Mental

First Days and Rejections

Hey guys! I hope this update isn't too late! This chapter is about Ryan's first day in JMS and his interactions with the mystery girl, Ash. Enjoy! And as always remember to follow my page, vote this chapter, and comment new ideas.

Pops

________________________________________________________________________________

Ryan woke up the next day to panels of light reflecting against the wood floor. The image of Ash's eyes still pasted in his mind. A knock on the door caused Ryan to force his eyes open and speak.

"Come in." The door creaked an Dr. Black peered through the crack.

"Good morning," he said. "I have your medicine for you." Ryan blinked but said nothing and Dr. Black waltzed in followed by the two men in white. They wheeled in a similarly white cart behind them, just like the one in the hospital. One of the men, his name was Nurse Bailey, pulled the cart up to the side of Ryan's facilitated bed and took out a small plastic cup. In the cup was one blue pill and two orange pills, he handed Ryan the cup and a glass of water.

"Drink up," he said, and left. The second man shuffling along behind him. Ryan expected Black to leave too but instead he shut the door locking the two of them in the room. He went over to the edge of Ryan's bed and sat, causing Ryan to shift his legs to make room for Black.

"I wanted you to know," Black spoke, softly as if Ryan was fragile china that would break at a single touch. "That if you truly need anything. I am here. I want you to feel safe at JMS." Ryan appreciated the offer but Dr. Black did not seem like the sort of person you would be most likely to trust. So Ryan kept silent. Once Black had left, Ryan took the cup of water and downed the pills one at a time, coughing as they slid down his throat. Then pulling his body out of his bed, groaning because he felt like a bag of bricks. Today was going to be a long day.

...

Once dressed, although Ryan wasn't sure if he could even class what he was wearing as "being dressed". He wore grey sweatpants, a baggy white t-shirt, and a mandatory long white coverup sweater. All his clothes and shoes had been taken from him when he arrived, so he wore on his feet white hotel-style slippers on his feet that Dr. Black had left him on the floor. At exactly 9:30, thirty minutes after he had been woken, a knocking sound on the door occurred once more.

"Come in," Ryan said for the second time that day. The one of the male nurses who came in this morning pocked his head through the door. This one's name was Nurse Martin.

"I'm here to take you to the recreation room, Ryan," he said gesturing with his hand toward the now open door. "You will spend up until lunch there, then you will be taken to an art class, exercise activities, and then back to the recreation room at 3. Bedtime is at 8." He spoke in a monotone as if he didn't care about his job or even being here. He gestured towards the door again and walked out, followed by Ryan.

The walk to the recreation room took a mere two minuets all they had to do was walk down a hallway, a flight of stairs, and then turn right. Although Ryan could tell when they were getting closer to the room because of the hustle and bustle coming from farther down the corridor. When they arrived at the room, Ryan was too shocked for words. Every single man, women, and teen in the room was dressed in the exact same set of clothing as Ryan, all the way down to the hotel slippers. Nurse Martin cleared his throat and spoke.

"Everyone, listen up. We have a new patient here today, this is Ryan. Everyone give him your greetings and make him feel welcome." Some patients spoke, murmuring greetings, while the rest continued what they were doing with glossy eyes as if they didn't even hear Martin. Ryan didn't mind though he was looking for Ash. Eyes searching, every corner of the room, high and low. He couldn't find her. Nurse Martin had just begun to walk away but Ryan ran to catch him up.

"Excuse me," he called, tapping Martin on the shoulder. "I was wondering if you've seen Ash Wilson. I couldn't find her here." Martin turned around and his eyes darkened.

"After her little..." he paused, thinking. "Stunt yesterday. We have her on a somewhat time out for a couple hours today." Seeing the worry in Ryan's eyes, he reconsidered his words. "But don't fret, she will be back soon. Do you know her?" Ryan shook his head and walked away. Of course he didn't know her but could he, maybe soon. 

...

At exactly 12 o'clock, a slight ping came from the speakers on all sides of the room. Lunch. Most patients got up and walked to the cafeteria by themselves while others had to be escorted by nurses and volenteers. Ryan didn't know where the cafeteria was so he just followed the crowd. When he arrived, the sound and smell of hospital food cooking floated into his range. He crinkled his nose. Definitely not my mom's cooking he thought. After getting a tray of especially unappetizing food from lunch lady's that smelled like fish sticks and other equally rotten things. He looked around and saw crowded tables filled with people talking and eating, while others sat alone not talking and not eating. He didn't know where to go.

"Hey!" A voice behind him called out. Ryan whipped around to face it. A boy with a mess of brown curls and hazel eyes stood a few feet behind him. "I just heard that you were looking for Ash, and I wanted to let you know that she always eats lunch in the east stairwell. Jake Harrington, by the way," he finished, extending a hand. Ryan politely shook Jake's, but only Ash was on his mind right now. He nodded a thanks to Jake and left, hoping not to be caught by anyone on his first day. Behind him, he heard Jake yell, "Careful, she can be overly agressive." But Ryan continued his mission like he hadn't heard. He was determined!

When he reached the east stairwell (by the directions of a unsuspecting volunteer), he was surprised at how quiet it was. He had at least expected munching since Ash was eating here. He began to open the odor and it inched open with a creak. Immediately, noise erupted in hustle and bustle before silence once more. Ryan pushed the door the rest of the way open and peered inside.

"Ash," he called out. No one was around. Confused, he walked in and shut the door behind him. Maybe Jake had just pranked him, and Ash was still locked in her room. "Ash," he said again. No response. Maybe she didn't want to be called Ash by a stranger. "Ashley Wilson." Still no response. "I know you're here. My name is Ryan Miller and I just want to talk." A rustle came from behind the stairs and Ryan perked his ears. "Ash," he called out, for what seemed like the millionth time. He walked behind the stairwell and saw her curled up behind a chair, her tray of food next to her leg. Her golden brown hair covered her face like the girl from The Ring. Looking up he once again saw her innocent honey brown eyes.

"What do you want?" She asked, looking back down.

"I-I I just wanted to get to know you," Ryan said, stuttering over his words again. The feeling in his chest began to show itself, even though he had taken those 3 pills earlier that day. "Maybe, you know, be friends." He waited for her to answer, nervously anticipating her response.

"I don't need any friends. We're in a mental asylum, this isn't kindergarten," she said with every tone of sarcasm possible. It was obvious she wanted to be left alone. She was witty and Ryan liked it, but she was obviously someone you didn't want to get on the wrong side of.

"Okay," he said. "I'll leave you alone then." He turned around, and began to walk back up the stairs to the top door. He heard a chair scraping and then Ash stand up. He turned back around. She was fully standing now.

"By the way, kindergarten was my favorite grade. Or rather only grade that I was in before I came here," she paused. "What was your name again?"

"Ryan, Ryan Miller."

"Ash Wilson. Can I call you Rye?" Ryan shrugged.

"Sure, that's my nickname at home so, go ahead," he added.

"Ok, see you around Rye." And with that she turned around, hair whipping, picked up her tray, and left the opposite way Ryan was going. Ryan quickly lept up the rest of the stairs and ran back to the cafeteria, feeling the happiest he had been since he got here.

————————————————————————————————————————————————-—

Yaaay! I worked so hard on this chapter and am so excited to share it with you guys. I'm really excited about Ash's sarcastic attitude and Ryan's surprising contemplation of it. As always, please remember to vote this chapter, comment ideas, and follow my page.

Pops