Deer In Headlights [Minizerk]

Chapter 7

Ethan waited outside while I went in. I sat on his bedside studying him, looking for any sign he might not be alright.

Besides looking paler than normal and the dark circles under his eyes, the only thing out of the ordinary was the fact that he was in hospital.

He was awake now. I'd waited until the nurse said he was awake before I'd gone in.

"Hey Josh" I smiled, trying to sound positive for him.

"Simon... What are you doing here?" He asked weakly.

"The school had to do a wellbeing assembly, they didn't mention your name don't worry. I put two and two together so I checked if you were a patient so I could visit you and see if you were alright" I explained.

His reaction caught me off guard as I watched his eyes fill with tears.

"Thank you" he whispered.

"Josh... What happened?" I asked, unable to hold that question in any longer.

"I don't know, I... My parents... It was too much" he said shakily.

"What did they do?" I frowned, grabbing his hands and holding them in mine.

"They just fight, all the time. It's fucking scary to listen to. Everyone at school thinks I'm such an asshole, but I'm just angry, because I hate my parents and the life they've given me" he admitted.

"Josh I'm sorry" I said softly, stroking the back of his hand.

"It's fine, I'll be okay. I regretted it the second I jumped, luckily the water wasn't that far from land, I got out safely" he attempted to reassure me.

"But you still have to live with them, that's not fair on you. Do you have other family you can stay with?" I asked.

"My other family... Let's just put it this way, they're not a fan of who I am anymore" he sighed.

"We'll figure something out, I swear" I said firmly, squeezing his hands.

He didn't look convinced, but I had an idea.

"I'm gonna go get a drink, you want me to buy you anything?" I ask him. He looked like he wanted to say no, but then he gave in.

"Yes please, the food here sucks" he laughed a little, reassuring me a little more that he was okay.

"Meal deal?" I offered.

"Thanks" he smiled. It was still weak, but it reached his eyes.

As I stepped outside Ethan got up to walk with me as I went to the shop.

"How is he? Did he tell you what happened?" He asked worriedly.

"It sounds like he tried to jump off a bridge when he was in a really bad place, but he regretted it immediately and saved himself and went to A&E" I told him "He's got a shitty homelife, I mean, the receptionist said nobody's visited him too"

"Fucking hell, you getting him food?" He asked.

"Yeah, the food here sucks" I nodded.

We made it to the shop and I picked up a chicken and bacon sandwich, and some chicken satays with a bottle of Dr Pepper for Josh, and a second same meal deal for me. Ethan got a meal deal too, but he refused to let me pay.

Whilst I was here I picked him up some Reece's pieces - something I'd seen him snack on many times in English and get shouted at for. I also got a couple peanut butter cups.

We headed back to his room but we both went in this time.

"Hey Josh, we got food, we're setting up camp in here" I grinned. We were hoping we could lift the conversation now we were done with the serious one earlier.

"What did you get me?" He asked excitedly. He was like a child on Christmas.

"Chicken and bacon sandwich, satays, Dr Pepper" I gave him the meal deal and he grinned "Also I got you Reece's stuff, I've seen you eat it in class before"

"Simon Minter you beautiful, beautiful man. I could kiss you right now" he said, eyes lighting up.

I felt my face turn very red.

"Simon is a fragile gay and you're his type, don't make him suffer" Ethan laughed.

I turned even redder at Ethan's admission of Josh being my type.

"I'm his type am I?" He grinned "That explains the other day"

"What do you mean the other day?" I asked in confusion.

"When you did the same thing back to me, when I was at your house" his grin only widened.

"Wait no, Josh, fill me in. Simon did not give me this tea" he laughed.

"He was just cleaning my injuries in the most intimate way possible, deadass thought we were about to kiss at one point"

He thought what?

"Shame he didn't, got beat up for him and my lip split open, what happened to 'kiss it better' like when we were kids? God growing up sucks"

"Josh, I can't go any redder, please, you win" I groaned, my face in my hands. Ethan just laughed at us.

"Cute" he smirked. Asshole.