Rejects // Luke Hemmings [au]

2

December 13th, 1956

6:56am

I hear the familiar sound of boots walking towards my cell, and I know the warden's son in coming to get me. Every morning he arrives to walk me to the cafeteria. I've become... friends with him, I guess. 

"Good morning, Violet" He greets me, unlocking my cell door.

I smile, "Hello, Ashton" and follow him out of my cell and down the long hallway. All of the other cells are full, and for some reason I'm always the first to be taken to breakfast. I don't mind, I get to eat while its hot. Some people in here would try to burn their throats on the oatmeal. 

"How are you?" He asks, smiling at me.

I always try my very hardest to act sane around Ashton. I feel like, if I breakdown, he won't want to be my friend anymore. I can't lost him, I've grown attached and I don't let go of things easily. Be good, Violet. Don't fuck up like you always do. Don't fuck up. DONT FUCK UP.

"I'm fucking great!" I smile. Fuck, I fucked up. I'm not supposed to be swearing around him, or in this institution at all. Fuck.

"How was your night?" He continues, like nothing happened.

"I sat in the dark" I stare straight ahead, blanking out and describing what last night was while I picture it in my head. "Listening to the sounds of people losing their minds. It was cold, and the moon was the only light I had. I slept underneath my bed, not on it, under it. I watched the cell across from me sit empty. I miss Cynthia."

I don't make eye contact with Ashton, but I know he's staring at me. What I just said was even more fucked up than before. I couldn't help myself. I walk with my face forward straight into the cafeteria, spotting the only other person who is brought here as early as me. My best friend, Michael. He's in here for a reason that is legit, unlike mine. He has a mild case of schizophrenia.  Okay, maybe not that mild...

"Good morning, Michael." I say, sitting down next to him at our round table. He flinches at the sound of my voice, but he does that with everyone. He scratches at his wrists, like he does everyday, and I can see the chaffing and scars on them. He looks up at me, blinking rapidly and awkwardly trying to smile.

"Hello, Violet" He stutters. "Did your dreams make you happy?" He asks.

"Yes, Michael. I'm happy." I say, standing up and walking to the food line, although theres no one in it yet. I order two oatmeals and get two glasses of water, carrying it all back to the table. I give Michael a bowl and a glass.

"Thank you." He smiles, eating his food quickly. "Did you hear about the new guy?"

"New guy?" I ask, sipping my water.

"Yeah I heard the guards t-talking about it." He flinches and moves his head, but remains on topic. "He k-killed his girlfriend and they said he has intermittent explos-sive disorder. He's being checked right now"

"Damn, I'm excited to meet him." I smile.

For the rest of breakfast, Michael and I chit chat about how our nights were, and how much we both love the bright red colour of the cafeteria cups. 

"Violet, it's time to go" I hear a security guard tell me, patting me on the shoulder. I stand up and tell Michael goodbye, following Calum, my games room escort. 

"Hello Calum" I try to make conversation.

"Hey, Violet." He turns to me, "you look nice today"

"Nice? I live in a fucking asylum" I chuckle, trying out a bit of sarcasm. His words twirl in my mind, 'you look nice today'. How can I possibly look nice? His words stab through my skull as I realize what they truly are, stone cold lies. My blood boils and I begin to get angry. He's lying to me, I don't like being fucking lied to. "Don't lie to me," I half yell, my eyebrows knitting together and an expression of anger crossing my features.

"Violet, I'm not lying. You look really good today. I promise," He tries to calm me down, and it somehow works. 

"Thank you. I'm sorry." I tell him, hopefully stopping him from hating me. "Do you hate me?" 

"Why would I hate you?" He asks.

"Everyday you walk me to the games room, and everyday you hear me talk like I belong here" I sigh.

"You're not as crazy as you think you are, Violet. Remember, I deal with a lot of other patients too. You're my favourite."

"And you're my favourite guard" I smile, the two of us finally reaching the games room. "Goodbye" I dismiss him, taking my usual seat in the games room. I browse through the board games and puzzles on the wall, finding one I haven't played yet. It's probably new. I grab it off the shelf and return to my seat, feeling excited to do something I haven't yet. I spill all of the pieces on the table and start my search. 

-

About halfway through the puzzle, I am interrupted by the sound of complete silence. It's never quiet in here, because everyone else is always chatting or mumbling to themselves. I look up to see two security guards shoving a boy I've never seen before through the door. The boy is angry, I can tell. I bet he doesn't want to be here, like the rest of us. He has blonde hair, that stands up on the front of his head like a mountain. His eyes are deep blue and filled with annoyance. I can see a hole in hip lip, where a ring surely used to be, which I find attractive. He's tall, a lot taller than me, that's for sure. I bet I would only reach his shoulder with my head. I pull my hair out of my face and stare at him, with my eyes wide. He's really attractive to me, which is odd for most patients here. I've only ever had a crush on one person in my whole life. His name was Johnny, and we were ten. One year before I was put in here, He moved away. I was heartbroken, but I eventually moved on. 

He sits down on a chair in the corner of the room, facing me directly. I go back to my puzzle, working hard, but occasionally sneaking glances at this boy. Every time I look over at him, He's already staring at me. I feel odd, having my stomach do weird things. I feel like moths are fluttering around inside my belly. Before I even realize it, the boy has stood up and is walking towards me. I stay seated, doing my puzzle.

He sits down next to me and stares, just stares, nothing else.

"What?" I ask him, finally giving him some attention. 

"What's your name?" He asks me, taking his lip in his teeth. Up close, he's even more attractive than I thought. He has a light stubble on the bottom of his chin.

"Violet." I tell him, going back to my puzzle.

"Well, Violet" He says, turning to the puzzle as well. "I'm Luke."