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Schizo

Just like me

After my session, I ducked into thea pillow torabbed a baseball cap fro under his breath, he tossed the hat in the air and caught it

He looked happy

How could he be happy here? Comfortable, maybe But happy?

He flipped the cap over in his hand and tugged it on He stopped, gaze fixed on theI couldn’t see his expression, but he went very still Then a sharp shake of his head He turned and saw rin

"Hey"

"Hi"

He stepped closer, s to my lips, but I couldn’t force it out I wasn’t fine I wanted to say I wasn’t I wanted it to be okay to say I wasn’t But the concern in his voice went no deeper than his grin, neither touching his eyes They stayed distant, like he was uy and it was the right thing to do

"I’ ed "Okay But a word of advice? Don’t let the to your roo around"

"I’m not--"

He lifted his hands "Their words, noton the TV and pretending you’re watching it, but they’ll be happier if you’re up and about, hanging with us We’re not such a bad bunch Not too crazy"

He gave a blazing grin thatto say, so to keep him here I did want to talk Not about Dr Gill Not about schizophrenia About anything but that Siaze had already shunted to the door Sure, he thought I should hang out… with soirl

The doorway darkened and Simon’s smile flashed fresh

"Hey, bro Don’t worry I didn’t forget you Just talking to Chloe"

He waved my way Derek looked in, so expressionless you’d think Si at the furniture

The scene in the basehosts Had he told Siirl

"We’re heading out back," Simon said "Kick around the ball for our break You’re welcohtly, automatically, and he didn’t even wait for a response before he brushed past Derek with, "I’ll get Talbot to disarat me

Like I was a freak

Like I was schizo

"Take a picture," I snapped "It’ll last longer"

He didn’t some, as if I hadn’t said a word He’d leave when he was ready And he did, walking out without a word

When I left the media room, only Mrs Talbot was around The other kids had returned to class after their break She sent me into the kitchen to peel--potatoes this tiave me another pill I wanted to ask when I could expect the, but if I did, then I’d have to ad, though Just that hand this ht after I took the pills So et any better than this What would I do then?

Fake it Block the voices and pretend I wasn’t hearing theh the house

I ju into the sink As my heart thumped, I listened for a reaction No reaction wouldalready

"Elizabeth Delaney! Get back here!"

A door slammed Footsteps raced down the hall, punctuated by sobs The hairs on irl at school But I forced myself to the door and cracked it open just in ti the show?"

I julower before she hurried after her friend Miss Van Dop strode fro room into the hall

"I have had it!" the other voice boomed fro in a place like this, but that girl needs professional help"

"Ms Wang, please," Miss Van Dop said "Not in front of--"

"She threw a pencil at me Whipped it Like a weapon Another half inch and she’d have taken my eye out She broke the skin Blood Frorade student should be able to understand basic algebra"

Miss Van Dop tugged her into the hall, but the woman broke away and stormed into another roo That girl is a lided pastroolimpse of books and a calculator spread across the table Heindependent work

As he looked down at , but he only muttered, "Welcome to the madhouse," then brushed past ht

AFTER THAT, CALM DESCENDED Like the calm before the storm, only in reverse The nurses put dinner in the oven, then sequestered themselves in Dr Gill’s office, on a conference call, not to be disturbed

No one had disagreed with Ms Wang’s explanation of events No one tried to say it had been an accident No one even seemed surprised that Liz had almost put someone’s eye out

When dinner time came, Mrs Talbot served the food, then retreated into the office again Liz joined us, wan and quiet Sih ere supposed to be havingher to eat Even Rae and Peter made efforts at conversation, as if to distract her Only Derek and I didn’t participate

After dinner Tori reet a DVD delivered She gave Liz the honor of choosing, but Liz seemed overwhelmed by the responsibility and looked to us for help Si it--he and Derek had a project due the next day Liz finally settled on a romantic comedy While she and Tori went to tell the nurses, Rae announced she had to fold the now-​clean laundry I offered to help

We each carried a basket to the room Rae shared with Tori I could tell neither was pleased with the arrangement I swore I saw pencil marks on the sill to divide the room in half