Andrea looked out the window, watching the road fly by. She ignored the woman in the drivers seat, trying her best not to cry. It’s not like she would miss them too much. After all, it was only until Christmas. And hopefully she would be better by then and not have to go back. The road was getting narrower and finally they pulled up to the Academy. It was fancy and very well kept. The fountain in the front screamed expensive and the white building resembled a very small college. Andrea had always dreamt of going to a place like this, but her fantasies had never included what she was going for; a sickness.

She opened the car door and almost went to the trunk before she remembered that due to rules, she hadn’t brought anything. Meanwhile, her mother didn’t even hug her goodbye, just led her into a small room with a desk and a few chairs, picked up some paperwork, and left her sitting on an uncomfortable plastic chair. After about half an hour, Andrea was led out of the room by a stern lady who introduced herself as Miss. Davidson and recited some rules to her. No possessions that where not property of St. Elizabeth’s and no fighting where the only ones that she actually listened to though.

Finally she was patted down, forced to turn her pockets inside out, and given mandatory church, school and recreational clothing. These consisted of a two plain white dresses, a green skirt, a few white dress shirts, and a pair of black woman’s dress pants; the clothing for all girls. Throughout the entire thing though, Andrea couldn’t help but hate the lady who was doing it. She was a good Christian girl, just trying to get better... not some common delinquent.

She was glad when she was led into where she assumed she would be sleeping. No one else was there yet, but then again, this was a new room so she supposed it would take a few hours for everyone else to show up. One thing was for sure though... she was not looking forward to this.

Aurora cranked the volume up on the radio. She wanted to get her last taste of freedom before she had to enter St. Elizabeth's. Her brother pulled up in front of the building. "Whoa, nifty place. Look's expensive." Aurora glared at him. "At least it's not my money you're spending on stupid schools. I'm not sick. I don't belong in a mental school for psychopaths." He ignored her comment and got out of the car, opened the door, and swung his arm out as if she was making a grand entrance. Aurora wanted to giggle, but given the situation all she could do was roll her eyes and enter the building. The first room was clean. She was led to a smaller room with a couple of plastic chairs and a table. Her brother sat next to her faithfully and looked her right in the eye. "Aurora, this is only for you to get better. Please don't get upset with me. I'll see you around Christmas. You think you can hold out until then?" She was furious, but he was her brother, the only guardian she has had for several years, and she couldn't be angry with him forever. "Yeah.", she replied and let her muscles dish out a tiny grin. He grabbed the paper work, hugged her good bye, and left.

Aurora sat there waiting for a good three minutes, but three minutes can last an eternity when you're waiting to be sent to a confined room. So, she was relieved when some woman came in to take her away. Her hair was pulled into a tight bun, and she was wearing a luminescent smile on her face. Aurora couldn't help but smile back. And then, her facial expression completely altered. She looked angry as she relayed the rules; Aurora couldn't help but feel enraged when she said, "Given by your size, I'm assuming you don't eat often. Here at St. Elizabeth's Academy for At-Risk Youth, you must eat what is given to you." "Or what?", Aurora spat back. "Oh, well that's classified. Why don't you just follow the rules and you won't have anything to worry about." Looks like I'm gonna have to resort to bulimia. Aurora then proceeded to look down at her Gucci tank and mini skirt. Her burberry heels were gleaming in the fluorescent lights. "Oh, and you're gonna have to change your outfit. We don't sell ourselves here. This is a Christian school and promiscuity will not be tolerated." Aurora gave her a blank stare. "Well let me pat you down now." She was hoisted up and pat down. As the lady passed over her ribs she couldn't help exclaiming how thin she was. "My, my. I can feel your ribs. Disgusting." Aurora bit her lip. It was so difficult not to hit this woman.

"Alright take off your clothes and put on the pants and shirt." Aurora was horrified at the articles of clothing lain out on the table before her. A couple of white dresses, a green skirt, a few white shirts, and a pair of black pants. "These outfits are horrifying!" "Ah, maybe, but they are Christian." "Well, okay, fine... but may you leave so I can change?" The woman then looked at her with wide eyes as if Aurora had lobsters growing out of her ears. Aurora flung her hands up to her face to cover whatever may be there. "I have strict orders to keep watch as you change, just in case you are carrying any weapons." Aurora gave the woman one of her classic 'Are you crazy?' looks and then proceeded to get undressed. The woman chuckled and said under her breath, "Why, we have a walking skeleton." Aurora stared the woman right in the eye, and the woman stared right back. "For a Christian woman, you sure don't have a set of Christian values." She then put the rest of her clothes on and left the room, being led by the hard grasp of the woman's hand on her shoulder.

She reached the white room and saw a pretty girl standing in there. "Meet your new friend, remember you're being watched.", the woman growled as she shoved Aurora into the white room. Aurora looked around and stood awkwardly in the center of the room.

"Um... hi, I'm Aurora, and you are?"

Cass sat in the car with an angry frown on her face. She had not said a word since the police had come to get her. It wasn't her fault her parents didn't love her and she didn't believe in God. There were just some thoughts that couldn't be changed. So maybe it had been her fault that she ran away, but she'd only been gone for 5 days. She snook back in to her house for her things after that. She remembered running as the sirens followed her, assuming that she was a thief. They were her own possessions! Why was running away against the law anyway?

