Finding Jordan Clarke

Chapter One (Three Months Later)

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the photo attacked is the cast I first thought of for the book. it includes: Taissa Famiga, Chace Crawford, Dianna Agron, Dave Franco, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sarah Paulson, Ed Westwick, and Kate Mara. Comment if you pictured someone different!
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JORDANS POV

Nothing. Yet everything. That's what I felt like inside. I put on the disguise of a changed girl, a happier, more trusting, a stable, Jordan Clarke. But the war inside my head was growing, and I was losing.

Being locked in the mental ward of the hospital for two months was torture. What did they expect me to learn from the videos, that there's always hope? That I can start over?

Bull. Shit.

Unless you have the money to move and restart, your screwed. People remember everything. Especially the bad stuff. I'm sure the word had spread already, "Jordan Clarke: skank, depressed, suicidal, a drunk. Sleeping with an older, taken man!" I bet no one ever guessed it was Wren Keatings, everyone's favorite teacher.

I was sitting on plastic sheets that covered the twin bed in my cell, I'm sorry, "bedroom", in the ward, when my nurse, Callie came in with some water, and my medicine.

"So, it's your last day! Are you excited?" Callie pried. She knew better then to get her hopes up. I didn't talk to anyone. That was the biggest problem. I refused to speak at all, not a word. I had nothing to say. I wasn't sorry for what I tried to do.

I took the cup from Callie, and my pill, swallowing both down, and handing the empty cup back to her.

"Well, I hope you live a full and good life Jordan. Do you think you will-" Callie was cut off by a knock at the door.

The head psychiatrist on my case came into the room. Dr. Markus Harlow. He wasn't much older than 28 by the look of it. He was tall, with sandy blonde hair, and emerald green eyes. He was the only one I liked in this prison that my family locked me up in. Doctor Harlow dismissed Callie and pulled up a chair next to my bed, where I sat with my legs crisscrossed.

"You would think she'd stop trying to get you to talk after two months." Dr. Harlow said, looking over the file he held in his hand.

"She's only trying to help.." I thought to myself. Yes it was annoying, but Callie meant well.

"So, you're leaving today. It's only because your brother pushed so hard. You really should stay at least a week more, Jordan." He tried to reason with me, but as I had the last three times he tried, I just rolled my eyes and looked away. "I'm sorry, I'm just looking out for what best for you."

I gave Markus Harlow a nod of understanding. He was sweet, kind and handsome. I might actually miss him when I leave this place.

"Your brother will be picking you up soon. He dropped off a bag of items for you last night." Briefly walking to the door, Markus revealed a hidden bag. It was my old, volleyball duffle bag. "We went through it, just to make sure, and you're all set. If you need anything before you leave, just page Callie."

I watched Markus leave, closing the door, before I unzipped the duffel. Inside were clothes, actual shampoo, deodorant, a safety razor, and body mist. Overjoyed by having these luxuries at last, I ran into my private bathroom.

Quickly showering, I hopped out into the fog-filled bathroom, and dried off. I took the worn jeans Sawyer had packed, and my University of Michigan crew neck, putting both the item on with a strange feeling of comfort. I put my still damp hair into a ponytail, and left the bathroom. I took out the beat up pair of converse, silently thanking Sawyer.

There was a soft knock before Callie popped her head inside the prison cell. She had a huge smile on her face.

"Some one is here to see you." I zipped up the duffel and hurriedly followed Callie past the other rooms, the video room, kitchen, and 'play' area. We passed through the doors that marked the ward, and into the waiting room for this section of the hospital.

There he was. Sawyer. He spotted me, and I dropped the duffel to the floor, running into his arms.

"Oh my god, Jordan." Sawyer's voice cracked. We had talked every chance we got. Well, he talked, I listened and silently cried. Sawyer sniffled, and I pulled away. He wiped at his red eyes, and went to get my bag.

Doctor Harlow was patiently waiting for us, with a folder.

"Thank you so much." Sawyer shook hands with my doctor.

"You are welcome. In this folder are just some guidelines and precautions for her adjustment back home. Remember her medicine, it is very important. And of course, if anything comes up, don't hesitate to call myself, or the hospital."

"Yeah, thanks." Sawyer took the folder, then took my hand. Together we jogged down the stairs and out of the hospital, receiving a few rude looks from older women and men in the hospital.

"I parked right over here," Sawyer said, pointing to his red truck. He put my duffel into the back seat of the car, he helped me into the front seat. He had reached out to me, but I flinched away. The look that covered his face made my gut hurt

"Let's go home. I swear I'm never letting you go again." Again? Sawyer had his life planned out. What about Harvard?

I looked out the window at the cloudy sky over our hometown. They look so sad, lost even. Drifting slowly towards nothing.

So I reach home, and then what? I get better and go back to school? With the rumours and of course, Wren... I couldn't live a normal life after what had happened. It just wasn't possible.

Home was starting to look less sweet.