Chapter 48
I was back in Dr. Linda's office. Same neutral-colored walls, same subtle jazz music playing in the background, and the same comfortable chair I always sank into like it was trying to swallow my stress whole.
Dr. Linda glanced up from her notepad with her usual warm-but-professional smile. "Welcome back, Jake. How was your trip?"
"Amazing," I replied.
Dr. Linda nodded thoughtfully. "In our sessions, we've talked about a lot of things, Jake. But today, I'd like to focus on relationships—or people you've met and found interesting."
I nodded. "Let's start with Sheldon and Paige, the ones that I briefly mentioned in one of the sessions."
Dr. Linda nodded again. "The ones you called true geniuses, right?"
"Correct," I replied. "I believe in the concept of multiple intelligences proposed by Professor Gardner. But they definitely fit the more traditional idea of genius."
I leaned back slightly, remembering. "After I first met them at Sheldon's house, my mom actually invited them over to our place. That gave me a chance to really talk with them. Sheldon's family moved from Texas to here so he could study at Caltech. Paige, on the other hand, went to Harvard and has been living in Cambridge. I think it's been about a month now."
Dr. Linda nodded. "What do you think of them?"
"Hmm," I said, thinking aloud. "Sheldon feels like the kind of character where you max out intelligence but don't have enough points left for common sense or social skills."
I paused, then added, "Paige seems even more intelligent than Sheldon and yet somehow has way better social skills too."
Dr. Linda tilted her head slightly and smiled. "I sense a 'but.'"
"But I would bet that Sheldon is the one who'll make it big—at least academically," I said.
I don't know if he'll win a Nobel Prize like in the show, and I have no clue if Paige might end up even more incredible, like winning two. Even without knowing the future, I'd still put my money on him.
"Why?" Dr. Linda asked, her tone genuinely curious.
I started counting on my fingers. "He's self-centered, he has a lot of confidence in himself, he comes from a good family (not a rich one, though)... and things that would be a problem for most people—just aren't, or at least wouldn't be as much, for him. Plus, he has real passion for the field he studies.
As for Paige, her parents are probably going to divorce—her mother was talking to mine about it. She's mature for her age, but that's it. There's a high chance she'll have relationship issues down the road. I remembered reading once about a woman who had a higher IQ than Einstein and still ended up working as a prostitute. Genius doesn't guarantee a successful life."
Dr. Linda looked at me, her expression calm but curious. "And do you think Paige could become someone like that?"
"A prostitute? I really hope not," I said. "But she has the red flags for a fallen genius. Then again, maybe I'm just imagining things."
Dr. Linda gave a small nod. "You could help."
"I could. But I'm not going to move to Cambridge just because of her. Nor do I think I can convince her parents to relocate here. But in the future, if what I said actually happens... I wouldn't mind giving her a helping hand. It would be a waste to lose someone with so much potential."
Dr. Linda smiled softly and closed her notebook for a second. "Okay, let's move on to the next one."
"Mandy and Rory," I said.
"Who?" Dr. Linda asked, raising an eyebrow.
"The girls I kissed on the trip," I said with a small smirk.
"Oh, you little charmer," Dr. Linda said, laughing.
"Well, I don't have much to say about Mandy," I continued. "She's a gorgeous blonde girl, probably surfs—she was carrying a surfboard when I saw her. And she's 15, that's pretty much it."
Dr. Linda raised one eyebrow.
"We weren't going to have much time together," I added with a shrug. "So I figured I'd optimize the time doing something a little more interesting than just talking."
"And Rory?" Dr. Linda asked.
"Fifteen, stunning blue eyes, and intelligent. She goes to Chilton Preparatory School. Oh, and she wants to be a journalist. I thought that was a bit odd—she didn't really strike me as the journalist type."
Dr. Linda leaned forward slightly. "And what makes you say that?"
I shrugged. "In my stereotypical view, journalists tend to be more open, a bit nosy, always looking for stories and connections. Rory... she seemed more quiet, reserved, kind of 'in her own world.' Not the type who instinctively probes or digs into people."
Dr. Linda gave a thoughtful nod, jotting something down in her notebook. "Interesting observation."
I smirked. "I mean, she might surprise me. People do. But that's just how she came across."
Dr. Linda glanced at the clock, then back at me. "Before we wrap up, Jake—since you're starting to have these experiences, what do you think about love and relationships?"
"I think I'm too young to have anything serious," I said honestly. "I can't imagine anything below fifteen. Even fifteen feels young, but the girls who are eighteen definitely aren't interested in me."
I shrugged. "And I don't plan to get involved in anything sexual anytime soon. So basically, I'm safe."
Dr. Linda nodded slowly, then asked, "Anything else important you'd like to share before we finish today?"
I thought for a second, then shook my head. "Not really. But next week, yes."
"Oh?" Dr. Linda asked, intrigued. "What's next week?"
"My birthday," I said with a smirk.
Dr. Linda laughed. "Of course. Then I guess we'll have something else to talk about."
I grinned. "Definitely."
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