The police had taken her in and called her parents the next morning. Her parents had been devastated, and she enjoyed that very much. It was when they came to pick her up that she hated. "Cassandra, you know we're doing this because we love you. St. Mary's is a good Christian school." her dad said. They were going straight from jail to an institution. Oh joy, thought Cass. "Look Steve, you don't love me. You say that because you feel it's your obligation to as my father. Well I have news for you, I HATE being your daughter and I'm not a Christian." She smirked at the gasp that escaped her mother's mouth. "Young lady! You will not speak to your father like that. A good girl shouldn't call her parents by their first names and like it or not you are our daughter and that makes you a Christian. St. Mary's will show you how wrong you've been." Her father pulled to a stop in front of the white building.

"Good girl? You're really going to lecture me on being a 'good girl'? You go through hairspray like it'll make you look younger. Amanda, you're OLD. Two bottles of hairspray a day isn't going to change the wrinkles on your face. That stuff is terrible for the ozone! You even throw away recyclables? Do you know how long it takes for plastic to decompose in the Earth? 30 years! You pollute the planet like it's resources don't keep you alive everyday. Why don't you try being a good person before trying to lecture me on my behavior." Cass hopped out of the car and began to walk the direction they had come. "Cassandra! You come here!" Her dad caught her by the wrist and spun her around. "You will go to this school and stay here." He gave her a gentlepucsh in the direction of the academy and followed behind her. Her mother came to walk next to her father. Cass stomped along in front. As the fountain came near Cass squated low to touch the water and flicked her hand up, soaking her mother. After laughing at her apalled expression she headed inside to face her new home, leaving her family and her past in the dust.

The mean old lady inside glared at her. Her expression was one of disgust. She was pat down and searched then given new clothes to where. Cass wasn't usually one to care about appearances, but the clothes were terribly ugly. She gurnted and changed, handing the mean woman her old clothes. The second she was shoved into the room she began tearing her new clothes. She was an atheist, modesty wasn't her problem. She wasn't going to go around in slutty clothes either though. She looked up from pulling at the clothes to see two girls were in the room. "Oh. Hi. I'm Cass" she said.

Andrea stood by the beds, trying to decide whether she should take the bottom bunk or the top bunk. The bottom was probably safer in case of an emergency, but the top kept her safe from any potential dangers that may enter the room... or live in the room. She was just deciding on the top when the door opened. As a skinny, very pretty girl was practically thrown into the room, she took a look at the lady throwing said girl in. It was the same person that had treated her like a criminal and imprisoned her in here. For that she was still very angry. “Hey” Andrea said as she heard Aurora speak, “I’m Andrea. Nice to meet you” She walked over to her and smiled, trying to be as polite as possible.

That’s when she noticed that the door had been opened again and in came another girl who began promptly ripping up her clothing. “Hey!” Andrea said, her tone bossy. “What are you doing? I’m pretty sure that’s against the rules.” She looked back at Aurora “You guys do know that they keep cameras in here right?” She didn’t mean to sound so bossy about it, but on the school website it had said specifically that the students would be properly punished for any infraction of the rules, and she didn’t want either of these girls to get in trouble because she hadn’t warned them.

"Ashley, please stop fidgeting. You know this is out of my hands now and we can only pray everything will right itself."

CAMERON. CAMERON. CAMERON. CAMERON.

Cameron Jones sat in the back of his mother's overly priced SUV, saying in his head over and over again the name he had chosen for himself years ago as he watched the world around him flash by. His teachers called him that, his friends called him that; hell, he even managed to get his little sister to call him that. Everyone else got it right, except his own parents. They seemed to be the only ones (besides the ignorant jerk-wads at school, but they didn't count) that refused to recognize the real him. It wasn't fair, and man did it hurt.

"Oh look, we're here! Isn't it lovely?" his mother said breathlessly, looking awfully excited to be dumping her eldest child off at a mental institute. No, Cameron corrected himself. He had researched places like this on the internet before. This was more like a Jesus Camp. A lie, designed only to make them hate themselves more in the end. He almost felt badly for the people that were doubtlessly there that needed real help, because he was almost certain they wouldn’t find it there.

The boy hardly looked at the front of the building, too busy mentally preparing himself for the long months ahead. To be honest, he was still in denial he was even there. Despite assuring himself it wouldn’t be that bad, in the pit of his stomach he had a feeling to the contrary.

After checking in and getting his hat confiscated by his mother, she leaned in for a final hug. His father had not come to say farewell; they had been awkward around each other ever since he had come out.

“Alright, please try to behave,” his mother said, releasing him. “Let them help you, okay?”

“Mom, I-” Cameron tried, but his mother looked away and exited without another word. He was lead to a room and handed some clothes: two plain white dresses, a green skirt, and a few white dress shirts. That was it.

“Um, excuse me Ma’am,” he said to the woman who was with him, trying his best to be polite despite her cold gaze, “There are only skirts here. Don’t you provide pants?” Cameron had already figured he wouldn’t be permitted to wear men’s clothes, but this… this was worse than he had ever expected.

“We have been given special instruction to provide you with women’s attire only. Pants are hardly proper for a young lady,” she explained, hissing the last word. Cameron’s heart dropped into his stomach. No. No no no. He could not walk in and meet other people like this.

