Nineteen

Josh looked around what was his room. It was 3m by 6m in area. There was a bed up against one side of the wall next to the window with a sink at the bottom of the bed. Next to the sink was a toilet. The door was next to that. On the wall opposite the bed there was a small wooden cabinet for the small amount of personal belongings he was allowed. A couple of t-shirts and a pair of jeans and a hoodie. There were also spare orange jumpsuits in there. He'd been there a week and he was going out of his mind. He'd been visited by Claire twice and Lauren once, to talk about the trial and about visitors. Since then he'd just kept himself to himself and got on with school work he'd been set by the Youth Offender's tutor. Josh pulled his English work towards him as his door was unlocked. "Josh, you have a visitor," the warden told him. Josh pulled a face but stood up and followed them out. Josh thought about who could be visiting him. He didn't expect it to be anyone from Elm Tree because that would put them at risk. He walked into the visiting area and sat at the numbered pane of glass he'd been told to go to. Sat behind the glass were two smiling faces Josh hadn't seen in over a week. His best friend Rick and his sister. Jessie was grinning happily with her head tilted to the left. Rick was sat on a chair slightly to the left and behind her. "Jessie! Rick! I didn't expect this," Josh said. Rick grinned.

"We know. We thought we'd surprise you," Rick replied. Josh grinned. He looked carefully at his friends. Rick seemed a little on edge and Jessie looked sallow and tired.

"Have you been eating Jessie?" Josh asked. Jessie pouted and bit her lip.

"I don't have an appetite," Jessie said sullenly glaring at her brother through the glass. Josh leaned towards her.

"Jessica!" he admonished. "You have to eat. If you don't you will die. And I don't want that to happen to you especially as I will know it is my fault you are not eating," Josh told her sternly. Jessie pouted some more. He glanced closer at her and realized she looked quite ill. "In fact have you done much in the last week... like go to school?" Josh asked. Jessie pouted even more. "I'll take that as a no then. Listen Jessie. You have to go about life as normal. I'm fine. I'm getting fed, I'm getting schooling and I'm doing some volunteer work at a local community garden planting some bulbs. I feel better than alright. But if I know you aren't alright how do you think that is going to affect me?"

Jessie sighed and looked up at her brother, sadness in her eyes. "Why do you think I'm going to see a psychiatrist? Because I know you don't want me like this. Because I know how much it would you to see me get worse than this. I'm at my lowest right now. But I reckon I could get lower," Jessie growled angrily. She leaned in closer. "I miss you. You've been there through everything and you aren't there anymore. I have no one to turn to when things get hard because you are not THERE!" Jessie told him. Josh looked guilty at this.

"I'll be out soon. Then we can be a family again," Josh told her. She nodded. "I love you to Jessie and I miss your hugs when I'm down and I even miss you waking me up when you have a nightmare. It's too quiet at night here. It's eerie. Go and see this psychiatrist and get better Jessie. I'm sorry for causing you hurt," Josh whispered. Jessie nodded and he could see a tear rolling down her face. Jessie got up and walked to where Mike was waiting. Rick sat in Jessie's seat. Josh looked at him seriously. "tell me the truth, how bad was she?" he asked. Rick sighed deeply.

"Very. She wouldn't leave her room all week. She hardly ate any food we took to her, she'd just play with it on the plate. She hardly spoke and when she did it, it wasn't very much and it was only me and Elektra who got something out of her," Rick told him carefully. "Today was the first day she's been out of her room in a week. Mike has booked her a psychiatric appointment for tomorrow." Josh nodded.

"Rick, you know what she said about having no one to turn to. You and the others aren't avoiding her are you?" Josh asked. Rick shook his head violently. "Good. I need you to take on my role. I need you to look after her for me until I'm out. From bullies, anything that upsets her. Can you do that?"

Rick looked at him. "I can. I wanted to ask you something," Rick replied. Josh indicated he should carry on. "there are two questions? How do you calm her down when she gets really upset? And I need to ask your permission. I really like Jessie and I was wondering how you'd feel if I went out with her?"

Josh looked taken aback. He blinked a couple of times before replying. "to calm Jessie down, just sit and listen to her. That's all you can do. She'll calm herself down. Just be there for her. And as for the other one," Josh told him. He leant closer to the glass and whispered three words. Rick nodded, face grave. Rick stood up.

"I hope you are out soon Josh. She needs you," Rick said looking over her shoulder. Josh nodded.

"Same," he replied. He waved at Jessie and then followed the warden back to his cell. He sat on his bed and stared at the grey wall. His mind was reeling from what Rick had told him and his response to it. He shook his head and pulled his English homework back towards him. He glanced at the title. 'My family', Josh sighed. "my family is messed up," he said out loud.

A/N: I wonder what Josh said? Did he agree or not agree? Hmmm. Maybe I'll tell you. Or maybe I'll leave you guessing. Indigo :)