Page 73 of Even in the Dark

Dylan:Yeah… No. I mean, I know she was definitely wearing a mask at first, when I met her a couple weeks ago… Then pretty soon, she started acting different.

Dr. Morley:How so?

Dylan:Just… acting more normal. Or trying to be nicer. And doing stuff she doesn’t have to do, or avoiding stuff she thinks makes me uncomfortable or whatever. But then, it’s like—how does she know? How does sheknowthose things about me? And why the hell is she being that way? She’s smarter than she pretends she is,and I think she’s fucking playing me.

Dr. Morley:And what would her purpose be in playing you? Do you get a feeling like there’s something she wants from you?

Dylan:I don’t know… That’s exactly what I’m saying!

Dr. Morley:But if you say—

Dylan:I catch her looking at me sometimes… checking me out.

Dr. Morley:So you think maybe that’s what she wants from you? Something physical, maybe?

Dylan:I don’t know! That’s what I’m telling you!

Dr. Morley:Has she done anything, or said anything that’s made you uncomfortable?

Dylan:Everything she does makes me uncomfortable!Just being around her.

Dr. Morley:Okay… This is going to sound like a weird question—but you know how you can be around someone and feeluncomfortable andeverythingabout it feels… bad? And sometimes you can be around a person and feel uncomfortable, but it’s mostly just because you feel awkward or unsure or because you think you might be attracted to them? Do you know those two kinds of uncomfortable I’m getting at?

Dylan:No. I don’t. I don’t see what the fucking difference is. Uncomfortable is uncomfortable.

Dr. Morley:Okay, so tell me this—have you felt uncomfortable with other girls before, when you’ve felt like they’re physically attracted to you?

Dylan:Yeah. All the fucking time. Girls are always looking at me like that…Always.I fucking hate it.

Dr. Morley:Okay. And with this girl—Scarlett? Is that her name?

Dylan:Yeah.

Dr. Morley:With Scarlett—does it feel different? The kind of uncomfortable you feel with her—is it different from how you feel when other girls seem attracted to you?

Dylan:[No response]

Dr. Morley:Hello? Dylan, you still with me?

Dylan:Yeah.

Dr. Morley:You’re just thinking?

Dylan:Yeah.

Dr. Morley:Okay. That’s fine… Take your time.

Dylan:You sound like a shrink when you talk like that.

Dr. Morley:It’s time I told you, Dylan… Iama shrink.

Dylan:Fucking hilarious.

Dr. Morley:Well, that’s the other thing—I have a side gig as a comedian.

Dylan:Then don’t quit your day job, man.

Dr. Morley:[chuckles] So? The uncomfortable feeling with Scarlett—is it different than with other girls who seem attracted to you?

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