“Also, I believe you are wearing something under your shirt… a binder? Binding your breasts is a disgusting habit, and I’m going to have to ask that you remove it,” she continued, driving the stake into Cameron’s heart. A binder was similar to an extremely tight sports bra, and without it Cameron went from flat chested to a C cup. He had paid for the thing with his own money, and without a job that required weeks of saving. It was one of the only things that really helped make him feel good about himself. And she was taking it.

“N-no,” Cameron said, shaking his head back and forth. “You can’t. I need it.”

“Actually, I can. And our alcoholic students say that as well, but do you think that will make me provide them alcohol? You are as sick as they are Ashley, you just can’t see it yet. But you will.” And that was the end of the discussion. Binder taken and skirt and shirt on, Cameron looked down at his unshaven legs and visible bust and felt like an unattractive cross dresser. It was humiliating.

Finally, stripped of any chance of maintaining a masculine appearance (besides the short hair, but at this point that just made him look like a lesbian) he was lead to his new room and promptly shoved inside. There were already three girls there. Three girls, none of them unattractive, seeing him this way.

Cameron’s face turned bright red, and he couldn’t so much as greet them. He was too mortified.

She laughed. She laughed, she cried, but mostly she laughed.

The two men had her by the arms, bruising her upper biceps - what a beautiful feeling. She could almost hear the popping of the blood vessels as the two clamped down on her. It hurt, naturally, but she relished in it. Sharp pain - cutting, biting - that was more enjoyable, more overwhelming. But a bruise was like fudge, it had to be relished slowly. And the marks, the designs that her pale skin would form when it was recovering, they were almost like a dark lace. A natural tattoo, temporary but it was a body art that she could tenderize.

Stumbling down the hall, the two great, large men at each side, she threw back her head as they unlocked the door. The common room, so recently empty. She looked up at the man on her right, a muscular fellow with dark brown hair and sad green eyes. "Oh, Andrew. You know you'll have to come back for me someday." His eyes narrowed. He wasn't allowed to say anything to her, but her taunts made his grip tighten in the most glorious way. She batted her eyelashes, feeling the tension rise inside of her at the sudden increase in his grip. Then, she was thrown. Forward. She stumbled a step, her cornsilk blonde hair flying in front of her face, before righting herself and stepping calmly.

New people. Oh, this was fun! The room had been all but empty but for Raven-- no, Mary, it was, now that she was cured. Now that she had left. And then there was one. Stubborn in her masochism. Love could not be taken away, she could not be conditioned out of the natural feeling that harm brought. She was less violent, now, and the attack on that little newcomer had been her last. But fresh meat, now. She studied them, standing in front of the door like an intruder.

Two small girls. One obviously anorexic, the other just shy. And another, long dark hair like Raven's. Probably the same bleak, monotonous outlook on life.
And a boy! Naomi grinned at him. She so loved this coed sleeping plan. The Academy installed cameras, but there was hardly attentive surveillance when the dark covered the school, to install a sense of free will in between the mandatory group hours and the scheduled activities. Not quite the most.. masculine man. He had the jawline of a female, the lithe hands that would never go away no matter how many chemicals he would go in for. No matter, all flesh was attractive.

Flesh.

She touched the top of her arm, close to the armpit. Only a slight brush, but she could feel without even looking that the bruise was forming. Her smile faded to a smug half-grin, and she stepped across the room. She had installed herself in the corner, naturally. It was the most private, the most safe. And she could easily monitor the whereabouts of the others. She had no possessions to pick up, thankfully, so she just stepped across the cold floor towards her bed. The gown she was wearing brushed against her hips, her chest, hugging at her shoulders. It was worn, moreso than the newly whitened linens that the others were garbed in. It was smaller, because she had been smaller when she had been given it. She felt a pair of eyes on her, and assuming that it was regarding the relative tightness and worn nature of her gown, she grinned, leaning back and staring at the ceiling.
"That's alright. I've been here longer than you, by quite a lot. I'm bound to get special privileges."

Aurora was pleased with Andrea and Cass . They didn't seem to be the brain dead vegetable type she was expecting when she was sent here. "Oh yeah, I thought I heard something about cameras. I feel like I'm some sort of science lab experiment....being watched and all." Inside a tiny white petri dish.... she thought. Once more the door opened and Aurora saw the woman with the tight bun. This time she shoved someone inside the room, but Aurora couldn't put her finger on if he, or she, was a boy or a girl. They had short hair and unshaved legs like a boy, but they wore a skirt and had breasts like a girl. Aurora noticed that the kid was quiet and went to go sit with him, or her. She didn't say anything. Don't ask questions, just make friends. she silently reminded herself.

Again, the door opened, and some blonde manically laughing went across the room and sat in the corner. She claimed that she had special privileges. Aurora realized that she must have been here for awhile. She realized she could learn a lot from this girl even though she seemed hostile. Aurora looked around the room with wide eyes to see other's reactions.

Andrea smiled a bit at Aurora, happy that she hadn't responded with annoyance like most girls her age. It was true that the camaras where rather... creepy, but they where just trying to help here... Suddenly, yet another girl was thrown into the room. She looked masculine, but that just made Andrea perk up a bit. There was probably someone here like her; another lesbian.

