Stay with me

Isaac was without a shirt, showing off his naturally ta

Ollie’s green eyes fell back on me. “Have a seat. Tell us your story.”

Everyone else settled back in their spots, either on the mattress or on the floor as I took a seat next to Ollie on the floor over the blanket.

“I’d rather not.” All my opening up was saved for Dr. Conway and group therapy. At least they were licensed, unlike the peers sitting before me who couldn’t be older than twenty-one. They had their own problems, their own judgments, and their own opinions. All these kids wanted was something else to keep their minds off their own complicated life.

“We’re all screw-ups here, Mia. Give us something to talk about,” Bria begged, unknowingly proving my point.

“Anger issues? Lawbreaker? Psychotic?” Isaac rambled off.

Five pairs of anxious eyes were on me.

“I killed my mom,” I somewhat lied, and a stillness took over the room as the crew shot glances back and forth. Maybe I didn’t kill her per se, but I definitely played a role in her death.

“Shit,” Ollie breathed, reaching into his pocket.

Isaac held out the palm of his hand. “Pay up, Masters.”

My eyes went wide as I watched the exchange of currency. “You’re kidding. You guys made a bet? Getting me here was all a game to you?”

“Relax, darling,” Isaac said as he pocketed his wi

The group broke out into conversation as I sat in discomfort. For one, I would not peg any of them to belong in a place like this. Jake was a push-over, you could tell by the way he leaned on Alicia for social support. And I admit Alicia was cool. She didn’t take the snickers from Bria and called her out on her shit. Alicia was beautiful. Her skin was smooth and dark, her eyes were the color of a hazelnut, and thick black ringlets framed her oval face. But the icing on the cake was the precious mole on her cheek. If only I were into girls …

Bria, on the other hand, portrayed herself as the sexy one with her cropped shirt and no bra. I was not judging. Whatever made her feel good about herself. She sought after the small moments when she would adjust her positioning, her head darting between Isaac and Ollie, taking notice in the way they looked at her, or if they looked over at her at all. She had a nice body, small perky breasts, and a long curvy torso. But as soon as she opened her mouth, her crooked teeth and a

Isaac did notice Bria’s subtle movements. It was interesting how each time she leaned back and her shirt would rise higher, he leaned back and itched the tip of his nose with his thumb and finger, thinking it would hide his thoughts.

Ollie’s entire body was pointing toward me now and I wondered if it was to avoid Bria’s body language or because he was into me. It could have easily swung either way.

I never said I was a mind reader.

Even though I disliked humans, and tried to avoid conversations, I was brilliant at reading people. My father refused to watch movies with me because I could always call out who the killer was or predict the ending, but in situations like this, I had the upper hand. After many years of studying human behavior, there were no surprises. Actions of men were expected, the reactions of women just as predictable.

Take the trainee, Oscar, for instance. I knew the moment I opened the door he would submit himself to me—the way his eyes dilated as he leaned into the doorframe. It was typical. But he hadn’t believed my advancements until I’d undressed before him. He could have said no, he could have walked away, but he wouldn’t have.

Ollie pulled a bottle of vodka from his pile of things, and everyone’s face lit up. “Now for the real fun.” He waved the bottle from side to side and returned to my side.

“Seriously? But how were you able to get the liquor in?” Perhaps Ollie had co

A twisted smile appeared over Ollie’s face as he winked at me. He ran his empty hand up his forehead and through his thick brown mess on his head. “Someone ready for a good time, yeah?”

Alcohol and I never mixed well. People normally succumbed to the pleasure of alcohol drowning their emotions, but it had the opposite effect on me. With alcohol in my veins, I tended to feel things. After taking a sip, I passed the bottle to Jake beside me as the clear liquid sizzled down my throat and burned in my chest.

The bottle continued to be passed along within our disheveled circle.

“We only have one rule,” Alicia said to me from across the circle once the bottle reached her.

“Yeah? What’s that?”

“No hurt feelings. Whatever happens in this room, stays in this room,” Jake answered.

No feelings? Perfect.

I nodded in agreement, relieved I wasn’t in a room with a bunch of little bitches.

After about an hour of banter back and forth, and everyone taking their fair share of vodka, I was finally able to enjoy a buzz for the first time in what it seemed like forever. I never needed a high—or a low—but it did help awkward situations such as this. I only hoped after the side effects of the buzz wore off, the paralysis of my feelings wouldn’t hit me ten times harder like it had in the past.

Living without emotions was easy; it was the coming out of an induced emotional state that was hard—like an addict trying to get sober. Alcohol and drugs made me feel, and if I wasn’t careful, tonight could get bad.

Low music filled the room from somewhere, and I looked down in Ollie’s lap to see an older model iPhone. I didn’t bother asking questions, and honestly, I didn’t care to know the answers. He could wheel out a popcorn machine, and I wouldn’t be surprised at this point. As long as he shared with me, and made my time here a little enjoyable.

Bria was feeling a vibe and stood to her feet. Her hips swayed back and forth as she lifted her arms above her head. The bottoms of her breasts peeked from under her cropped shirt. She sucked in her lips and sca

The temperature was rising. One room, too many people, and that dimple.

“Come on, Mia,” Bria begged with the come-hither finger. “Come dance with me.”

Waving my hand in front of me, I said, “No, I don’t dance.” The only dancing I did was alone in my room.

Ollie tilted his head in my direction and raised a brow. “What are you afraid of?”

“I’m not afraid of anything. I just don’t dance.”

Isaac stood and joined Bria. Her body rubbed up against his pelvis to an electronica song as his reckless hands gripped her sides.

“I thought you and Bria were together,” I said casually, looking over to Ollie. I knew this wasn’t the case, but I was curious to see everyone’s reaction to the idea.

Jake and Alicia spit out a laugh as Ollie shook his head.

“No, definitely not,” Ollie said through an incredulous chuckle.

“There are no relationships at Dolor,” Jake added.

Alicia’s smile quickly dissolved and she turned her attention toward Bria and Isaac dancing.

“Really? Relationships aren’t allowed?”

Jake leaned in. “Oh, there’s no rules against it … but trust me when I say, you don’t want to be in one.”