(I'm gonna switch between first and third person I think for certain characters)

[ T E S S ]

The building was large, maybe the largest building I'd ever seen in my life. The ceilings so high they were dizzying, even the reception was huge in comparison to anything i had seen before. Everything was white and pristine, fancy chandeliers hanging with delicate pieces of glass.

Leaning back into the curve of Darrick's palm I looked to upto him to see his reaction, his face was stone cold and he didn't show any emotions. Instead he stared forward at the lady that was signing us in, Michael leading the group by writing out name tags for everyone.

"Don't put those on yet, just keep hold of them for now until you change" Michael handed each paper name tag to each of the boys, Cole staring at his for a long moment before placing it into his pocket.

"Why did you write Jason on mine?" Jace says as he takes his name tag, frowning at his birth name written across the paper in his father's hand writing.

"Sorry son" Michael frowned, "You can change it next time. Tess would you mind writing your name, I don't believe I can write that small" Michael chuckles, a whole body laugh that made his rounded belly bounce. Being half Darrick's size I had to look down at him when he spoke to me from in Darrick's hand, could see his receding hair line which he had combed over to one side.

"Sure.." I smiled tightly, looking back up at Darrick who still didn't look at me.

I knew he felt bad, knew he was feeling guilty about dragging me down into this. I admittedly didn't want to be here either, but after speaking with my mother she thought it would be a good thing.. it was t like I had much of a choice either way "it'll get you out of the house" was her words. I wasn't mad, anymore, I hadn't done anything wrong.

Darrick set me down then, stepping off his hand that was so warm, sent a shiver up my arms as I left his fingers to stand upon the cold desk. The lady behind the desk stayed seated, smiling so large her cheeks looked like they must hurt. She had brown hair tied into a bun and was very soft spoken, she even pushed back her chair as if to give me room as I neared the a smaller desk that was covered in neat piles of pamphlets and papers. Everything was so clean, so well organised. I felt strange being the only human but easily brushed the feeling aside. I was use to that by now, always being the only human.

The desk had one paper of removable paper name tags, picking one of the provided pens I quickly wrote my name. I felt like everyone's eyes were on me, waiting for me.

"Well that will be all, thank you" Michael smiled at the receptionist when I had finished, the receptionist who nodded in response not uttering a word to the group. I thought that was weird but didn't say anything, looking up at darrick from the desk I caught his eyes finally, seeing his soft expression and sad eyes.

"Follow me!" Michael exclaims, leading the group through double doors. Darrick picks me up carefully, dawdling behind the others as they all wandered after Michael.

Austin hadn't said much at all, he didn't look at me much either. He looked tired, dark circles under his eyes and didn't dress up like he usually would. He had a long shirt on and sweat pants, his hair uncombed.

"So, to get you started. You'll be staying here for five days a week, we have dorm like rooms. Which is fun, like college" Michael smiles, Cole is the only one that smiles back "I've made some arrangements so that you four boys can bunk together. Jace and Austin, you'll be in one room. Darrick and Cole in the other" Michael walked through another few doors, down two hallways and then pressed a few numbers into a keypad and suddenly they were in a cafeteria like room.

"Tess, uh~ we don't have as many humans signed into the program at the moment, so lucky for you, you'll be in a room by yourself" Michael smiled, trying to make everything so positive, but I couldn't smile back at him, simply nodding that I understood. What human would sign up to this program, this sounds like a horror house. I leant into Darrick's fingers, the thought of being away from him sounded daunting. I didn't want to be in a room by myself, unable to see Darrick whenever I wanted. Darrick's thumb pressed into my cheek, seeming to feel my nerves also.

Darrick was incredibly stiff the more Michael spoke, I could feel the heat radiating from him. Darrick had something he wanted to say, I could tell by the way his jaw clenched. He wanted to snap at Michael but held his tongue.