And just as suddenly, the door opened again. Andrea fought the urge to start laughing, it was like they where just being thrown in an arena of some sort. She wouldnt be surprised if they threw in some raw meat for good measure. But her pleasure was short lived. The girl was laughing like a mad man and Andrea wasnt surpised to hear some nonsense about 'special privleges.'

Andrea looked over at Aurora as if terrified of this new, seemingly crazy individual. Now, choosing the top bunk seemed like an even better idea.

"Alexa, get your feet off of the dash! You're getting footprints on it again!"
With a disgusted sigh, Alexa obeyed her mother's barked command. She didn't feel like fighting any more. The last month had been nothing but screaming and slammed doors. Every day, almost every minute she was at home. Even after all that... Alexa hadn't shed a tear. No sobbing and no crying. She felt so hollow. Honestly, she'd hardly raised her voice in the arguments. Her parents were the ones screaming and wailing. The neighbors had called the police 4 times, and every time they'd somehow wormed out of it while Alexa hid in the attic.

No more attic time... Oh, woe is this poor sober lass. She thought mirthfully to herself. The attic was her favorite place, she had sort of re-purposed the tiny room into her own little area. Posters, a CD player, a store of nonperishable snacks, and paper to write with. And until that day a month before, it had a lovely store of stolen lite beer and a bottle of Jack Daniels.

It had been a dull Friday night. Alexa, to her own standards, was having a good night. She did her homework and cleaned up after making a snack in the kitchen. Her parents were out. And the cable was out. Mr. Brown had accidentally cut through the underground wires while digging in the garden. And what ho? An unguarded pair of car keys hanging on their hook by the door. Mrs. Brown had left her car behind. And.. her purse too. She must have taken her ritzy little clutch.

4 hours later, Alexa was being dragged out of the totaled Suburban by two EMTs. She wasn't injured, but she was drunker than she'd ever been. That was, apparently, the last straw.

"We're here. Out." Mrs. Brown didn't seem too broken-hearted as the car pulled up to St. Elizabeth's. "Yes, Mom." Inwardly, Alexa was glad to be in this new place. A few months.. or more... away from the constant drama would be like a vacation. She didn't know much about this place besides the whole Christian deal, and whatever, she thought. God's cool, he does nice stuff. He made the world and all that.

"No. No. NO!" As the clothes were held before her face. Alexa's blank expression turned to one of horror. White! And green! Those colors made Alexa retch inwardly. "Put them on." With her mouth wide open, she stared down the woman. "What? Here? NO! Get out if I have to get undressed!" The woman's jaw twitched; She had obviously had enough of that behavior. "It's our policy. Change now, please."

Her pale cheeks were burning red as Alexa was led to her room. That was humiliating; Being "felt up", as she called it, and having to change under watching eyes. Now she was in the hideous skirt and white shirt. And worst of all... they'd taken her piercings away. Something about "disgusting body modifications". Her tongue stud had been brand new! Already, she missed her hoodie and tights.

"Here is where you'll be sleeping." She was shoved inside before she could react. Damn... it was already full of people. Without a single word, Alexa slipped through the small crowd to an empty bunk, hoisting herself up to the top. She was in the corner. Just how she liked it. Maybe nobody would talk to her, that would make it perfect.

Naomi looked down from the ceiling at the onlookers. She smiled, softly. "You think I'm a nut." She sat up against the wall, tucking her feet under her. "I've just been here for years. When you're as buddy-buddy with the guards as I am, you get some leniency." The blonde touched the blossoming bruise on her right. Leniency from the guards, from the males who thought her attractive. She was confined to the "righteous" female psychiatrists, but there was not much stopping a bisexual who could easily give herself a papercut. Three psychologists in a month was her record, having even gotten one her own lovely little cell at an adult reconstitution center.
But these children, these little things were wide-eyed and frightened. Little rabbits in the headlights, yeah?

She turned and looked at the timid brunette across the room. "But believe me, the real nuts are two wards over. Start some real shit and they'll lock you up there until you calm down. Bible services. All day, every day. Doesn't much help the crazy from catching." The girl was cute. Anorexic. What a pity. Malnutrition was the perfect masochism, there was nothing better than starving yourself to death and enjoying it every bit of the way. Naomi didn't quite function that way. That was a dull pain, duller than bruising or a heartbreak. It was an emptiness, not a filling, something that would drain but never give. But anorexics broke easily, never fought back. They accepted whatever they were dealt out, bitching about still feeling fat even after their ribs were showing and their curves were gone.

She paused. These were her room mates for the next however-long until they were fixed. She sighed. Better make friends while she could. "Why are you all here? Can't say I've seen you around, so it couldn't possibly be anything bad just yet."

Cameron looked around before smiling gently at the girl who had come over to him. She was really skinny, but that didn't always mean anorexic. Some people just had really fast metabolisms. If she was here though, he supposed it was foolish to say that.

He still felt horribly uncomfortable, mashing his legs together because he wasn't quite sure how to sit in a skirt even though it was definitely long enough to not have to worry. His cheeks remained pink and he could feel the heat, worrying about how he was supposed to relax in an environment like this.

