Chapter 3: Adjusting

Nick now dragged his feet across the pavement on his way home, back from another day of torture only to possibly come home to much worse. Nick approached the street where his house was located with slow caution. His blood ran cold when he saw his father's car parked in the driveway, he knew what was next.

Once Nick was finally standing in front of the house he slowly tiptoed to the backdoor that lead to the kitchen, he had the chance to run for his room and lock the door. But unfortunately there his father stood with a glass out whiskey leaning against the marble island basically waiting for Nick.

Nick could already feel the rough dry hands gripping the back of his neck and the sound of glass shattering.

"You need to learn how to take it like a man!" he growled before slapping Nick firmly on his left cheek. The sting lingered and the pain made tears start to develop in his eyes.

Nick couldn't remember the time when he didn't go to sleep or wakeup with raw purple bruises on his chest and arms.

"Stand up dammit! Hit back!" His father roared once more before backhanding him on his right cheek. Nick let out a yelp of pain and cradled his face.

He watched through the small glass window in the door as his father simply pushed the empty glass aside and started gulping from the bottle. Nick missed the soft, warm hands of his mother and he missed the times when his father barley drank. But that was so long ago…

"Your weak you can't even take a small slap and you'll start crying like a baby!"

Before he knew it Nick was dropping his backpack in the grass and just….running.

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"Nick?" Jeff called out softly in the hallway; he already checked the gym and the nurse's area so he decided to look for his room. His search came to a pause when he heard a soft sobs from one of the rooms only feet away, he waited to hear it a second time before jogging towards the room.

When Jeff reached the open door way he immediately found Nick sobbing into his knees between the two beds. He slowly approached him and sunk down to his level on the floor,

"Nick?" the boys head shot up from the sound of his name, his eyes were red brimmed and filled with tears and his lip quivered violently.

"I'm sorry you have to see me like this." Nick sobbed and started to wipe away the tears streaking his face.

"No it's ok, do you want to talk about?" Jeff asked quietly and put his hand on Nick's trembling shoulder.

"If it's ok I'd ra-rather not, god Thomas is an asshole." A fresh set of tears began falling from his eyes as he spoke.

"It's ok I understand, Thomas is a jerk. I've only been here for a few hours and I already know that." Jeff gave a sad chuckle and started to rub small circles over his shoulder. Suddenly Nick laid his hand over Jeff and passed his thumb over his knuckles. Jeff felt a tingle in the pit of stomach from the touch but he pushed away the feeling as he usually did and dropped his hand.

"C'mon I'll make you a bracelet." Jeff smiled and started to help Nick stand up trying not to look at how his arms flexed.

He can't feel this way, he shouldn't.

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"Hey we got about five minutes till gym time but if you guys don't plan on playing might want to head there now." Cricket warned from the doorway of the art room. For the past ten minutes Colene, Kurt, and Blaine shared playful looks but not uttering a word.

"I'm going so if you boys wanna sit out follow moi." Colene slid up from her chair with a smile and headed towards the door.

"You want to go?" Blaine asked Kurt hesitantly.

"S-sure." Kurt uttered before standup from the table and following after Blaine who was halfway to the exit.

The walk to the gym was quiet except for Colene's giggles whenever she looked back at the pair walking side by side. Kurt yearned horribly to say something but he didn't want to sound stupid, plus he didn't even know if Blaine was…like him.

The gymnasium was quite large compared to the other rooms; it had green rough carpeting and padding along the cinderblock walls. The ceiling was high with bright fluorescent lamps hanging from it and there were thin red and blue lines tracing around the room.

"You guys can sit in any corner there's a few beanbags in that cubby over there but I have dibs on the purple one." Colene bubbled before jogging over to a small plastic cubby across the room.

Kurt and Blaine followed suit and watched as she dragged out a large sparkly purple beanbag and tossed it into the corner by the entrance. Blaine quickly grabbed the navy blue beanbag and shuffled over next to where Colene's was. Moments later the other patients started to shuffle in and take their places for the game.

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"So do you like it here so far?" Nick asked Jeff as they headed back to the art room, it was a stupid question but Nick liked hearing Jeff's voice.

"It's okay besides Thomas and the fact I'm in psych ward." Jeff gave an awkward chuckle.

"Right, but it's not too bad right? I mean it could be a lot worse." Nick didn't know what the hell he was saying.

"True, mostly everyone I've met so far are nice." Jeff smiled sheepishly and looked down at his feet. Nick knew as soon as he saw that smile he would never last a day without seeing it again.

The stopped walking abruptly when they heard cheers echoing from the gym room.

"Oh I totally forgot we do kickball after rec time." Nick explained and gave dorky grin.

"Oh okay well let me just grab my bracelet from the art room and we'll go? Unless you want to go ahead without me?" Jeff mumbled not even attempting to make eye contact with Nick.

"Sure I'll just wait here." Nick smiled and Jeff quickly nodded and headed to the art room.

As he walked into the art room he noticed two things, One: His bracelet wasn't at the table and Two: Thomas was still there.

