Chapter 2
Meeting the Group
A week later
Peter is waiting out the front of the juvie hall for Atth to be discharged. Peter turns to see Atth walking through the gate. He looks around nervously and sees Peter. He walks up to Peter.
Peter: Hows it feel to be free?
Atth: Weird. I keep thinking the guards will come up to me and tell me off.
Peter: (Smiling) Ok, before we leave, how bout we get you some clothes. (Atth looks down at his very old t-shirt and shorts, the same clothes that he was brought into juvie in.)
Atth: I don't have any money.
Peter: I've got that covered.
Atth: Uh, ok.
Peter's car
Atth is staring out the window, taking it all in; he's never been in the country before.
Peter: There are 7 other people arriving today, they'll be in you're group.
Atth: Seven!
Peter: Yep.
Atth: (Nervous) Do they, do they know. bout me?
Peter: No, you can take you're time telling them.
Atth: (not wanting to show his soft side) Not that I care if they know, screw them. (Peter looks at him, confused at his change in attitude. A building comes into view and Peter stops the car.)
Peter: Here we are.
Atth: (looking around) Why'd I think this'd be more interesting. (They get out of the car and walk up to Peter's office. Peter gives him the speech and searches his bag, not finding any drugs. Sophie walks up; she thinks it was a mistake to bring Atth there.)
Peter: Matthew.
Atth: Atth.
Peter: Sorry, Atth, this is Sophie; she'll be your counsellor.
Atth: Counsellor? You're kidding.
Peter: Sorry, I'm not; don't worry it won't be that bad.
Atth: Whatever. (To Sophie) Hey. (He sticks out his hand to shake hers. She hesitates then shakes it but doesn't look at him. Atth stands there confused, then feels sick when he realises that she's afraid of him.)
Sophie: I'd better go, everyone's arriving. (She walks away quickly.)
Peter: Ok, you ready to meet you're group?
Atth: Yeh, I guess. (trying to forget Sophie.)
(Peter leads Atth into a room with 7 people in, as well as Sophie. They are sitting in a circle.)
Atth: (Sarcastically) How cosy, can I join.
Peter: Yep.
Atth: Ok. (He walks over trying to look confident. No one is talking, they're all too nervous. He sits down in an empty chair.)
Sophie: Ok, now that we're all here, let's start. How about we go around the circle. say your name and something about yourself. Nick.
Nick: I'm Nick Skay. (Maddy giggles)
Maddy: Nick's gay! That's funny.
Nick: It wasn't a joke, that's my name.
Maddy: Oh. (Trying not to laugh.)
Nick: Anyway, I'm here cos my parents got sick of me not getting A's in school
Atth: (Sarcastically) Oh no, what have we done wrong.
Sophie: Stop it. (To Atth, then regretting it because she's afraid he's do something. Atth just looks at her weirdly.) Maddy, your turn.
Maddy: I'm Maddy Branch. (She looks down.)
Clarence: I'm Clarence.
Atth: (Interrupting) Oh, you're shitting me!
Clarence: (Smiling at Atth) I shit you not. Yeh, I'm Clarence and I took drugs and cut myself.
Atth: My turn? (Sophie nods) Cool, ok, I'm Atth.
Clarence: What's that, tribal?
Atth: Nuh, it's short for Matthew, but that's poncy, so, yeh. Um, and I'm here cos I'm too cheap to buy my own food and stuff, so I thought I'd sponge off the government. (He looks at Peter, then back to the group. He swallows and continues.) And um, I just got outta juvie. (Turning to person next to him) You're turn.
Clarence: Wait, you were in juvie?
Atth: Yeh, you got a problem with that?
Clarence: Nuh, it's just that. what were you in for?
Atth: (Sarcastically) Littering (Turning to person next to him again) You're turn.
Dard: I'm Dardanelle, but I prefer Dard and I have no reason to be here.
Rhys: I'm Rhys and I'm apparently anorexic.
Mystic: My name is Mystic (Maddy giggles) and my parents were in a cult, which screwed me up, so I ran away to join the circus, which happens to be here, seeing all you guys. (They all stare at her.)
Remy: My name is Remy and I had a few problems fitting in at school so my parents thought I might benefit from this place.
Atth: (To Clarence) Is he for real?
