Chapter 12: A New Face

A/N: Chapter by He0524.

Hey guys, sorry for the absence, my fault x_x. But as 'Rjvamp 369' said, we've been so busy with GCSE's (her) and new school years (me)… We hope you enjoy the chapter (: R&R!

Disclaimer: We do NOT own HoA

Patricia's POV

Today was the 5th day of rehab. Eddie had never visited me once – I'm still not sure how I would react if I saw him. I was trapped in here every single day… every single say… every single day… I sighed and stared at the wall – a thing that I did so frequently now, that it almost felt right. It was only half eight, but my head was already packed with anxieties and worries for that day. I hadn't been near a sharp object for the past 5 days that I had been here and it was slowly starting to drive me crazy. The urges to 'do it' would come almost every time I set foot outside my door, and in my case, it wasn't a good thing.

"Patricia?" a voice called, followed by a face that popped round my slightly open door.

I continued to stare at the wall.

"C'mon, honey. Let's go to the dining room. You have your group therapy soon too," said Sian, one of the nurses.

"I'm not hungry," I mumbled.

"You need your breakfast, sweetie," she said in a calm voice.

"Can I come later? Or can you bring my food here?" I asked, finally looking away from the wall and into her eyes.

"Sure, I'll bring it to your room."

The only reason I was so 'cooperative' was because I knew that if I wasn't, I would have to be transferred into another section, which, by the rumors, wasn't so good. There, all day was devoted to therapy and such.

A few minutes later, I heard my door creak open, which meant that Sian was here with my 'breakfast'.

"Eat and go to group therapy at half nine, alright?" she said, once she had set my tray down on my bed.

"Yes," I whispered, not looking at her.

"Good girl," she gave me an unknowing smile and walked out, closing the door behind her.

I looked at the food. Oatmeal, scrambled eggs and chopped up bacon. Everything was sliced up neatly so I wouldn't have to use a knife. I've never used a knife for a meal ever since I got here, 5 days ago. I slowly picked up my spoon and scooped up a small amount of oatmeal. I put it into my mouth and just swallowed. I made a face – the food was cold. I gave up on the oatmeal and started on the scrambled eggs and bacon – at least these are warm, I thought.

"Who doesn't want to be here today?" Ryan, as I have come to known him, my group therapist asked.

The majority of us stuck our hands up.

"Alright, we'll go from left to right. Those of you who put your hands up, tell us why you don't want to be here today," Ryan continued, his clipboard attached tightly to his chest, just the way it had been 5 days ago.

I had to go first.

"It'd none of their business, it's my business," I choked out after a minute of silence.

Silence…

I looked around the circle. Everyone's face expression seemed the same – blank.

After a few more minutes of silence, my brain told me that someone was staring at me from my left. I turned my head, and I stared back. It was A New Face. He smiled at me – I didn't know what to do, so I just looked away.

I was on my way back to my room from group therapy when I heard a voice call out.

"Patricia?"

I turned around and saw the New Face standing there, less than 10 feet away from me. I frowned and continued to walk to my room.

"Hey! Wait up!" called the voice again.

I turned around once again and sighed. He finally caught up with me and slowed down to a walking pace.

"I'm Jake," he said, sticking his hand out. Haha… I don't shake hands…

"And you already know my name," I said, ignoring his hand and resumed walking.

"So why are you here?" I asked Jake as we sat on opposite couches in my room.

"Due to mental illnesses…" he answered. I snorted.

"Aren't we all here for that…" I said. "What kind of nut are you?" I asked, grinning. He managed a laugh too.

"Self-harm, bi-polar and trichotillomania…" he said, his laugh fading. "Maniac, aren't I?" he added, his smile reappearing.

"Trichotillo what?" I asked.

"Trichotillomania. Pulling hair."

"Oh…" I said.

"And you?" he asked.

"Self-harm… possible anxiety…" I whispered the last part.

"Ah… who?" he asked, once again. I knew perfectly well what he meant by that.

"Boyfriend… well… ex-boyfriend… I think…" I said, staring at the wall to the left of me.

"Same," he added.

"Well aren't we happy people…" I said, verbal irony thick in my voice.

"Ha, yea…" he said, trying to get comfortable on the couch.

"It's funny," I began.

"What?" he asked.

"It's funny that you can get me to say stuff about me when we only met today, but I won't say a word to the therapist…" I finished, looking at him.

"Same here… but I guess it's because we in the same position while the therapists have the choice to be here and we feel they don't understand us…" he said, looking down at his fingers.

"You said boyfriend?" I suddenly asked.

"Yea."

"What exactly do you mean by that?" I asked.

"Exactly what are you asking?" he asked.

"Never answer a question with a question," I smirked. "So?" I asked

"So what?" he asked.

"Gosh, you're frustrating…" I muttered.

"Gosh, YOU'RE frustrating," he said, throwing his head back in 'frustration'.

"What is your sexuality?" I asked, sick of playing games.

"Gay."

"Oh."

"Yea. Surprised much?" he asked.

"No. Do I have reason to be?" I asked.

"Want me to leave?" He ignored my question.

"No. Why?" I asked.

"Oh… most people want to avoid me when they know who I really am," he said, pushing his glasses up.

"Well I don't know who you really are, do I?" I asked.

"But you know I'm gay-"

"Your sexuality doesn't define who you are, does it?" I said.

He gave me a smile.

"I wish the world could say that too," he said, blinking.

"Yea, well the-" I was cut off by Sian.

"Patricia, someone wants to see you," she said, from outside my door.

"Okay." I shouted back.

I did not expect what came next.

"Patricia…"

"E-Eddie…" I said, awkwardly glancing at Jake.

"I'll leave you guys alone," Jake said, catching on that this was Eddie, my 'boyfriend'. He got up from the couch and walked towards the door, where Eddie was standing. At the last minute, I caught his arm.

"No, don't go," I managed to say. Jake looked at me confused, and then looked at Eddie.

"Actually, I have therapy now, Patricia. I'll talk to you another time," he said, and turned to walk out. He exchanged quick 'hello's with Eddie and slipped past him.

I don't know how I was going to handle this…