Suicidal House (boyxboy)

4

"Hello everyone, I'd like you all to welcome our new house guest Eli."

The girls mumbled a hello along with Atticus as he stroked the girls hair who had stormed off earlier. We were all dotted about on different sofas and chairs in the living and sat on a large arm chair was Sarah, our group therapist for the house. She was a pretty woman, in her mid thirties, with shoulder length hair that framed her face nicely.

"So Eli, we have these meetings at least three times a week, possibly more if there's an incident." Sarah said softly, smiling as she stared at me as though I was a child. I just nodded.

Honestly I was trying to concentrate but my mind kept slipping and I ended up watching Atticus pull the girl into his side, stroking her hair comfortingly as she looked at everyone but me. I should of felt slightly bad but I didn't, I just didn't want Atticus to think bad of me, which confused me even more. Why did I care?

"So I hear you're an artist? Why don't you tell us what that's like."

I snapped out of my daydream and looked back at Sarah.

"It's okay I guess, I've always been interested in art. I guess it's just an easy way to express yourself or just have fun, then I started posting my art online and ended up with quite a big following." I said, shrugging as everyone in the group stared at me. Sarah clasped her hands together as she gasped, her face lighting up. "Wow that's quite extraordinary."

I just shrugged again, nodding slightly as I leant back in my chair. Sarah took my hint that I didn't want to talk and moved on to the girl wrapped around Atticus.

"So Zara, how are you feeling?" Sarah asked softly, pulling out her notebook and pen.

The girl, which I now knew as Zara, sighed softly as she sat up. Her eyes were bright red, clearly from crying and her pale hair was pulled back into a tight bun.

"I've been better. I just want to say, I'm sorry..." Zara whispered as her eyes drifted up to meet mine. I was surprised to say the least.

"I shouldn't have gone off at you like that. It's just hard, you know? What's that saying, there's an elephant in the room? It's like I've got one every single day, and had one all my life. And it's something you don't speak about, something you try to ignore, even though it's painfully obvious that it's there. And I guess I was just shocked at how comfortable you were speaking about it, as if it didn't matter. I don't know, I'm sorry I know you didn't say anything to hurt me." She said quietly as everyone clapped softly.

Clearing my throat I sat up properly, running my fingers through my hair. "Don't say sorry, I know I can be an insensitive prick but I didn't mean to upset you. I should of thought more, I'm sorry Zara." I said, smiling awkwardly as I placed my fist out. Zara blushed and chuckled slightly, leaning across to bump fists with me.

Sarah continued to talk to the rest of the group, talking about their accomplishments over the past few weeks and their goals but I wasn't listening. I just sat looking at Atticus and when our gazes met he gave me a smile, nodding as he kissed Zara's forehead.

Once the group session was finished Sarah said her goodbyes, the girls retreated to their rooms and Atticus lingered in the doorway. Standing up I walked over to him, crossing my arms as I waited for him to move out the way. "Well done for saying sorry to Zara," He said, tilting his head to the side. I just shrugged.

"It was nothing. So are you going to get out the way?"

He just laughed, hooking his bottom lip between his teeth.