Smile (Ashton Irwin || A.u) *discontinued*

Chapter 6

|| Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon Garfunkel ||

Alicia awakened with Linda gently nudging her shoulder. She rolled over and opened one of her eyes, waiting for it to adjust to the brightness.

Linda moved away from Alicia and towards the tray of pills, arranging them into the usual smily face. Linda smiled herself and picked the tray up, walking over to the now sitting up Alicia.

Alicia rubbed at her eyes and attempting to make her uncontrollable bed head presentable. Linda placed the tray on her lap as Alicia grabbed the bottle of water from her desk. She took the pills on by one, cringing as they slide down her throat.

"You've got support group today. Wear something presentable please." Linda chuckled to herself as she recalled a time when Alicia went to support group in her pyjamas.

"Linda. Do I have to go?" Alicia groaned, already knowing the inevitable.

"You have to, it's why your here. It helps." Linda placed her hand on Alicia's shoulder, causing Alicia to recoil in shock.

"Linda please, I feel like shit today. I just want to crawl into a hole and die." Alicia stood up as Linda sighed, grabbing the now empty tray.

"Alicia, how are you doing?" Linda stood at the doorway and questioned her beloved patient.

"I'm fine." Alicia smiled, attempting not to break down. She hadn't broke down yet and she wasn't planning too anytime soon.

Alicia waited for Linda to leave before opening her wardrobe, to reveal the clothes she bought with her to the rehab. She settled on a short sleeved shirt and a pair of leggings. She left out the shoes because she was only going to walk around the building.

She walked across the hall to the toilets, needing to examine herself in the mirrors. The mirrors were protected by a clear plastic box in an attempt to stop people from smashing them to harm themselves. It only works 70% of the time, sometimes the patients do become that desperate.

Alicia walked past the cubicles towards the full body length mirror at the end of the row. As she approached she noticed a girl in the toilets violently vomiting. The girls hand was covered in saliva, so Alicia made the assumption that she was in the anorexic part of the rehab. The girls bones were also protruding out of her body.

The girl stopped vomiting and spat into the toilet bowl, grabbing tissue and wiping her mouth. She flushed the chain and stood up, turning around to meet Alicia's intrigued gaze.

"Hello. Can I help you?" The girl crossed her arms and walked past Alicia and out of the toilets, slamming the door behind her. Alicia was shocked at how rude the girl had been, but let it slip her mind as she returned to her original purpose.

The full length body mirror showed a brown haired, brown eyed girl with scars travelling up both arms. Her eyebrows needed plucking, which was banned at rehab and her face was covered with small pimples. The top hung lifelessly from her broad shoulders and flat chest. She sighed and walked away from the mirror, hating her reflection even more now.

She walked out the toilets and shut her bedroom door, making her way to support group.

The support group was ran by a thirty year old man and was focused on the 18-21 year olds. Alicia rarely ever spoke at these because her problem was the least severe in her opinion. Around 15 people were forced to come to these, even though Linda said that they weren't.

The door was open and about 7 of the predicted 15 were scattered around the circle. Alicia took the seat closest to the door, on the edge of the circle. The man, Gary, was sat on a stool in the middle watching the clock.

"Where is everyone?" His oddly chirpy voice brightened up when he saw that half of u had turned up.

Alicia looked around the circle and found him a few seats opposite her. He was fidgeting with his hands and looking down at the floor. He was visibly shaking. She saw him going to scratch his arm, but stopped suddenly and went back to fidgeting. The short sleeved top revealed deep scars covering his arms. No none damaged skin was see able.

Ashton looked up at Alicia and attempted a feeble smile as she just looked at him. She smiled back at him and looked down as the girl she met in the toilets walked in and too the last remaining seat, next to Alicia.

"So. This is our support group. Who would like to start off?" Gary stood up from the stool and clapped his hands together, attempting to liven the mood.

The group went its usual way, people stating their problem and everyone listened. Ashton stood up and dusted himself down nervously.

"Hi. My name is Ashton and I suffer with severe depression, a side effect from taking heroin." He blushed and sat down, causing Alicia to look down.

The girl next to me smiled at him as he took his previous seat. Gary nodded and took notes on his little notepad.

The confessions slowly made their way to Alicia. The girl from the toilets stood up and smiled at everyone.

"Hello. My name is Natalia. I'm not an anorexic I just don't like to fucking eat because of my dickhead ex-boyfriend. But who cares? I only vomit after eating air so I'm fine." She slapped her bony thighs and sat down, a smile reaching from ear to ear.

Gary just sat there shocked and looked at Alicia, expecting her to make the situation better.

Alicia stood up and raised hand to feebly wave at the support group. 

"Hello. My names Alicia and I am suicidal and a drug addict. I also suffer with severe depression and anxiety." Alicia sat down as Gary sent her a grateful look from across the room. Ashton looked at her and smiled.

A real and genuine smile.