*James*

Watching Julia get close to Paul is so weird to me. I think Nate feels the same way. Mainly because no one had any idea Paul was interested in Julia. And she showed absolutely NO interest in Paul. I hate to say it, but part of me thinks Julia is just going along with this because it's safe. Not that I want her going back to Hollan or anything. I want her to come back to me. But I know that reality has been lost for some time now. 

I just want her to be doing what she's doing for the right reasons. I consider Paul family now. I think Nate may as well. Hate to see him become another victim, falling in love with this woman who's all over the place. I can think this shit. I'm her best friend. I tell it to her face. I tell her everything. But I feel like lately, she hasn't been doing the same with me.

One thing both Nate and I ARE aware of- Paul and Julia's start is already a rocky one. We watch the two of them sit outside talking it out after a pretty crazy day. A day where Julia didn't listen to her bodyguard, triggered her rapist therapist and then fucking triggered herself and shut down, messing up her hand more. Jonah had to redo her stitches. Julia can get a little...crazy. Love her but she's still nuts. No denying that one.

I never did get to see the drama unfold because I fell asleep on the recliner. I've been told I'm a pain in the ass when people try to wake me up to go to bed so now Julia just leaves me on the recliner. Which is fine. I sleep fine, so long as I'm not having one of my PTSD night terrors or a seizure, that is.

When I woke up in the morning a whole different type of drama was unfolding.

******

*Trisha*

"What's going on over there?" I look up from my phone to Jonah who is pacing back and forth while on the phone. I'm pretty sure it's Nate. The nurse puts his finger up to tell me to give him a second, which I do.

"Why don't I swing by and look at the letter myself, ok? Hang tight. I'll be there soon." Jonah hangs up the phone and takes in a deep breath.

"What...." I can tell something is up.

"Wanna come to the Avalon with me?" He asks and I give him a disgusted face.

"Um. no. Not at all. Why? What's going on?"

"Julia got written up. Dr. Cohen gave her a formal letter today disclosing rules that were broken. She has to pay a thousand dollar fine and all sorts of shit. I don't know. Nate's a mess over it all. I'm gonna head over to read the letter for myself and see what's up."

"You've GOT to be kidding me. I swear that girl is a friggen walking black cloud." I realize I may come off insensitive, but I mean, come ON already. Julia can't go more than a week without something bad happening. And unfortunately, she drags everyone down with her. Well, not me. I want no involvement with that shit. I'm fine staying right here this morning.

"You're a gem, Trisha." Jonah shakes his head at me.

"What? It's true. Does she or does she not bring on a lot of drama?" I cock a brow and smirk.

"No more than your BFF does. Nate brings on just as much drama as Julia does. But his is worse."

"How so?" I ask, sitting up on the couch a little straighter while Jonah feeds his fucking tapeworm with cereal and talking with his mouth full. I swear I live with a bunch of fucking five-year-olds here.

"Nate's drama is drama he brings on himself. Drama that can be prevented. She's got emotional shit going on, but Nate takes the cake on stirring up the pot all by himself."

He's got a point there.

"Anyways, if you're not coming can you let sleeping beauty in there know I'm heading to the Avalon?" Jonah at least rinses his bowl out in the sink. One thing the man is, is a clean freak like Nate. He's the one to always be unloading the dishwasher and picking up people's shit everywhere.

"Yeah. I swear her and Evan are like teenagers. It's almost ten in the morning!" I roll my eyes. Jonah and I have been up for hours already. "Can you at least keep me posted on what the hell is going on over there? And for the love of God, make sure Nate doesn't get too stressed out and give himself a heart attack."

"Yes Ma'am." Jonah says on purpose, and I chuck a pillow at the man before he heads out.

*****

*James*

I look down at the paper on the table and read the notice one more time. Julia broke a few Avalon rules and is getting fined a good amount of money. Not only that, but Dr. Cohen is making Julia do ... well.... what she should be doing. Just like the rest of the patients, Julia should be going to all the sessions and shit but she's got Donovan wrapped around her finger and doesn't participate in any of that.  That's all going to change now. This is strike one of three for Julia and goes on her permanent record.

My issue is- If she strikes out and gets kicked out- where does that leave me? I'm stuck here on house arrest for five more months. If Julia leaves, I can't go with her. If she leaves, I have no one to take care of me. Does she even think of this shit? Because some of the things she does affect those around her too.