When the girl spoke, the one with the older dress, he wasn't quite sure what to say, or if he should say anything at all. He didn't know the rules of this place yet: what was acceptable to talk about and what wasn't. As yet another female entered silently, he wondered awkwardly if he was going to be surrounded by girls his entire stay there. It was true girls tended to be more accepting (a lot of guys felt like their own masculinity was threatened by his existence for whatever reason), but still, it was hard for him to really be himself around girls. He felt like he had to impress, always be the gentleman. Yeah, most of these girls had issues, but they were still girls and unless they say differently, should be treated that way.

Finally, he offered a kind smile to the general room and said, "Um, is this everyone do you think? We should probably hold off on introductions until everyone gets here… or not. Whatever works.” He was quiet, but loud enough to be heard. He kept his voice as low-pitched as he could on purpose, but it didn't sound forced from years of practice.

Andrea was pretty sure that she had never felt so awkward in her life as she listened to the feeble conversation around her. She didnt think that the one girl was so crazy anymore, just odd. It made her feel weary and confused. If this place was supposed to help, then why had this girl been here for years? Maybe she was just completely nuts to start with. Although that thought should have made her uncomftorable, Andrea actually found it a bit comforting.

She looked around, seeing that there where now six people; all girls. This was going to be hard... they where all so damn attractive; even the butch one; though she hadent been able to get a good look at the newest one yet. "Uhm, we still need four more." She said quietly in response, crossing her arms over her chest and looking down. "She's right, we should probably wait..."

"You don't need ten people." Naomi turned her head. "I spent three months here all by my lonesome." Three, long months. That preceded her breakdown. They had come in to see her banging her wrists against the foot of her bed. Modern medicine fixed those bones, mended her wrists until she was nice and shiny again, but she was placed in intensive care. Modern medicine couldn't fix her if nothing was wrong. She had been banging her wrists out of boredom, out of loneliness and desire. When you spend three months with hours - hours - of time alone, there's not much to do but count the ceiling tiles (65, if you count the broken one on the right) and daydream. Nothing to do but stagnate, and she had to find creative ways to break the boredom.

