Wristbands - M.C.

Nine

A/N: so so so sorry it took forever to update! I've been soooo busy with school and applications and clubs and homework and my job and agh! Thanks for being so patient!!!!!

-Elizabeth's POV-

My vision was blurry. I couldn't see much of anything and my brain felt numb.

There weren't any tubes connected to me -at least not anymore. But there were these sticker cords that stuck to my temples. I never knew the name of them. But they were suppose to try and find a change in brain usage or heart rate or something that they could trace specifically to Tyler.

But that meant that Tyler indeed did come out. That the trembling I felt was indeed connected to Tyler.

I felt sorry. For myself. But mostly for Michael. Tyler could've killed him. Tyler could have gotten into his brain. Tyler could make Michael never come back if that's what he wanted.

Nurses huddled around me. They pulled off the stickers and the heart rate moderator, and helped me get into my feet. I was now in a patient gown.

The nurses handed me fitted sweatpants, the t-shirt I came here in, and my hoodie in case I got cold. One led me to group therapy, as I'd been unable to go until now.

I walked in and felt my tired eyes scan the room for a familiar face. There weren't as many as were in the cafeteria. In the corner, I saw Scarlet and Blue and Stitches.

I stepped and slid my way down the aisle and placed myself into the chair next to Scarlet holding my hands in my lap.

"Hey, guys."

"Hey, E.T." Stitches replied, making me smile.

A lady with a huge fake smile waltzed into the room and stopped herself in front of a white board. She uncapped a black marker and flashed her smile back at us all again.

"Okay! We're talking about accepting sadness today!"

A quiet groan filled the room and I knew I was in for the time of my life.

-

-Michael's POV-

I was fully terrified of what Elizabeth -I mean Tyler- was capable of.

My head spun just thinking about it. School was the same old shitty thing. I never really understood why I stayed.

Calum strutted towards me, his backpack slung over his shoulder nonchalantly. I felt my hair between my fingers, the bleach making it coarser each time I ran my fingers through.

I heard Calum say something, but couldn't make it out over the thoughts running through my head regarding Elizabeth. I didn't know what to do...

I felt a violent push, forcing my back into the lockers behind me.

"What the hell?" I shouted, my eyebrows furrowed at my dark haired friend.

"I said 'How's the psyche ward?'" He repeated what I assumed to be what he'd said when I'd fazed out.

"Good. I was assigned to some multi-personality chick" I replied plainly.

"I hear those are really violent and unpredictable." He snickered.

"Well... Yeah, I guess she's kinda unpredictable..."

"Dude, good luck with it" He patted my shoulder roughly.

"It?"

-

-Elizabeth's POV-

I sat on the hospital bed and my feet swung freely. I chewed on my minty gum, knowing Michael could come at any time, and I didn't want Tyler stealing any of our time together.

Blue had recently been moved to my room to keep me -us?- company.

She wasn't the only company.

She held "therapy" in our room. Which consisted of her and a guy who I believe they call Brick, though he's not the only one she'll invite, practically -if not actually- banging in our room.

God knows how the two sex addicts haven't gotten caught. And how the nurses didn't expect this to happen.

I spend a lot of my time in the "library". It was more like a collection of books from former patients, donated by "benefactors", and the nurses' personal books they share with us.

It's a lot less unsightly there than in my room. And Janet, the "librarian" is quite delightful to listen to, as she has hundreds of stories and ideas and tidbits of wisdom.

But this exact moment I spent in my room. Half-invested in the book on my lap, a half-felt the presence of Blue in the room. I was just thankful that she and Brick had separate schedules today. But at the same time I was fully anxious for Michael's arrival.

-Michael's POV-

I couldn't wrap my mind around Calum calling Elizabeth an it. His words made me furious.

My guitar swayed mildly on my back as I walked towards the glass door from my car. I threw the door open and wrote my name onto the lined sheet, along with the date and time.

I patted the visitor sticker into my chest and swung open the next door, smirking at the receptionist.

My hands were tucked in my pockets as I made my way to Elizabeth's room.

I peered through the door frame, but didn't see anyone in the room. Maybe she's still at lunch?

I placed my guitar on her bed and sat on the bed across hers. There were more things in her room, more clothes and books. I smiled at the idea that she'd started to read again, that her worries that she'd never have the chance to enjoy life again were falling away.

I felt a pair of cold hands cover my eyes. Pure darkness. I placed my hands over them, cradling them over my face.

The whisper invaded the silence. "Keep your eyes closed." The whisper pleaded. "Don't open them until I tell you to."

I agreed, of course.

Her cold hands left my eyes but I felt them as she walked around me. I felt them on my cheeks, letting me know she was right before me.

She smelled of cherry and bubblegum. I smiled at the idea of Elizabeth standing before me, so incredibly close. It was as if Tyler never existed.

A cool touch nipped my cheek, the touch of what I assumed to be her nose. I breathed in sharply, licking my lips.

I felt her lips against mine. My eyes still closed. Her body was cold, while mine was still warm from the summery outside. It was the most incredible...

-Elizabeth's POV-

I made my way from the library to my room. I dog-eared the page to my book. It was about a young boy with schizophrenia. It was handwritten and I could tell it was a diary the hospital had mistaken for a novel. He wrote about a visitor he'd called Margaret. He'd fallen for her, he'd even attempted Electrical Therapy for her. It didn't work. It made him forget her. But she continued to come every day. I'm not done with it yet, but I expect that he'll get better because of her. It reminds me of Michael and myself...

I smiled as I passed the receptionist.

We had a secret way of speaking. She'd smirk at me whenever Michael was here, but she'd just shake her head if he hadn't come yet.

She had a huge smirk on her face, and I knew he was here.

I pulled out another piece of mint gum from inside the front cover of the diary in my arms. I chewed as quickly as I could to make the smell ward off Tyler.

I turned and peered into my room.

It wasn't what I'd wanted to see.

My books dropped from my arms and crashed on the floor.

Blue had made Michael her newest therapist...