static [joshler]

gifted sorrows

TW: pills, vomiting, and medical issues.

~~

Josh took a deep breath. He looked back at his car in the driveway. It was the only one. There was a chance no one was home but the curly brunette pressed the doorbell. He fumbled with the plastic bag in his hands as he waited. It read Target on the side. He thought of using an actual gift bag but he thought that'd be too much.

Josh fiddled with nervousness. He had never been inside the Joseph household and he was never invited over. What if they answered and thought he was weird for coming over?

The seventeen year old rang the doorbell again. The idea of walking away calmed his mind. Maybe no one was home. Until he heard someone unlock the door. Josh stood up straight and practiced in his head every scenario that could possibly happen in the two seconds it took for the door to open.

Josh's eyes connected with Tyler's.

Eleven days. It had been eleven days since Josh had heard anything from the dead looking boy hiding behind the door. He didn't want to seem like a stalker but he wanted to know what was going on. He wanted to help.

Tyler stayed leaning against the door frame. He wore gray sweatpants and a hoodie that was too big on his fragile body. His skin was sickly pale and dark purple eye bags stained under his brown eyes.

He croaked out, "Josh?"

"Hi," He held the bag tighter. "I was just- Um, are you feeling better?"

"Kinda."

Josh nodded. "Well, um, I got you some things that maybe will help you feel better." He said it like a question. He didn't know if Tyler even liked any of this stuff.

Tyler stood straighter. His eyes were on the bag Josh held. "You got me something?"

"A few things."

Tyler blinked. "Oh. You didn't even have to."

Josh shrugged, begining to think this was a bad idea. "Its what friends do for each other."

Tyler nodded and pushed the door wider. "Yeah, okay. You can come in."

Josh stepped in and closed the door behind him. He glanced around quickly. It was a nice home. He didn't know why Tyler didn't like it.

The sound of a chair sliding across the floor distracted him. He saw his friend pull two chairs out and sit at the head of the table. The Joseph patted the spot next to him.

"You can sit down."

Josh hurried to the dining room and sat down in the chair, putting the bag on the table.

"What's in there?"

Josh quickly started pulling things out. "I brought you some chicken noodle soup. I also got Advil and Tylenol."

Tyler's eyes widened. He took them from Josh. He had run out of his secret stash eleven days ago. "Thank you."

"And also two kinds of Gatorade. I was debating on which flavor to get so I got both." Josh laughed nervously.

Tyler fought a smile. "You really just came here to give me this?"

"Yeah." He shrugged.

"Well, thank you for all of this, Josh. You didn't even have to."

"I know. I felt like I should help in some way."

Tyler was in awe. "Yeah. I mean, this will help. Thank you... Do you want to stay? Unless you have to go somewhere. Maybe I was just a quick stop."