Chapter Two
Time Jump – Next Day
Jace POV:
Since I got here so close to dinner last night I didn't eat. I spent the rest of the night in my room unpacking. The room was small, but I didn't have a lot of things to begin with. When I got to breakfast there was only a couple kids still there. None of us talked to each other, and when we were done we put out plates in the sink and left. I decided to take this time to explore the place. Most of the door required access to open them but there were a few rooms that weren't blocked off. This place wasn't really friendly, but I guess that's what happens when there are a bunch of addicts living here. Nothing is really safe.
I walked back towards the rec room and there were more kids in there. Everyone was doing their own thing, but when they heard the door open they all looked up at me. I didn't know what to do, and nobody was talking so it was pretty awkward. After a few moments a girl stood up and started talking.
"You must be the new guy. I think Amatis told us your name is Jonathan?" She asked and I nodded.
"I prefer Jace." I said and she nodded.
"I'm Izzy. What are you in for?" She asked and I didn't really feel like telling my life story to a room full of strangers, so I just shrugged. She turned around to the group and smiled. "We have another Clary on our hands." She said and I was about to ask when someone else spoke.
"I resent the comparison. Just because we both don't want to share our history doesn't mean we're similar." A redhead in the corner said as she continued to play her card game.
"Well, welcome to Jade, how long are you here for?" She asked and I guess that was alright to give away.
"Until my 25th birthday." I said and she nodded.
"Time goes by pretty quickly around here." She said and the redhead laughed.
"Don't lie now, you've only been in for 2 years Iz. Once you reach my time served it doesn't go by so quickly." She said and Izzy simply smiled.
"She's been here the longest." Izzy said and I nodded. "Let me introduce you to everyone." She said and I nodded. "Alright, the boy on the armchair is my brother Alec, the sparkly boy next to him is Magnus." She said and I nodded. "Clary is the one in the corner playing solitaire, Simon should be back any moment, he had therapy this morning, he has glasses." I nodded again to show I was listening. "Maia, Jordan, and Bat are in the corner over there playing something. Will, Tessa, and Jem are in the yard. Seelie is probably in her room, she has bleach blonde hair, and Maureen is currently in the infirmary. She's one of the youngest here, next to Maia that is." She said and I nodded. "Don't feel awkward here. We're all certifiably insane." She said and smiled as she made her way back over to the couch. I decided to go talk to the redhead for a little. She seemed to know what went on around here. I walk over to her and take a seat across from her. She stops playing her game and looks up at me and smiles.
"Hey, welcome to Jade." She says and I laugh.
"Is that like a thing everyone does?" I ask and she laughs.
"Kinda, they tell us in therapy that it makes the new comers feel welcome." She says and I nod. "I'm Clary."
"Jace." I said and she nods.
"How long are you here?"
"Until my 25th birthday."
"And you are?"
"22."
"Nice. We were missing one of those for a while, but I guess Tessa did just turn 22." She says and I look at her confused. "This places houses kids from 14 to 25 years old, and we have almost every age."
"How old are you?"
"Just turned 21."
"Sucks you couldn't go out and celebrate."
"Being here the longest has its perks. They let me have a couple drinks." She said and I nodded.
"So, does everyone here have a messed up history?" I ask and she nods. "Like what?" She smiles and puts her cards down and turns her attention to the rest of the room.
"I'm only telling you this because they are all pretty vocal about what they are in for." She says and I nod. "Izzy, she's 19, and she's been here for 2 years. She tried to commit suicide 3 times, for different reasons. Her brother Alec, he's 23, and he's a cutter. He got bullied in high school for being gay, and when he was 20 his parents found out and sent him here. He's been here for almost 4 years. Magnus is 24, and he's bulimic. He used to be a fat, and his parents sent him to fat camp for 5 years, and it really messed him up. He's been here for 3 and a half years. Simon, the one in therapy right now, he's a drug addict. Mainly cocaine and meth. He's 20, and he's been here for a year and a half." She said and I nodded. "Maia is 14, he's a drug addict as well, ecstasy, she's been here for 6 months. Jordan is 17, he's suicidal, he's been here for a year. Bat is depressed, he's 17, and he's been here for 4 months." She takes a breath. "Emma is 20, she's paranoid, like to the point where she wouldn't leave her room, she's been here for 3 years. Seelie is 18, she's anorexic, she's been here for 2 months. Julian is 15, he has multiple personality disorder."
"Shouldn't he be in like an insane asylum than?" I ask and she laughed.
"He would be if that was his only problem. His one personality is addicted to drugs, heroin, and the other one is severely depressed. He's been here for 7 months. "Tessa is 22, like I said before. She's been here for 3 years, and she's depressed. Will is an alcoholic, and he's 24. He's been here for 2 years. Jem is a drug addict and a drug dealer. He dealt molly, and he was addicted to cocaine and mushrooms, he's 19 and he's been here for a year. Finally we have Maureen, he's 14, and he's been here for 3 months, she's suicidal." Clary said and I nodded.
"And you?" I ask and she smiles.
"Remember what Izzy said? I don't share my history." She said and I was about to say something when her name was called. "It's time for my therapy session." She said and she stood up. "Feel free to finish my game." She said and she smiled. "See you around Jace." She said and I nodded.
"See you." I said and she left. I picked up the cards and started playing. Izzy wasn't kidding when she said everyone here was certifiably insane, and I didn't belong here. I wasn't as messed up as these people, and I don't know how I'm going to survive three years here.
Authors Note:
Alright, I know there is a lot of information in this chapter when it comes to the patients that are in the hospital, but I wanted to get it out of the way so that you all knew what type of people that Jace was going to be interacting with! In later chapters you'll find out about what Clary and Jace are both in for. I know you got a little glimpse of Jace, but there is more to his story! I hope you all are liking it so far! Let me know what you think! :)
