Faithless Read Free

I
knew this wouldn't happen. I shrugged my shoulders and continued over to my
usual table where "Crazy John" and I always play checkers after
group. I sat in my usual chair, as John liked the same chair everyday. He was a
bit obsessive compulsive, and sitting in his chair was one thing that would set
off his abusive streak. Unfortunately for me, I had to find that out the hard
way, but now we are cool, as long as I never sat in his seat.
    "You made it. I was starting to think you
weren't coming." His voice was soothing, almost like a father's voice.
    "Sorry John, I just had something to do real
quick. You ready for me to kick your ass again today?"
    "Oh please, pretty boy. You act like I don't let you win." His laugh echoed off
of every wall and filled the room.
    "Just take your turn John, and stop calling me
pretty boy."
    John was the first person I met the night I came
in. After being cleared by the emergency room, they instantly brought me up to
the psychiatric ward. I knew exactly what was going on. Hell, I had the routine
down pat, after the second time of being here, I knew exactly what to expect.
John didn't like me much when I first tried to talk to him. I knew everybody
called him "Crazy John" because he had been in here so often, but I
never once called him that to his face. Despite my niceties towards him, he
decided the first time he saw me that he didn't care what my name was. He was
adamant that he was going to call me "Pretty Boy," and there was
absolutely nothing I could do about it. I didn't mind. I used to get called
worse things by my friends and classmates, so if pretty boy was what he wanted
to call me, then I would let him.
    "Are you even paying attention, pretty
boy?" His voice broke through my revelry like a knife.
    "Of course." I took my turn and looked at
John in anticipation of his next move. "Hey John?"
    He looked up confused. We rarely if ever had a
conversation. "Um, yeah?"
    "Do you know anything about the new girl,
Riley?"
    John hung is head and refused to look at me.
"Kind of. Just what people have said and what I've overheard the nurses
saying. Why?"
    "No reason. I was just curious is all." I
pushed back in my chair, trying to balance on the back two legs, when I heard
her voice float through the air. I instantly placed the legs of the chair back
on the ground and engrossed myself in my game with John. I didn't want to feel
the wrath of Riley again today, so my plan was to completely ignore her.
    "She's coming over here."
    "What? Why?"
    "Well I don’t know, pretty boy. Why don't you
ask her? Oh, and it's your move."
    "Always so impatient, aren't we?" I
joked.
    As I pondered over my next move, I could feel her
presence getting closer. I knew she was right behind me, when the intoxicating
aroma of vanilla assaulted my senses. God, she even smelled good. Staying away
from her was going to be much harder than I had anticipated. Damn it!

CHAPTER THREE
Riley
    Tristan had caught me off guard earlier as I was
walking back to my room. No one in this place ever tried to talk to me, except
for Mr. Rollins. I could only assume that my attitude was to blame for that,
but I was fine not speaking to anybody. The less people noticed me or talked to
me, only meant it would be easier to not be remembered when I left.
    After group, Mr. Rollins had told me how proud he
was that I actually spoke up in group today. It was nice to hear, but it made
no difference. I just needed him to believe me when I said I was feeling better
and less suicidal, so I could leave this damn place. Group had been easy for me
to make my way through and it passed the time, but today was the first time any
one had noticed me, and it scared the shit out of me.
    When I had gone back to my room, the only visions
that ran through my head were of Tristan. Something about him intrigued me. I
knew better than to try to get close to him, or let him get close to me, but
there was something in his eyes that captured my attention.
    After twenty