Chapter 2 – Group
"Jasper, sweetheart," Esme began. "We've noticed that you've been cutting low on blood and you've been really depressed, so we signed you up for the Eating Disorder, Body Therapy & Depression Group. You must go twice a week."
Emmett found this funny. "JASPER'S BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ANOREXIA!"
"I do not need to go to some stupid group, Esme!" I retorted. "I am just fine."
"You will go," Carlisle replied. "You need to if you don't want to be dismembered."
"I don't want to go!" I said as I walked over to Esme.
"Dude, you smell like toilet bowl cleaner!" Emmett laughed. "Did you bathe in Mr. Clean?"
"Was it the liquid, honey?" Esme asked.
"Yes, Esme, it was. It smelled nice!" I replied, smiling. "That's my favorite bubble bath!" I was giddy for the first time in a century.
"THAT WAS TOILET BOWL CLEANER, JAZZ!" Alice shouted. "Do you want to somehow murder yourself?"
"I knew he was a bad influence on my child," Bella whispered. "Renesmee, stay away from Uncle Jasper!"
"Momma," Renesmee replied. "I'm way ahead of you. I have the things packed up. I want to move in with Jacob."
"You can't do that yet, darling."
I felt like a freak amongst the eight infallible people sitting in the room. Was I a freak? I was feeling insecure.
"Let's lock him up in the loony bin!" Suggested Rosalie.
Maybe I did belong there… Was it a mental facility for mythical creatures? Maybe I'd see Leah there…
"Do they have TV?" I asked. "I like watching my medical shows."
"Yes, they do, idiot," replied Edward. "You'll fit in just fine. Maybe you'll be the ringleader."
"Daddy's right, Uncle Jazz," Nessie replied. "You'll have so much fun. You'll be with some nice eighty year old women. They're more your type anyways."
"Is that better than group?" I asked, tilting my head to the side. I wondered…
"My son is not crazy," Esme said loudly. "He's just different."
"It's time for group, Jasper," Carlisle said. "I'll drive you to the hospital now."
"WHOA, HOLD UP!" Alice said. "This group is in the hospital? Who are the supervisors? Male nurses?"
"No, social workers, sweetie," Esme replied. "Jasper will be just fine."
"We have to go, Jasper," Carlisle replied. "You'll be late and the social worker will get the wrong impression."
"Okay," I sighed. Was I really crazy?
I walked over to the closet and grabbed my coat. Carlisle was already waiting for me by the front door. I quickly slipped on my coat and ran to the door. I said goodbye to everyone and walked over to Carlisle's car.
"Okay, get in, son," Carlisle said, getting into the driver's seat.
I opened the door and sat inside, thinking and before you knew it, we were there.
"Have a good time and be good, Jasper," Carlisle said, patting me on the head.
"Okay, Carlisle," I responded.
"Don't forget to hold your breath!"
"Okay, Carlisle."
I walked into the hospital and went over to the old lady at the information desk.
"Hi, grandma," I said, smiling my best smile. Was she the social worker?
"Uhm, hello sweetheart," The old lady said. "Do you need some help?"
"Do you know where the Eating Disorder, Body Therapy & Depression Group is?"
"It is upstairs on the third floor in room three hundred."
"Thanks, grandma," I replied, grinning from ear to ear.
"You're welcome, son," The old lady said.
I pranced along to the elevator and pressed the button. Boy, it took long! The elevator soon came and I went in and pressed the button for the third floor and before you knew it, I was there. But there was a problem… I forgot the room number… I think the lady said three-oh-one…
I soon found room three-oh-one and opened the door. An old man was sitting on the bed and eating something.
"Juanita, is that you?" The old man asked loudly.
"No, this is Jasper," I replied. "Is this the Eating Disorder, Body Therapy & Depression Group?"
"What?" The man yelled. He must have been deaf.
"IS THIS THE EATING DISORDER, BODY THERAPY AND DEPRESSION GROUP?" I yelled.
"NO, SON," The man replied. "THIS IS JUST MY ROOM. I'M BOB!"
"Nice to meet you, Bob, but I have to go!" I said.
"Bye, Juanita!"
"Farewell, Bob!"
I walked out of the room and then remembered the door number! Room three hundred!
I soon found the room and opened the door.
"Okay, kids—" The social worker stopped talking.
"Hi," I greeted. "Is this the Eating Disorder, Body Therapy & Depression Group?"
"Yes, it is," The lady replied. "What's your name? Are you on the list?"
"I'm Jasper Hale."
"Okay, sit down, Jasper. We were just getting to know each other."
I sat down next to a chubby girl with brown hair and a Hello Kitty t-shirt.
I looked around the room. I was the only guy here and everyone was staring at me and whispering. What was wrong with me?
"Okay, kids," The lady said. "We are going to introduce ourselves one by one starting from you." She pointed to a girl with long black hair and black lipstick.
"I'm Black Death," The girl said in a deep voice.
"Let's all say hi to Black Death," The lady instructed.
"Hi, Black Death," We all said in unison.
The teacher pointed to the next girl who had long blonde hair and big blue eyes.
"I'm Lauren Willis," She said shyly.
"Hi, Lauren Willis," We all said together.
The teacher pointed to the next girl which was a girl with a paper bag on her head.
"I'm Henrietta Jones," She whispered.
"Hi, Henrietta Jones," we all greeted.
Next, she pointed to the obese girl next to me.
"I'm Shirley Anne Lillian Bartholomew Huntington Davidson," She said gently.
"Hi, Shirley…" We all said.
The teacher pointed to the last girl. A girl wearing and outfit covered in feathers. She looked like a chicken!
"I'm Bailey Oxford," She said.
"Hi, Bailey Oxford."
Then the lady spoke up. "I'm Miss Cook and will be your teacher and/or guidance counselor, if you like to think of it that way."
"Hi Miss Cook," We all said.
"Okay, kids," She began. "First we will talk about our favorite foods."
She pointed to Henrietta first.
"I like water," She said timidly.
"Uh, okay," Miss Cook replied.
She asked a few other girls and came to me.
"I like blood," I said giddily. "It's yummy."
Everyone looked like every drop of blood was drained out of them…
"HE'S A MONSTER!" Shirley screamed.
And then the room got chaotic…