Alex stared out the window as the car left the driveway. She couldn't believe they were doing this to. They were actually going to leave her in at some place miles away from her home. She was reluctant to going, but her parents had literally forced her to go. They packed her bags and demanded her to get in the car. Did they actually think this was going to work?
Alex sighed as they arrived at the institution. She hesitantly stepped outside, staring at the building. This was going to be hell. She didn't want to stay here for however long. She wanted to be back at home with Dean. Were her parents actually going to forbid her to see him for more than a day? How could they be so cruel?
"Please don't do this to me?" Alex implored, looking at her parents.
"Sweetie, this is for your health."
"No, I'll eat if you bring me home."
"You've promised that before. We can't do this anymore. You need help."
"I can't believe you're going to make me leave Dean." Alex rolled her eyes, glaring at her parents. "I hate you."
Theresa and Jerry exchanged glances. They took in a deep breath, grabbed Alex's bags, and led the way into the building. A young woman greeted them, but Alex ignored her. "Welcome! How may I help you?"
"We're checking our daughter Alex Russo in."
"Oh yes! We've been expecting you." The woman smiled. "I'm Melissa. Let me show you to your room. You guys can say goodbye now. We feel it's better to do it now."
"Oh." Theresa said, wondering if this was a bad decision. Both Jerry and Theresa pulled their daughter into a hug, kissing her goodbye. They then left, before they both regretted it.
Alex followed Melissa to her room, not saying a word. Melissa opened the door, revealing a small room with two beds. And there on one of the beds, was a girl about Alex's age. She sat Indian style on her bed, sketching in a notebook. She pushed her blonde hair out of her face and pulled her earphones out of her ears. She looked up, glancing at Alex.
"Alex, this is Bianca. Bianca this is Alex, your new roommate." Melissa introduced, but the girls both just stared at each other. "Why don't you girls get to know each other."
Alex forced a smile at Bianca as she dragged her bags into the room. Bianca watched her, observing everything about Alex. "You're that girl that's all over the news."
Alex sighed. "Yup. That's me."
"God, you're a mess." Bianca raised her eyebrows.
"Why are you here?"
"I was Bulimic. But I've been over it for like a month now, but god forbid my parents would listen to me and take me out of this stupid place."
"I know how you feel."
"So did that guy die from the death sentence? I haven't heard the latest, because we're not allowed to receive any outside information."
Alex looked down, feeling a wave of uneasiness come across her. "Uhh…yeah."
"So how long are you here for?"
"I'm not sure. My parents didn't really tell me anything. They kind of forced me here." Alex said, as she unzipped her bags. "How long have you been here?"
"Like five weeks. It's torture. You can't do anything. There's no TV, no computer, no cell phone, and no magazines. Everyday you have to go to group council and independent council. It sucks. And the people here are so weird."
"Great." Alex sighed, looking at her phone which had just vibrated. She slightly smiled as she read Dean's name. She had missed him already.
"They didn't take your cell phone away yet?"
"No, are they going to?"
"Probably." Bianca said. "They took mine away right away."
"Well there's no way they can take it if they can't find it." Alex slipped the cell phone in a box, locking the lock that was attached to it. She slipped the box in a drawer and placed a shirt over it.
"Good luck with that." Bianca got up and started for the door. "I have to go to group."
"Bye. See you later." Alex quickly finished unpacking, before Melissa walked into the room, without even knocking.
"It's time for your group council. You go to it everyday at this time. It's downstairs in room forty-two. I'll show you." Melissa led the way downstairs into the large room where a group of young girls her age gathered around a table. "This is your group. You'll get to know everybody."
Alex quietly sat down on an empty chair, trying to ignore the staring. Everyone probably knew who she was, because her story had been breaking news for four months now. Even if they didn't know the latest, they had most likely heard the beginning of her story.
A young woman entered the room and sat down. She smiled at everybody, before looking at Alex. "You're the new member. Welcome. Why don't you tell everyone your name."
"Hi, I'm Alex."
"I'm Lauren, you're psychologist. Why don't you share why you're here."
"Um…" Alex started, feeling everyone's eyes glued on her. "I'd rather not."
"Aren't you that Anorexic girl who was all over the news because of the guy that was abusing you." A girl, dressed in all black, with piercings covering her face, asked.
"We don't discuss the news, Jamie." Lauren said, before changing the discussion. "Now Kristen, how are you feeling today?"
Alex looked down, ignoring the conversation around her. She had only been here for about an hour and she hated it already. Even people who hadn't seen the news for a while had known who she was. It was irritating. And there was nothing she could do. Maybe she could call her parents and tell her she hated it here. Maybe they'd understand now that she had at least tried it. They had to take her out. This was only going to make things worse. She had missed home already. She had missed Samantha, her old psychologist. She had understood what Alex was going through and tried to help her.
Alex jumped as she heard her name being called. "Right Alex?"
"What?" She looked up, having not a clue of what they were saying.
"Aren't you dealing with eating issues?" Lauren asked. "Michelle has an eating disorder."
"Oh…yeah." Alex spoke quietly, not wanting to be noticed.
"Weren't you pregnant too? But then the baby died? Was that because you were Anorexic?" Jamie asked. "Oh no, that guy shot you. Right?"
Alex sat silent, battling to keep the tears back. But a tear escaped from her eye, carving a path down her pale cheek. She quickly wiped it away, hoping no one noticed, but everyone was staring at her. Then as if a barrier had broke, all tears began to fall from her eyes one by one. She stood up and ran out of the room.
"I think group is done for today." Lauren decided.
Alex ran back upstairs and into her room. She collided into her bed, sobbing. This was terrible. She couldn't stay here any longer. She had to leave. And just as she thought it couldn't get any worse, Melissa entered. "I'm here to get your cell phone."
Alex wiped the tears off her face and sat up. "I don't have it with me. I left it at home."
Melissa stared at her for a moment, before opening a drawer and pulling the locked box out from beneath the shirt. "Unlock this."
"How…how'd you know it was there?" Alex was baffled.
"It will remain anonymous." Melissa said. "Now unlock this."
Alex stared at the box furiously. She knew it had to be Bianca. It was the only person who knew it was there. But why would she do that? Alex shook her head, staring up at Melissa.
"Alex, if you don't unlock this…"
"What? What are you going to do?" Alex raised an eyebrow, feeling hatred towards the entire place. She couldn't wait to leave here.
"Fine. I'll just take the box." Melissa left with the box, leaving Alex furious.
And then, after Alex thought she was finally alone, Bianca entered. "Hey, were you crying?"
"Don't talk to me." Alex glared at her as she sat down on her bed.
"What did I do?" Bianca pretended to be oblivious, watching Alex roll her eyes.
"You told Melissa where my phone was."
"Me? I'd never do such a thing." Bianca laughed sarcastically.
"You're such a bitch."
"Look, you little skank. I do what I want to do. And if you don't like it, too bad."
Review!