The Green House

i| 03

03

2018[age 19]

Ajsa

"I don't like him" I crossed my arms as I sat next to Slate, he was picking the grapes on his plate whilst I stole one.

"What's wrong with him?" He rolled his grapes with his fork and counted each one. "Something is just off, look at him over there" I jutted my head to the left subtly as Slate searched for Mr. Nero, "He's just staring at us" I frowned when Slate proposed I be nice to him "He seems nice" Slate shrugged his shoulders and put his fork down.

His blonde swirls of hair reached his eyebrows as the sides of his head was cut short. His dark brown eyes searched my face as he squinted a bit. He wears glasses but refuses to put them on so he subjects himself to squint half the time but I liked him without the glasses. They make his eyes look so small and the thick frames don't quite fit right on his head.

His noodle arms pushed away his tray and I frowned at him "Eat." I commanded him. His hand went into his hair as he tugged at the ends in silent frustration, he gave me a glare then took his fork and punctured the soft flesh of the green grape; putting it into his mouth he grumbled.

Mr. Nero jotted a couple of things down on his small pocket notebook and caressed his chin in thought. Fury built up inside me, he was watching us like we were at a zoo, I held myself back from screaming at him.

"Why didn't you get a plate?" Slate's eyes narrowed on my own and I shrugged "Wasn't feeling lunch today"

His exasperated expression just screamed hypocrite but I ignored him. "I think I'm going to go complain about Nero to the board." I nodded my head in agreement with myself and Slate stopped chewing on the one grape I forced him to eat. The loud chatter around us increased and I could barely hear my own thoughts.

"You already complained about two others, how are you ever going to get better if you won't talk to them?" His fiery gaze pierced my own and I felt a bit disappointed that he picked Nero's side over mine.

"I'll get better as soon as they send someone I like; plus there's nothing wrong with me, with any of us" I remarked as I stole another grape from his tray. Slate pushed the food towards me and I pushed it back in the middle.

"If nothing was wrong with us Ajsa we wouldn't be here" Slate ruffled his hair with his hands and then leaned his head on the palm of one hand.

"We're just" I let my words drag out "different" I finished.

I attempted to warm my ice cold hands by placing them inside my cardigan sleeves, Slate took notice but said nothing.

His eyebrows furrowed and he took a deep breath picking up his head he exhaled quietly. "Ajsa" He started "I'm being released at the end of this month." His words came out in a heap as they tumbled from his mouth and lay in a pile on the table between us.

"What?" I put the grape that was in my hands down "What do you mean?" Panic ensued, my heart began to thump murderous beats against my ribcage as I tapped my foot to the beat of my heart.

"They decided I'm good enough to be let out" His expression was grim and he casted his eyes downwards. I could tell he was excited to get out as his voice was higher than usual. It would be selfish of me not to be happy.

I forced myself to smile "That's great Slate" I feigned brightness in my tone and he looked up to reach my eyes. I could tell Slate had changed, he wasn't the cynical, harsh, sarcastic boy that arrived here a year ago. His personality was made up of pills and medicine and he lost himself.

"I want you to come with me" My throat enclosed on itself, it was tight and hard to breathe as I let out shallow breaths. I got a little lightheaded thinking about leaving my room I couldn't imagine going outside.

"I can't do that Slate, I'm not better yet" I used his previous statement against him and he frowned.

He looked as if he was about to say something when a low wail interrupted him and echoed down the long room that housed numerous tables. My eyes caught Nero's as I tried to find the location of the noise. A small man with a cone shaped head clutched onto a plastic table as he screamed. He took in a deep breath and shoved the table away from him onto incoming staff trying to calm him down.

Everyone looked away but me as they dragged the poor man out of the room. I followed them until their footsteps ceased. I turned back to Slate who ate another grape and forced himself to swallow it.

"Just fake it till you make it." He continued our conversation as if nothing happened. His simple words rung through my head, "You don't have to be better, you just have to pretend." My eyes caught a familiar bald head as I followed Darce; she was adamantly talking to a staff worker and she looked completely normal. I swear I almost saw her smile.

"Pretend" I repeated.