"All the other students are currently in class or the recreation room. I'll get you all sorted, and it should be about time for lunch when you're done" Michael smiled again, he smiled a lot for one man. A bit like Jace. I'm sure he would be a lovely man, he was very kind the entire drive to HFW but with the current circumstances he seemed deceitful, hypocritical even.

~~~

[A U S T I N]

"Jumpsuits! Sick" Jace was holding up the blue jumpsuit against his body, it had been laid neatly across his bed, Austin having the same on his own bed but in a larger size.

The room was divided into two sides, two single beds on either side, a desk at each end of the bed, a side table and small bar fridge filled with bottles of water. There were tall closets on either side of the room, filled with white shirts, pairs of socks and two more blue jumpsuits each to cycle through throughout the week. Dull and boring the room was, as if it had never been lived in before. It was small, barely enough space to stretch without hitting something.

Cramped up here for five days a week, it's sounded horrible. It was stuffy in the room, no windows. There was a small vent that blasted cool air into the room and a fluorescent light that flickered every few second's. Bad wiring, everything seemed old, unlike the reception where everything looked grand and new. Deceiving new arrivals with a luxuries first look, only to be thrown into a old room with dust mites on the ceiling.

Austin's eyes fell onto the wall, there was a poster of a smiling snake wearing a bow tie around its neck. Above it the words read.

'The 3 SSS's" "Safe, Sensitive and Secure"

Whatever that means

Austin sat down on the end of his bed, looking down at the blue jumpsuit. "Its as if we're in jail.." Austin spoke softly, some of the few words he'd uttered that day. The jumpsuit was blue, long sleeves and long pant, two zippers over the breast pocket and on either leg.

"Do you think we'll be able to keep the jumpsuits after this?" Jace was already removing his shoes and pants, sliding his feet into the jumpsuit and pulling it up over his shoulders. It fit him, a little baggy around his legs but it fit. Biting his lip as he begins buttoning up the front of his jumpsuit, he looked back at Austin.

"Why would you want to keep this? It's ugly" Austin's face twisted, brows furrowing at Jace who looked way too excited to put the jumpsuit on. He turned, admiring the fabric before giving ta-da hands which Austin simply rolled his eyes at then sighed. Jace was too optimistic, trying to find the positives of their situation. They didn't have phones, didn't have anything other then what was on their backs and in the room they were in. He didn't want to be roomies with Jace either, he was too loud, too annoying. He'd surely go insane

"I don't know" Jace moved into the bathroom, looking at himself in the small mirror "could be a Halloween costume or something. I'd wear it all the time, it's comfy"

"Yeah right.." Austin laid back on the uncomfortable bed, placing his hands over his face and groaning lowly. He felt so numb, he was upset when finding out their punishment. But now he was numb, having gone through all the emotions of guilt, frustration and stress. He just wanted to curl into a ball and sleep, he didn't want to change into the jumpsuit, didn't want to go out to the cafeteria. His father was upset with him, didn't even say goodbye that morning when he left. He felt the pang of shame in his chest, his father couldn't even look him in the eyes let alone say goodbye. Margaret was a little more understanding, positive the program would be good for us. She was teary when we left, dressed in her work uniform as she hugged Tess goodbye. The most I'd seen of Margaret in weeks.

Jace came back into the room with his name tag on, looking happier now that he'd been shown around and explained their time schedule. It sounded all very simple. His father was the one to establish the program too, so Austin was sure Jace was feeling very secure in his mother's decision in sending them here. Jace didn't look a lick of guilt, didn't even feel bad that it was his parents after all that sent us all here. Austin wasn't sure if anyone had even processed that yet, that the Steven's were at fault.

The schedule was: Breakfast- class- lunch- recreation- buddy shift - dinner then free time. Bed.

Everything was interracial, he'd be buddied with a human, taught how to live with a human side by side. Even though he had already lived with Tess, didn't make much sense why any of us were here. We had all experienced humans, we all knew how to treat humans..

Sighing he closed his eyes, hearing rustling and Jace clanging something as he explored around the room. Why did he have to be bunked with Jace..

Another update hope you enjoyed let me know in comments