Eight

Next up was Olive but she still seemed pretty confident. It was clear that she was a very patient person.

She walked in with a small smile on her face, trying to analyze Thirty-two's reaction. He glanced at her for a couple seconds, sitting up straighter before staring at me again. It wasn't great but he definitely acknowledged her more than Panda.

I still couldn't understand how he looked directly into my eyes every time. He shouldn't be able to see my. He should be looking at a mirror, at his reflection yet somehow, his eyes followed my movement through the glass, always staying on my face.

She stayed standing a fair distance away before speaking.

"Olive."

He glanced at her again, a question seemingly flowing through him but again, only for a second before returning his to the mirror.

"Olive." She repeated calmly, trying out the tactic I had used, trying to figure out how I had managed to capture all his attention.

She pulled out the children's book I had used earlier and walked towards him a little. She placed the book in front of him and he looked down at it for a couple seconds before smiling a little.

My heart melted at the sight as he brushed his fingers over the book. He then looked right back up at me through the mirror, a ghost of a smile still on his face.

After about a half hour of Olive trying to get Thirty-two's interest and getting nowhere she sighed, walking over to sit on the edge of his bed.

As soon as she did 32 was standing, hunched a little and growling lowly.

Her entire body went stiff and her eyes opened wide as she slowly stood up.

Once she did 32 stopped growling and straightened up, but still eyed her with a heart-stopping glare. She carefully walked over to the door, seeming hurried yet slow and calculated. She never turned her back to him, just held his eye contact before slipping out of the door.

Well, she got his attention...

When she came out she looked like she was about to throw up.

"Okay, so sitting on his bed is a no no." Panda said tiredly.

Dr. Shawl nodded, running his face as Olive trembled a little at the situation that almost went really really badly.

*************************************

The next few weeks went by really similarly. Every time I would go in there he would place me on his lap as I tried to get him to speak. I've made absolutely no progress, the only thing he ever says is Opal and he keeps making things a little awkward for me by stroking my cheek or drawing patterns on my thighs, staring deeply into my eyes.

The other two have made pretty much the same amount of progress. Even if I leave the room completely they have an extremely hard time getting his attention and have ended up with a lot of things broken.

After a couple more incidents it is now very clear that no one can sit on or against his bed without serious repercussions.

I can tell everyone is getting really frustrated with this whole thing. The weird thing is that I'm not. I love spending whatever limited time I have trying to help and teach him, even if I get nowhere its still the best part of my day.

He always makes me laugh with his puppy dog eyes and the way he always laughs every time I try and be stern or get frustrated with him. His laugh just drains all the negative energy from me, making it impossible to be mad at him.

"We'll try again tomorrow, don't lose hope, we all knew this was going to be a process." Rob said, rolling out his shoulders.

"Let's call it a day, I'll see you both tomorrow." He said waving to Olive and Panda as they packed up.

He turned to me, "You'll carry on at your old job as a secretary starting tomorrow. Thank you for helping all you did, you did an amazing job."

My heart stopped when he said that. I had seen it coming, I was far from a professional but it still hurt a lot when the words passed his lips.

I mutely nodded before heading out. I knew I was being a little rude and I'd apologize for it later, but something inside me told me that something was wrong, that I needed to be with him...

********************************************

Its been a month since I stopped working with 32 and I was now sure that something was wrong with me.

I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, I barely felt alive. I went through the process of every day, going through the motions, smiling when I needed to, laughing when someone told a joke and keeping conversation when I'd rather be buried under my comforter at home in bed.

Nothing even really felt real anymore and I think the people around me were starting to notice too. Dylan and Kate especially were worried, they knew me so well and knew something wasn't right.

I was becoming underweight from my lack of eating but I couldn't even thunk about food without wanting to throw up. Dylan convinced me to eat a little here and there but it wasn't enough.

Everything in my body cried out to be with him again. Most nights when everyone went home I pretended I had work to finish up just to go see him for a little.

I'd go into his room and he'd just hold me, it was one of the only times I could relax. He was like my drug, every time I saw him I knew it just made it harder to stay away but I couldn't stop going to him.

Something in my life just didn't feel right anymore.

Another day went by and I was preparing to sneak down to see him again. Just to hold him a bit, talk to him a little, listen to the way his chest rumbled when he held me.

I checked around and as expected everyone had gone home.

I tampered with the security cameras, showing a loop of 32 sleeping then walked into the room. As soon as I did he stood up from his bed and wrapped me into a tight embrace.

I sighed in content, "Another long day." I said simply.

Usually we sat on the floor since he didn't like anyone else sitting in his bed but just as I was about to settle down he lifted me up, bridal style before laying me on his bed.

Before I could question him he had climbed in next to me, wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me tight against his body.

I felt like I was in heaven, snuggled up with this large man, our faces mere inches apart.

This is wrong. What am I doing?! I snuck into the room of a dangerous mental patient in the mental hospital I work at. The patient doesn't know English or understand me, he's basically a mixture of a baby and an animal and here I was cuddling with him in his bed that he was previously very protective of.

"Thirty-two, I really shouldn't be doing this..." He pulled me tighter against him, resting his chin on my head while mine snuggled into his shoulder and neck.

He started rubbing circles on my back and I went into our nightly routine. I started telling him all about my day, avoiding anything having to do with my recent lack of eating or energy, mostly talking about whatever funny thing happened or an interesting new patient I got to help with.

It was nice, relaxing, I got to let everything off my chest and he was happy to just lay there and listen, drawing patterns down my back and up my arms that left tingles behind, making my body relax even further, listening to the soft rumbling the vibrated through both of us.

********************************************

I woke up to frantic voices outside. Why are there people in my house? Is Kate okay?

I tried to move to stretch, go figure out what was happening when I felt a large weight slung over me.

What the fuck?

My eyes shot open to be met with Thirty-two's beautiful sleeping face. His lips were slightly parted and he was blowing little breaths onto my neck as he slept, his eyelids flickering gently.

FUCK FUCK FUCK WHAT DID I DO?!

I somehow managed to get out from 32's tight grip, basically throwing myself off the bed where I landed on my ass with a large thump.

Even thought the floors and walls were padded it still hurt like a bitch.

I noticed 32 wake up at the sound, peering over the bed to see me lying on the floor, rubbing my ass.

He smiled down at me mockingly before the frantic voices registered in his mind too.

He quickly looked to the mirror, probably somehow seeing through it and his eyes widened as he looked at me slightly panicked.

SHIT SHIT SHIT

I quickly scrambled to my feet and to the door.

Please don't let what I think is happening be happening!!

I opened it to reveal a lot of eyes, all on me.

Rob, Dylan, Kate, Olive, Panda and a couple other doctors and security men I didn't recognize had all halted their conversations to look at me.

Kate was crying as Dylan held her, a ton of emotions clearly swimming in his eyes.

Panda and Olive looked at me in shock and pity, holding a couple children's books they had clearly brought in to inspire 32.

Rob looked at me in sympathy with a little nervousness that was never there before as the security guards slowly approached me, thinking I wouldn't notice.

They gently grabbed my arms, slipping them into padded restraints. We used these so the patient couldn't hurt themselves or anyone else nor try and run away.

The doctors analyzed me as understanding leaked into me.

I was being admitted as a patient. I knew the process, I'd seen it enough times, happening to other people but I never expected...