“If you need recovery resources, it’d be better to start soon,” Green insisted.

“I’m good.” Jack stood to throw the paper towels away in the trash next to the sink. The wad slapped to the bottom of the bin. 

The sink faucet took some effort to turn. He used the mirror above it to smudge the red from his skin. His reflection looked back at him. Pine needles were stuck in his hair and the front of his shirt was coated in a layer of biohazard grime. His face was already swollen with tomorrow’s black eye.

“If you get caught-“

“-Hard to get caught doing nothing,” he snapped before Green could finish, spitting cold pink water in the process. The pigment circled the drain. Green pressed the pad of his thumb into his temple where a migraine had started to form.

“Then let's talk about the punishment for your suspension.”

“I’m not cleaning the bathrooms.” Jack turned off the sink with a wet squeak. Green couldn’t assign chores; Jack wouldn’t do them. 

“It’s either that or showing your roommate around. He’s been stuck in my office the past few days and hasn’t gotten a tour.”

“If I say no?” Jack asked, turning around and leaning back against the cabinets. He dried his face on his t-shirt sleeve. Green smiled.

“Quinn, could you come out here?” He didn’t use a baby voice, but his tone was softer.

A kid peeked out from Green’s office. It was the same kid Jack nearly took out with the door earlier, the one with curly hair. Green waved him over. Quinn’s expression was unchanging as he got closer. He didn’t look up from the floor.

“Your new roommate here offered to show you around. Is that alright?” Despite Jack’s appearance, Quinn nodded minimally. Jack glared daggers at Green. “Great. Show him the bathrooms, the dining room, and the playground,” Green said as he threw his gloves into the trash and quickly retreated into his office. The door closed with a light click.

On my first day back, I get to be: yelled at, beaten, and forced to babysit a weird mute. Can’t wait for day two, maybe I’ll carve my eyes out with a spoon. “I guess I’ll show you our bathroom first. That way I can change shirts,” Jack suggested, scratching the back of his neck. It was still cold from the ice pack. 

Quinn didn’t say anything or gesture in any way. Having been here about a week, he definitely already knew where the bathroom was. 

“Bathroom it is,” Jack sighed, queuing their exit.