Chapter 2

THE FOLLOWING DAY, AFTER EVERYONE was settled in, it was confirmed that a total of seven patients were in the care home, including the ones from previous years, such as Josh and Shin. There were three doctors in the home, who were the supervisors in case something were to happen to the patients during the treatments, and they were Dr. Milgram, Dr. Ash, and Dr. LaFayette. Dr. Milgram was the psychiatrist while Dr. Ash and Dr. LaFayette served as just regular doctors.

Aiden was in the kitchen, pouring himself a cup of coffee when he heard a curse from the other room. Dropping all the supplies, he rushed in, only to find Clayton hunched over, holding onto his kneecap with the table close to him. That was when Aiden let out a laugh, which caused Clayton to divert his attention from his painful knee to Aiden.

"It's not funny, man. It actually hurts."

"Sorry, Clayton, but you're a twenty-year-old man and you still can't walk straight? That's sad, you know?"

"Shut up." The two walked into the kitchen, to find Dr. LaFayette carrying a stack of paperwork into the kitchen. She saw the two boys walk in and gave them a heart-warming smile. Her curly brunette hair was tied up in a low ponytail, with her glasses framing her face. Out of the three doctors supervising the treatment centre, she was the youngest and probably the nicest with the patients.

"Oh, Aiden, I see you're already close friends with one of the patients. That's wonderful," Dr. LaFayette placed the paperwork on the table top, and then walked over to the two boys, stretching her hand out to Clayton. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Dr. LaFayette, and you are...?"

"Clayton, Clayton Allwright."

She smiled angelically, making Clayton's heart speed the moment their hands came in contact with one another, "So you're the brother of the young Allwright girl. Where's your sister today? Yesterday, she followed you like your shadow."

"Oh... Well, considering she wakes up earlier than I do, she's probably out in the backyard. That girl doesn't really know how to socialize."

"Give her some time. She's in a brand new environment and being surrounded by doctors, she's most likely overwhelmed. However, if your sister feels lonely in any way, she can talk with me." Dr. LaFayette brushed past the two males, but before she left the kitchen, she looked over her shoulder towards Aiden, "If you could do me a favour, Aiden, I would appreciate it if you could sort through those papers when you have time. It's just regarding the patients and their education."

"Sure, Dr. LaFayette. This is what I'm here for."

When she left the room, Aiden moved over to the stack of papers, skimming over each paper one by one. However, he paused at the profiles of the newcomers, and then directed his attention to Clayton, who stared at him with a wide smile and charming eyes. He rocked back and forth from his heels to his toes, his hands in his pockets, waiting for Aiden to speak; like he knew what he was already thinking.

"'IQ is over 140, was in university courses in the start of high school, a professional computer technician, a teacher's assistant; overall, a wonderful student to teach and very studious. As the supervisor, I will miss such an outstanding student'," And then he flipped to the paper behind that one and read out the components, "'IQ around the 90's, more of an athletic student rather than a studious one, a juvenile delinquent, very artistic and can cooperate well with other students with his outgoing personality; overall, a student whom is loved by everyone despite their weaknesses. As the supervisor, the school will miss this student dearly.'"

"Huh, I wonder who that's ab—?"

"You and your sister are quite different, huh? She's academically smart, so smart that she had an early acceptance to Harvard, while you..."

Clayton grinned sheepishly, already knowing what Aiden was implying. After all, his sister was a pure genius whereas he just received the athletic and artistic abilities. If they could morph into the same body, then they would surely be the perfect person.

"I'm nothing compared to my sister. Sure, I've won several awards for the sport competitions I've been in, but nothing more. I focus on the physical stuff, you know?" The grin on Clayton's face turned into a smirk, "That, and art."

"Well, I didn't mean it like—" Aiden's words were cut short when a loud yawn was heard at the entrance of the door. They turned to face the newest patient, Oliver Kohl, who seemed extremely tired even though the time was two in the afternoon.

"Hey, you're up late."

"Couldn't get a good night's sleep; sorry," He walked into the room, and grabbed a can of pop from the fridge before turning around, right smack into the papers. A few toppled over. As he bent down to pick it up, he noticed his name on the very first sheet. "How did you find this?"

"Oh, Dr. LaFayette has access to schools all over the world, so she probably found your transcript on the Internet. Don't worry, Oliver, just because you're in a nursing facility, it doesn't mean you won't receive your education."

