Mental

1

Arlette's pov.

The nurses were busy doing his bmi's.

He was sitting there patiently while he was shaking his leg, probably from nervousness he was feeling right now, since he's new here.

After a few minutes pasted by, they finally finished doing his bmi's, the nurses told him to sit down where we all were.

There were only seven of us, including him, eight.

He sat down in the corner, where there was two chairs there, he just gazed off into the distance.

I wonder what he was thinking about.

I looked around the room, no body but me was paying attention to him.

I decided to talk to him, since I already did anyways.

So why not a second try?

I got up from my chair again and went to the second chair that wasn't being used, which was right beside him.

"Hello, what brought you here?" I began asking him, hoping he'll answer my question.

We always started with this question to the new people.

"O-overdose" he stuttered, he looked at me shyly, like if he was embarrassed or ashamed of what he did.

"No, don't be ashamed of what you did, you did it for a reason, you couldn't take it anymore, and that's all right" I told him, not sugar coating anything, I hated when people do that, and I'm sure he did too.

"Thanks, finally someone understands" he half smiled at me, his lovely smile made me smile back at him immediately.

"You're welcome, what's your name?" I decided to change the subject, might be triggering to him, who knows.

"My name is Zayn. Zayn Malik" he told me; "What about you?" He began asking me.

"What about me, what?" I asked, confused.

"Your name, what is it?" He did a obvious tone.

"Oh, it's Arlette. Arlette Gomez" I told him shyly, because of my stupidity.

"So, um, what do y'all do here?" He asked scratching the back of his neck.

"We just do group work and tell the nurses how you're feeling and shit like that, also no cussing nor touching, but just pretend I didn't cuss right now" I told him quickly, he just laughed at my statement.

"It's not funny, Zayn!" I said a bit too loud, everyone was looking at our direction now.

"Hey" I waved awkwardly at the people staring, they all just returned the gaze back.

"Anyways, how have you've been?" The stupidest question I asked all day, was directed at him, and specifically him.

"I think you already know the answer to that" he winked, he began stretching, popping a few muscles.

"Sorry, I'm just awkward sometimes" I told him, staring at my bare feet, reminding my self that I needed to wear socks, so I wouldn't slip.

"How long do people usually stay here" he asked me, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Up to a week, depends if you're bad, if you are, then a month; possibly"

"Shit, how long have you've been here?" He asked me, with worry in his eyes.

"I've been here for two days, and been dying to get out of here ever since" I told him with a groan.

"What a groan there, is it bad here?" He asked me, worrying about the environment here.

"I know and no, everyone gets along with everyone here" I told him sincerely, it was the truth anyways.

"Okay, that's good" he told me with a huff of relief.

"Why are you here for?" He asked me, I wasn't comfortable telling people why, so I just kept quite every time someone asked me.

I just stared at the wooden floor, wondering if I should tell him.

"Arlette?" He asked, touching my arm, I quickly flinched.

"No touching, young man!" Said the nurse from the counter.

"It's okay if you don't want to say" he said, smiling at me.

I smiled back and mouthed thank you to him.

I saw Melody and Ebony coming to our direction.

They both sat down on the floor, in front of us.

"Mind if we join y'all?" Asked Melody.

"No, we don't mind" I said looking at Zayn, he shook his head.

"What's your name?" They both asked at the same time.

"Zayn" he simply said, looking at his feet, protected by his socks.

"Nice" said Ebony.

"Why are you here?" Asked Ebony.

"Overdose" he said, repeating the same thing to me again.

"Same" said Ebony.

Melody was just sitting there quietly, playing with her fingers.

"Lunch time! Everyone line up!" Screamed the nurse.

We all lined up in a single file line and began heading out the door that lead to the cafeteria, I liked being the last one, Zayn was in front of me.

A few stairs later, we've finally made it to the cafeteria, "Sit, lunch will be ready in a sec" said the nurse that lead us here.

We all choose where to sit, I sat where I usually sat, which was in the middle, I asked Zayn to sit beside me, he did.

We all got seated until the nurse called us that lunch was ready to be served.

I sat there while everyone got up, I wasn't hungry.

In fact I was never hungry, which was bad, because I'm anorexic.

Zayn looked back at me, "You're not getting anything?" He questioned.

I shook my head no to him, while he began getting in line to get his lunch.

After they all got lunch, they all sat back in their spots.

"So, why aren't you eating?" Said Zayn, when he sat back down beside me.

"I'm anorexic" I openly said, not ashamed, because I am not my disorder, I am me.

He did a facial expression, one that I could not describe.

"Really? How long have you've been battling it?" He asked, curious about it.

"For about 2 years or 3, I can't really recall. Some of my teeth have already chipped off" I chuckled, a nervous chuckle.

"Don't worry I'll help you" he said, grabbing my small hand and taking it In with his.

Those are the words I needed to hear.

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Since you all know I'm anorexic, some of my teeth have chipped off. I hope you like this book ! Love y'all babes.