Sophie: Alright, we've run out of time, so Peter and I will show you to your rooms, then it'll be dinner time. (Sophie leads the girls out and Peter takes the boys)
Girls' Dorm Room
Everyone is unpacking.
Dard walks up to Maddy
Dard: (Sarcastically) Love the top. (pointing at a t-shirt with a rabbit on it.)
Maddy: At least it fits me, unlike that. (Nodding at Dard's top, showing half her stomach.)
Dard: Well some people can pull them off, and some can't.
Maddy: Oh, and you can't, I get it. (smiling sweetly at Dard. Dard glares at her and goes back to her bed.)
Dard: (trying to annoy Maddy) That Atth guy's hot.
Maddy to Dard: Yeh, if you like the criminal type, but hey, he's been inside, so he's probably gagging for it, it's you're only chance Dard, go for it!
Dard: At least I've got a chance!
Maddy: I wouldn't want a chance, he probably murdered someone.
Mystic: I doubt they'd let him in here if he had, think before you speak in future and don't spread rumours.
Dard: It speaks! (Mystic ignores her)
Maddy: You know what sucks.
Dard: (interrupting) You?
Maddy: (Screwing up her nose in disgust.) No, the fact that we're out numbered! There's five guys and only three girls.
Dard: That doesn't suck, that's heaven!
Maddy: Those guys aren't my idea of heaven, most of them are repulsive and the ones that aren't are hardened criminals!
Dard: What's up with that skinny guy, I've never heard of an anorexic guy. Most guys couldn't give a stuff bout their looks.
Maddy: Maybe he's gay.
Dard: That'd be right; all the hot guys are gay. Life's so cruel. (She falls back onto her bed in a mock faint.) Oww! This bed's hard as a rock!
Maddy: It might help if you weren't lying on a coat hanger.
Dard: (Getting up and chucking the coat hanger aside.) (Sarcastically) Oh, you think you're so smart.
Maddy: Yeh, I'm smart and I'm not a tramp, that's two things you can't say bout yourself, hey. (She walks out to have dinner)
Dard: Bitch.
Maddy: (popping her head back through the door) Thank you. (She disappears)
Sorry it's so short; it's just setting some things up and introducing the characters.
Please review.
Meeting the Group
A week later
Peter is waiting out the front of the juvie hall for Atth to be discharged. Peter turns to see Atth walking through the gate. He looks around nervously and sees Peter. He walks up to Peter.
Peter: Hows it feel to be free?
Atth: Weird. I keep thinking the guards will come up to me and tell me off.
Peter: (Smiling) Ok, before we leave, how bout we get you some clothes. (Atth looks down at his very old t-shirt and shorts, the same clothes that he was brought into juvie in.)
Atth: I don't have any money.
Peter: I've got that covered.
Atth: Uh, ok.
Peter's car
Atth is staring out the window, taking it all in; he's never been in the country before.
Peter: There are 7 other people arriving today, they'll be in you're group.
Atth: Seven!
Peter: Yep.
Atth: (Nervous) Do they, do they know. bout me?
Peter: No, you can take you're time telling them.
Atth: (not wanting to show his soft side) Not that I care if they know, screw them. (Peter looks at him, confused at his change in attitude. A building comes into view and Peter stops the car.)
Peter: Here we are.
Atth: (looking around) Why'd I think this'd be more interesting. (They get out of the car and walk up to Peter's office. Peter gives him the speech and searches his bag, not finding any drugs. Sophie walks up; she thinks it was a mistake to bring Atth there.)
Peter: Matthew.
Atth: Atth.
Peter: Sorry, Atth, this is Sophie; she'll be your counsellor.
Atth: Counsellor? You're kidding.
Peter: Sorry, I'm not; don't worry it won't be that bad.
Atth: Whatever. (To Sophie) Hey. (He sticks out his hand to shake hers. She hesitates then shakes it but doesn't look at him. Atth stands there confused, then feels sick when he realises that she's afraid of him.)
Sophie: I'd better go, everyone's arriving. (She walks away quickly.)
Peter: Ok, you ready to meet you're group?
Atth: Yeh, I guess. (trying to forget Sophie.)
(Peter leads Atth into a room with 7 people in, as well as Sophie. They are sitting in a circle.)
Atth: (Sarcastically) How cosy, can I join.
Peter: Yep.
