A White Room

Chapter 1

Chris was hesitant to walk into the room. He signed up as a volunteer at a mental hospital. He didn't think it would be to bad, after all, the papers said that no one there was in that poor of a shape where they were dangerous to others. But they lied.

He was told he is meant to keep the person on the other side of this door company, and happy mostly. Chris figured it wasn't a big deal, talking with a guy for a few hours and hopefully helping the guy get better, no big deal. But then they gave him the paper.

'A twenty year old male, diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. He is prone to self harm, aggression, and other self destructive behaviors. He doesn't like rooming with others and due to that he has been confined to a white, padded, room. He requested it and enjoys the room. However quite commonly he is restrained in a straight jacket as well to help prevent urges to harm himself and prevent him from harming workers. He only likes to he called Chandler Hallow.'

Just the name alone sent chills down Chris' spine. He knows who Chandler is, or as Chandler's brother always put it 'who Chandler was.'

Chris choked down his sighs and worry and entered the room. Surely enough there was a man laying on the floor. Chris could see the family resemblance. Both Chandler and his brother were tall, had dark brown eyes, and tanish brown hair. Chandler's hair was messy, and he had some hair on his face, to much to be stubble but not nearly enough to call it a beard.

Chandler rolled on his side to look at Chris. "Who are you?"

Chris stood looking at Chandler for a moment more, "My name is Chris. I'm here to spend some time with you to get to know you."

"How much are you being paid to do that?"

"I'm sorry, what?" Chris sputtered out, this was volunteer work so he wasn't getting paid.

"How much is Jimmy paying you? The last guy apparently got 5,000 dollars just for 14 hours with me, " Chandler said. Honestly Chris didn't personally know anyone named Jimmy, he assumes its the YouTuber of the town based on the amount of money he was paying people.

"I'll be honest with you, I don't know this Jimmy guy ok? I'm guessing he is that one YouTuber guy in town who is always doing the crazy challenges. But I don't know him," Chris stated smoothly.

"Then why the hell are you here?"

"Choosing to be. Sitting in here all alone has to get boring. What's your name anyways?"

"I know you have a sheet of paper. Tells you all about me huh? Tells you about my self harm, my hallucinations. So don't pretend you don't know my name," Chandler almost spat out.

Chris sighed, "Fair enough. But still, I want to hear what you want me to call you."

"Chandler."

"It's a nice name," Chris says calmly, "Has a nice ring to it."

"Its basic. But so is Chris. We can have basic ass names together," Chandler says, his words mushed due to him laying on the ground with his cheek pressing into the ground.

"I suppose so. You seem comfortable there."

"I guess. When all the floor and walls are practically a bed it's easy to just flop down anywhere," Chandler muttered.

"It's kinda hard to understand you when you're laying like that. Could you sit up so we can keep talking?" Chris gently questioned.

Chandler slowly sat up, his light brown hair flopping against his head some. Chris now has a better look at Chandler's face. Chandler was cute at worst and attractive at best and Chris took notice to it.

"Happy? You got me to sit up. Hurray!" Chandler said sarcastically. Chris saw through it though. He knew Chandler is usually very happy, smiling a lot, making dumb jokes and just going out of his way to better other's lives. At least according to Chandler's brother.

"Thanks for doing that for me."

Chandler rolled his eyes. After so many people, Jake, Bailey, Conner, Marcus, and many more being sent by Jimmy to "befriend" him, Chandler has given up on making friends in here. The walls have become his friends, and the floor has become his family. He needs nothing else.

There are a few moments, neither of them says a word. Chris unsure how to talk to someone so different than what he was told, Chandler unwilling to get his hopes up for a friendship again. Unsurprisingly, Chris breaks the silence. He asks Chandler about Jimmy. The one thing Chandler expects him to know.

Chandler is willing to talk about it some. Explaining that Jimmy is a childhood friend, and that he was in Jimmy's videos before he was put away here due to his hallucinations being so bad he freaked out during a video and nearly hurt someone else there.

"Yea. The video was never put up. It was last to leave the sandbox gets a shit ton of money. I got claustrophobic and started freaking out."

Chris looked at Chandler, "Man, that would suck. Being still for so long would get so boring."

"You're telling me. It was fun until I freaked out though. After they cut the cameras, Jimmy took me off. Keeping the others there. He asked what the hell I was doing. And if I even was competent enough to understand how dangerous what I did was. It was really the first time me and him got into a major fight," Chandler sighed, "I explained to him. He admitted me an hour later. Has only visited a few times."

"Your best friend doesn't visit you?"

"He's busy. Sometimes his videos take multiple days of filming...he doesn't always have the time to come see me."

Chris just nodded solemnly. He had no right to tell Chandler that his one friend was a shitty person. But hearing that helped Chris realize why Chandler isn't the most ready for friendships. Only one friend and they don't care enough to visit? Chris would be distrusting too.

Hours passed. Chandler talking about Jimmy. Chris listening. And then Chris talking about events he has missed, and Chandler listening.

Eventually the topics became something you'd hear from children. More like 20 questions than anything else. The things that kids want to know, favorite colors, foods, favorite drinks. Chris learned that Chandler likes the color Green, gushers, and Mountain Dew. Chandler learned that Chris likes Blue, Chicken biscuits, and Mountain Dew. They then spent almost an hour just talking about soda.

Soon enough the day was over, Chris had to go.

"Hey, Chandler. Behave so I can visit again soon."

"Maybe I might. Maybe I won't. You'll find out when they call you."

Chris smiled gently at Chandler and left the room. His smile felt odd to him, this true genuine smile. However, his smile did not leave his face as he left the Psych Ward, and walked home.