"I honestly don't care about school, so you can just trash this." He tossed the paper over to the pile, before taking out his lighter.

Immediately, Aiden reached over to grab hold of Oliver's lighter, but the boy quickly escaped out of his grasp, sending a threatening glare towards Aiden. Sadly, the older male had a glare that could rival Oliver's. "You heard the agreement to the home, didn't you? No lighters allowed, Oliver. Pass it over here."

"No." The hold on his lighter tightened, as he slowly backed away from Aiden.

There was a small flick from Aiden's fingers. It was a gesture warning him he better obey his words, otherwise there would be consequences. However, that only caused Oliver to be even more protective of his treasured lighter.

That was when Clayton decided to intervene; the mediator between the two. "Hey now, how about this— Oliver, you will hand over your lighter to Aiden but when you want it, you tell him and you can play with it for a maximum of five minutes per day. Sound like a deal?" He reached over to grab the lighter, now that Oliver seemed to be contemplating about the compromise, but then his hand flew back.

"Y'ouch!"

Aiden's eyes widened, quickly darting to face Clayton and the red spot now surfacing on a couple of his fingers. Oliver, too, seemed to be shocked by the sudden redness.

Within seconds of Clayton's soft yelp, Dr. Ash dashed right in, as if she was waiting for the perfect moment to make her entrance. At the sight of the red burn mark on Clayton's fingers and the lighter in Oliver's hand, she already knew what had happened.

"Oliver Kohl! Didn't Dr. Hamilton tell you no lighters are allowed in this facility? Especially for a boy, such as yourself?" She snatched the lighter right out of Oliver's hands, and pointed a finger at him; the menacing glare in her eyes forced Oliver to forget about his lighter for once. "Might I remind you that you are in this home to recuperate! You are not here for fun and games, young man!"

The seventeen-year-old German only continued to focus on the small stain on the floor, trying to distant his mind far from Dr. Ash's lecture. Even in his old foster home, he was constantly a target for his father; he could not control his temper. His foster mother? Did nothing to stop him, just watched from afar as his father continued to abuse him with words so painful, it nearly drove Oliver to insanity. This happened every day.

When he was first told he would be entering a care home, he was ecstatic. Free from the multiple foster families; free from the verbal, with the occasional physical, abuse; and most of all, free from the society. But now, this all seemed to be one never-ending relapse.

"Excuse me, but how can you call yourself a doctor?" A soft, yet audible voice interrupted Dr. Ash, and all eyes turned to face a petite blonde with green eyes.

"Viv…"

"A smart, responsible doctor would first check to see if anyone was injured, then they would calmly and politely tell the perpetrator of the incident what they did wrong. They would not be screaming their heads off, disrupting the peace and quiet in this facility, especially at a patient." Vivienne inspected her brother's wound, before instructing him to run it under cold water.

Dr. Ash was about to retaliate before Dr. LaFayette walked in. She noticed the deathly atmosphere around the kitchen, and asked if everything was all right. Of course, Dr. Ash briskly walked out, but handed the lighter to Dr. LaFayette. The young doctor glanced at the lighter and shook her head, gesturing Oliver to follow her out of the room for a "talk".

As the two left the kitchen, Dr. LaFayette turned to Aiden, "I trust you can take care of Clayton's wound? And I apologize for Dr. Ash's rash behaviour. Please do not be intimidated. She is a wonderful woman; just… she has rough days every now and then."

When they were out of sight, Vivienne muttered out a "Clearly", but focused her attention on her brother's wound. "It doesn't look like a third degree burn, but we should wrap it up just to be safe. Did the boy even open his lighter, Clay?"

"No… He didn't…"

Vivienne's eyes widened for a quick second, as she loosened her hold on Clayton's fingers, letting it drop to his side. The siblings stared at each other for what seemed to be an eternity, but Aiden interrupted them.

"Are you two alright?"

"Just fine; thanks Aiden!" The happy-go-lucky demeanor in Clayton's voice returned again, as he patted his friend's back, "Viv's just being a worrywart, as usual. But this is nothing, sorry for the scare." He let out a forced laugh, but not before he cast a concerned glance at his sister. The look in her eyes obviously meant this incident was not caused from a normal lighter.

Something just didn't seem to piece together correctly.