Dead Leaves [Discontinued]

[1] Welcome to Auxilius

The building was impressive, that much was clear. The pamphlets hadn't been lying when they had showed the beautiful building that looked more like a mansion than "a place for those who need help." However, Liv Marshall did her best to hide her wonder and walked through the fanciful doors silently, her face as stoic as always, as her mother gushed about the place.

"Look, Liv, the place is so big!" Her hand finally left Liv's shoulders as she stepped forward. "It's just like in the pamphlets. It's not as bad as you thought, now is it?" She turned around with a hopeful expression on her face, waiting for Liv to acknowledge her in any way, but she only blinked. Clearly disappointed, her mother sighed and walked to the front desk, causing Liv to feel a small pang of guilt.

It was the reason why she was here at Auxilius, the "best care center in all of New York," according to her parents. 

However, the guilt was growing smaller by the second, so she decided to look around the lobby as she waited for her dad to come in. There were nurses and patients around her, walking around and looking as if they weren't trapped in a care center but at a regular high school, but during the summer. She was wondering what some of the patients were in here for, until she caught herself.

You're going to be here for a long time, she thought to herself. You're no better than them.

This was why Liv didn't want to be here. She was thinking like that again: judging people based only on what she saw. One of three things she swore she would never do.

"Come on, kid. Let's go get you settled in."

Liv jumped as her father placed a hand on her shoulder without warning. He immediately withdrew his hand, his face and tone apologetic. 

"I'm sorry," he said, purposefully avoiding Liv's eyes. "Let's just go find your room while your mom signs the paperwork and meets with the head."

Liv followed her dad to the elevator, trying to avoid eye contact with those around her. As they waited for the elevator to arrive, the two stood in uncomfortable silence, something that would've been impossible even one month before. It was clear that her father wanted to talk, to say something that would break the awkwardness, but Liv was grateful that he decided not to say anything the entire way to room 202.

"Hey, can I help you two?" 

Liv and her dad turned around to see who had spoken. The person turned out to be a light-skinned girl who looked to be about Liv's age. She wore the same clothes Liv had seen others wear around the building, and she concluded that the girl in front of her was another patient. The only question was who she was and what she was doing here. The girl stopped two feet away from Liv and her father, an expressionless look on her face.

"Um, are you Danielle Parker?" Liv's father stepped closer towards the girl.  "The one in room 202? This is my daughter, Liv Marshall; she'll be staying there starting today."

"Yeah, that's me. You're the newbie, huh?" The girl -- Danielle -- walked up to Liv, until they were less than six inches away from each other. "You already know my name, but call me Dani." She stuck out her arm for Liv to shake, who glanced down at it briefly before tentatively extending her own hand reluctantly.

"Well, Mr. Marshall, if you'd like, I could help Liv get settled here so you could go on with your business, unless you'd rather help her," Dani said to Liv's dad.

Liv's dad glanced at Liv, whose expression remained unchanged. "Well, if Liv doesn't mind, I suppose . . ."

Knowing her dad was uncomfortable, Liv walked up to him, patting his arm awkwardly. She didn't say anything, but her dad was still able to understand.