"It's getting better. I think. I don't know.. I don't feel so.. alone anymore," Brendon said with a small side smile at Ryan. I felt warmth spread over my chest. I loved hearing that Brendon was getting better. As the room clapped, Ryan gave Brendon's knee an appreciative squeeze.

"Thank you Brendon for sharing," the group leader, Ethan, said. I rolled my eyes at the sound of his voice. I really didn't like being here and he seemed to make it worse. "I know being here for so long can become very stressful, especially if you're not seeing any improvements. I can guarantee that most of you are making a lot of progress. Our programs do work."

I didn't hold back a scoff from leaving my mouth. Ethan's eyes glared into me as he added. "As long as you cooperate, you can get better and be discharged." I heard Brendon giggling beside me. Ethan huffed in annoyance. "Does anyone want to speak next?"

He looked back to the circle. I turned to see Frank raising his hand. Ethan's frown switch to a smile. "Yeah, Frank." He sat up in his chair and scanned the others. His eyes lingered a little longer on mine before moving to the person beside me. When he looked at everyone, he turned his attention to the tile floor in front of his shoes.

"Um.. I'm not really sure how to start these things."

"That's alright. You just say whatever you'd like."

"Alright, um, well.. I'm pretty new here to this level? I just um.." I watched his eyes flicker up to mine before dropping back down. "There was someone I knew and they were having a hard time... I would've done just about anything for them, but they refused to let me in or anyone in really. Well, I had a dream and I was watching them fall. I was screaming and trying to help them, but I had no voice and then they were gone. There was nothing left, only darkness around me."

"And what do you think that dream was trying to tell you?" I swear I saw Frank roll his eyes. Glad to know he feels the same way about Ethan. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"I don't know. Feels like no matter how hard I try, there's no way I can help that person."

"How does that make you feel?" It was my turn to roll my eyes.

"Well, I'm not going to let a dream decide what I want to do. If someone needs help, I'm gonna help him the best way I can." His eyes moved back to mine. "No matter how long it takes to get through to him."

I felt a nudge on my leg. I turned to and saw Pete wagging his eyebrows at me. I tilted my head in confusion and he gave a subtle nod toward Frank. I moved and hit his leg with the side of my own. He chuckled and leaned in to my ear.

"Be anymore obvious why don't you." I whacked his side with my arm causing him to let out another laugh mixed with a grunt.

"Pete?" We turned to an irritated looking Ethan. "Would you like to say something?"

"No, sir," Pete replied sarcastically with a grin.

"Then keep quiet."

"Yes, sir," he answered mockingly with a salute. I chuckled at his action.

"Gerard," Ethan's voice had more impatience. "Why don't you share." 

"I'm good," I replied with a smirk. Everyone knew I never shared.

"I wasn't asking." I watched the others move closer to the edge of their seats. I frowned and felt an unhealthy amount of anger start to form in my stomach. The edges of my vision began to blur. I tried blinking it away. "We're waiting," his voice clearly showing his annoyance.

No, please. Not now.

How dare he.

My fists clenched at my sides and I shit my eyes tightly. I wished the voice to leave me alone. I didn't want anyone to see me if I blacked out. Luckily, no one's been in the same room when I blacked out in the hospital. With this many people here now, who knew who I could hurt. My blood roared in my ears. My breathing was as quick as my pounding heart.

"He doesn't have to." I heard a voice that slowly pushed away the anger.

"Excuse me?" I opened my eyes and everyone's head was turned to the one person in the circle.

Frank.

"He shouldn't have to share if he doesn't want to. No where in his program does it say he's required to participate."

How does he know?

"It's optional to share. He's only required to attend these sessions." It seemed like everyone's heads turned simultaneously back to Ethan. His jaw was clenched and his eyes were narrowed on Frank.

"If Gerard doesn't want to speak, then he doesn't have to," he gritted through tight teeth. He turned to me with warning eyes. I stayed silent as I stared back at him. "Does anyone else want to share today?"

My attention turned to Frank when the next person spoke. He was looking back at me with a smirk on his face. He leaned back in the seat with his arms crossed and turned to whoever was speaking. I kept my eyes on him longer than I should've. It didn't take long from me to space out. A tug at my shirt pulled me back to reality. I looked over at Brendon trying to get my attention.

"Let's go." I furrowed my brows and looked around to see people moving to the door. I stood up with Brendon and Pete. Even in my dazed state, I smiled when I saw Brendon holding onto the bottom of Ryan's shirt out of habit. He used to do that with me all to time when he first got here.

"You good?" Pete asked.

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Seeing that you looked like you were ready to explode and then stared at Frank while spacing out made me question. That's all." He held up his hands in defense. 

