Rock My Heart (Luminescent Juliet #4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

week
job. When I started this job freshman year, there had been five of us. This
year I’m the sole paper filer. Other students work on computers, putting the
information in databases. After a half hour, I find myself in Dr. Medina’s
office, knocking on the open door.
    She looks up from her desk and smiles. “Hello,
April. Do you need something?”
    Dr. Medina is the department head of Psychology.
I’ve had her for three different classes in the past. Most importantly, Dr.
Medina refers students for the Clinical Counseling Graduate Program. Though my
GPA is a four point, she has been hesitant to refer me to the program. I’ve
never told her about my past, but the woman has psychologicalx-ray vision because she can see right
into me. She believes I need to accept whatever is in my past before I can
counsel others. Thus the group therapy prior to the recommendation, and
although Jeff can’t tell her anything specific, he can tell her if I’m making
progress or not. What I need to do is
get my head out of my behind and open up about something soon or he’ll deem me
progress-less. What I want to do is
get out of that group.
    I nearly bite my lip off before I blurt, “Do you
think it’s too late for me to find another group?”
    In the mist of writing something, Dr. Medina’s pen
pauses hovering over the paper she is grading. “Why would you want to switch
groups?” she asks in a cautious tone.
    Her tone has me wanting to take the question back.
“Well,” I say slowly. “I’m not sure the fit is…um, right.”
    “Jeff tells me that the group is comprised of all
young adults, it should be a perfect fit. People at the same place in life tend
to see and understand things the same way.” She puts her pen down. “Plus, you
told me that it was going great a few weeks ago. Why this sudden change of
heart?” Her expression is thoughtful and a bit suspicious.
    Crap! I should have never opened my stupid mouth. “I…the last session felt extremely
uncomfortable,” I say, trying to be honest because I respect Dr. Medina very
much.
    A soft smile curves her mouth. “Then that is exactly
where you belong. Your boundaries need to be pushed, April. A little discomfort
may do you good.”
    Yup ,
a rock and a hard place.
    I have to
get into the program. And Dr. Medina holds the key. I draw in a deep breath so
I can force out the words, “You’re probably right. I’m sure you’re right. I’m
just being a coward.”
    Her head shakes. “Not a coward, just human.”
    I force a smile. “Thanks for listening to me.”
    She picks up her pen. “Anytime, April.”
    I go back to filing papers. While I work, I try to
calm myself and tell myself I can handle Gabe.
    But I’m worried.
    I haven’t reacted to anyone like that in years.
    Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever reacted that way
to anyone.

Chapter 4
    ~Gabe~

 
 
 
    Riley watches me
playing the drums, foot tapping to the beat, forehead wrinkled in
concentration, and hands gripping the edges of the chair. She ignores Romeo,
her boyfriend, playing the guitar to the left of me. I used to find her intense
attention unnerving. After a while, it just became part of practicing. Also,
beyond finding her stare uncomfortable, my dislike for her used to border on
hate.
    Though I’d never admit it, she intimidates the hell
out of me. She beat me out over a year ago for the drumming spot in Luminescent
Juliet. They offered me the job when she quit. Because drumming is my
addiction, a calm in the storm that is me, I swallowed
my pride and took the job. Without the release of playing, I probably would
have landed in jail or prison long ago.
    I learned how to play the drums by ear and practice,
practice, practice. I didn’t know the proper lingo, how to read music, or even
the fractional way music is broke down. I simply learned how to copy to the
point of perfection.
    Once Romeo had taught me all he could, I had to
swallow my pride again—which was shit ass hard, since