A/N: So, I was thinking about crack ships the other day, and I realized that JT and Ellie would be so cute together. Just adorable. So yeah, no one's gonna read this, but I thought I'd make it since I am a hardcore JT/Ellie ship. Although Jiberty is still my OTP.
Group therapy, thought JT as he marched up the stairs of the mental health building. He could feel his grandmother's eyes watching him from her car, a worried look in her eyes. JT let out a breath, feeling the same self-hatred he felt just last week. The same self-hatred that had drawn him to a suicide attempt.
And now here he was, in the last place he wanted to be. Places like this were for crazy people. He shouldn't be here. He should be with Liberty, or at work, or something. Not in a place like this.
His grandmother signaled for him to hurry up, and JT rolled his eyes, moving up the stairs and into the building. He was already late. The inside was small, and there were few doors, maybe a total of five. The place was sort of rundown, with paint chipping off the walls, and the doorknobs rusty. JT found a window, and peaked in, reading Mental Rehabilitation painted in black on the door. He sighed at the words, knowing he wasn't crazy. JT saw a circle of teenagers, all looking depressed, but with open hearts, willing to share, around a male that looked about forty.
JT was tempted to turn around. He was tempted to go home, and lie. He almost did, the pain of not wanting to be realized, getting to him. But then he remembered, why he had to stay. Why he had even bothered coming.
In the hospital, the day it had happened, he had promised her. He had promised Liberty he wouldn't get bored, or lazy and ditch the stupid idea. And by the look in her eye, she looked so worried. JT had felt like crap. The overdose had nothing to do with it. He was hurting her.
It was the last time they had seen each other. He had taken her hand in his, before she could pull away, and promised. This one he would keep. JT hadn't always been serious with that kind of thing, but after what he done, after what he had put her through, he'd be sure to keep this one. Liberty deserved that.
He opened the door quietly, and the talking stopped instantly, all eyes on him. The male who seemed to be in charge smiled at him. JT scanned the room, eyes staring at him, with welcoming faces. This is pathetic, he thought, pushing himself to stay. "Ah," said the man. His hair was brown, pushed back, with wrinkles that made him look older then he was. "I'm Mr. Anthony, nice to meet you, but you can call me Paul, everyone does."
JT was silent. Standing in the doorway nervously.
"Would you like to introduce yourself?"
No, He sighed heavily. He was doing this for Liberty. He had to try. "Um . . . I'm . . . uh, JT."
Paul nodded, putting his hand on his own knee and gesturing the other one to a seat. "Well, JT, why don't you take a seat here next to Ellie?"
He looked at the girl, and noticed she looked familiar. Yes, of course. Ellie Nash, he went to school with her. She was often over at Ashley and Toby's house. Her red hair was pulled away from her face in two braids, and she was dressed in all black. Her cream-colored skin and brown eyes shown brightly. JT walked over softly, sitting down, not acknowledging the girl.
"Would anyone like to explain our topic for today?" asked Paul.
Silence for a moment. Until a blonde lanky kid, raised his hand. Paul chose him, and JT noticed his nervosa. "We-we were um, talking about – ways to deal with-with. . our issues,"
JT smirked, and let out a huff. Beside him, Ellie Nash crossed her arms. As if she was suddenly pissed. He ignored it.
Paul smiled, "Very good, Thomas, very good. I see you are doing well with your public speaking. So, issues, coping. As I've heard from some of you, and some of your family members, some of you have gone to harmful ways of dealing with your problems. Now, of course, you know that it's unacceptable. But – for some reason, you do it anyway. There are other ways, of making yourself happy –"
JT once again snorted, at the room went quiet, all eyes on him. Ellie Nash flipped her hair from her face.
"Anything you would like to share, JT?" Paul inquired aloud.
JT shut his eyes, regretting saying a word.
"Um . . . no, nothing."
"Nothing, huh? Then why are you here?"
I knocked up my girlfriend, I'm a drug dealer, and I'm suicidal. JT pushed his thoughts to the side. The people here didn't need to know his business. Because it wasn't there's. He shrugged, "I uh, don't know,"
And finally, Ellie Nash spoke. "Yes, you do. We're all here for something. Don't try and make it seem like you're better then the rest of us, because you're not. No one's perfect,"
Paul beamed at Ellie Nash, and JT was shocked that she said such a thing. The expression etched upon her face, showed that she said this sort of thing to everyone. He tried not to feel offended. "I – I'd just rather not talk about, it, alright?"
Ellie, Paul, and the rest of the group nodded. "That's understandable," said Paul. "Everyone here is nervous sometimes. When you're ready to talk, you will," JT slouched in his chair, ashamed and embarrassed. "Now, coping. There are so many happy thoughts and activities you can do to replace unhealthy habits –"
JT blocked the conversation from his mind, wondering to himself where Liberty was right now. Probably at home, fighting with her father. He wished desperately that he was with her, so he could defend her from his harsh nature. He just wanted everything. He wanted them to be a happy family, and not give their baby up. He wanted Liberty to love him again, the way he loved her. JT let out another breath, this one not audible, and felt more self-hatred.
But he couldn't help but notice, next to him. Ellie Nash was staring at him softly, a face of caring upon her. JT knew he must have been hallucinating. No one cared anymore. Her face was probably a look of disgust.
It had to be.
A/N: Please review! I hope you liked it