sweetheart ; steven hyde (discontinued)

34.

group

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I sat myself in one of the old plastic chairs as the rest of the girls filed in one by one.

I stayed quiet and picked at the skin around my nails that had chipping red nail polish over them. I shifted in the chair multiple times in attempt to get comfortable but nothing seemed to work.

"Good morning, girls." A high pitched voice calls out. I look up to match a face with the voice.

A short lady with blonde hair and big glasses sits herself in the chair across from us all and smiles.

"Good morning." The girls around me say in unison and I look around in disgust.

"For all who aren't aware, we have someone new joining us today." She says as I feel everyone's eyes move to me all at once.

"Lana, why don't you introduce yourself?" She says and I shift.

I clear my throat.

"I'm Lana." I say with the smallest wave and a weak half smile.

"Hi, Lana." The group says together, uninterested.

"Very well, I hope you all make Lana feel welcome and supported."

The rest of group drags on and I wait impatiently for it to be over.

After a long 45 minutes, It's finally over and time for lunch.

The lunch wasn't very appealing. A turkey sandwich served on stale wheat bread with warm cheese. We got to choose between apple juice or water for our drink, and had to pick at least one fruit.

I decided in grapes and apple juice and tucked myself away in the back corner.

I sat by myself, poking my sandwich when I felt a girl sit beside me.

"Hi, Lana." I look up to see a girl who was around my age with pale, almost white, skin, jet black hair and bright blue eyes.

I smile at the girl who was familiar from the card table.

"I'm Susan, but you can can me Susie." She says, biting into her food. I clench my teeth. Is she actually enjoying that?

"How long you in for?" She says in between chews.

"I'm here until Saturday, I think." I say and brush a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"Lucky, I'm stuck here for a month. I guess trying to kill yourself will land you in here." She shrugs and I try to smile, but I catch a glance at her wrist and wince. "I've only been here a week and it feels like a lifetime." She takes a drink from her cup and places it back on the table.

"This place is so depressing." I say softly and tear my sandwich in half. I take a small bite, and chew slowly.

"The food isn't much better, but I guess you kinda gotta get used to it if you don't wanna starve. Are you gonna eat that?" She points to the other half of my sandwich and I shake my head, pushing my tray in front of her.

"Oh, I'm starving." She takes a big bite and I chuckle.

"Any way," She finishes the sandwich in two bites, then stands.

"I should get going." She stands and dumps our trays, then walks out the room with a wave in Lana's direction.

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