The Self-Harmed

~Fess Up, Love~

"Admit it."

"Admit what?" I asked, moving my food to one side on my plate.

It was Friday morning and our hair was wet from our showers. Thanks to my suicide attempt, I had a lot of work to catch up on. Good thing I was a bit of a nerd, and loved to learn.

"You like Ryder."

"What?" I asked, looking at her.

"You don't have to lie, we're friends here." She waved a hand back and forth between us.

"They're finally serving strawberry pancakes." Ryder sat down.

Clara and I looked at each other.

"What's wrong?" He looked up, mouth full of whipped cream and strawberries.

"We didn't see that." I nodded at his plate.

"Oh." He looked down. "It's not like you guys would eat it."

"What does that mean?" Clara asked.

"You're taking bites of your food and then spiting it into your cup, acting like your drinking."

"I am not."

Ryder looked at Clara's cup as she did. Ryder reached for the cup and Clara grabbed it off the table.

"Thought so." He said. "And Charlie is moving everything to the side of her plate like she always does. Hope you guys pass weight."

"Why?" I looked at Clara.

She narrowed her eyes at Ryder, "If you don't meet a certain weight, they take you to the hospital, and they tube feed you."

"Yikes." I looked at my plate.

"Tell me Ryder," Clara smiled, resting her head on her hand, "How does getting a tube crammed down your throat feel?"

They both narrowed their eyes, and I grabbed my bag.

"Where you going?" Clara asked.

"I don't like fighting."

"You fought with us they day you got here." Ryder said.

"Yeah, you did." Clara agreed.

"And I'm fighting with you now."

"Charlie wait!" Clara said.

I walked back to my room and grabbed my camera and then walked to my first class.

"No one want's to start?" Group leader asked, as she looked around. "What about you Charlie? I'm sure everyone is interested in your Hospital visit."

"That's none of their business, and I feel targeted."

"At least your using your words." She said. "I can keep you here all night, and you can miss game night if you'd like."

"Game night?" I asked.

"Every Friday they toss all the kids into the dinning hall for game night. You play games or watch a movie in the play room. You want to paint a picture? Hey, head on down to the art room. Music rooms open, but space is small-"

"Thank you." Group leader stood up. "Sit down Ayelie."

So this was Ayelie. Black hair, black sweat shirt, and dark blue jeans. She whistled and pointed, and the kid sitting next to me, ran across the circle to sit by Clara. Ayelie sat down in the chair next to me.

"Hey, kid." She nodded.

I nodded back.

"Nice of you to finally join us Ayelie."

"Yeah, well apparently  if you miss to many of these group things people start to worry about you, and you get more time with the Doc." She tapped my arm. "What's your name."

"Leave Charlotte alone Ayelie."

"Charlotte." Ayelie smiled. "I like it. Perhaps You want to come with me to game night?"

"Out Ayelie now." Group leader pointed.

"Whatever Barbra." She smiled at me. "Catch you later Lottie. I'll be in the music room. Come early, so you know you get a spot. If you want."

She looked over at Clara and Ryder, and snorted.

"See you hot stuff." She nodded at Ryder and then left.

After group everyone piled into the hall.

Clara grabbed my arm, "Your not really going to hang out with Ayelie are you?"

I yanked free and saw Ayelie by a row of lockers talking to a girl and three guys. I left Clara and stood beside Ayelie.

"Oh." Ayelie looked at me. "This is Alen, He has Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder . Daniel, is our own little Avoidant Personality Disorder champ. Little Miss Ava is our Queen Histrionic Personality Disorder. Alex has depression, but don't let that fool you! and I Ayelie." She bowed, "Am schizophrenic "

"Hey." I nodded. "Charlie, Cutter, suicidal, and probal eating disorder."

"We should get going if we want to get a spot." Ava said.

She grabbed Alen's hand and walked down the hall. Alex slowly followed them.

"Ladies?" Daniel said, holding his elbows up.

"Such a gentleman." Ayelie said, taking his arm.

I took his other arm, and he led the way to the music room. The music room was filling up but we were able to find a small spot to cluster together in,.