I try not to stress too much. I've got enough stress worrying over my own family I can't watch over right now while being in here. Last thing I need is more things to add to that list. I can't tell this one really bothers Nate too. He doesn't care about the fine. Not in his world. That's nothing. If I were to get a bill like that, I don't know what I'd do. First, freak out because no matter how hard I tried I lived paycheck to paycheck, never able to make ends meet. Then ...well. then freak out more because it would take me months of overtime to come up with that kind of money. Overtime is what got me in this fucking predicament in the first place. Taking on too many hours on too little sleep trying to earn cash to help my mom and sisters, then getting behind the wheel and fucking up all of our lives.

I still can't believe I almost died.

"You ok, James?" Jonah asks. He swung by to read this stupid letter and probably try to keep Nate calm. Julia and Paul are in the real Avalon while me, Nate and Jonah head to the living room to talk. I'm a little sad Trisha didn't come. I kinda miss my friend. She doesn't come here often these days.

Nate tries to help me with his coffee, but we all notice his hands are trembling. He's withdrawing from his alcohol addiction and it's showing.

"You're feeling it hard now, huh?" Jonah takes the mug from Nate and helps me hold it instead.

"Think I'd be used to it by now..."

"What are your current symptoms, Nate?" Jonah goes into nurse mode now.

"Chills, tremors, headache, nauseous, I feel overly irritable, anxious .... the usual." Nate is in rare form today. Overly irritable doesn't cut it for a description.

"You know you're an Avalon patient now. You can go to the infirmary and get Zofran for your nausea and Ativan for your anxiety."

"I'm trying to lay low and go unnoticed. I'm already all over the news for being here as it is. That's why Jeremy is letting me stay in this apartment for a bit." Nate explains.

"I had a feeling that was the case. Julia is gone, correct?" Jonah looks around the living room and both me and Nate nod. He then rummages through his black medical bag to give Nate some nausea medication and an anxiety med.

"One for right now, one after lunch, one before bed. Put them somewhere you KNOW Julia will not find them. I mean it Nate. I can come daily to give you meds, but I don't want the bottle in this apartment."

"I understand." Nate puts the pills somewhere safe and we get back down to business over this letter Julia received.

"Julia did these things. They are considered major offenses in a setting like The Avalon, Nate. This is just a slap on the wrist if you ask me. Stinks it's going on her permanent file as strike one but you guys gotta remember- Jeremy lets Julia get away with a lot. And I mean a lot. No other patient lives in one of these apartments or has free reign of the facility like Julia does. No one can get away with half the shit she gets away with. It was bound to catch up with her sooner or later. That being said, it doesn't sound like she's on Dr. Cohen's friends list." Jonah says.

"M-maybe it's a blessing in disguise." I chime in. "She needs to go to these sessions. They would really help her."

"Yeah, but if she's not going because she made the decision then she's not going for the right reasons." Nate responds.

"Either way, it could help get her into the habit. She has to absorb SOME helpful information while sitting through em." 

"That IS true, James. You have a point." Jonah agrees with me. "Just getting back into a routine will be good for Julia. She can still help people but focus more on herself for a change."

"I hate to bring this up because I know it sounds selfish right now..." I pause. "But if Julia keeps fucking up and this doctor throws her out, what will happen to me?" I ask.

Both Jonah and Nate's facial expressions change. They don't have an answer for this.

"I'm kind of stuck here for months. Again, I know this is probably not a great time to bring this up-"

"No, James, you're right and your concern is valid. You're thinking ahead about your future. The things other people do affect you too." Jonah makes me feel a little better and not self-absorbed.

"We'd figure it out." Hollan adds. I need more than someone saying we'd figure it out, though and they both know it.

"It's just, Julia's my caretaker, you know? If she leaves.... even if Jeremy lets me stay in this apartment, I will have no one to take care of me. No one to walk my dog, no one to-"

"Don't worry about it, James. I mean it. I will make sure you are ok and take care of here. I don't care if I have to do it myself and then hire someone to come stay with you once I leave for tour." Nate puts a shaky hand on my shoulder, seeing me start to worry excessively about this. Because we all know Julia. And it's not her fault, but it sounds like this Katherine lady doesn't like her and can throw her out if she doesn't take this seriously.

I really need Julia to take this seriously.

*******