"Nine people is the most that they'll allow in a room. That's all they can handle. Anything more would start a riot."


~~~~~~

A tall figure walked down the hallway with his psychiatrist. No escort was needed for the well-dressed gentleman, none at all. He was a ward favorite, charming the ladies and chatting with the gents. He stopped in front of the door, patted his psychiatrist on the shoulder, and with nothing but a look, twisted the handle to the room. A transfer, a transfer again. Coed dorms were not the smartest idea with a building full of sexual deviants and social miscreants. He was new to this hall ward, though. The institution had been convinced for the longest time that he was an addict. His lack of withdrawal symptoms and clarity of thought only furthered their fantasy: they thought he was exploiting one of his many connections to smuggle drugs. It was a battle, a battle of coherency, discipline, and boredom. At least they lent him books. He cradled one against his side - Paradise Lost - as he stepped into the half-crowded room.
There was an odd mix of people, and he let his lips form a quick grin. A blonde, tall and athletic, with fight in her eyes and patience in her lips. A man-woman, halfway between whichever operation. It would be uncouth to assume which gender the person wanted to be known as, although because he - she was wearing a skirt, it was not a far leap that would be the gender identity which the place would struggle to instill. Two girls sat in the room, both with black hair, one with short, the other with long. Both were angst-ridden and miserable. He suspected that they would befriend each other in due time. A small brunette, with the bones sticking out of her wrist. Drugs, maybe. A girl after his own heart. Or perhaps an eating disorder. The other looked normal, seemed normal. She had a stubborn mouth, and inquisitive eyes. He stepped out of the way of the door, shutting it behind him, and watched the group for a moment.
Raising his hand in greeting, he forced a wider smile. "Mark." He looked around the room. Obviously, he had interrupted something. The blonde girl looked at him as an intruder. She was a lioness, this her den, and he was the pathetic gazelle who had wandered in on her speech. "Sorry." She looked back to the center of the room, playing with the bruise that circled her arm, brushing a wisp of hair away from her nose. Mark perched himself on the bed nearest the door, drawing slowly out the book, and placing it under the pathetic pillow he had been provided.

A man named Mark wandered through the door. He greeted himself, although the timing wasn't in his best interest. The blonde- Aurora still hadn't caught her name yet- seemed annoyed that he interrupted her. She looked from Andrea to the boy sitting beside her. Aurora could tell she was a girl due to her breasts, but she also realized why she was so shy, she was really a guy on the inside. That settles it then, he's a boy. Aurora didn't mind. Fitting in is tough, and it seemed everyone else was too shy to talk, so she let out a tiny cough to break the silence. Time to answer the fierce blonde's question.

Her voice was only just above a whisper. "Hi Mark, join us. My name is Aurora Isley to everyone who doesn't know. I was sent here to cure my 'eating disorders'. I'll have you know that I don't intend on getting quote on quote 'help' from these people. I'm sure you noticed my wrists and everything. I was also sent here due to violence because I can become sensitive about my body. So, that kinda sums it up. So...um... thanks for listening. You all seem very nice though."

Aurora fidgeted. She felt awkward, but she managed to sum everything up in a few sentences. She was quiet, yes, but only because she didn't want to be too loud or appear rude. She looked at the boy next to her hoping to see a sign of acknowledgement. All she could hope for was someone else to speak or ask a question or do something. Silence frightened her.

In the silence you feel alone.

Cass stopped tearing her clothes to look at the two girls. "Camera? Well this'll be interesting.  They can punish me if they want, might as well see what they're made of." she replied. The door opened and another girl was shoved in, or rather, a girl who definitely would have rather been born a guy. Open, push, slam. Open, push, slam. The process kept going until there was a total of seven in the room. All girls...kinda. As the butch spoke up about introducing everyone all that Cass could think about was getting out of the hell hole. Then a boy entered the room. Mark was how he introduced himself. Realizing that everyone was quickly getting beds she grabbed her own below the last girl to enter. She smelled of alcohol but Cass didn't care. She didn't plan on dealing with it for long.

"Introductions, right. So here's my best guess, we have an anorexic, a transexual, a drinker, by the way you still smell like alcohol, a crazy chick.. drugs, maybe or are you the one on drugs, Mark? Myself, and you." She looked at the small, timid looking girl. "I can't guess what your problem is, but anyways name is Cass, yes it is short for something, no I will not go by anything other than Cass. I have absolutely nothing wrong with me other than the fact that I have terrible parents, oh and I'm allergic to idiots and suck-ups. Now how many of you want to escape with me?" She was careful to make sure that her back was to the camera as she asked. One never knew when a person who was watching could read lips.

Andrea looked down, slighty intimidated by this blonde girl. She shrugged off her embarrasment however and looked up at the newest kid in; finnaly a guy! She listened to Aurora state the obvious and then the not so obvious; Andrea would never guess that she would be violent.

When Cass started to guess there problems, she found herself a bit enlightened though. The butch girl was actually a boy? She found that hard to believe. That kind of stuff only existed on dramatic tv shows; in real life it was just weird. She found herself smiling with pride as Cass couldnt guess her problem though. "I wanted to be here" She said with a slight grin, Ignoring the suggestion to leave. She knew perfectly well that that was highly improbably.

Cameron listened to all that was going on with tight lips, trying to ignore the use of she because they didn't know yet, and then blushing when he was correctly marked as trans, though technically the girl, Cass, had used the wrong form. He hadn't gotten surgery yet so he was really just transgender... but whatever.

"And go where?" he said finally, raising an eyebrow at her. He didn't say anything about the girl who apparently chose to come. It slightly angered him, if we was honest with himself, as he had been so forcefully dragged against his will. He wondered if she was an attention seeker, the way she almost looked proud that she had made the choice. "We don't have any money, and I don't have anywhere else to go. I'm guessing most of us don't..." he paused for a minute, frowning, before shaking off the thought and continuing, "I'm Cameron, by the way. And yeah, to get it out of the way, I'm a guy who happens to have a girl's body. That's all. I'm not a butchy lesbian or whatever, and I go by male pronouns. Simple."


Running a hand through his dirty blonde hair, he glanced over at Mark and gave him a half smile, a kind of face that said aren't-we-lucky-to-be-here. The dude seemed awfully suave just from his entrance, and while he didn't know if Cass was right or not, he didn't really care. He wasn't desperate for friendship or anything, just glad to not be alone in a sea of feminine hormones anymore.

