"If you think this Universe is bad, you should see some of the others."

Philip K. Dick

The support group turns out to be in an abandoned building. Pretty decent. A bit creepy if I had a say. Mom dropped me off and gave me a wet kiss on the cheek which I immediately swiped away. She laughed a little but it was the kind of laugh where you wanted to cry after. I nodded a bit, pulled my sleeves down my wrists for probably the sixteenth time and tucked my hair behind my ears. I had cut it short a while ago but I couldn't let go of the thought that some skin showed.

I hopped out of my seat and walked slowly towards the door. I counted the cracks on the sidewalk as I went. One. Six. Twelve. Thirty eight. The city really needed to clear up this damage. I imagine the cracks opening and swallowing me whole so I dart inside quickly, my heart beating rapidly. There they are. Right in front of me. The maniacs. Like me. I want to turn around and leave but where would I go?

They're sitting on ratty plastic chairs that look like they're about to break. How much did this even cost? They look pretty normal to me. Except the guy with the curly hair. He keeps stomping his feet on the ground. There's maybe about ten people there. Four girls. Six guys. A few look older. Some look like early teens. I try to keep my eyes down but there isn't a chair for me to sit on. "Here."

It's a guy's voice. I grab the stupid plastic piece of crap thing without looking at him and go into the far corner to sit. I pull my sleeves down. Again. I don't glance up until I hear an old man's tone. He's short and Indian looking. Not in a bad way though. He looks sort of happy. Like he didn't expect the crazies to come. "Welcome!" A girl with braids flinches. She's wearing an extra tight skirt and a shirt that kinda looks like a bra. She sees me looking and blows a kiss. I turn away.

"Come on, old man. I got stuff to do." He was an overweight guy. He was also eating a rather large chocolate bar. The brown stuff still hung in his teeth. Someone else snickered.

The guy in charge smiled. He didn't look affected by the comment. He cocks his head to the side. "Well that stuff is still hanging in your mouth, young man." A girl hooted. She wore purple pajamas. Purple Chuck Taylors. A purple ribbon in her hair. Chubby with purple glasses too.

I looked at my own clothing. A green sweater without a wrinkle and blue jeans. Not faded. Faded wasn't neat.

"Okay, ladies and gents. I want you guys to share why you're here. That's the first step to opening up. No details are necessary." He clapped his hands and pointed to the girl who had blown me a kiss.

She frowned. Licked her lips. "I had sex with my teacher." She didn't look at any of us.

Indian guy smiled. "That's what I'm talking about." Everyone was silent. I didn't think they had expected that. Then again, we were all pretty sick. My stomach felt like dropping or maybe melting. I didn't want to say anything.

Fat guy went next. He held an empty wrapper in his fingers and twirled it around. "I killed my dad for hitting my mom."

I swallowed. This wasn't what I had expected. Purple pajamas shrugged her shoulders carelessly and adjusted her glasses. "Attempted suicide."

Another guy went. He had messy blonde hair and big brown eyes. Bad posture and nervous energy. "Bipolar."

A short guy was flicking his lighter on and off. He had spiky black hair managed by lots of gel. "Drug abuse."

This time a petite girl with brown hair tied in multiple places. She looks ordinary but she keeps fidgeting every so often. "Anxiety." Her voice was so quiet I had to strain my ears to hear it.

The last girl. She has boyish snow colored hair. A leather jacket. Black finger nails. Red lips. "Depression."

"This is stupid but whatever. Anything to go home." He had a grinning face and freckles but not as visible as mine. Blue eyes. Thin lips. Cuts on his face. A scar beneath his chin. "Sex addiction." Fat guy laughed and gave him a pump of his fist.

The teacher nodded approvingly. "Jace." He quietly nodded off to the guy who was biting his bottom lip. He had tawny hair and golden eyes. A black sweater. Faded jeans. He sighed a little. Oh god. I was next. I needed to leave. "Nightmares. Insomnia. Depression. Lots of more cool stuff." He had a smile on but his words were bitter.

One. Two. Three. I didn't say anything. They all stared. My chest was pumping faster. What could I do? I couldn't just run out. Right? Maybe if I call mom she'll come. My fingers tremble. Someone coughs.

"Just leave her alone. She doesn't have to say it if she doesn't want to." It was that guy. Jace. I looked up, just for half a second, and he was staring at me. Then his mouth curled upwards as if he was telling me he could handle this.

Indian guy claps his hands again. "We'll be having meetings every Tuesday and Thursday from now on. This was just an intro. Put out that lighter, Jacob. I'm happy that you guys shared basic statements about your life. It shows you're not afraid of what anybody can say and that's awesome. Have a good afternoon. Be here Thursday. Oh, and Tony? Next time, use a napkin when eating chocolate. The chairs are already shit. We don't need anything else on them." A few people laughed and they all walked off somewhere. The teacher grabbed his keys and file book thing, then left.

I stayed. I sat on the chair and stared at the tiles on the ground. Counted them. Twenty four. Fifty two. "Hey." Jace.

I didn't answer. Kept counting. Eighty six. "Are you alright?"

One hundred. He yanked a strand of my hair, moving it out of place. I snatched the curl away from him, finally meeting his face. He smiled like that was his plan. "Can you say anything? Are you mute?" He squinted his eyes. They looked molten when close.

"I hate faded jeans." There was a few moments of quiet after that. Then he laughed and looked down at himself.

"Okay. That's something."

I tugged my sleeves again. He watched me. "Are you waiting for a ride?"

I nodded.

"Okay." He repeated and sat down on the ground a little too close. I scooted my chair away.

"You're schizo, right?"

My breath escaped. I didn't notice my leg was shaking. "It's alright. My mom was like that."

"I think-I think I've got to go." I struggled to stand up and forced my way to the door.

"Wait!"

I walked faster.