Deer In Headlights [Minizerk]

Chapter 11

My dad knocked on the door and I looked to Josh, waiting for a nod before I called him in.

He entered the room with a smile, taking a seat on one of the chairs beside Josh and I. I was still sat on his bed.

"Hey Josh, nice to meet you" he smiles, leaning to shake his hand "Just call me Daniel"

"Nice to meet you too" Josh nodded.

"So how is moving you out gonna work? Do you know when you'll be discharged?" He asked.

"Tomorrow at noon they'll do a review to see if I'm at risk still and then I can leave if not" he explained.

"Okay, so assuming you'll be discharged, where do we go from here? Do you need to speak to your parents? Will they support you moving out?" He asked.

"Probably not, they'll get scared I'm going to report them for everything. It needs to be their choice - they need to kick me out" Josh said.

"Are you sure that's something you want to put yourself through?" My dad asked.

"Yes, to leave, definitely yes" he nodded.

"Any plan at all?" He questioned.

"They have a rule that if I date a guy whilst I'm still living at home, they kick me out. I'm going to tell them Simon and I are dating. They already suspected it" Josh told him.

"So maybe I should take you both to yours and park round the corner, you can break the news - have your stuff already packed - and then just grab your bags and we'll leave. Make sure they're absolutely final on you leaving, we don't want a missing person's case" he said.

"Don't worry I've got a few ideas, as long as Simon doesn't mind" he nodded. I looked at him, a little confused.

"What are you planning Josh?" I asked nervously.

"I will talk you through it tomorrow" he smiled. Oh god not that smile, that smile said that I would be in a state of gay panic. That was the look he gave me whenever he was trying to wind me up "Simon you don't have to look nervous"

"I just know you're gonna flirt with me or something" I groan. He grinned.

"Actually that was plan A, plan B however..."

My dad laughed at the look on my face. Was I dense? Why didn't I know what Josh was planning?

"One question Simon, you reckon you're capable of climbing out of my bedroom window? It's on the first floor, just I know you have long limbs?" He asked.

"Yeah probably, I'll just wear something suited to climbing" I shrugged "Why?"

"Plan B Simon, you'll see" He grinned.

"No, just make plan A work and then I won't have to see" I scowled.

"So we happy with our plan?" My dad asked.

"Yeah definitely" Josh nodded.

"Great, now Simon, please leave so I can talk to Josh" he said to me. I immediately grew nervous "Don't worry Simon, I wouldn't"

Okay, that was reassurance enough. I was mainly scared of him telling him that I liked him.

"Okay but I'm giving you five minutes because I wanna say bye to him before visiting hours ends" I said and he nodded before shooing me.

I left the room, feeling restless whilst I waited because I could only imagine what he was saying to Josh.

Instead I decided to go and speak to the nice nurse who I knew was largely in charge of Josh's observation.

"Hi, could I ask you something please?" I smiled.

"Of course honey, go ahead" she nodded.

"Will Josh be discharged tomorrow?" I asked.

"Well it's hard to say, I believe he's not at risk of another attempt given his current mental state, but with his home life as a factor? His mental state could be subject to change again" she explained.

"Well, he's actually moving in with my family soon, to get away from them. Does that lower his risk?" I asked.

"It definitely would. Now I don't like to promise anything that I can't guarantee, because he still will have to speak to a psychiatrist tomorrow and they'll make the final call. But what I will say is I think there's a very low chance they'll keep him here longer than is mandatory, given that his situation will improve which was the original trigger" she smiled.

"Thank you so much, that's all" I beamed.

I headed back to his room and knocked before entering, signifying that if they were talking shit about me, they should stop.

"I'll head outside to start the car Simon" my dad said before leaving us alone.

I went and sat with Josh again.

"What was he talking to you about?" I asked nervously.

"Honestly nothing you should feel worried about Simon, it was more about me" he assured me.

"Okay, well I'll have to go now but hopefully I'll see you tomorrow, properly" I smile.

"I'm sure you will Simon, I'm in a much better place now" he smiled before pulling me into a hug "Although I'm nervous about tomorrow... I'm starting to feel genuinely happy"

"Good" I leant my head into his shoulder, savouring the moment.