"Rise and shine motherfuckers!" Harleigh yanked the curtains open, the sun blinding us.
Ramona sat up and shook me. "Why so early?" She fumbled through the bed for her phone before she found it under her pillow. "It's barely seven."
"And they're forcing me to group therapy. It's at eight. So hurry up and let's at least get some breakfast."
I got out of bed and sighed while putting on a pair of grey sweatpants.
"Can I just keep this on?" Ramona grumbled.
Harleigh examined Ramona's choice of grey leggings and sweatshirt before hesitantly agreeing. "Look who matches. God, you two are disgusting. Where'd you go last night by the way? No one was there to get me coffee." She rolled her eyes.
Ramona sighed. "Harleigh, what's your-"
"Relax! I'm just teasing."
Ramona stole a pair of Harleigh's sunglasses and all three of us headed downstairs to the morning rush and long cafeteria tables. Every single one seemed to be filled, yet we still walked around to maybe find a seat for three.
Harleigh stopped in her tracks and stared at a blonde boy eating lightyears away on a stack of blueberry pancakes. "Excuse me? Are you waiting for someone?"
"No! You can sit here," he smiled, pulling out a chair next to him. Ramona took a seat next to him while Harleigh and I sat across.
"So... What are you in for?" Harleigh interrogated.
The blonde boy's eyes widened. They were a dull grey that looked tired and all too excited at the same time. "I'm Wyatt, nice to meet you too."
"That's Wes, she's Ramona, and I'm Louise."
"Louise?" Ramona repeated, narrowing her eyebrows at Harleigh.
"Yes," Harleigh answered sternly, "I'm Louise."
"Louise; hmmm, doesn't suit you. I'd suggest next time you wanna get away with a fake name, you maybe try a little bit to cover up that hospital bracelet." He laughed and lifted his fork, pointing at the white band around Harleigh's wrist. Her eyes widened and then she tried tugging the band to get it off. I helplessly laughed until Harleigh slapped my arm.
"Harleigh, why don't you tell Wyatt why you're here, huh?" Ramona sarcastically smiled at her and took an extra fork to eat a piece of Wyatt's pancakes.
"Thank you, Ramona!" He put his arm around Ramona's shoulder and pulled her close. My first impression of Wyatt was sunshine and happiness (sounds cheesy I know). He had a sense of compassion and innocence; he didn't blend in the grey crowd around here.
"I'd rather not." Harleigh crossed her arms and put her feet on the table.
"Are you going to group therapy too?" I asked.
"Yeah! We should all sit together." He pushed his plate of pancakes in Harleigh and I's direction.
"Not hungry. Thanks though." Harleigh plainly replied as I ate a fluffy pancake from the stack.
---------------------------------------------
"Hello, everyone! We've got a big group today. Let's give a warm welcome to our three newest editions." The friendly nurse pointed at Harleigh, Ramona and I. We were in an all white room with colorful artwork hung along the walls and ceilings. The room smelled like apple pie.
"Hi Harleigh, Ramona, and Wes." The small circle of people we we sat with ranged from age twelve to eighteen. There was only about fifteen of us.
"So how has everyone's morning been?"
A girl with short dirty blonde hair raised her hand immediately. The woman in charge- Ms. Kathleen her name tag read- passed along a stick in her direction. "Yes, Rosie?" Ms. Kathleen smiled encouragingly.
"The bagels this morning were a little off, man." She sighed.
"Why don't we all just get to know each other, for the sake of our newcomers?" Wyatt requested, smiling right at us.
"The stick wasn't passed to you, Wyatt." Rosie rolled her eyes.
"Pull the stick out of your ass, Rosie." Wyatt muttered.
"FUCKING SAY THAT AG-"
"Rosie!" Ms. Kat interrupted, getting up and grabbing the stick out of Rosie's hands. She sat there and crossed her arms. Another firecracker. I wonder if they're all crazy.
"So, uh, why don't you start, Wes?" She was back to her cheerful self and handed me this magic talking stick thing. I couldn't really get out of this one.
"Just say whatever you wanna say." Wyatt whispered. "Like... I'm Wes and I have anxiety."
"The fucking stick." Rosie mumbled. We just ignored her.
"I don't have anxiety." I whispered back.
"Oh. You looked like the anxious type, sorry. Are you like depressed?"
I cleared my throat. "There's really nothing wrong with me."
"Now, Wes, don't be ashamed of your disorder or disability! Talk to us." Ms. Kat smothered me with yet another smile. I could hear Ramona giggling.
"Can I just go last?" I said finally, handing my stick over to Ramona. Ms. Kat nodded and waited for Ramona to start.
"So... uh... I'm Ramona."
"Hi Ramona." Everyone spoke in unison. Creepy, yet very interesting and probably practiced.
I'm was still wondering whether I was in a kindergarten class or a rehab center.
"Well, um, I'm not very good at this whole talking thing but... I guess you can say my life's pretty normal. It really is, for the most part. Like, my dad died when I was little, but I wasn't really affected by it. I have an amazing mom and brother... a wonderful best friend, too. And uh... There's this guy and we were complicated for a while, and I thought I wasn't good enough for him. I just lacked that confidence, ya'know? But I've come to this realization that I don't have to change myself for people to like me, and I've accepted that. I'm okay right now."
"What's he like!" Rosie jumped up for her seat.
"Look who's not using the stick now!" Wyatt whispered to me.
Ramona paused for a moment. "Rosie, he's the greatest guy I've ever met."
///but wait i ship ryatt who cares about ramona accepting herself/// JUST KIDDIN GUYS BLESS RAMS
//ps uh ryatt is brotp//
YOU ARE READING
Drunk or Sober
RomantizmI thought I had done a particularly impressive job at flying under the radar for almost all four years of high school. That is until, Sterling City's very own 'it girl' Harleigh Wren Queen, invited me to a party.
