Chapter Text
Campbell was sitting on his bed reading when the door of his bedroom was opened. “Campbell, meds.” Isabel says, resting a paper pot on the bedside table. Campbell puts his bookmark in and rests the book in his lap, opening up his water bottle before taking his meds. “They're watching a movie in the common room, maybe you could join the other patients.” Isabel suggests. “Do I have to?” The boy sighs. “It’s top gun, I know you like that film.” Campbell nods. “I’ll finish my chapter then I’ll join.” He picks up the book again, watching as Isabel leaves the room. Campbell gets back to reading, he turns the pages gently before putting the bookmark back in and resting it on his bedside table. He looks at the alarm clock on his bedside table, she’d only come back in if he didn’t join the others. He stands up from his bed, putting on his slippers and pulling on a hoodie before leaving to the common room. “Cocoa?” One of the staff member passed him a mug whilst the boy looked around for an empty seat, the only one being next to a boy he hadn’t seen before. He moves to sit down, taking a sip of his cocoa. “Hello. I’m Joe.” The boy next to him says. Campbell nods, he didn’t really feel like socialising but waved to not seem rude. “I’m new here, arrived a few hours ago.” Campbell nods, keeping his eyes on the screen. “What room are you in? I’m in room 5.” He asks, rather persistent in trying to talk to him. “Room 6.” Campbell responds.
After the movie he manages to sneak off before being roped into cleaning up. “Campbell.” He sighs when he hears Isabel say his name. “I don’t think I should have to clean up, I didn’t want to go anyway.” He turns, moving his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “I’ll pretend you didn’t see that Campbell.” She says, crossing her arms over her chest. “Can you help Joe get settled? Help him unpack, make his bed?” Campbell shrugs. “If I have to. Room 5 right?” He asks Joe who nods. “Be nice Campbell. I remember your first few days here.” Isabel points out before moving to her chair and logging into the computer. “Lights out in an hour.” Campbell nods. “I know, I know. Come on Joe.” He starts walking to room 5. There was a suitcase sitting on the bed and a few bags on the floor. “They bought me a few things for the bathroom and things.” Joe says, he moves over to the suitcase. “Well the sheets for your bed are normally in the wardrobe. I’ll do that, they like it a certain way and it’s too late to explain.” Joe takes the suitcase off the bed, opening it up and starting to organise things on the floor. Campbell gets the sheets, putting them onto the bed. “They’re gonna be pulled off but I can find some pins for you. That usually works.” Campbell looked up to the boy, he was now putting stuff into the drawers. “I only use two of my hangers, if you need some more I guess you can borrow some.” He starts putting the pillow cases on the pillows and then the sheet on the duvet. “Thank you.” Joe says he seemed to have gotten quieter. “The first night is always the worst. It gets better.” Joe nods, continuing to put things away.
Campbell left Joe’s room a little after lights out, Isabel allowed it this time. “No reading before bed okay? It’s already late.” She tells Campbell, waiting for him to get under the covers before turning the light off. The boy listens to the footsteps get quieter as they move away, he grabs a small torch and hides under the duvet with his book. A little while into his reading, he jumps a little when there’s shouting from down the hallway, putting his book and torch away as he knew that the staff would walk past his room. Like he thought there was the sound of running feet going past his room. “Joe.” He hears Isabel saying, the walls were pretty thin. “Joe, you’re safe here.” He knew the routine by now; they’d try to calm him down with words, if that didn’t work they’d try to put him back to bed and tuck him in and if it was worse than that they’d sedate him. He couldn’t hear Joe’s voice, either he was whispering or too in a state to talk. “Let’s get you back to bed.” Campbell hears Isabel say, there was more shuffling next door before some radio static. The boy hoped that Joe wouldn’t have to be sedated his first night. “Don’t fight them.” He mutters to himself, laying down quickly and closing his eyes when he hears his door open. “I don’t think the noise woke him.” A staff member whispers, the voice directed to the left of his room. “Put into Joe’s file about this. No sedation was given but we gave him a drink and a nytol.” Isabel explains as they move down the hallway and further from the rooms. “Good.” Campbell mutters to himself when he hears there was no sedation.