AN: I know that this update is long over due and I'm sorry it took me so long to get back on the horse and write this chapter. Anyway, I've decided upon introducing Mercedes who has Borderline Personality Disorder and is a Compulsive Liar, she and Alana will become casual friends. Also I'm trying to write each of the other characters stories as best as I can so you all can understand how they all fit together. Like I've said before, I'm trying to write Alana bonding with each other the boys in some kind of way since I don't want to focus too much on her relationship with Carlos. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and hopefully I'll be able to update this story sooner.
'I'll never leave you Logan,' the familiar raspy voice echoed into his head making the brown eyed boy shiver violently.
"Logan, do you hear his voice?" Dr. Collins took his hands gently in hers before the panicky teen had a panic attack. "Deep breaths, Logan."
Heading the doctor's advice, the brown eyed boy inhaled deeply then exhaled. Repeating the process he managed to shake the nightmare's claws from his mind.
"Thanks, I-I feel better now," he smiled gratefully to the therapist, unlike the other patients Logan liked to talk to Dr. Collins.
Sometimes
"You're welcome, now that's all the time we have, you can go to study hall," she replied giving the teen another warm smile before slipping her hands from his and picking up her leather journal. "We'll pick up tomorrow."
"Alright, well um… about my sleeping pills," the nervous boy trailed off unsure of how the woman would respond.
"You'll be getting new medication after dinner today," she assured him, he nodded in response as he lifted himself from the thick leather chair.
"Okay," he sighed, a small wave of relief washing over him as he made his exit.
Taking another deep breath he made his way to the room he shared with Kendall and quickly picked up a book before he made his way to the library. The shy boy would always find comfort in novels since the monsters in those stories always died.
Unlike the one living inside his head.
'Deep breaths Logan, deep breaths,' he reprimanded himself to stop the wave of panic which usually crashed down on him.
Pushing open the door to the library, he made his way to the table where he always sat with Kendall and Carlos, (James was in an extra food therapy session because he was caught dumping his food) today he noticed that Alana was there writing in the dark blue journal as she sat relatively close to Carlos who was as usual busily drawing in his sketchbook with a piece of charcoal. And Kendall much to the skittish boy's surprise had a book instead of meticulously picking at the scabs and scars on his body.
"Hey guys," he greeted taking a seat next to his sullen roommate who gave him a slight smile.
"Hey," the other dark haired boy muttered, his dark eyes entirely fixated on whatever artwork he was creating.
"Hi… did you sleep okay?" Alana blinked at him nervous when hi eyes met hers; he was surprised by the question since no one ever bothered to ask him before.
"Um, kind of… I didn't see anything, ugh thanks," he replied awkwardly as he opened his book to his bookmark and she went back to writing in her journal.
'That's a good girl, caring about Carlos' friends will make him like you more,' Elektra whispered making Alana flinch which Logan took notice of.
"Are you okay?" his brown eyes examined her closely as she fidgeted under his gaze.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she lied with an awkward smile before looking back down at her journal.
Narrowing his eyes he neglected to push further since he didn't if he'd trigger a personality by continuing his line of questioning. But he wanted to let the words fall from his mouth so bad, he was curious about her and why she was here.
He also wanted to make sure that her intentions with Carlos were pure. So far they appeared to be, but Logan knew from experience that looks were deceiving.
"You guys, I heard that Heather got fired," James whispered as Alana sat in her usual seat for group therapy.
"How do you know that?" Kendall blinked in surprise while the others looked to the brunette with eyes full of curiosity and interest.
"Well, before I went in for therapy, I heard the doc telling her that the way she handled patients couldn't be tolerated," James took a moment to pause; he noticed all the eyes on him and felt a knot twist in his gut. 'They're all staring at my fat.'
"And then what?" Logan urged jarring the thin obsessed boy from whatever thoughts he was having.
"Oh, right… well doc told her that she couldn't work here anymore, even if she was her daughter," he finished, satisfied by the wide eyed looked he received from divulging the information he'd obtained.
"Well, I guess that's a good thing," Kendall muttered, the other boys nodded in agreement, the blond noticed Alana staring rather blankly at her feet, but said nothing of it as he looked to James who was pestering him about his hair. "No, James I'm not going to put highlights into my hair."
