“The consult room is next door. This room will be for checking in, talks. Going over paperwork you get going. That kind of thing.”

“I like it.”

There was a desk in the corner, the couch Cora was on, an armchair.

“Is this a psych room?” Cora asked.

“Yeah.”

In the middle of the room, Frazer almost floated. She crossed her arms over her chest. There was no way Cora was going to ask her to sit next to her on the couch. They were friends.

“Are you going to sit?”

Why did Cora ask that? She’d just decided she wasn’t going to. Her awkwardness just increased as Frazer stared at her.

The soft knock at the door that had them both turning around earned Cora’s undying gratitude.

Standing half in the room, half out, as if he had nowhere to go, was a teen who looked much younger than seventeen. His red hair was haphazardly chopped short, freckles dotting his nose. Despite the completely unsure look on his face, his blue eyes were bright. Inquisitive.

Frazer’s face lit up. “Jack! Hi. Did you get here on the bus okay?”

He turned his gaze on her, still not entering the room. “I used the pass thing you gave me last time I saw you.”

“Great. Keep using that. I’ll make sure you always have enough to get here and back.”

Jack slid a step into the room. Fidgety fingers tugged at the sleeves of his baggy hoody until he crossed his arms, as if unsure of what else to do with his limbs. “Who’s that?”

The poor kid looked ready to bolt. Cora stood. “Hey, Jack. It’s nice to meet you—I’m Cora.”

Something in his shoulders relaxed.

He looked between the two of them.

“Hi.”

* * *

The Monday after Cora met Jack, Frazer and Cora had an accidental lunch together. After being with a patient that screamed more than any other she’d ever had, Frazer had needed some time outside. Her office was, as Cora had so succinctly put it, boring.

And grey.

Everything felt a little closed. First, she’d tried the canteen, but it was loud and filled with people who were continuously coughing and sneezing. So, with a hastily-made salad roll and a chocolate milk (because yes, sometimes Frazer was five), she walked outside to find a bench in one of the paved smoking areas.

Because at least it wasn’t inside.

And, of course, Cora had been on one of the benches. And it wasn’t like Frazer could just ignore her and go sit on another.

Accidental lunch was followed that afternoon by an accidental coffee. The next day it was another unplanned lunch.