red band society // 5sos au

three - new guy

"Hi, I'm Ashton," the new guy holds out his hand and I take it, shaking it and welcoming him to the hospital. You could tell he was nervous by the way he kept holding on to his backpack and how tense he was.

"Hey, I'm Jabie. Let me introduce you to my friends, they're all really excited to meet you, Follow me," I say, leading him into Calum and Michael's room. "Guys, this is Ashton."

"I apologize that the first person you met was Jabie," Michael says and I glare at him. "She's a handful, really. I don't get how Calum puts up with her."

"Sit down, we'll introduce ourselves," Cassie says, getting out of her chair to give him a seat. She proceeds to sit down next to Luke.

"If you don't mind me asking -" Ashton starts but Michael interrupts.

"Why we're all here? Yeah, that's what everybody usually wants to know," Michael shrugs and points to Luke.

"So I'm Luke. My room's across the hall and that's your room too so expect to see me a lot after this little meeting thing. I'm 16, I came here when I was 13. I've got chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD for short. My case is worse than most people's so that's why I live here and why I've got this oxygen tank. His name's Freddie," Luke explains and then gestures to Calum.

"Hey, I'm Calum. I'm also 16 and I came here when I was 14. I was actually the first one out of all of us to get admitted here. I have brain cancer so I'm slowly dying but no big deal," he shrugs and laughs, gesturing to Michael.

"Calum also forgot to point out that him and Jabie are exclusive to each other so don't hit on her. And by exclusive, I mean that they're both in denial and won't date but they aren't interested on anyone else besides each other," Calum and I glare at Michael and he laughs, continuing. "So I'm Michael and I got here after Calum did, which is why were share a room. I've got stage 4 thyroid cancer, which proceeded to spread to my lungs and that's why I have to carry this annoying ass oxygen tank everywhere just because my lungs are shit at being lungs."

"Well you know I'm Jabie and I'm 16. I've got acute myeloid leukemia, which I'm pretty sure you know what that is. I was admitted and then I went into remission but the cancer's back and I am also progressively dying. I live in the room right above this one," I introduce and point to Cassie.

"Oh well hello, my name's Cassie. I was the last one to join and that's because of anorexia, depression, and self-mutilation. That's really all there is to it," she shrugs. "So, Ashton, it's your turn."

"I'm Ashton, 17 years old. I'm here because I tried to kill myself two days ago. Overdose. But it didn't work, as you can see. I've been battling depression for the past two years and I've also become addicted to numerous drugs and when I can, I sneak out and go get drunk or high or something. So when my parents found out that not only was I suicidal but also a drug addict, they sent me here," he said, shuffling his feet.

"What kind of drugs?" Michael asked, wide-eyed.

"Michael, I swear to God if you pull another stunt," I tell him in a stern voice.

"What stunt?" Ashton asks.

"Oh yes, care to enlighten the new guy?" Michael smiles and I throw a pillow at him.

"A month ago, Michael was caught smoking cigarettes in the janitor's closet, which is a very idiotic move because your lungs already suck and you decided to put something in your body that will fuck it up even more," I sigh and Ashton nods.

"Hey, young lady, watch that mouth of yours," Kelly walks in to check up on us, making sure that none of us "suddenly die on her shift."

"Michael's asking Ashton about drugs, of course I'm going to curse at him! There's no other way to talk to this dumba--" I start but stop myself from saying the whole world.

"Jabie is such a bitch to me sometimes," he throws the pillow back at me.

"You have to watch your language too. All of you. I don't want your parents to think that we're raising you to be potty mouths and crack heads. That's actually the opposite of what we want to do," Kelly raises her eyebrow and leaves the room.

"I'm gonna go. We have that essay due when Ryans comes in today and I haven't even started," Cassie gets up and goes to our room.

"I'll show Ashton around," Luke says and gets up, gesturing Ashton to follow him outside of the room.

"And I'll casually cockblock the two of you," Michael grins and turns on the television. "Just wondering, what are you two anyway? You've been acting very coupley lately."

"What if we were?" Calum smiles and looks at me and I shake my head at him.

"If you want me to be your girlfriend, you better take me out on a proper date first," I smile and laugh.

"I swear to God if you two become like Augustus and Hazel or some shit, I will personally kill you two," Michael says and Calum shakes his head.

"Trust me, we'll be sooo much better than Augustus and Hazel," Calum sits down on his bed next to me, putting his arm around my shoulders.

"Like I said before, you have to take me out on a date first," I look at him and smirk.

"We live in a hospital, how can I take you on a date?" Calum raises his eyebrow and I laugh.

"I don't know... You could tell Kelly or something, maybe she'd pull some strings and set something up," I answer and stand up. "I have to proofread my essay and study because if I get a 95 on the next test, Ryans said I could be pushed up a grade."

"But why would you want to leave us?" Michael asks, pouting.

"Because it's hard to learn with you guys in my class. It's either I get distracted or you guys are distracted and have to hold the class back," I say, walking out of the room.

"Your girlfriend is a handful."

"She's not my girlfriend!" is what I hear last as I walk out.