Reject's POV

"Reject!  You have visitors!" Allison opened the door . 

I closed my drawing pad and excitedly hopped off my bed.  Allison moved aside to let the people in the door.  The first person that entered I recognized immediately.  He had brightly colored hair, a Led Zeppelin tank top, and black skinny jeans.

"Michael!" I ran into his arms and gave him a huge hug.

"Jasey Rae!" Michael gladly accepted my hug, "I'm so happy to see you."

I smiled into his chest and closed my eyes.  For a minute I forgot I was in a psychiatric hospital.  It was almost like I was back home again.  It's amazing how some people can make you feel like that.  Just seeing them took you back to a better place.

"I love you." Michael whispered in my ear and then let me go.  He was smiling as wide as the Cheshire Cat.  It made me happy that he was happy.

I hugged Calum and Ashton.  I've been here for over a week and this is the first time they'd visited me.  With their tour coming up in a few weeks they were really busy and it was hard for them to schedule interviews and stuff around the visiting hours.

"Glad to see you, kid." Luke was leaning against the doorframe and a ghost of a smile appeared across his face.

He's still dangerous

I heard the voice say in the back of my mind.  It was like a whisper and not nearly as loud as before.  The doctors had put me on some medication that they said would help me with the voices.  It didn't completely erase them, but they were quieter now and I could tune them out easier.

"Hi."

I went over to Luke and wrapped my arms around him.  He gently hugged me back.  It was sort of awkward since he was so tall and I'm short.  Luke's hugs made me feel secure, just like the rest of the guys.  I can't remember why I didn't like him in the first place.  He's nice.  Really nice.

"She's hugging Luke." Ashton whispered.

"I know, right?" Michael whispered back, "I am so proud of her."

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"You never told me there were was music."  Ashton said excitedly and looked around the room where kids were pulling various musical instruments out of large plastic tubs.

"I didn't know there was music either."

"There is music therapy once a week." A nurse informed us, "We bring out some instruments and let the kids play with them for a while.  We usually have a guy that comes and plays guitar, but he cancelled this week.  You guys are welcome to grab a few instrument yourselves."

We dug through the tubs and salvaged what we could find.  Luke had a miniature keyboard, Calum found a plastic flutelike instrument, Michael had a ukulele, and Ashton held a pair of maracas.  I couldn't help but giggle.  They all looked so funny with their tiny instruments.

"You think this is funny, Rae?" Calum raised an eyebrow playfully, "We can still play even with these.  Michael!  Play that ukulele like a rock star!"

"You got it, Cal Pal." 

Michael got somewhat of a tune going on the small instrument.  Luke came in with the keyboard and Ashton shook the maracas.  Overall, it was a pretty nice instrumental song considering the lack of resources.

"I can still taste you like it was yesterday.  Making plans to rule the world, you were more than I deserved."  Calum sang.

I recognized this song.  Michael used to sing it all the time.  San Francisco, I think it's called.

"I see you running in the sand, long hair blowing in the wind.  Never thought that it would end." Luke joined in.  I laid my head in my hands.  I love hearing them sing.

I wanna get back to where we started to the summer night
You know, you know, you know, you know we got it right
Yeah I wanna get back to San Francisco, in the fire light
You know, you know, you know, you know we had it right

Now all of them were singing.  I noticed that the rest of the room had gone quieter and there was a small gathering of kids around our general area.

"Sing another song." Someone said.  Other people nodded enthusiastically.

"Alright," Luke said, "Uh, are there any instruments that are more um....substantial?"

Some kids gave Michael and Luke acoustic guitars, Ashton got a small drum, and Calum got the maracas.  The boys whispered to eachother for a few minutes and then Luke counted them off.

"1, 2, 1-2-3-4."

Someone sat next to me and gently leaned against my shoulder.  It was Alex.  My stomach started to get that funny feeling again. 

"Hey." Alex whispered.

"Hi." I whispered back and concentrated back on the music in front of me.  I don't want my face to get red again.

He doesn't like you, Rae.  Stop thinking that he does.

"If you've got bigger plans that no one else understands you've got a shot though."  Ashton looked at me and smiled big and wide.  I could feel a smile of my own forming on my face.

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"So you're Sokanon?"

"Actually, it's Rain.  Sokanon means rain in the Algonquin language.  And I really like your band."

"Awe." Ashton embraced Rain tightly, "I like my band too.  Stay strong, okay sweetheart?  I don't want to see you in a place like this.  You can make it."

See, he loves Rain more than he loves you and he's only known her for a few minutes.  He doesn't love you like he loves everyone else.  He loves you less.

"Rae." Alex appeared at my side.

"Hey kid." Michael said cheerfully to Alex, "What's your name?"

Alex's eyes got as wide as the moon.  He looked terrified.  Michael seemed a little confused.

"It's okay, buddy." Michael tried to assure him.

"Woof!" Alex finally blurted out.

Now Michael was definitely confused and so was I.  Why did he bark at us?

"Uh, what did you say?" He tried again.

"Woof!  Woof!" Alex barked again and rocked back and forth on his heels.

"Alex, you don't need to bark.  Let's go back to your room." A nurse guided Alex away and back to the his room.

"Who's that kid and why was he barking?"

"That's Alex." I explained, "He has dissasociative identity disorder.  He's nice."

"He seems nice, I guess." Michael shrugged, "And I have good news!  We were talking to your therapists and they said that you could leave at the end of the week.  Isn't that awesome?  They also said that usually most schizophrenics have trouble adjusting to the schedule and medication but you're doing really well."

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"I'm leaving soon!"

I joyfully twirled around our room.  I'm going home!  All I have is four more days and then I can go back to the house and live my life again.  I can make art, I don't have to follow a schedule.  Everything will return to normal.

"That's cool." Rain said and looked sad for a moment.  I stopped twirling.  Why is she sad?  Did I make her upset?

Of course you made her upset.  You make everyone upset.  You're worthless.

Ever since I've been on medication the voices have been quieter and not as menacing.  But this time the voice was louder.  It sort of scared me how loud and convincing it was.

"What's wrong?" I sat on my bed across from her.

"It's nothing." Rain brushed me away and stood up, "You don't have to worry about it.  I'm fine."

"I'm not going to worry.  I just want to know why you were sad." I got off the bed and stood next to Rain in front of the small mirror in the room.

"I really don't have a family." Rain said quietly, "Both of my parents are in jail and my grandmother died a few years ago.  I'm alone.  I don't have a group of nice supporting boys that sing and love me.  I just have stupid caseworkers and foster parents.  Dammit, I have a meeting with them tomorrow."  She dug her nails into her wrist, "I'm alone and I hate myself.  No one loves me."

"Maybe you could stay with my family." A flicker of hope rose from my chest, "Ashton likes you.  You'd fit in with us."

Rain shook her head, "That's not possible.  They're 5 Seconds Of Summer.  They don't have time for another kid, especially one like me."

We were different, but also alike.  Her hair is jet black and my own straight hair is a bright red.  Rain's eyes are the color of dark chocolate candies.  Mine are green.  She's older and braver, while I'm smaller and more fragile.

But at the same time we are alike.  We both have problems.  Our parents are no longer with us.  We've made it this far.  We can't give up now.

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