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"How did seeing the doctor go?" Kurt asked Colene softly in case it would upset her.

"The guy is a total pervert, luckily you boys and most of the other patients done have to see him." She sounded disgusted but her tone faced into sadness.

"Speaking of doctors you guys are probably up first for counseling when this is done since your new but I think you'll get Kyle, she's cool so don't worry." She told the boys sweetly and continued to watch the game.

"I freaking hate Thomas." A sudden grumble came from the entrance of the gym, only to be Jeff who quickly shuffled over and sat next to Kurt.

"Woah what happened?" Colene asked shooting a concerned look to Nick who was standing in the doorway.

"I don't know Thomas said something to upset him but he won't say what exactly." Nick looked down at the beautiful boy with sympathy.

"Aww boo don't worry Thomas always picks on the newbies, it will blow over." Colene comforted and reached behinds Kurt hand to run her fingers lightly over his neck, Nick stomach twisted with a foreign feeling.

"Colene! Personal. Space." Cricket warned from the other side of the room while the other patients played. She retrieved her hand and stuck her tongue out at him.

Nick broke his longing gaze away from Jeff incase he started to notice and finally recognized the rave haired boy sitting next to Colene.

"Hey I'm Nick from what I heard we're going to be roommates." He smiled and the boy looked up to him softly.

"I'm Blaine." He introduced himself with a smile.

"Alright guys games over so form a line at the door and we'll head outside and tell you whose getting counseled today." Cricket announced from the other side of the gym. Isabelle sat up and immediately kicked her bean bag to the corner of the gym and walked over next to Nick as the rest of the patients joined the line.

Blaine and Kurt stood up simultaneously, Blaine politely took Kurt's beanbag and put it to the side for him and received a whispered 'thank you'. Once everyone was in line Cricket led them to the thick metal door in the hallway and then slid his key into the lock and shimmied the door open. Immediately the group of patients spread out in the gated area, except for Colene, Jeff, Nick, Blaine, and Kurt.

The five simply stood idly at the doorway not knowing what really do as cricket stuck a wood wedge under the door to keep it open.

"Hey Blaine you're up first pal for counseling so just give me a sec to page a nurse to watch after these guys and I'll walk you to the office." Cricket smiled and pulled out his cell phone and began tapping at the letter keys.

"Don't worry Blaine usually the first time they just try and get to know you so nothing serious yet." Nick reassured with a smile, Blaine simply nodded and shoved his hands in his pajama pants pockets.

"Alright Brad is gonna be here any second and then we can go." Cricket smiled and put his cell phone back in his pocket.

"Come on boys let go to my spot, we'll see you later all right Blaine." Colene smiled and kissed him on the cheek chastely and then ran off before Cricket could yell at her.

"I swear that girl is…" Cricket sighed and trailed off before crossing his arms.

"We'll see you when you get back Blaine we'll be right around this over here." Nick chuckled and started to walk in the direction Colene sped off. Kurt and Jeff quietly waved goodbye before following after Nick.

"All right Cricket I got it from here." A tall man with dark brown hair, hazel eyes, and navy blue scrubs said from the doorway and smiled at Blaine.

"Alright thanks Brad, come with me Blaine." Cricket smiled before walking back into the building and gesturing for Blaine to follow.

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Blaine walked quietly at Crickets side as they passed through the ward until they reached the rec room. Cricket opened the door and held it open for Blaine to walk in he smiled and closed the door, leaving Blaine standing in the middle of the room in front of a complete stranger.

She seemed a little too young to be a counselor but she also seemed like a decent person. Her blonde hair was tied up in a loose bun and she wore red plaid converse to back her crimson scrubs. She was quite skinny and she wore multiple turquoise beaded bracelets on her elegant wrists.

"Hi you must be Blaine I'm Kyle I'm going to be your counselor throughout your stay here." Her dark brown eyes met his and she shot him a soft smile.

"Please have a seat Blaine." She said kindly and gestured to the seat in front of her; Blaine slowly sat down and settled himself in the soft cushion chair.

"So Blaine, I know why you're here and I also know that being with a counselor can be a bit odd or even scary. So usually on the first day I don't try and get to serious I want you to be comfortable with me so I can help you with whatever your going through." Her tone was calming and sweet.

Blaine silently nodded and laid his hands on his lap.

"Well I'm just going to ask you some simple questions and see where that gets us." She smiled and picked up a clipboard that was lying on the small table at her side.

"So Blaine do you have any hobbies?" she asked with a faint smile.

"S-singing." He mumbled.

"Very cool, do you have any music genres you like?" She leaned forward with her smile still stuck on her lips.

"Pop and a bit of alternative rock and some sh-show tunes." He replied hesitantly, most people didn't respond well to his music taste so he always prepared himself for whatever criticisms to be thrown his way.

"Nice choices I like all kinds of stuff music is kind of my obsession." She giggled and rote something quick on a sheet of paper attached to the clipboard.

"I also play piano and a bit of gu-guitar." He stated as confidently as he could, Kyle didn't seem so bad.

