"It's nae fair!" Campbell cried, bursting into your room without a thought as to what you might be doing. "It's nae fair, I tell ye!"

He raked a hand through his hair and threw a box down onto your bed, seething with rage.

"Look inside. Look what they did. Look what they sent me."

You pulled the box into your lap, looking at it rather like you thought you might find a venomous rattlesnake inside. You gingerly pulled back the flaps, lifted up the packing paper, and... A sweater. A rather nice one, too. And a matching scarf. You looked up at Campbell, wondering why exactly this upset him so, and he simply gestured for you to look back into the box. Tucked beneath the collar of the sweater was a little note.

"Campbell," it read, "can't make it to St. Jude's to see you for Christmas. Your cousin is throwing a party on the 25th and we have to drive up early to help set up. Sorry, see you soon. Happy Christmas."

"Not even a bloody 'we love you'," Campbell said thickly. "Not even a bloody 'we love you'..."

He sank down beside you as anger gave way to sorrow, leaning on your shoulder.

"My mum was going to be here. I haven't seen my mum since I was admitted." He buried his face against your shoulder. "It's nae fair..."

On the one hand, your heart ached for him. On the other... Well, no feeling like the feeling of being needed. Especially by your best friend/crush/only other person your age in the damn looney bin. You opened your mouth to say something, but Campbell cut you off.

"Why do I matter less to them just because I'm a looney?"