One shots || Jake and Johnnie

You alright? || Tara & Jake & Johnnie

Tara is starting to feel really down so she goes to Jake and Johnnie to ask for advise.

(TW: Feeling bad, Anxiety, Depression)
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Tara laied in her bed, staring up at the ceiling, the soft sunlight filtering through her curtains doing little to lift her mood up. She was feeling suffocated by the weight of her own thoughts, a big contrast to the bubbly, energetic persona she portrayed on her YouTube channel. In the past few months, somewhere along the way, her motivation in creating content had drained drasticly.

'Maybe it's time to talk to Jake and Johnnie about this' she thought to herself, rolling over in a desperate attempt to find a comfortable position. They had been her therapist for years, her best friends, and favorit YouTubers. Johnnie had been open about his own struggles with depression, and Tara thought he might have some insight on how she was feeling right now.

With a big sigh, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, forcing herself to sit up. Dressed in her favorite oversized sweatshirt and sweatpants, she grabbed her phone and sent a quick message over to Jake.

Hey, can I come over? Need to talk.

A few minutes later, the reply came promptly.

Of course! Come over whenever you're ready. We'll be here!

Tara took a deep breath, steeling herself. She slowly made her way to the kitchen to grab a snack, but her stomach turned at the thought of food. She decided to grab an redbull insted. Eventually, she put on some shoes and left her apartment, hoping a change of surounding might help.

When she arrived at Jake and Johnnie's place, the comforting smell of freshly brewed coffee greeted her at the door. Jake opened it, grinning widely, his hair a mess.

"Tara, You're here. This is a surprise" he exclaimed, pulling her into a hug.

"Hey, yeah... surprise," she replied, her voice lacking the usual excitement.

"Come on in, Johnnie's just setting up the cameras for a little shoot," Jake said with excitement as he led her into the cozy living room, filled with bright lights and camera gear.

"Hey, Tara!" Johnnie called from the other side of the room, his smile warm and welcoming. "I wasn't sure if you were going to make it. We were just talking about our latest video idea. Should be fun"

Tara managed a small smile. "Sounds cool, I guess."

Johnnie's brow furrowed slightly as he noticed her lack of enthusiasm. "You alright? You don't seem like yourself."

Tara took a deep breath, feeling her throat tighten. "Actually, that's kind of why I came over. Can we talk?"

"Of course" Jake said, his eyes softening. "Let's sit on the couch. We've got time."

As they settled in together, Tara felt the familiar warmth of friendship surround her, yet the heaviness in her chest wasn't going away. She looked at Johnnie, who was now leaning forward intently, a sign that he was fully engaged.

"I've just been... feeling really down lately," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't really enjoy anything anymore. I don't want to make videos, I barely want to get out of bed."

Johnnie nodded, completely understanding. "I get that. I've been there, Tara. It's like you're stuck in this fog, right?"

"Exactly! I keep thinking that it must just be a phase, but... I don't know." Tears started to well in her eyes, and she quickly rubbed them away with the back of her hand.

"Hey, it's okay to feel that way," Jake reassured her gently. "You don't have to put on a brave face for us. We're your friends, remember?"

"Yeah, I just feel so... trapped," Tara admitted. "I don't want to disappoint anyone, especially my subscribers. They love the bubbly, happy me."

Johnnie leaned back slightly, listening to her words. "Tara, everyone has ups and downs. Your subscribers will understand if you share what you're really feeling. There's strength in vulnerability. When I started sharing my struggles, it actually brought in a wave of support from people I never expected. Or if you don't wanna tell the internet that's also okay"

Jake added, "Exactly! You don't have to be perfect all the time. That's not reality. Your fans care about you as a person, not just the 'character' you are online. You have the power to inspire them through honesty."

"But what if they don't accept that?" Tara questioned, her voice trembling.

"Then they're not the audience for you," Johnnie said firmly but kindly. "The real ones will stick around, and you might just help someone who is feeling the same way."

Tara pondered this, feeling a glimmer of hope in the depths of her life. "Maybe I could try making a video about it. It's just... terrifying."

"Terrifying, but freeing," Jake added. "And we'll help you through it every step of the way."

"I'd like that," Tara said, her heart beginning to lift. "I really would."

"So, how about some coffee and brainstorming for that video?" Johnnie suggested, standing up with a smile. "And afterwards, we'll watch our old funny videos as a reminder of the good times?"

Tara chuckled softly, wiping her eyes. "That sounds perfect."

As they moved to the kitchen, a gentle sense of relief washed over Tara. Maybe opening up wasn't the end of her happiness, perhaps it was the beginning of a new chapter. With her friends beside her, she felt ready to try taking the first step outside this fog in her mind.

.