"Singing and knows his way around some instruments? Lucky guy Blaine I tried learning guitar once but my fingers are too short." She giggled and held up one of her hands, her fingers were a bit short but still slender. He smiled back at her and actually gave a small chuckle.

"So how about school? Do you have a favorite subject? Play any sports? Maybe in the choir? A kid like you could do good to a singing group." She smiled and titled her head up a bit showing off her pearly white teeth.

"I usually get A's and B's in most of my subjects, I'm not really a sports guy I only like to watch football than actually play it." He giggled to himself and Kyle simply nodded.

"And no I'm- I'm not in the school choir….my dad uh won't let me." Kyle smile noticeably fell and she tilted her head to the side giving Blaine a questioning look.

"Do you know why he won't let you?" She asked.

"Singing will get you no where Blaine, it's not something that will take you far. Plus it's bad enough your picked on for being small now you want to sing in front of the whole school?"

"No, I don't." he said almost robotically, Kyle nodded and hummed in acknowledgement.

"So what do you think of the place so far, I know it can be a bit restraining but…" Her voice trailed off and she down casted her eyes to her lap.

"It's ok." He mumbled and bit his lip.

"Make any kind of friends, I know it's not a typical place to meet people but there are some good kids in here." She smiled.

"Uhm yeah…Colene, Nick, Kurt, and uh Jeff."

"Ah Nick, yeah he's really sweet so I get that you would like him." She smiled and nodded.

"As for the rest I don't get Colene anymore and the other two must be new because I haven't heard of them." She giggled and tapped her fingers lightly on the clipboard.

"Well it was very nice talking to you Blaine I look forward to seeing you again. But when you go back out can you tell Cricket to bring Steven for me?" She asked sweetly.

"Sure." He said before standing up and giving a little wave before opening the door and walking out.

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When Nick, Kurt and Jeff finally spotted Colene she was sitting on a small square of cement that was the base to an emergency exit that probably led from the gym because Kurt noticed its color was similar.

"Jeffie sit next to me." She grinned and patted the space next to her Jeff hesitated before gradually sitting down. Kurt and Nick followed his lead and sat across from the two.

"So uh Nick what to do we do after this?" Jeff asked quickly as he felt Colene slip her fingers through his, he went with it in case if anyone would suspect anything if he denied her.

"Well we might go to the rec room for an activity unless they give us more free time." Nick replied simply before lifting his head to look at the clear blue sky above him.

"So Kurt do you have a girlfriend?" Colene broke the small silence and asked cheekily.

Jeff and Nick both glanced at him curiously waiting to see what he would say; his words seemed to clog in his throat. Should he tell them the truth or just lie.

"No, no girlfriend." He lied simply and peered off somewhere past the fence.

"That's just weird I mean look at you you're adorable!" She exclaimed before leaning over and passing her free hand on his cheek, the touch made him nervous and felt oddly warm.

"In the great words of Nurse Cricket: Personal space Colene, personal space." Nick chuckled and patted Kurt on the shoulder.

"Very funny Nick." She glared and turned back to Jeff, letting go of his hand to play with a stray lock of hair above his ear.

"What about you Jeff, have a lucky lady waiting outside this place?" She whispered flirtingly and twined the blonde strands between her fingers. Nick noticed a blush building up Jeff's cheeks, he found it truly adorable.

"Nope." He squeaked as a failed attempt to sound like he was flirting back, he cleared his throat and scotched closer to her to seem convincible he was interested.

"Okay either all the girls in your town are blind or oblivious; luckily I have clear vision and am the exact opposite of oblivious." She whispered hotly before placing a kiss on his cheek.

"Colene, personal space." Nick tried his best not to shout but still ended sounding a little too loud.

Before Colene could scowl at him Jeff piped up as he saw Blaine walking closer to the group.

"How's it go Blaine?" he asked with a small smile as the rest of the group turned to look at him.

"It wasn't so bad, she was nice." He shrugged before sitting himself down next to Nick.

"That's Kyle for you always sweet never biting like some other counselors here are." Colene spoke up, her head now resided on Jeff's shoulder again.

"Did she say who she was seeing next?" Nick asked.

"Uhm some kid named Steve." Blaine shrugged.

"Looks like Dr. Streets isn't in today if they're only seeing two kids today." Colene directed the comment to Nick who got confused looks from the three newbies.

"Dr. Streets is the other counselor he handles most patients mostly the ones who deal with trauma and anxiety. They go by alphabetical order and Steve's last name is Walters so Blaine here is the only one getting seen today other than him." Nick explained.

"Steve doesn't even talk so he should be out any second and then we'll go inside for an activity and lunch." He said as he turned around and peered over to the door.

Not ten seconds later and the boy with a Mohawk was walking back into the yard, it was Steven.

"Might as well start lining up now." Colene sighed and started to stand up.

Cricket followed behind moments later as the group headed towards the door.

"Alright guys looks like we're having a bit of group counseling today with Kyle and myself." Cricket explained as all the patients lined up in front of him.

Kurt, Blaine, and Jeff noticed how Colene stiffened.

TBC