𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥'𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟚𝟡

My first instinct is not to say shit. I don't know how much they already know or how much I want them to know. Darlo told my brothers to leave the room while we talk. He seems to like having these little talks with me alone. I always am the root of the fucking problem; however, I could say otherwise.

"Why didn't you get your prescription filled?" Darlo asked. At first, I was confused about what he was talking about, but then it dawned on me. They told him about the therapists. The hospital told all of them. Processing his question made me more and more infuriated by the second.

"Do I look like I'm made out of money?" I asked calmly, not wanting to escalate the situation.

"No, but did you ask the foster pare-" I didn't even let him finish the sentence before I interrupted him. 

"My fucking foster parents?" I said, looking at him like he was crazy. "It's a privilege to have food. I wasn't fucking worried about my mental health if I was starving!" I said, escalating by the second. "What kind of conversation is this if you ask dumbass questions like this?" I asked in disbelief.

"Sorry, it was a dumb question," Darlo said, looking down at his folded hands. I could tell it was hard for him to apologize, but I couldn't care less. They should have left me to suffocate on the bathroom floor. It felt against my religion to step into a hospital.

"You are going to start taking your medication. Also, I'll be making sure you are taking care of yourself. Meaning three meals a day and plenty of water. I won't go as extreme as to stop you from drinking caffeine, not that I could," Darlo said, looking me in the eyes. 

This time though, his eyes didn't have the usual empty look. They weren't displaying pity either. It was more of remorse? Like he was sorry about what was happening. 

"I need you to know I'm trying. Although I am thoroughly fucking it up every chance, I get. I'm not going to try and pressure you to tell me what brought on the panic attack, but you can always talk to me, and no, I'm not saying that because I'm obligated to. I'm saying it because I want to know what's going on with my daughter," Darlo said, giving me a small smile. His eyes were sad, and I could swear I saw small tears building up in his eyes.

At least he doesn't think I will trust him so easily. After not having parents my whole life, you learn who is worth keeping in your life and not. On the upside of having a traumatizing childhood, catching a manipulator is easy.

"Thank you," I said to him, motioning to the whole hospital room, feeling like it's the right thing. Darlo has given me the closest thing to a home I have known. Even though he said this is forever, I'm not taking his word for it.

"No need. It's the least I could do," Darlo said, his voice cracking at the end. I look up, surprised that he was so broken up about this. Before I could see his face, he had turned and walked towards the room.

"Also, you aren't going to school tomorrow. You will go back on Tuesday. A doctor is outside waiting for you. Then we can go home," Darlo said before walking out of the room and a doctor walking in. There was that word again. Home, it felt so foreign to even think about. Sure I have used the word before, but not in that context.

Not a place more than shelter, but where a family was.

The doctor started by asking questions about what started the panic attack. I told her that it was a nightmare. She tried to ask me what it was about, but I told her I don't know. I'm figuring all of this shit out on my own. She wrote to me my prescription for the sleep medication again and some anxiety medication. 

She called Darlo into the room and told him about the medicine and how often I should take it. He told her they were going to pick it up today, and I will start taking it.

Obviously, the doctors are fucking dumb. I remember things in my sleep. Therefore, I need less sleep. See, I am my own fucking doctor. I get discharged from the hospital, and we all head back home. Everyone was talkative, good thing that didn't change. By the time we got home, it was time for dinner.

It was a lavish feast, with steak, mash potatoes, green beans, corn, and other things among that. It looked expensive, and I was all for it. After eating, I was sent to bed with a water bottle and my drugs. That Gino insisted I take in front of him, including drinking the whole water bottle.

The next day went slower than ever. All of the boys went to school, and my phone was blown up by Naomi asking, 'where the fuck I was?' I told her I was sick and will be back tomorrow. I need to know who gave her my number. Not that I am objecting to that, why the fuck is my number being given out?

Gino didn't have anything to do today, so he decided to be my personal chef for the day. He gave me my medicine after dinner and made me drink a whole bottle of water. I took my medicine and went to bed after they kicked in.

The next day I was allowed to go to school. I got dressed, brushed my teeth, washed my face, and put some mascara on with lip balm. I was drained because even though I took the sleeping pills, my body was thoroughly exhausted from the other day's panic attack. I wore a pair of jeans and a black tube top with a jacket on top. I decided not to pop off too hard because attention is the last thing I want today.

I go downstairs and see Gino with a muffin and a to-go cup of coffee. He walks over to me and shoves them into my hands. I look at him like he is crazy because I never eat breakfast unless it comes from the gas station.

"Enjoy the coffee and muffin. If Cedric tells me you didn't eat, I will tell Dad and put you on strict lockdown," Gino said, squinting his eyes at me. His tone was deadly serious and a tad bit scary. I nodded my head, not in the mood to talk this early in the morning. I took a big bite of the muffin in front of him before walking out of the kitchen, giving him a thumbs up.

Carlo drives us to school after a long argument with Cedric about who gets to drive. According to Cedric, 'Carlo drives like he did ten lines of coke,' and Carlo took a lot of offense to that. I drink my coffee and eat my muffin on the ride to school.

Pulling into the parking lot, I see Naomi and the others in their usual place and one other person. Getting out of the car after the twins, I walk towards the circle before stopping dead in my tracks. 

I was so pissed off. I avoided the group completely and walked into the school, actually being on time for my first block. The image kept flashing in my head over and over, not helping me from bashing someone's face in.

Lucifer Bianchi with his arm wrapped around Rebecca. Fucking willingly.

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A/N If you have any questions about the book or characters, ask me now, and I will answer them after the next chapter.