Misunderstood (Neighbor from Hell (YA) 1)

“What about your other friends?” Ben asked, shifting his attention from Sebastian’s fingertips drumming in cadence with the seconds ticking away on the large clock on the wall across from him.

“What about them?” Sebastian asked, noting that there were twelve hundred seconds left before he could leave.

“Do you have any?”

“Imaginary or real?” Sebastian drawled.

“Do you have imaginary friends, Sebastian?” Ben asked, clicking his pen open as he shifted to get more comfortable.

“Don’t we all?” he asked, sighing heavily even as he noted that there were only nine hundred and seventy-eight seconds left.

“Usually not at fourteen,” Ben said, making a note.

“I’m a late bloomer.”

“What are their names?” Ben asked, glancing up from his notes.

“Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, and Grumpy,” Sebastian drawled, making the therapist that was wasting his time with this, chuckle.

“And you’re very smart,” Ben said as he clicked his pen shut and tossed the file and pen on the coffee table between them.

“There’s nothing wrong with me,” Sebastian pointed out.

“No, I don’t think there is either,” Ben murmured in agreement.

“Then you’ll tell my parents that therapy is a waste of my time?” he asked, hoping to end this once and for all.

“I didn’t say that.”

“Why do you think I need therapy?” Sebastian asked, noting that there was only one hundred and thirty seconds remaining.

“Because I think you’re hiding something,” Ben said, sounding thoughtful as Sebastian continued counting down the seconds.

“And what’s that?” Sebastian asked even as he had to give the man credit.

“If I knew that, we’d be having a completely different discussion,” Ben said, glancing down at his watch as Sebastian slowly drummed his fingertips three more times and?

Beep!

Before the loud chime finished playing its first alert, Sebastian was grabbing his backpack and heading for the door.

“I’ll see you next week,” Ben called after him.

Sebastian didn’t bother telling him that he wouldn’t be back since he’d probably figure that out on his own when he didn’t show up.

Chapter 3

Oh, that couldn’t be good…

Worrying her bottom lip, Mikey watched her teacher pick up the book report that she’d handed in yesterday and?

Oh, that definitely couldn’t be good, Mikey thought as she watched Mr. Rose look from her book report to her, frown in confusion, and glance back down again as he reached for the red pen only to rethink that decision and grabbed the thick red marker instead.

Rubbing the bridge of her nose to cover a wince, Mikey watched him shake his head in wonder as he read her book report. A moment, and two more bewildered looks in her direction later, he turned her book report over and?

Sighed heavily as he said the nine words that never ended well for her just as the lunch bell rang.

“Mikey, can I talk to you for a moment?”