Page 113 of Shy Girls Can't Date Rockstars
I follow Dr. Novak into her office. Beyond the desk, two armchairs are positioned at an angle to face each other. A small table sits between them, with a box of tissues and two glasses of water on top. Bookshelves line one wall, and a window looks out onto a small garden, lush with greenery and growing plants.
“Have a seat, if you’re comfortable,” Dr. Novak says, settling into one of the chairs.
I take the other, perching on the edge, my hands clasped tightly in my lap.
“How have you been since your last therapy session?” She checks her notes. “It was with Dr. Timms, in Milbrook, yes?”
“Yes,” I reply. “And I’m fine.”
“Fine?” she questions gently. “You’ve had a big adjustment recently. Moving to a new town, living with a new guardian, and attending a new school.”
I watch my hands as I pick at a chip in my fingernail. “Mm-hmm.”
“It’s okay not to want to talk about this,” Dr. Novak says. “It’s human to feel panicked or fearful of change.”
I glance up at her, unimpressed. “Fearful? I didn’t exactly sign-up for this. I didn’t plan for my parents not to be around anymore.”
“Of course not, Alice. This is completely out of your control.”
I look away, and my eyes roll on their own.
Out of my control? What a joke.
“What is it, Alice? Did I say something wrong?”
I’m quick to shake my head. I’m not telling a shrink I caused my parents’ accident. She’ll lock me up someplace worse than Miranda’s house.
Dr. Novak is quiet for a moment, and then consults her notes again. “Dr. Timms sent over some notes,” she finally says. “So I have a general sense of what you’ve been dealing with. But I’drather hear from you how things are going. Can you tell me a bit about your food issues?”
I suck in an urgent breath, scooting myself further back into the chair.
Dr. Novak lifts a placating hand. “It’s okay, Alice. You don’t need to shield yourself. I just want to help.”
I hug my middle, looking away. “I eat, okay?”
“Okay, Alice.” I hear her shuffling notes. “Like I said, I want to hear things from your perspective. Dr. Timms has written…”
“Dr. Timms hasn’t seen me in over a week,” I snap, interrupting her.
“Are you comfortable filling in the blanks for me?”
I grasp my elbows tighter. “What blanks?”
“How about telling me about your new start in Victoria Falls? We can put these notes aside and talk about your new surroundings. Tell me, have you had any difficulties settling in?”
I shrug, scratching my elbow with a jagged piece of nail. “I don’t know. I guess so.”
“Moving in with family you don’t know well can be complicated.”
“Yeah.”
“And school? How’s that been?”
“It’s fine.”
“Fine,” she repeats. Not mockingly, just noting. “Tell me about your new school. What’s it like?”
I shift in my seat. “It’s different from my old school.”