Cass looked at Cameron. "So he and him. Simple enough. As for money we all seem old enough to get jobs. As for a place to go, I have this friend whose parents own a cabin that they NEVER use. It's only like 30 miles outside of town and I could get her to give us a ride there. We'd just have to find a way to get out and contact her. Now, I'm offering this to those of you who can control themselves," she eyed the crazy blonde girl, "I can't have people who'll attract cops. You can go anywhere you want once you get out, but the offer stands." She answered the boy with ease. She had been plotting her escape the second she was told about St. Mary's. She wasnt going to stay around so some proud, blind people could shove their beliefs down her throat.

That girl who had been ripping up her clothes said that Alexa smelled like alcohol. Seriously? She didn't need to be reminded about anything to do with booze. Her mom hadn't let her drink anything but water and Kool-Aid recently. "I'm not an alcoholic." She mumbled angrily. Sure, her hands were shaky and she was crankier since she'd been forced sober. But that didn't mean she was some drunk that laid around chugging Budweiser and screaming at everyone.

The door opened and.... damn it. A boy? Seriously? No way! I am not sleeping in the same room with a DUDE! Alexa growled silently. "This place sucks already." She didn't care about any of these freakshows. Laying down, she grabbed the thin blanket that was apparently as she had to sleep under and yanked it over her. Maybe pretending to be asleep would make her invisible.

Hearing the butchy girl say that she was a "he" made Alexa scowl. Great. Not only a nut and an anorexic, but a "confused" person. If she ever needed a drink, now was the time...

If one listens to a sound for an extended period of time, it becomes almost melodic. That’s how Ethan felt about the constant whirring of the car engine after about the third hour passed. Well, such silence in a car ride wasn’t anything strange between this boy and his mother – in fact, he preferred it over anything else. It was better than listening to her complaints...

“You’re a nuisance, you know that?”

Agh, and it had lasted three hours too. His mother’s quiet but austere tone shattered the morbidly peaceful atmosphere. Fortunately, Ethan had learned how to not listen a long time ago. All he had to do was redirect his focus to something he actually cared about, and that would be all. How much farther was this St. Elizabeth? If it was three hours without traffic, Ethan assumed he would just have to be grateful that the roads were clear… The scenery outside was rather dreary – not quite something he would sketch if he had his hands on some paper. He had pencils in his pockets, but his sketchpad was unfortunately left behind.

Just then, he noticed something in the distance. If he stared hard enough, he could just barely make out the form of a large white building, rapidly approaching. He assumed that was his stop. “A blank canvas,” he mused aloud, a small smile forming on his face.

Hands slammed on the driver’s wheel. “Are you even listening to me, Ethan?!”

“Nope.” That shut her up pretty quick. He knew she was seething in quiet anger – he could feel it radiating from her – but honestly, he didn’t care about how she felt, as long as his ears were spared the din. Really, her predictable actions amused Ethan to no end… then again, of course he knew her well. She was his mother… no matter how much they both wished it wasn’t true.

Many minutes passed, each feeling longer than the hours before, before his mother spoke again, in a quieter tone. “You’re just like your father,” she hissed, knuckles white from gripping the wheel. The words hung in the air like a fog. There was a silence once more, no longer serene, but tense. It took many minutes before anything else was said. Ethan’s quiet laugh cut through the tension.

“Good thing I’m not like you,” he murmured before flinging open the door. The car hadn’t stopped, but it was slow enough that he could hop out without injuring himself. “This is my stop. See you and your new husband around Christmas,” he called with a mocking wave, glancing back to see her mouth open and about to protest. He strode away through the gates before she could say anything more.

He noted the building and its white walls – they were too white. The whole building was quite literally, like a blank canvas. Inside, he found there was a little more color, but it was still rather dull. A stern-faced old woman directed him to a room, where he was met with an equally severe looking man. Ethan listened to the man recite the rules – just so he could know exactly what to do later, and sighed when he was forcibly patted down. It was like the police station all over again…

However, when the man reached the pockets of the boy's jeans, he scowled and confiscated the numerous art utensils. “Hey, those are mine,” Ethan said, irritation working its way into his voice.

“No objects from outside St. Elizabeth’s are – ”

“I heard, I heard,” Ethan sighed. “It’s not like I’m going to stab myself with a pencil.”

“You’ve been marked for self-endangerment and – ”

“Ah, those incidents,” the seventeen-year-old boy cut in once more with a light of aggravation to his dark brown eyes. Really, this was proving to be a little more annoying than he had anticipated. “No brushes either? What harm can they do?” After a brief reminder of what exactly he had done to land himself in the academy, Ethan laughed darkly. “Well if that’s the case, take these away too, why don’t you?” he said, uncurling his fingers to show the man the skin streaked with dried paint. The man’s disapproval showed on his face as he roughly handed the teenage boy a bundle of clothing.

“Change.”

Ah, nothing bothered Ethan more than orders, but clearly he had no choice. Without further prompting, he changed into the white dress-shirt and stiff black slacks. At the very least, they had gotten his size right, although it seemed their tastes differed more than just a bit. He was then escorted to the bathroom where he was to wash his hands, but seeing that initial resistance wasn’t working, Ethan was forced to comply. He pointedly dried his hands on his new shirt, before being near dragged by the man to a different room. He had a rather firm grip – the man probably could have been a policeman if he had wanted.

Inside the room, Ethan was met with the sight of a rather unusual group of people – mostly female with most seemingly less than pleased at their surroundings. While he was observing them, he was a little less than lightly pushed in before the door was firmly closed behind him. He threw a sharp look behind him before sighing and stepping off to the side. He glanced at each of the others, his expression uninterested. “Well, looks like we have quite the crowd,” he mumbled. People really weren't his thing...

The police car pulled into the long entrance way of the Academy, gravel crushing under the heavy tires, making an audible crunching noise. Jensen did his best to look out the window, but he found it rather hard with the blood staining the window-glass, and the officer holding his head in place.

"Jensen Johnson, you are to behave until Christmas, where, if you seem to be improving, we'll send you back to the other institution. Okay?" The officer in the front spoke in a gruff, pained voice, and glared up at him through the rear-view mirror. "Yes, sir!" was Jensen's usual, cheerful reply.

