Day Eight

I didn’t get much sleep as I was paranoid over the fact that someone had broken into my office. It made me feel unsafe and it made me wonder why they broke in but I knew it had to deal with Nathan because it was his file that was out of order. I just didn’t know what about Nathan they were hoping to find. I mean, sure, Nathan had opened up to me but not as much as I would like. Plus, I wouldn’t just put all the stuff in his file because there were some things that didn’t always need to be shared if he did tell me.

Although after the talk I had with Nathan I wouldn’t be putting anything not needed in the reports or files. I would alter things and try to come up with things to fill in the holes so that they still thought I was doing my job to the full extent. I also thought I would have to be more careful because Nathan had warned me twice and things around the place weren’t making sense when I thought about it.

Why was there an entire research facility with multiple floors underneath a mental hospital? How did they manage to pay for everything I had seen here so far? Not to mention, my pay was pretty high too. Also, why did they have so many cameras everywhere? The only time I hadn’t seen a camera was in my office, Dr. Camel’s office, and the meeting area for when I talked with Nathan.

They also had lied to me about why I couldn’t see Nathan two days ago, which rubbed me the wrong way. I had come to the conclusion that the place just wasn’t right but I didn’t have concrete proof and I knew I would need that. I also knew that something was going on with Nathan since I was hired only to find out things about him and report it back to them. It's not like I was here as an actual psychologist to help a patient. I was basically an informant.

And as I waited for Nathan to join me in the meeting room I thought over rather to tell him someone had broken into my office. I also wondered if I asked him some questions would he give me a straight answer or did I have to prove he could actually fully trust me. I wanted him to trust me and open up to me and I didn’t know if that was because of my nature as a psychologist, as his sort of friend, or because I had strange feelings towards him.

Then the buzzing sound brought me out of my head as I watched Nathan come out the door. Instead of taking up the usual way of sitting he actually pulled out a chair and sat up at the table across from me. It was different and a pleasant surprise, making me smile at him as I slid the new book over to him.

I watched as he picked the book up and it seemed just holding the book brought him joy. Along with taking in his happier expression over the book, I noticed he didn’t look sick anymore and didn’t move as sluggish as he was yesterday. It made my worry for him lessen as I watched him read the cover of the book and the back.

He looked up at me, “I think I’ll like this one too.”

“I’m glad. I spent some time picking it out because I wanted it to suit your taste.” I told him honestly.

“Ever so thoughtful.” He grinned as he moved the book down to his lap before looking back at me.

“Someone broke into my office.” I told him straight out and his face turned from relaxed to upset and worry.

“I told you to be careful.” The tone was sharp.

“I haven’t done anything besides bring you books. How would that cause for someone to break into my office and only touch the file I have on you?” I responded, upset that he was shifting some of the blame onto me when the situation in itself wasn’t normal.

He sighed, “It could have been anything you said or did. They probably think you're not telling them everything you know about me and I doubt they're wrong about that.”

I rolled my eyes, “Excuse me for not sharing every little detail about you with them. I thought I could leave little things out of the reports they make me give after every two days.”

“They make you give a report after every two days?” Nathan asked, surprised.

I nodded, “Yeah, and last time one of the board members or head was there. He also tried to pressure me a few days prior so I really don’t enjoy being near him.”

Nathan leaned forward, “You need to be more careful, Amaya. They could hurt you or kill you and that wouldn’t be good.”

“They wouldn’t go that far?” I was skeptical about that. I mean, I know they seem to be having a lot of suspicious things going on but I doubt a bunch of doctors and scientists would go as far as hurting or killing me because I knew too much.

Nathan glared at me, “They will and they’d come up with some lie for it. What do you think happened to my last doctor?”

I stared at him, ‘They said he quit.”

“Yes, he quit being alive.” His voice was tense.

I bit the inside of my cheek, “How do you know that for a fact?”

He chuckled but it wasn’t happy, “The fucking heard them talking about it. I’ve been here long enough to know when to listen and if you listen at the right time the walls will spill all the secrets.”

I sighed, “I’ll be more careful. I’m only meant to be here for thirty days.”

Nathan didn’t seem to be happy about that bit either, “It’ll be safer the farther you are from here but I will admit I’d miss having you around. I doubt my next doctor will be as nice.”

His words made me think about how he would be left here after I left. Plus it already seemed he had been here a long time and it made me wonder if he would ever leave. Apart of me didn't like the idea of leaving him and I was sure it was more my heart producing that feeling and not my mind. No matter how I wanted to see it, I actually liked Nathan more than I should and I didn’t know how that would affect everything.

“I could always send letters?” I tossed the idea out there and it went against anything I believed but it would be a shame to lose contact with Nathan.

“You know, I think you're only bright when it comes to being a doctor because I don’t think the facility that broke into your office, has killed a past doctor and could harm you too would allow me to receive a letter. I’m not even allowed something as simple as a book.” He pointed out and I know I shouldn’t have laughed but I did a little.

“My father always told me that books were where my true talent was.” I informed him and it made him smile.

Nathan smiled, “Your father is a wise man.”

I nodded in agreement before I thought, “Did you call me, Amaya?”

Nathan looked kind of shy, “Sorry, I was feeling passionate about the whole thing.”

I waved him off, “It's fine. Plus, it's fair because I call you Nathan all the time.”

“So we’re on a first-name basis now?” The smirk that touched his lips wasn’t hard to miss and it did things to my heart that I didn’t want it to.

I didn’t know how to respond to what he said either. It was like my mind was scrambling for a million answers to such a simple question and the look he was giving me didn’t help. I found myself getting flustered because this type of thing has never happened before and so I chose to try and play it cool. I was the doctor after all so that shouldn’t be too hard to do.

I cleared my throat, “It’s only fair that we are, seeing as you are looking out for my life.”

“I’m kind of like your guardian angel at this point.” He had moved to lean back in his chair as he continued to stare at me with a smile on his face.

I rolled my eyes, “Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves now. You’re more of a phone notification”

Nathan gave a fake gasp, “I take offense to that.”

I just laughed at him being dramatic and it was nice to have a relaxed conversation for once since I got here. It was also nice to see Nathan not as tense as before as it seemed we had broken down a wall and could be more open. If you told me four days ago Nathan would be joking around with me I would think you were crazy.

“I’m more of a hot screensaver.” He added flashing me another smirk.

I looked down at my lap to hide the blush I knew was trying to cover my face and to hide the smile on my lips. If I was in denial before I didn't know because I remember what having a crush felt like. I also know what flirting was and Nathan was most definitely trying it with me. I didn’t know if I should respond back with flirting or ignore it and proceed with my doctor persona.

I thought about it before looking back up, “You can’t be a screensaver if there is no picture.”

The laugh that Nathan released after that only had me laughing too. I figured my job was already risky so this was harmless.