'Good, that creepy chick is gone, I never wanted to gut someone more,' Elektra commented with an approving nod of her head.
"Her eyes were really creepy, I'm glad Heather's gone. Kelly's a lot nicer," Carlos admitted as the final patient filled into the room.
When Kelly stepped forward Alana noticed just as the boys had, that there weren't as many people in the room as their usually were.
"Hello everyone, before we get started we have a new resident with us," she smiled as she waved in a pretty blond who stepped into the room full of confidence. "This is Mercedes; you can sit anywhere you like."
The girl nodded taking a seat in front of Alana and gave the other a small smile as she sat down.
"How come there aren't as many people here?" Dak asked, surprising everyone with the sound of his voice. Normally, the blue eyed boy would only speak if Jet told him too, and the arrogant boy was no where in sight.
Kelly blinked at the brunette before quickly collecting herself to answer, "Well, since heather isn't with us any longer, there will be 4 group sessions instead of 2, that way you're all more comfortable with sharing."
The other teens in the room muttered amongst themselves, as Kelly looked through a clipboard with the names of the patients that were moved around to different group slots.
"So, why are you here Mercedes?" James asked the girl who turned around to study his face before giving her answer.
"I don't know, some doctor my dad sent me to thinks I'm crazy," She shrugged and tossed her blond wavy hair over her shoulder. "I'm perfectly fine."
"You're lying," Alana muttered softly, her eyes fixed on the new girl whose eyes became full of shock. "You do that a lot don't you…lying?"
What?" she gulped, her eyes filling with panic and her face contorting into an unreadable expression.
"Have you ever stolen anything before?" the normally quite girl studied the now squirming girl with an intense look in her eyes.
The boys watched the two girls closely, completely enraptured by the sudden tension between them.
'I'm impressed Aly, you're getting better at sniffing out Pretty Little Liars,' Elektra smirked as she petted Alana's hair gently.
Mercedes stilled, her eyes becoming calm all traces of panic were gone after she gulped down a tiny breath of air.
"No… I wouldn't steal anything," her fingers gripped the back of the chair as Alana eyed her skeptically.
"You're lying. You can't ever tell the truth can you?" the nerve between Alana's eyes throbbed causing her eyes to flash black, then back to green.
Mercedes chewed her lip in response to the question; she never had someone call her out on any of her lies so boldly.
"H-how could you tell about her, Aly?" Kendall whispered from the other side of her, his green eyes wide and curious.
"My sister has the same problem," she shrugged leaning into Carlos subconsciously.
He didn't get the chance to ask to ask her about her sister and what she meant, as Kelly's voice directed their attention back to the front of the room.
"So Mercedes, since you're new you don't have to say anything unless you feel that you want to," the counselor said sweetly before addressing the other patients. "Now, is there anyone who'd like to start off?"
"It feels weird with out Jett here," Dark blurted out then quickly averted his eyes to his shoes, his cheeks flushing pink.
His attempt at being bold with out his dominant roommate in the room shriveled like a leaf when the others in the room stared at him intently.
"And why do you feel that way?" Kelly probed gently, she very glad that the normally silent boy was speaking.
"Because, h-he makes… um I-I just like it when he's around," he stumbled over the word and kept his eyes on his shoes.
'Those two must have a lot of fun together,' Chelsea leered and giggled perversely making Alana shiver inwardly at her appearance.
"So, are you in love with him or something?" even though Alana couldn't, see her she knew that the new girl had arched one of her perfect brows at the shy nymphomaniac in curiosity.
"No! I just don't like being alone," he admitted while wringing his hands together.
Kelly gave the teenage boy a sympathetic look which he gave a smile in response.
"I'm glad we have less people," James stated boldly while crossing his arms over his chest, hazel eyes bright with defiance. 'Less people to stare at my gross fat.'
"Really, and why is that?" the older woman held his gaze, her dark eyes daring him to speak.
The other teens in the room sat in the stagnant silence; Alana squinted wondering what thoughts were running through the tall boy's head.
'He thinks he's fat remember. He's probably glad that they're less people to look at him,' Elektra whispered while twirling a strand of her hair.
