Cat and Mouse (Miraculous Ladybug)

Chapter 12

Most waiting rooms were the same. The wooden armseted chairs with simple patterned apulstry. A lamp that did all the work for the lighting in the room. Either pictures of landscape or posters of famous painting, always framed. This one was no different. Even had the same old matted carpet as the last one. I'm picky with therapist, rightfully so. I had one that just tried to do my dad's bidding. Did not work well.

"Adaline," a younge woman called out to me. She wasn't so young as to be fresh in her career, but couldn't be over 40. She wore a welcoming smile and waited for me to grab my school bag before following her back to her office.

It was a small room, with the windows open letting in fresh air and sunshine. There was a comfy, while old couch for clients and a simple arm chair for her. Between the two was a low glass coffee table covered with fidgets. There was also a book shelf covered with mental health book and other things that could be used with clients.

"I'm Celeste Dupont," she introduced herself as she closed the door behind herself. "You can call me whatever makes you comfortable."

I slowly sat down in the middle of the sofa, as to avoid the throw pillows. "I'm Adaline Agrest, but you already knew that," I sighed, keeping my book bag on my knees. "I'm sure you've also been given the dreaded folder, so you also know what's wrong with me."

Celeste held her soft smile and sat down in her chair, picking a tablet up from the arm rest. "Yes I did receive the folder of your mental health history, but that was just filled with diagnosises. I don't know what is going on with you."

I wasn't sure how to respond to the and just fidgeted with the straps of my backpack. "Let's start with your family?" she asked, "Pretend I don't know anything about them"

"Well there's my brother, Adrien," I hesitantly started, "I'd say we have a normal sibling relationship. We're very close but still have our arguments. We didn't spend a whole lot of time together when we were growing up, cause I was in boarding schools, but that didn't really effect our relationship."

Celeste was just patently listening, and jotting down a few notes.

" Then there's my dad, Gabriel... "I scowled at just saying his name." We don't have a good relationship. Somehow he has no and too many expectations for me. He decided when I was younge I was going to take over fashion designing and the company from him. But because of my learning disability, he thinks of me less than human he's never said it but I can tell it with the way he looks at me. Like I'm nothing more than a dog. And he treats me like one. If it was up to him I'd obideintly listen to every one of his demand, do what he wants of me, and nothing else. He wouldn't even want me to leave the house. And when I don't listen to him he sends me away. Then I can't see Adrien, who's really the only person I have left."

I took a deep breath, already getting worked up. "Then there's my mom. We're coming up on a year soon, she just disappeared. I don't know what happened. She could have left, even died, but I've been told nothing. Now I wouldn't be surprised if it was either of those. Unlike what it looked like, my parents didn't get along all the time, the fought a bunch, usually about me. Then Mom wasn't doing well, she'd get dizzy spells.

But despite everything. She tried, unlike Dad. She'd listen to Adrien and my silly little concerts, encouraged my hobbies, tried to help with my mental health. She tried, and that's all I could ask and want. And now she's gone."

"You're mother was your support system," Celeste pointed out. I bit my lip and slowly nodded. "Could you rely on anyone like you had her. It sounds like it was more of a precense than a force." I shook my head. "Have you tried talking to your father?"

I scoffed. "I don't want to try, he's... He dosent understand. He wants perfection and gets angry when that isn't what he gets. Talking about my faulers would just make him angry."

"What about your brother?" she offered.

I took a deep breath to keep my composure. It sucked how often I've needed to go over this recently, but I couldn't keep faking being alright around therapists, it wouldn't help me at all. "He's only 14," I pointed out, "And he's finally going to school instead of being home schooled for the first time this year. As well as having the same, actually more, expectations than me. I can't put anything more on him. He knows I'm not okay, and will listen to my complaints, but I feel guilty even doing that."

"How about any friends?" Celeste asked, almost wishing I had a single support.

I shook my head again. "I've only been back in Paris for just over two months. Before then I was in a boarding school in London, then home schooled, and before then I went to school in America. I didn't even have friends there."

She sat down her tablet on the table before her. "Let's make that your first goal," Celeste offered. "Make a friend."

I groaned. "I've tried, people just suck. They always just want something from me. Be it money, fame, or even to just be able to use my name. It's just easier not to try."

"Not everyone is like that Adaline," Celeste told me.

"The majority is," I pointed out.

My therapist leaned back in her chair. "Adaline, you don't need to be friends with everyone. You don't even need many friends. Just a few good ones is all you need." She paused, waiting for me to respond, though I wouldn't. "I'm sure there are people around you who want to genuinely want to be your friend. Dose any come to mind?"

I let out a soft groan. "There's this girl in my class... She's nice, and is friends with Adrien, but she has a crush on him a and is using me to get closer to him. And she find me pathetic."

"Did you hear that come from her mouth?" Celest question, "Or did you just assume."

I looked down to my feet, not even able to try to look in the general direction of a person. "I heard her and her friend talking, but... I didn't hear those exact words," I confessed.

"Then, I say it is at least safe to try," Celeste assured me, "Don't force friendship, but don't closer her off, and just try. If it dosent feel right to you, you don't need to force it." I softly nodded. "Is there anyone else that comes to mind."

"Well..." my thoughts went to my phone sitting in my pocket. "I met this guy. He wanted to go out with me, but I dint want to, but he still wanted to be friends. That seems rude though. It's not like if we get closer we could try dating, so it just seems mean."

"Did he bring up the possibility of being friends?" Celeste wondered. My lack of response gave her the answer. "Then if he has a problem with it, it's his problem. You don't need to worry about everyone else's emotions as well as your own. You'll just dig your own grave that way."