"I'm good. Don't worry about me."

"You know I will anyway." I smiled and bumped him teasingly. 

"Since when did you care so much? Patrick finally rubbing off on you?" He pushed back with a matching smile.

"Shut up before I kick your ass."

"Now there's the Petey we all know and love." He rolled his eyes, his smile not fading.

"So what's up with you and Frank anyways?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you're always staring at each other and don't think none we haven't noticed him walking you around instead of the nurses."

"That's nothing. He's probably trying to look good for the staff so he can get moved down faster."

"What do you mean moved down?"

"Isn't it obvious he's from one of the upper floors." 

"How could you possible know that? We would've heard about him like we did Ryan."

"You don't know. When they talked about someone coming, they could've meant two people."

"But they don't really give people that much freedom when coming down. Ryan barely has time away from nurses," Brendon spoke up when Ryan's name came up. 

"If you don't believe me, ask him." I pointed at Ryan, who hadn't spoken a word during the conversation. I saw his body tense when the three of us turned to him.

"Why me?"

"You were on the upper floors. You must've seen him around or something. Right?" He looked over at Brendon with desperation written all over his face, but Brendon gave him a look of anticipation. He chewed his bottom lip nervously as his eyes moved from Brendon to Pete before going to mine.

"Uh.. Frank, um.." He cleared his throat and looked over at Brendon again. "He..." His eyes dropped down to the floor. "He's from... my floor." Brendon and Pete's jaws dropped in shock.

"I told you!" 

"Why didn't you tell me?" Brendon whined. Ryan shrugged and keeping his head low.

"I didn't think it was important."

"What do you mean not important? It's like my job to know everything on this floor."

"Sorry, Bren. You know I don't talk much about my floor." Ryan gave Brendon big puppy dog eyes.

"It's alright," Brendon caved, not being able to stay mad at that face. He pulled Ryan into a hug. 

"Do you know why he was on the upper floor?" Ryan hesitated before shaking his head.

"Can we go now?" Ryan pulled at Brendon. He nodded and they both went off to the rec room. I turned to Pete who was watching them walk away.

"Man, I miss Patrick." I threw my arm over his shoulder and gave him a sympathetic smile. He returned it and we went after the two. When we walked into the room, Brendon and Ryan were in the corner setting up a game of checkers. Pete and I went to one of the couches and sat down.

"So, why do you think Frank's here?" I shrugged. "You know he's barely around. He seems to disappear when we have free time like this. He's not even here now." I searched the room for the black and red haired boy. Just like Pete said, he wasn't here.

"There's something odd about him," Pete added.

"No, there's not!" I quickly defended the absent boy. "Why do you say that?" Pete shrugged.

"I don't know. I just don't have the best feeling about him. I don't know why, but I feel like he's hiding something big." I nodded, not necessarily agreeing, but not deny the claim either. I want to believe that Frank isn't hiding anything, but everyone here is hiding something. We both were silent, getting lost in our own thoughts.

About an hour later, I was watching Pete laughing with Ryan across the room. Brendon was pouting from apparently losing yet again. I felt a slight tap on my shoulder. I looked up and saw Frank smiling down at me.

"Mind if I sit with you?" I shook my head and moved over. He sat next to me and said a quiet 'thanks'. We were silent. Well, he was silent while my heart was pounding for whatever reason.

"You alright?" My eyes widened in shock. He could heart my heart ready to burst. I felt my hands begin to sweat.

"What?"

"Earlier. I saw how you were getting when douchebag was forcing you to speak. Was just making sure you were okay." Of course he was talking about earlier. He couldn't have good enough hearing to hear the thumping in my chest.

"Oh, yeah. Thanks for that by the way."

"No problem." Back to silence. My mind started racing with questions only he could answer. I could feel them crawling up the back of my throat, begging to be spoken. My tongue was weighed down by the heavy words.

"Why are you here?" I shut my mouth as soon as the noise escaped. My face heated with embarrassment. I kept my head down to my fidgeting fingers. My nerves calmed the slightest bit when Frank chuckled at my outburst.

"That's one way to get to know each other." I slouched into the couch, willing it to swallow me up. "Do I get something in return if I tell you?" I shrugged in response. What do I have to give?

"Okay, how about this? I'll tell you what I did to land myself here and you tell me what you did. Fair?" I felt the color drain from my face. My head automatically shook side to side vigorously. He chuckled again. "Alright well, when you feel up to it, we can share. Is that better?"

I reluctantly nodded. He smiled at me. I had no plans of actually telling him, but if this keeps that smile on his face, I'm will to tell the little lie. Maybe Pete's right, he could be hiding something big and I'm not entirely sure I want to know it just yet.