Atth: Ok. (He walks over trying to look confident. No one is talking, they're all too nervous. He sits down in an empty chair.)
Sophie: Ok, now that we're all here, let's start. How about we go around the circle. say your name and something about yourself. Nick.
Nick: I'm Nick Skay. (Maddy giggles)
Maddy: Nick's gay! That's funny.
Nick: It wasn't a joke, that's my name.
Maddy: Oh. (Trying not to laugh.)
Nick: Anyway, I'm here cos my parents got sick of me not getting A's in school
Atth: (Sarcastically) Oh no, what have we done wrong.
Sophie: Stop it. (To Atth, then regretting it because she's afraid he's do something. Atth just looks at her weirdly.) Maddy, your turn.
Maddy: I'm Maddy Branch. (She looks down.)
Clarence: I'm Clarence.
Atth: (Interrupting) Oh, you're shitting me!
Clarence: (Smiling at Atth) I shit you not. Yeh, I'm Clarence and I took drugs and cut myself.
Atth: My turn? (Sophie nods) Cool, ok, I'm Atth.
Clarence: What's that, tribal?
Atth: Nuh, it's short for Matthew, but that's poncy, so, yeh. Um, and I'm here cos I'm too cheap to buy my own food and stuff, so I thought I'd sponge off the government. (He looks at Peter, then back to the group. He swallows and continues.) And um, I just got outta juvie. (Turning to person next to him) You're turn.
Clarence: Wait, you were in juvie?
Atth: Yeh, you got a problem with that?
Clarence: Nuh, it's just that. what were you in for?
Atth: (Sarcastically) Littering (Turning to person next to him again) You're turn.
Dard: I'm Dardanelle, but I prefer Dard and I have no reason to be here.
Rhys: I'm Rhys and I'm apparently anorexic.
Mystic: My name is Mystic (Maddy giggles) and my parents were in a cult, which screwed me up, so I ran away to join the circus, which happens to be here, seeing all you guys. (They all stare at her.)
Remy: My name is Remy and I had a few problems fitting in at school so my parents thought I might benefit from this place.
Atth: (To Clarence) Is he for real?
Sophie: Alright, we've run out of time, so Peter and I will show you to your rooms, then it'll be dinner time. (Sophie leads the girls out and Peter takes the boys)
Girls' Dorm Room
Everyone is unpacking.
Dard walks up to Maddy
Dard: (Sarcastically) Love the top. (pointing at a t-shirt with a rabbit on it.)
Maddy: At least it fits me, unlike that. (Nodding at Dard's top, showing half her stomach.)
Dard: Well some people can pull them off, and some can't.
Maddy: Oh, and you can't, I get it. (smiling sweetly at Dard. Dard glares at her and goes back to her bed.)
Dard: (trying to annoy Maddy) That Atth guy's hot.
Maddy to Dard: Yeh, if you like the criminal type, but hey, he's been inside, so he's probably gagging for it, it's you're only chance Dard, go for it!
Dard: At least I've got a chance!
Maddy: I wouldn't want a chance, he probably murdered someone.
Mystic: I doubt they'd let him in here if he had, think before you speak in future and don't spread rumours.
Dard: It speaks! (Mystic ignores her)
Maddy: You know what sucks.
Dard: (interrupting) You?
Maddy: (Screwing up her nose in disgust.) No, the fact that we're out numbered! There's five guys and only three girls.
Dard: That doesn't suck, that's heaven!
Maddy: Those guys aren't my idea of heaven, most of them are repulsive and the ones that aren't are hardened criminals!
Dard: What's up with that skinny guy, I've never heard of an anorexic guy. Most guys couldn't give a stuff bout their looks.
Maddy: Maybe he's gay.
Dard: That'd be right; all the hot guys are gay. Life's so cruel. (She falls back onto her bed in a mock faint.) Oww! This bed's hard as a rock!
Maddy: It might help if you weren't lying on a coat hanger.
Dard: (Getting up and chucking the coat hanger aside.) (Sarcastically) Oh, you think you're so smart.
Maddy: Yeh, I'm smart and I'm not a tramp, that's two things you can't say bout yourself, hey. (She walks out to have dinner)
Dard: Bitch.
Maddy: (popping her head back through the door) Thank you. (She disappears)
Sorry it's so short; it's just setting some things up and introducing the characters.
Please review.