Ellie had finally hung up the last of her clothes and turned to her mother. Mrs. Nash looked tearfully at her daughter before enveloping her into an embrace.

"I'll miss you, Ellie," Mrs. Nash whispered into her daughter's hair. "I'll visit whenever I can. And you can call me whenever you want too."

"Okay, I will," Ellie replied. She had begun to feel more and more resentful towards her mother for sending her away and returned the hug stiffly. "Bye."

Mrs. Nash pulled away taking a long look at Ellie. "Bye, honey." She gave her a kiss on the cheek before turning to leave. When the door was finally closed gently, Ellie perched on her bed. Before she could even begin to collect her thoughts the door to the room swung open and a girl about her age walked in and stopped abruptly upon seeing Ellie.

Haile was very pretty, tall with short chestnut hair and a slender figure. Her high cheekbones and clear blue eyes just added to her natural beauty.

"Hi," she said slowly. "You must be...Elena?"

"Ellie." She stood up to shake Haile's hand quickly. "Nice to meet you."

"You too. I'm Haile by the way." She went over to her side of the room and began sifting through the clothes on the bed. "I'm just stopping in to change into something nice for dinner." She indicated her baggy sweatshirt and pajama pants.

"Oh." Ellie nodded slowly. "So, um, how do you like it here?"

Haile picked up a lacy blue tank top and shrugged. "It's okay. I've been at worse places."

"Why–I mean, how long have you been here?" Ellie had almost asked the girl why she was here but realized that it was probably something she wouldn't want to share after knowing her for five minutes. Ellie knew she certainly didn't have any desire to show Haile her arms anytime soon.

Haile tossed the tank top aside. "Um, a couple of weeks." She finally tossed a pair of jeans and a pink tube top over her arm then headed into the bathroom and shut the door.

Seems friendly, Ellie thought sarcastically. She went to unpack her CD's and began to stack them on her dresser as Haile came out of the bathroom.

"Oh yeah just one thing, I can't sleep with music on," Haile said. "Or a light."

"Um, sure," Ellie replied.

"But you can go ahead and play your..." Haile picked up a CD then wrinkled her nose in disdain. "Led Zepplin now. I won't be here for the next couple of hours."

"Thanks," Ellie replied, wondering if her roommate would catch her sarcasm.

"Your welcome," Haile replied. She apparently didn't.

There was a knock at the door then and it opened to reveal a tall good-looking young man casually leaning against the doorframe. He wore khaki slacks and a button down shirt, looking as though he had just stepped out of a J. Crew ad. Behind him was another guy with dark spiky hair and dressed all in black.

"Haile, you ready?" the first one asked, glancing at Ellie curiously.

"Just one second, Jesse," Haile said, running a brush through her straight hair. She took one last look in the mirror then nodded. "Okay all set." She saw him looking at Ellie. "Oh yeah, Ellie this is my boyfriend, Jesse, Jess, this is Ellie my new roommate." She noticed the guy behind Jesse and hastily added, "And that's Andrew, his brother." She slipped a white purse over her shoulder then headed for the door. "I'll be back in a little while." She turned to Jesse. "Where is the restaurant again?"

"Just a couple of blocks away."

"Oh I thought you weren't allowed to leave the clinic," Ellie said, confused.

Haile looked up at Jesse and they both laughed. "Is some stupid rule like that supposed to stop us?" She shook her head at Ellie. "Don't worry, hon, you'll figure it out." With that she flounced out the door with Jesse and Andrew right behind her.

Ellie immediately popped in her CD and turned it up to full volume. She collapsed onto her bed, her hands over her face. I feel like I'm rooming with Paige. No wait, Paige's evil twin. She couldn't imagine a worse match.

There was a sharp knock at the door and Ellie reluctantly got up to open it. It was Cindy who was smiling as brightly as ever. "Hi Ellie, did you meet your roommate?"

Ellie nodded.

"Didn't I tell you she was a nice girl?"

"Uh yeah you did." When Ellie didn't elaborate Cindy cleared her throat.

"Well I just wanted to let you know that dinner is being served downstairs until eight and then it's lights out at 11:30, okay?" Cindy glanced at the stereo blasting the Nirvana CD. "Oh and no loud music, okay?"

Ellie suppressed a grimace and just nodded.

"I'll come get you tomorrow morning to meet with some of the doctors. Breakfast is at 7 until 10. After all that you get the day to yourself. We don't usually have any sessions on Sundays. Have a good night!" Cindy bounced off and Ellie rolled her eyes before closing the door and lowering her music. She definitely wasn't going to go down to dinner tonight. She had decided on a course of action—cooperate with whoever she had to in order to get out of this place as quickly as possible. She had no desire to socialize with the other patients, even make friends with her roommate.

The time dragged by the rest of the night until 11:30. Her roommate still hadn't returned but Ellie wasn't worried—Haile was clearly the rebellious type. She flicked off the switch and crawled into bed, exhausted after the long day. She heard the door creak open a few minutes later, and she saw a shadowy figure tiptoe into the room. As Haile made her way across the room, the door opened again slowly and Haile dove into her bed. Ellie watched through half open eyes as an unfamiliar woman poked her head into the room, then apparently satisfied, gently closed the door.

"Phew," Haile whispered. "That was close, huh?"

"Yeah," Ellie replied shortly. She turned over, trying to send the hint that she was ready to go to sleep but Haile didn't take it.

"That restaurant we went to was really good. Beats the crap they serve here." Haile climbed out of bed and flicked on the lamp. Ellie winced at the sudden brightness, suppressing a groan. "And then we went to this club which was insanely packed but still fun." Haile fumbled in a drawer and pulled out a pair of pajamas. "Oh yeah and Andrew was asking about you."

This caught Ellie's attention. "Huh?"

Haile's lips curved into a devilish grin. "I heard him telling Jesse that he thought you were cute, that's all." She shrugged. "I guess he's into that whole punked out thing for some reason. I mean, no offense." She flashed a smile before turning and heading into the bathroom.

Ellie rolled her eyes then got up and turned off the lamp. As she climbed into bed she couldn't help but think of what Haile had said. Andrew had been kind of good-looking...no. She had promised herself that she wouldn't get invested in anyone here. She especially didn't want a relationship right now.

Love has screwed me over too many times in the past, she thought grimly. Never ever again.


Next chapter will be the thing that some of you have been waiting for...please leave any comments, thoughts, corrections, whatever!

PS thanks to PrideXxXxX for pointing out my silly mistake lol :-)