Falling Too {tyler joseph fic}

Føurteen

Ari pov

It was three in the morning and I was laying on my bed staring up at the dark ceiling. Tyler never texted me and I was worried, but I didn't have the strength to get up and go to his house to check on him.

I kept laying on my bed, occasionally changing positions until my phone rang. I didn't recognize the number so I declined it and continued doing nothing.

It started ringing again. I sighed as I looked at the number. It was a local area code, but who would be calling at 3:00 am? I declined it again and waited to see if they called again.

Instead they left a message.

"Um hi Ari, hopefully this is the right number, um..." The female voice trailed off before taking a deep breath before continuing. "I'm Tyler's mum, I was just um, wondering if you knew where he was, he left the hospital and we haven't seen him in almost 10 hours so, um... Obviously we're worried about him. If you could call me back..." Her voice trailed out again, longer this time and she sounded like she was crying. "Just, call or come to the hospital, we're going to go look for him, so it would be be really helpful if you came. Thanks so much."

The hospital? What was Tyler doing there? Not bothering to call her back, I snuck downstairs and found my keys, creeping out the front door to my car so my parents wouldn't wake.

I drove as quickly as I could without risking getting pulled over and dialed Tyler's number. He didn't answer and instead of crashing because I was on my phone I decide to wait until I arrive to call him again.

I pull into the parking lot a few minutes later and rush in the emergency entrance, looking for Mrs. Joseph. I see her, Madison, and Jay sitting in the chairs, Maddy asleep on Jay's shoulder, all of their eyes red and puffy. I slowly walk up to them and clear my throat, trying to quietly get their attention.

Mrs. Joseph's head snapped up and her dark eyes met mine as she stood up and engulfed me in a hug. Still unaware of what was going on I hesitantly return the hug as she sits down to explain what happened.

I sit in the chair, unmoving. I couldn't believe it. I wasn't close to Zach by any means but the idea that you could die at any moment was unsettling. After briefly worrying about my mortality, my thoughts shifted to Tyler. I knew how unstable he was and that a life changing event like this could send him over the edge. I had no idea where to look for him but I stood up without saying anything and walked out of the building.

I stood outside for a minute, trying to think of where he would go. Coming up with nothing I started walking down the street.

I don't know how long I walked or where I had ended up. I had been wandering the streets searching in vain Tyler, and I was beginning to worry about finding my own way back before I came to a bridge. I recognized it, it led over a small river and out of town. I was about to turn back, sure that Tyler wouldn't have made it this far, when I see a dark figure curled up on the sidewalk, pressed against the side of the bridge. I rush over and crouch down as I near them.

"Tyler?" I whisper and I place my hand on their shaking shoulder.

He looks up at me, his cheeks puffy, but dry, his eyes cold and lifeless.

I froze. He looked like he had been through hell. Suddenly noticing the bumps on his arm and the bitter wind attacking us, I shrugged of my jacket and wrapped it around his torso, pulling him up and supporting his fragile frame with my own.

"We have to go home, everyone's worried about you," I said as I took a step back the way I came.

He made no effort to follow and I stopped, knowing I wouldn't be able to drag him back with me.

"Tyler, please," I sank back to the ground, holding him as he started shaking. "Listen, I know what happened is horrible and I can't imagine what you're going through and I know this speech thing doesn't mean shït to you, but your mum is worried. She just lost one son and if she loses anothershe won't be able to recover. Please, just come home with me. You're gonna get sick out here in this cold and it's 4 in the fücking morning. Let's just go home. Please."

He held onto me tighter, standing up as I hugged him, walking back towards the hospital. It was a miserable trek, the temperature was dropping and I was supporting most of Tyler's weight. When we finally arrived back at the hospital his family had left and I realized I hadn't told them I found him.  We walked over to my car and I opened his door before walking around to the drivers side and speeding away.

I pulled into his driveway and walked around, opening his door as he got out. We walked inside and his mum was sitting at the table, her head in her hands, the phone by her side. Tyler walked straight up to his room but I walked over to her.

I gently touched her shoulder, "I found him. He's ok, I mean, physically at least."

She nodded, standing up and walking silently to her room. I sighed and went up to Tyler's room where he was lying on his bed curled up in the blankets. I sank down next to him.

"Hey," I whispered. "You want me to stay?"

He didn't answer and even though I knew it may have been a good idea to stay and make sure he was okay, I knew he wanted to be alone and I didn't want to impose. I touched his shoulder again as I stood up and walked out, turning off the light as I heard muffled sobs. I hesitated, my hand on the doorknob, before sighing and pulling it closed behind me. I quickly walked out of the house and drove home in silence, worrying about the boy who's brother and just died and who I had left alone after he almost killed himself.