Forever Never

Chapter Eight | The Mediator

Tyana

Tim's room had a stale smell in the air when I entered. He was active online but hadn't been out the building since the party and I needed to change that. When it got bad like this having someone close to you who helps you clean up and stuff could really make a difference.

He was lying in his bed watching something on his phone that made him laugh. "Dumbest shit I've heard," he said and bit a dorito in half, which I had no doubts was the only thing he'd eaten this morning, if not all day. His skin was paler than normal and I peeped the eyebags that seemed a customary feature on him these days.

"At least you're enjoying yourself," I said. "What you watching by the way?" I asked as I stepped over the clothes on the floor.

"Two and a half men," he replied and I grimaced, which he noticed. "Don't be hating. This is comedy at its peak." he added.

"Now I know you're down in the trenches," I told him. That shit should not be anywhere near the word funny or comedy.

I managed to get him to put his doritos and phone away and help with tidying up. Starting small was always what did the trick with him. Picking up one shirt or fixing his pillow. Before he knew it we were cleaning up together.

The air in the room improved almost immediately as I finished up with the vacuum cleaner. He fell backwards into his newly made bed and puffed. "Hey how's your search for a shrink going by the way?" I asked.

The look he gave me told me his ass ain't been looking in the least. He sat up again and put his hands up. "Okay before you expload on me, I can't afford that shit alright," he went.

"Then I'll pay for it." I offered.

"I can't ask you to do that," he turned me down.

"You're not asking. I'm offering. Let me do this for you. At least until you can pay for it on your own." I insisted.

He sighed. "Why are you so adamant that this will work?"

"I'm not saying it will work guaranteed. All I'm saying is give it a try for a few weeks, up to a month at least."

He huffed, finally giving up as he laid back down. I asked if he'd eaten anything besides chips all day long and he just shrugged.

"Let's go out and eat then. My treat," I replied.

I came here on foot with a plan to get him out of the building for some fresh air. That way he'd get a walk in his legs as well. He sat up and gave me the answer I'd anticipated. "Not saying no to free food."

We went to the place we'd been to countless times before. A place we used to call our sanctuary. The food was to die for and the prices were good. But the view from the booth in the corner by the window was the real reason I loved this place. It was private and you could see everything going on in the restaurant from here.

As we waited for our orders my phone chimed a few times with notifications and it was a message from Elle.

Hey girl I'm sorry for ghosting you lately

Kinda immature cuz you're my bsf and can't believe I was about to let some asshole change that

You have a right to feel annoyed with me

I promised and yet your bday was ruined

Water under the bridge girl

Bday was a success regardless

You seen how people are eating up you being behind the music?

Folks starting to recognize and I love that for you

I had seen the comments on the video she filmed of me at the party that she posted both to her story and just as a post. Elle's fandom had always treated me so good, for the most part anyway.

"What's got you smiling like that?" Tim suddenly asked, bringing me back to reality as our food arrived.

"Elle and I are back to normal," I replied.

He shook his head. "You let that woman walk all over you."

"What do you mean?"

"Ask yourself, is your so called best friend there for you when you're down in the dumps as much as she is when you're doing well?" He asked and looked at me as he chewed the big bite he took of his burger.

I thought of all the worst times of my life. When my dad died, when my addiction got to its worst point and my journey to recovery. None of them featured Elle. They did however include him.

"Plue, she's not interested in seeing you win unless it's under her so she can say she made you," he went on.

I felt my jaw tense up. "That's not true." I said. It wasn't true. Elle wasn't just my best friend but my sister.

"You and I both know it is." he said. I looked down to our chat again and a few new messages appeared.

Also listened to your new song

That shit fire hope you keep that up

If you say the word I could probably get in contact with someone who could work with you on real published music that could get you paid

Unless it's all just for fun

Anyway love you sm 💗

Incase I've made you forget that

"Rich people always gotta buy shit cuz no one would willingly want to hang out with how insufferable they are." he added, slurping on his smoothie.

Elle was the type of person who made friends easily. She had irresistible charm and charisma that made people naturally gravitate towards and want to be around her.

"Can you not talk about her like that?" I told him.

He put his hands up. "Alright sorry. Just looking out for you, you know I always will."

Elle and Tim always hated each other's guts so of course neither of them would ever say anything positive about the other. I didn't mind being the mediator though since I was used to it.