"It sounds like you're not much of a people person," Mercedes sighed turning her body slightly to look at the boy who was now glaring holes into her head.
With a roll of her eyes, she gave Alana a sly wink before turning back around.
'Looks like someone may have a new friend,' Elektra smirked as Jo struggled to confess about the brownies and other food items her parents had sent to her.
"I don't want anymore friends," she muttered to herself causing Carlos to look at her inquisitively.
"You say something Aly?" his coffee colored eyes looking to her filled with unbridled affection and innocence.
"No," she shook her head managing a fake smile as he pecked her on the cheek lightly.
His hand slipped from hers briefly to push some of her hair behind her ear and smiled brightly at her. The sight sent the damaged girl's heart racing like a jack rabbit that smile of his would always have her wishing and hope that she could keep the excitable pyromaniac as hers forever.
'Good things don't ever last long,' Jasmine said had once, before Michael had disappeared.
"Well, that's all the time we have for group today, you all can go to your scheduled activities," Kelly said, her pleasant voice breaking Alana from her reverie.
"So, your name's Aly, like Alyson?" Mercedes questioned as they all made their way out of the room, her eyes fixated on Alana's.
"It's Alana, but you can call me Aly," she replied her stomach clenching from the sudden interest.
"Cool, guess I'll see you later," the other smiled brightly before turning around and sauntered down the other end of the hall.
"She's weird," Carlos commented abruptly while clutching his sketchbook to his chest.
"We're all weird, some more than others," Kendall shrugged, his eyes on the scuffed linoleum floor, while the odd group of friends nodded their heads in agreement.
Kendall held the guitar easily in his hands and smiled comfortably at Alana as he tuned the instrument.
"I really like music, I just wish they'd let me keep my guitar in my room," he frowned slightly before smiling at the girl sitting next to him again.
"That's too bad," she replied looking to the piano that James was sitting at completely lost in whatever song he was playing. "Do you want me to sing while you play?"
The golden-haired boy grinned; nodding his head he started a song that was very familiar to Alana. Exhaling deeply she let the words fall from her lips easily, not noticing that the other patients in the room had stopped what they were doing to listen.
Oh star fall down on me
Let me make a wish upon you
Hold on, let me think
Think of what I'm wishing for
Wait, don't go away.
Just not yet.
Cause I thought,
I had it.
But I forget.
And I won't let you fall away,
From me.
You will never fade.
And I won't let you fall away.
From me.
You will never fade away from me.
And now I let my dreams consume me,
And tell me what to think.
But hold on,
Hold on.
What am I dreaming?
Wait, don't go away.
Just not yet.
Cause I thought,
That I had it.
But I forget.
And I won't let you fall away,
From me.
You will never fade away.
I won't let you fall away.
You will never fade away.
And I won't let you fall away.
You will never fade away.
And I won't let you fall away from me,
You will never...
Oh star fall down on me.
"Wow, I didn't know you could sing like that," the normally sullen boy gushed as everyone else erupted in applause. "See, everyone else thinks so too, right James?"
"Yeah… your voice is pretty Aly," the aforementioned boy agreed, his eyes told the girl that there were other things he wanted to say, but he'd much rather keep them to himself.
"Thanks, I don't really sing often," she bit her lip and looked to her lap, her face flushing with heat.
"You should sing more often," a voice behind the pair said suddenly causing Alana to jump in surprise. "Your voice is nice."
"Oh, um, thank you," she blinked at a dark haired boy who seemed to be very attached to the guitar he was carrying.
The boy nodded and walked off to a corner in the room where he sat down playing an unfamiliar tune on his beloved instrument.
"That's guitar dude, he doesn't talk much. He's schizophrenic," Kendall informed her once she turned back around to face him, whispering the last part.
"Oh okay, well, do you want me to sing another song?" she smiled gently at the depressive boy who smiled at her eagerly.
The two of them started on another song, and afterwards Alana attempted to teach Kendall how to write his own lyrics, after telling her about the ideas that he had for songs.
"I'm glad you cam to music Aly, this is much more fun," he said as he watched her write down lyrics.
"Yeah, this is fun," she smiled noticing that her constant headache was gone for now.
Please leave all your thoughts, comments, concerns and critiques in the form of a review. Bucket List will be update very soon! xoxo