Both officers had to escort him inside, which Jensen was perfectly comfortable with. And when he was met with a rude, demanding man who asked him to strip off his clothing and put on holy clothes, Jensen had no objections. It was when he was parted with the officers, and dragged down a white hallway, that Jensen spoke up. "Um, am I going to be alone? Because I definintely don't do well alone!"

The man seemed to ignore him, and Jensen resumed talking. "I think you should change the scenery here, ya know? It's kind of bland. I've never been a fan of white. I think a nice shade of orange would serve everyone well, right? Aren't bright colors supposed to make people happy?"

He was cut short when the man yanked a door open, pushed him inside, and then slammed it behind him. Jensen was left staring at the door, a pout on his pretty face. "How rude!" He voiced, turning around.

His eyes brightened immediately when he saw that he was far from alone. "Hello everyone! I'm Jensen!" He went around the room, stopping at beds and spots along the walls to hug each and every member. There was a pretty, thin girl. A butch-looking girl that he momentarily mistook for a male, a couple of boys...but mostly female. "Either will do!" He cheered, rubbing himself against the thin girl excitedly. He wrapped his arms around her tiny tummy, and found himself a bed to sit on, the girl in his lap.

He rubbed his face against the back of her neck, and purred slightly. "I'm Jensennn! What's your name?"

An alcoholic. A transgender. The stories were unraveling fast. Well I'm glad I'm not the only one with some problem I guess... Aurora thought. She couldn't stop eyeing Mark though. He seemed different than everyone else; quiet, sophisticated. Her daze was interrupted by the slam of the door and another kid being tossed in to a room which felt like the beginnings of a reality television show. He mumbled something about the size of the crowd and stalked to the corner. Aurora didn't know what everyone's fascination with corners were. She hated corners. There's only one way in and one way out. If you're cornered, you have to fend for yourself.

Grrrowlolol. Oh no. Her stomach. It wasn't loud enough for anyone to notice, but it would keep getting louder if she didn't do something. Staying skinny...staying skinny... staying skinny. She tugged and snapped her rubber band to remind herself to feel full. Snapsnapsnap. Staying skinny... staying skinny. She looked up from her bruised arm and at everyone else. Cameron was listening to everyone, Cass was going on and on about escaping (which didn't seem likely), Mark was watching everyone on his own, Andrea seemed smug about whatever was on her mind, the new kid was cowering somewhere on the other side of the room, crazy blonde still seemed pissed that Mark disturbed her, and Alexa was hidden underneath a blanket. Well, what a lively crowd we got here.

Slam. Well, what would you know, the door opened once again and in walked another guy. He seemed friendlier than everyone else; he walked up to everyone and gave hugs. But when he approached her he seemed to give her a hug that lasted a bit longer than everyone else's. Maybe he's just shocked because he can feel my ribs. But that thought was contradicted when he pulled her onto his lap. His face was rubbing against her neck, and he said his name was Jensen. Aurora was shell-shocked, and managed to utter "Aurora." when the stranger asked for her name. She gave him one of her cutesy grins. But as he continued to nuzzle her she looked over at Mark, still minding his business. Well this is awkward.

It's not that she didn't like him. It's just that she didn't really know anyone yet, and wasn't exactly ready to be cuddled and touched without sorting out who she liked and didn't like. But she certainly wasn't enjoying this whole lap thing. This is happening way too soon.

Andrea had never felt so out of place before. This place was supposed to be for people who needed help, but she couldn’t help feel that she was in a nut-house. Some things where okay, such as Cameron’s insistence on being called a boy, or the antisocial girl on the top bunk. These two where... odd, but Andrea had handled crazier before.

It was the rest of them that bothered her. Complete insanity and openness was not her forte. Cass was talking about escaping, Andrea was still convinced that the blonde was crazy, and Aurora was nice, but too open about her problem. Personally, she wasn’t going to deny the fact that she liked girls; but telling everyone? That seemed a bit off to her.

And as if to make it even worse, two new guys where here. The first one wasn’t bad; not that she actually knew anything about him, but the second guy that walked in was... yet another nut. Well... at least she thought so after he hugged her.

Cass grew silent as two more boys were thrown into the room. Neither were bad looking but one had a creepy hugging thing going on. She was disgusted by the hug. She was about to throw herself backwards and out his arms when he released her. The result being that she backed straight into the other new boy. "Umph," she grunted as she knocked the boy to the floor and fell on top of him. "Sorry!" she said, rolling off of him. For a second she just lay there and stared at the ceiling. Why me? What did I ever do to deserve this? I'm stuck here and not even with sane people. They all seem like they WANT to stay. Maybe I'll hold off on escaping and just leave by myself later on... or I could bring a boy. Remembering that she had just toppled onto one she snapped out of her thoughts and sat up. "Sorry again, are you alright? I'm Cass by the way."

Ethan couldn’t help but stiffen in unpleasant surprise when the latest arrival embraced him – what in the name of… Thankfully the bizarre boy moved on pretty quickly. Miffed, Ethan smoothed his rumpled clothing before beginning to eye the others warily. He took his previous thoughts on the place back – St. Elizabeth’s was going to be a lot more bothersome than he initially thought… but that was no matter. He could always make the best of its clean white walls. Entertained by all the possibilities, he broke into a small smile. If only he could get his hands on some paint…

Just then, the Jensen character wrapped his arms around a girl with long brown hair, standing just a ways off from the musing boy. Clearly disgusted, the girl jolted backwards, away from the embrace – and straight into Ethan. Taken by surprise, the black-haired boy lost his balance, falling backwards with the girl on top of him. His head collided painfully with the wall, and he let out a hiss of pain. Just as he was about to shove the offending girl off of him, she rolled to the side, letting him sit up to rub the sore spot at the back of his head. If this girl thought she would get off with a simple apology, she was very, very wrong.

… Cass, did she say her name was? “Cass as in short for Cassidy or Cassandra, I suppose?” he asked dryly, slowly standing to his feet. It seemed he didn’t have a concussion – he had gotten one of those before, and could honestly say it wasn’t a pleasant experience. He finally took this chance to actually look around the room – plain. No color whatsoever, plain walls, dull ceiling, bland floor – only five bunk beds. He made a mental note to himself to grab a top bunk. Glancing at the others in the room, Ethan hesitated before giving a smile, although it didn’t quite seem to reach his eyes. “I think I missed the introductions,” he said. “I’m Ethan…”