead of seeing the forest she saw a chain-linked fence that outlined her boundaries and held her hostage, so she ran.

  The hour was almost up when Bec stopped running. Never out of breath, she simply walked over and sat next to Kyle. “Sorry you lost your friend.” Her voice was flat and emotionless but her intent was there, to her that is all that mattered.

  “Thanks. But I’m not really alone, am I?” She heard the hope in his voice. The hope that she would still be a friend and be there for him. She could hear his desperation and desire to not be alone.

  “No, I guess you’re not.”

  He reached out a hand and laid it on her knee. He bent in close and whispered, “I was always here for you. Even when she was here. We,” he motioned between them, “have a connection. I felt it the first time I saw you looking down at me from the Docs window.” He nodded to himself as he sat up and removed his hand. He noticed she didn’t flinch when he touched her this time. He also noticed she didn’t try to remove his hand. His heart skipped a beat as hope began to grow like a seedling in a bare desert.

  She didn’t like others touching her, but this guy, this dark-skinned young man with a body to die for was different. Just when she felt she open up to him something inside her clicked. Jumping up she began to run and didn’t stop until it was time to go back inside. Bec didn’t speak to anyone the rest of the evening, not even Jake when he tried to say goodnight.

  Her mind was struggling. The wall she had built up around her heart and mind was somehow being torn down brick-by-brick by two very different men. Jake was curious, strong, and upfront with what he felt but Kyle was just as guarded as she was and that somehow felt welcoming to her.

  Two weeks passed and things seemed to settle into a comfortable routine for the residents at GASAH. Georgia Wilson went for her first vacation in five years. Jake was given more responsibility and interaction possibilities with Bec. Kyle was getting to know his new partner Edward, who was also telepathic. Wale and Bec had become casual friends and even joked around and played pranks on the other students.

  By the time, Georgia returned to GASAH the holidays were near and those were always the hardest times for the residents because most families never visited, too busy with their mundane lives. This year the good doc had plans for the one hundred students and seventy staff members, plans she hoped wouldn’t backfire. First thing, Monday morning, December 1, Georgia called a staff meeting before the first rounds began to announce her plan and get it motion.

  Looking at the astonished faces of the staff looking back at her, the doctor asked, “Are there any questions?” She waited to let her plan soak in before continuing, “No? Good. Everyone knows their parts. Let’s get started then!”

  As the staff broke off into their respective groups and started planning their parts of the big plan, Georgia sat back in her chair and smiled to herself. This would either be an epic plan or a career ender.

  Chapter 20

  The shop was quiet today as the stylists sat around chatting and enjoying the lull between the very full schedule ahead and the over booked days just behind them. Charlie’s station was next to Bec’s so when the others were talking amongst themselves, she leaned over to her boss, “You good?”

  Bec nodded absently as she stared into the screen of her phone. Reading an email that was sent to her by a personal she had helped about one of her friends who was now desperate to leave her husband. Bec turned to Charlie, “Why do you ask?”

  Shrugging, “Just seems like after the upgrade to the shop,” that is what the staff were all calling Bec’s last tantrum, “you seem more at peace. More calm. I mean it’s not a bad thing, just makes us wonder how long it will last,” Charlie chuckled nervously.

  Bec’s right brow raised as she slowly turned her head towards her friend and co-worker, “Really? I’m finally calm and y’all think… what, it
’s the call before the storm?”

  “Yeah, pretty much hun. You don’t normally stay calm for long and it’s been six months now. We are a bit curious. Either the storm is about to be a damn hurricane up in here or someone has finally gotten their claws into your heart and you let ‘em!”

  Dropping her phone in her lap, Bec chuckled at first then burst out in full stomach holding laughter. Over the last six months, Kyle had grabbed her heart and definitely has his hooks in and not one of them knew it. She started off very slowly with him and they grew closer and closer until they were no longer sleeping in separate rooms or beds.

  Looking at Charlie, Bec smiled once she calmed down, “Kyle.”

  One word is all it took to get Charlie’s jaw to drop, although the shock of Bec letting her emotions show so much did take her friend by surprise. “Seriously? How long?”

  A one shoulder shrug and a smirk, she said, “Six months or so.”

  Slapping her hand on the armrest, Charlie squeaked, “Really! Wow. I’m so glad.” Jumping up she bounced to Bec and embraced her in a hug. Without even thinking Charlie had broken the first rule of the shop… Don’t touch Bec. Bec froze. The staff froze. Charlie froze. Bec closed her eyes, inwardly calming herself the way her and Kyle had been working on and sighed. Slowly, to everyone’s surprise, Bec put her arms around Charlie and returned the embrace. Charlie whispered to her, “I am so happy for you.” Slowly she let go and eased herself back to her own chair just in time to hear the door chime ring.

  In came a lovely woman with a bright and bubbly smile that matched her very bright outfit, “Can I get a cut and color? I don’t have an appointment, but I could really use it.”

  Wendy waved her back and the two began chatting about what exactly the patron wanted. Bec picked her phone back and tapped the screen. There was an email contained pictures of the young woman needing help and a phone number. There were specific instructions not to call but texting was safe, so that is what the stylist did.