I flicked my dead cigarette to the ground as I approached the door. The door that would lead to my first day of anger management classes.

   I walked into an empty room, except for a circle of about ten chairs in the middle. A woman sat in one of the chairs, reading over some paperwork.

   I approached her. "Uh, hi I'm Skylar. Am I early?"

   She looked up from her paperwork and smiled.

   "A little, but that's ok. I'm Miss Rose, but everyone just calls me Heather." She greeted, sticking her hand out.

   I shook it. "Nice to meet you, Heather... um, where should I sit?"

   "Likewise and anywhere you'd like." She finished with a smile.

   As I took a seat a few chairs away from her, a few more people walked in.

   "Good morning, Heather." A burly man with tattoos greeted.

   "Sup." Added a woman with piercings and dark makeup.

   And last, but not least, a formal looking man in a business suit walked in silently and took his seat.

   Heather stood up and addressed the group. "Good morning, everyone." She greeted with a smile.

   "Good morning." We all said in response, except the business man.

   "I'd like to start today's group therapy lesson off by introducing our newcomer, Skylar. Why don't you stand up and tell us a little about yourself?" She finished as she sat back down.

   I stood nervously and glanced at everyone.

   "Uh, I'm skylar and I'm here because I have anger issues." I said before sitting back down.

   Everyone clapped, including the business man, though not as enthusiastically as everyone else.

   I gave them a nod.

   "Ok, why don't we start with you, Bailey?" Heather said, pointing at the blonde next to me.

   She stood.

   "Well, a lady at the store shoulder checked me yesterday and I only raised my voice a little bit." She said before sitting back down.

   Everyone clapped again, I decided to join in.

   "And you, Mike?" She asked the burly man.

   He stood.

   "There was an argument at work a couple days ago and I used my skills I learned from your class to help de-escalate the situation." He said before sitting back down.

   Once again everyone clapped.

   'What the hell is this?' I thought to myself.

   "John? Have anything to say today?" Heather asked the business man.

   He grunted. "Twenty-three more days."

   "C'mon, John, this would really help if you gave it a chance." Mike said.

   As they tried to convince John, I leaned back in my seat and twiddled my thumbs. 'Maybe I don't have anger issues, maybe I should just leave now.' I thought.

   "How about you, Skylar?" Heather asked.

   "Yeah, I wanna hear from the new girl." Bailey added with a small smile.

   I glanced up. "Well, this is my first class, I don't really have any happy stories like you guys."

   Heather looked at me. "Well, why don't you tell us why you're here then?"

   I sighed as I stood up. "Well... I punched one of my best friends in the face because I thought she fooled around with my wife."

   There was a harsh chuckle from John.

   I glanced at him angrily. But, before I could open my mouth, Heather got my attention.

   "And, what happened after?" She asked.

   I took in a deep breath before looking back at Heather, telling her what happened after I punched out Jen.

   "... and now I'm here." I said before sitting back down.

   Everyone clapped, except John.

   "Thank you for sharing, Skylar." Heather said.

   I nodded. "Thanks."

   "Now, John, if you want me to sign off on your court mandated classes, you're gonna have to share." Heather said.

   'Court mandated, huh?' I thought.

   He stood angrily. "Fine, you want me to share?"

   Heather nodded and the rest of us looked on in anticipation.

   "I'm here because I got drunk and hit my wife. I didn't mean it, but that bitch still pressed charges. I don't wanna b-"

   I raised my hand, cutting him off. "First off, it doesn't matter if you meant it, she had every right to press charges. And, by the looks of it, you need this class more than the rest of us."

   He clenched his fists, turning his attention to me.

   "You think you're real tough, huh?" He asked angrily.

   Heather tried to calm the situation, but I was already pissed.

   I stood up, getting right in his face.

   "Tough enough to kick your ass." I replied angrily.

   "Hey, guys, c'mon. Everyone just remember your breathing exercises." Bailey said.

   John ignored her and took a menacing step towards me, hands clenched in a white knuckled fist, eyes burning with fury.

   "Do it, asshole. Show us all why you're here." I challenged, clenching my own fists.

   "That's enough!" Heather shouted.

   We all looked in her direction, everyone seeming to quiet down.

   John cracked his neck as he sat down.

   I let out a deep breath before sitting down as well. "Sorry, Heather."

   She nodded. "It's alright. Now, let's get back on track."

   After about an hour, it was time to leave.

   I was walking out the front door, when John shoved past me. "Bitch." He said under his breath.

   "Any day of the week, dickhead." I said back.

   He shook his head as he angrily marched back to his car.

   Bailey and Mike walked up behind me.

   "You doing ok?" Mike asked.

   I nodded. "Yeah... What a jerk."

   Bailey chuckled. "Just saying, that was pretty awesome."

   I smiled. "Thanks."

   Mike reached his hand out. "Well, welcome to the class, I hope we'll be seeing more of you."

   I shook his hand. "It's a definite maybe."

   He smiled warmly. "I know John can be a jerk. But, just remember, you're here to better yourself."

   I smiled back. "Thanks."

   He waved us off as he headed for his van.

   After he was gone, Bailey turned to me. "Mike may look big and scary, but he's a really sweet guy. A gentle giant, you could say."

   "Seems that way." I replied.

   She gave me a stern nod. "Welp... see you tomorrow I guess."

   "Yep." I replied.

   She smiled before skipping off to her car.

   I let out a long breath before heading to mine.

   I was just about to open the door, when Heather called out from behind me.

   "Skylar! Wait up!" She shouted as she jogged towards me.

   I leaned on my car as she approached. "What's up?"

   "I just wanted to say, what you said to John today has been on all our minds for the last couple of weeks. Now, you may not have gone about it the right way, but it seems to come from a good place." She replied.

   "Thanks?"

   "I know I've only known you for an hour, but after your story and the way you stood up to John, it seems to me that you have a caring, protective heart. You just need to learn how to outwardly express those feelings through something other than anger." She finished.

   "Well, I appreciate it and I hope to learn how through your classes." I replied.

   She smiled. "Glad to hear it, I'll be seeing you tomorrow then?"

   I nodded and she walked off to her car.

   I got in mine and started it. 'I hope this wasn't a mistake...'