Suddenly Susan - Part 2

"Excuse me?" Merth nearly fell backwards off the desk. "Lose her? Are you insane? I have her so tied up in her own mind that she is totally oblivious to my plan."

"And what exactly is your plan, Merth?" RJ seated himself at the edge of the bed. "Let me guess. Isolation, insulation and eventually extrication?"

Merth's wide-eyed expression told RJ everything he needed to know. "How did you...?"

"Nobody loves me. I don't need them! I'm just find by myself... It's everyone else that has the problem. Forget them. I'm ok right here with my trusty ipod and Amy Lee. Does that about sum it up?"

Merth was indignant. "You've been in my files!"

"No, but I have been in your shoes. By the way, you have about 45 seconds left." RJ and Merth both glance at the Susan as she flings her long black her from side to side, growling angrily and screaming the next line of lyrics at the top of her lungs. "Why Evanescence?"

"Isn't it obvious? Angry goth girl, mad at the world. Come on RJ. Get with the program. Susan relates, right?" RJ nods. "So I infect her with Amy Lee's anger. Get her to question everything. No more 'El Shaddai' and stuff... Now she's singing a different song."

"30 seconds." RJ smiled. He probably should be more worried, but even if this amateur discourager loses Susan, RJ still had a lock on most of her friends, her youth minister and her parents.

"What is your problem? Sure, it's going to take a few more weeks to really get her down in the pits of despair but I got her on a greased rope. She's in quicksand, brother. And there is no chance of her coming out of this. Her parents have tried. The psychologist, school counselor and Hell knows how many others have put there two cents in. I have been able to take every comment and use it to drive her further away from everyone. Her music is dark! Her clothes are dark! Her hair, heart and hope are darker than the pits of home. She's completely wrapped up like a Christmas present!" RJ winces. "Ok bad analogy, but you know what I mean! This is a lock! Nothing can go wrong."

For a short time RJ and Merth sat glaring at each other. Finally, RJ broke the silence.

"10 seconds and counting."