Our Memories Together 2

1.3

A few days later when JJ had gone on a run he felt someone following him. He didn't want to pay attention to the feeling. A fan or someone was provably filming him. It wouldn't be his first time getting filmed doing ordinary people things.

He was stretching his legs against a wall when he felt a needle stabbed into his neck, his vision went blurry and he passed out landing on the pavement of a dark alleyway.

FLASHBACK

When Hadiyeh woke up she hadn't realised that she was still at Ethan's apartment. Ethan leaning on her shoulder, his cheeks stained with dried tears from a few hours ago.

She gently put his head on a cushion and made her way into the kitchen to find her phone. Seeing twelve missed calls from JJ, the last one being only a few minutes ago.

"Hey?" Hadiyeh said when JJ picked up the phone.

"Where are you?" 

"At Ethan's place." 

"Why haven't you picked up your phone?" 

"I fell asleep." She replies, her voice monotone.

"At Ethan's place?"

"Im coming home in an hour or two. Take care."

"Hads-"

"Look, if you can spend twelve hours in the studio surrounded by your female friends, then I have the right to spend time with Ethan."

"Alright, love you, take care." JJ swallowed down the tumour of jealousy that had clouded his thoughts.

"Love you more, bye."

As she hung up the phone she saw Ethan by the kitchen door rubbing his weary eyes.

"Im sorry, I shouldn't have-"

Hadiyeh shook her head not wanting an apology from him.

Ethan was ashamed of himself, he knew he should have taken the pills and ended things right there and then. He would have saved his friends from all this hassle and even stopped Hadiyeh and JJ arguing. But he couldn't have, he was too afraid of what would come afterwards. His mind was satisfied enough feeling the blade push into his skin and his veins burst with rivers of blood, enough to taint the whole sink crimson.

"Don't apologise." Hadiyeh breathed out taking him back into the living room.

They sat in silence watching a random episode of FRIENDS, Ethan's eyes were glued to the TV whilst Hadiyeh's mind was focused on Ethan. Why? Why had he relapsed? What had happened for him to regress?

"Go on ask." Ethan rolled his eyes turning off the TV. Her stare had burned through his body. "Ask. I dare you, fucking ask."

Hadiyeh sighed.

"I won't sit here and lie, telling you I don't want to know, but I won't force you into telling me why." She took a breath, "You're my baby brother Behz, you know I wouldn't look at you any different and I never have. You'll always be a brother to me no matter what."

"Here." He threw a file onto her lap. "You want to know."

Hadiyeh didn't open the file. She put it back onto the glass coffee table.

"You know what's funny?" She asked rhetorically, "I've known Ethan Payne for five years. Five. I've watched him struggle with his weight and body image. I've sat outside his bathroom door for hours, talking to him, hoping and praying that the razor in his hand does cut. I've watched him grow and mature into a confident, sure man, I can't bear to see you like this Behz."