Mental

4

Zayn's pov.

After the nurses finally got done doing my bmi's, they told me to sit down where the rest of the teenagers were.

I looked around trying to find a seat available, and I did find one, which was in the corner.

I began walking, shaking as I did so, because of my anxiety growing inside of me.

I sat down on the chair and began thinking about everything that has happened today.

I saw someone coming towards me from the corner of my eye, the person sat down beside me, where there was another chair available.

"Hello, what brought you here?" The female voice began asking me, trying to get the words out of my mouth.

"O-overdose" I said shyly, afraid of what what she was going to say.

"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" she told me, I smiled in relief, I was not expecting that answer.

"Thanks, finally someone understands" I said in a small huff, she smiled back.

"You're welcome, what's your name?" she asked changing the subject for some unknown reason.

"My name is Zayn. Zayn Malik" I told her; "What about you?" I asked, the same question back at her.

"What about me, what?" she asked, naively.

"Your name, what is it?" I did a tone, so she would notice.

"Oh, it's Arlette. Arlette Gomez" she told me shyly, probably because she realized what she did there.

"So, um, what do y'all do here?" I asked scratching the back of my 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" she told me all to quickly for me to process, I laughed at her bubbly self.

"It's not funny, Zayn!" She said loudly, everyone was looking at our direction now.

"Hey" she waved awkwardly at the people staring.

"Anyways, how have you've been?" she asked, another naive question.

"I think you already know the answer to that" I winked at her, I began stretching, popping a few muscles here and there.

"Sorry, I'm just awkward sometimes" she told me, staring at her bare feet.

"How long do people usually stay here" I asked her, furrowing my 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?" I asked her, wondering how long she's been in this shit hole.

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

"What a groan there, is it bad here?" I asked, I kept asking questions because I truly had no idea how it was like here.

"I know and no, everyone gets along with everyone here" she told me, shaking her head as doing so.

"Okay, that's good" I told her with a huff of relief.

"Why are you here for?" I asked her this time, but she just kept quite, staring at the wooden floor.

"Arlette?" I said, wondering if she even heard me.

I began touching her arm, she flinched quickly not accepting my touch.

"No touching, young man!" Said a nurse.

I looked up, the nurse was staring at me.

"It's okay if you don't want to say" I told her, smiling at her.

She smiled back at me and mouthed thank you to me.

I saw theses two girls coming to our direction.

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

"Mind if we join y'all?" Asked the red headed girl.

"No, we don't mind" Arlette said looking at me for approval, I nodded.

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

"Zayn" I simply said, looking at my feet, that had socks on.

"Nice" said the green haired girl.

"Why are you here?" Asked the green haired girl.

"Overdose" I said, repeating the same thing that I just told Arlette about.

"Same" said the girl with the green hair.

The red headed girl was just sitting there quietly, playing with her fingers.

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

I looked around, seeing everyone lined up in a line, I began following them, mimicking their moves.

I got in front of Arlette.

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

Arlette hurried and rushed toward the center of the table, "Sit" she pointed at the chair beside her.

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

I got up and began walking where everyone was walking, and that's when I realized that Arlette wasn't lined up.

I looked back at her, "You're not getting anything?" I questioned.

She shook her head no to me, while the line began moving for lunch to be served.

After we all got lunch, we all sat back in our spots.

"So, why aren't you eating?" I asked her, already knowing the answer, probably.

"I'm anorexic" she said out loud, not afraid of anyone judging her.

I made a face, knowing that was the answer.

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

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

"Don't worry I'll help you" I told her while grabbing her hand and taking it with mine.

I knew I had to help, I knew.