Obsessive, Compulsive.

Seventeen.

"Robbie!" I jogged up the stairs just in time to see him disappear into his bedroom. The door slammed in my face. I sighed and turned round. Neither Eve or Cara had followed me. People tended to leave Robbie and I alone, which was weird. They just seemed to want to leave us to hang out on our own.

As I started walking towards my bedroom someone appeared behind me. I took a deep breath. "Robbie, what's wrong?"

"I'm not Robbie." Jay laughed. "I wish."

I frowned, turning to look at him. "That's a funny thing to say. Why do you wish you were Robbie?"

"Well... You two are best friends. You always hang out. I'd like to be your friend and hang out with you, too." He smiled.

"We are friends, aren't we?" I asked.

"I want to be proper friends." He shrugged. "Anyway, why you looking for Robbie? Did you guys have an argument?"

"No, he's got a secret that he wants to tell me." I told him.

"Oh." Jay tensed. "Do you think maybe he likes you?"

"Of course he likes me." I narrowed my eyes. "He's my friend."

"No... I mean... Do you think he like likes you?" Jay stared me straight in the eye.

"Yes! He's my friend!" I rolled my eyes. What the hell was Jay on about? Other humans always seemed to confuse me. Why couldn't people be outright in what they said?

"Never mind." He shook his head at me. "Do you want to go and sit out on the balcony? It's really sunny."

I nodded. We sat outside for a while, looking out at the sun. It was weirdly hot for the season and my pale arms felt warm, seeming almost bright white in the sun. There was always a downer in Saltridge, you always knew you were in a mental ward. The balcony was surrounded with wire like a prison, probably to stop people jumping off. Nevertheless, I looked past the wire into the sun.

"They've given me my discharge date." Jay admitted, turning to me.

"Really?" I gasped. "That's amazing! When?"

"The end of the week." He smiled.

"That's why you wanted to hang out with me!" I pointed at him. "I get it now!"

"Well... Although it's great that I'm leaving, it's kind of sad. I'm going to miss everyone." He looked at his shoes. "I just wanted to sit with you for a while since I won't get many chances again."

"I'll miss you too." I relaxed in my chair. "I think I'll be going home soon. I've been feeling better."

"You always feel better in your first two weeks. It's like you're convincing yourself that you're fine and should go home. It'll all hit you soon. You'll get worse." Jay said quietly.

I frowned.

"Sorry. That was pessimistic." He sighed, half-smiling to cheer me up. 

"God, I hate this place." I crossed my legs. "Do you want to play truth or dare?"

"What?" He laughed.

"Truth or dare?" I asked. "It's when you ask someone a question or tell someone to-" 

"I know what it is." He laughed again. "You're just so random. I pick truth."

I hadn't thought about what I was going to ask, so I schemed for a moment. "Have you ever kissed a girl?"

He shook his head. "Nah. Haven't found one worthy of me yet. Don't think anyone can handle me."

I laughed at this and he stuck his tongue out at me.

"I wasn't joking." Jay raised his eyebrow, smirking.

"I pick truth, too." I ignored him.

"Why did you run away with Robbie on your first night?" Jay asked. "Everyone's been talking about that. I want to know the truth."

"It's nothing crazy." I thought about it. "Well, I was scared. And Robbie seemed to know what he was doing. So when he got up and started running I took his hand and followed... I don't know."

"You took his hand?" Jay looked surprised. "You guys are such a love story!"

"Love story!" I almost choked on the air I was breathing. "No way! Never! We're just friends!"

"So you wouldn't kiss him if he tried to kiss you?" He asked.

I shook my head. "I don't think I'd kiss anyone. I'm way too scared for my first kiss."

"You haven't had your first kiss either?" He said. I nodded. Jay thought for a moment. "Do you want to be each other's first kiss? Just to get it over with?"

"Umm..." What would Antonia do? What would Antonia tell me to do?  I shrugged. "Here? At Saltridge? If any of the staff sees they'll kill us."

"It'll be fine." Jay assured me.

"Okay." I took a deep breath. I was sure Robbie and Antonia would support this. Antonia especially would be really excited. It was about time I had my first kiss anyway. I was sixteen.

Jay leaned in and kissed me on the lips for about three seconds before pulling away. I didn't feel any fireworks or emotion. It just felt slightly weird and gross. We sat in silence for a few seconds, thinking about what we had just done. I crossed my arms. He coughed quietly.

Desperate to avoid any awkward conversation, I stood up and rushed into the hallway in just enough time to see a pale-looking Antonia step carefully up the stairs.