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sometimes, but really, we’re a big happy family.”
    “Or fappy hamily, as you once called us,” Johannsaid and slipped his arm around her tiny shoulders.
    She laughed. “I did say that, didn’t I?”
    “Truth is,” Avis said, “we’ve got each other’s backs and what happens in this group stays in this group.”
    Everyone around the room nodded.
    “Josie, can you share with the group what you’re feeling?” Charles asked me.
    “Well.” I squirmed, wondering if it was impolite to point out to crazy people that they’re crazy. “No offense. This has been a fascinating experience and all, but I don’t think this is the right group for me.”
    “And why is that?” Charles asked.
    “Oh well, you know. The time isn’t a great match for my schedule and…” I started to stand up. Curious or not, I thought I’d be better off with a group of kids who weren’t nutso.
    “Josie?” Charles looked intently at me. “What are you?”
    “What am I doing?” I asked, uncertain. “I’m leaving.”
    “That’s not what I asked,” Charles said. “I asked, what are you?”
    My eyes darted around the room at the others watching me. I could tell them what I wasn’t. I wasn’t a girl who thought she could turn jerky guys into dogs and I wasn’t a guy who went running naked through a park chasing squirrels and I would never kill a horse. “I’m just a girl,” I said quietly. “An ordinary girl who got a little pissed off and lost my temper one day.” I felt likeshrinking now. Ever since Kevin, Madison, and Chloe betrayed me, I thought I had the biggest problems in the world. I tried to pretend I was tough and could handle anything. But compared to everyone here, I might as well have gone back to the cheerleading squad.
    “Would anyone like to say anything to Josie?” Charles asked.
    Helios was the only one who spoke up. “It took each of us a few sessions to feel we could expose what we’ve hidden for so long. At times it is difficult. We’ve spent so many years covering, but once you allow yourself to open up here, it will be worth it.”
    The others nodded in agreement.
    “Despite what you just witnessed, I can assure you that you are safe here,” Charles said. Then he glanced at his watch. “Oops! Time’s up.” He gathered his papers and smiled at everyone. “I think we made some progress today.”

chapter 5
    o utside, the rain stopped and the clouds were moving off toward the east so that the early evening sun illuminated the empty office buildings surrounding us. Downtown Indy was dead after five o’clock when all the little office drones headed for their big screen TVs in the burbs. The only person I saw was a homeless guy rooting through a trash can across the street.
    As I fished for my car keys, Tarren walked up and said, “We always go out afterward. You want to come?”
    “It would be delightful if you joined us, Yosie,” Johann said, giving me that half-creepy stare like he thought he could change my mind.
    Helios walked up. My eyes wandered to his lips. What would it be like to kiss someone that gorgeous? “We can go somewhere nearby,” he said.
    I liked the
we
in that sentence, so I nodded and said, “Okay, I’ll tag along.” Because whether these kids werecrazy or not, who in their right mind would pass up an opportunity to hang out with smoking hot Helios?
    “You want to go to Buffy’s?” Tarren asked.
    “Ugh, always with the Buffy’s,” said Johann.
    “Come on.” Tarren smacked Johann’s back. “It’s fun, plus the southwestern cheddar poppers are jamming.”
    “Anyway what do you care what we eat?” Avis asked and held his hand up for a high five from Tarren.
    “Let’s go,” Avis said and grabbed my arm. “This self-awareness BS makes me hungry!” Then he looked to the sky, and I swear to god, he crowed.
    Okay, forget what I said about Indy being boring. Turned out, I was hanging out with the wrong people. If you’re a certifiably insane juvenile