Josh was getting ready to leave. The only problem was he had to do it quietly. Taking stuff with you to Canada from the UK to live your life there for five years or more requires a lot of personal belongings and a lot of heavy lifting. It was becoming increasingly difficult for Josh to hide this, but he managed to answer any questions of suspicion from the other Sidemen. Josh had thought deeply about what he had decided. He was wondering if he was just throwing nearly three years of togetherness with Tobi away unnecessarily, everything they'd fought through everything they'd overcome, was that just for nothing. In Josh's eyes it wouldn't have been nothing, he could make this work long distance or he could make it work later in life. Lots of questions popped into his mind: are we too young to be together? Nearly three years of experience together would suggest not, but the amount of adversity would suggest so. Do we spend enough time together? Our jobs would suggest no, but our spare time and intimacy together would suggest yes. Do we truly love each other? Of course we do. There was no negative thing to counteract that fact and he felt Tobi would not go for someone else in his absence, their bond was too strong for that. Josh felt some guilt, an emotion he'd wrestled with numerous times. He was planning on leaving without saying goodbye to anyone, something he was ashamed of, but he felt it had to be done, they wouldn't let him go and he thought he was doing them all a favour by leaving, no more in-fighting, no more drama, giving them all some space and time to cope. What Josh was forgetting, what he was not realising, was that he would be leaving a huge, gaping vacant hole in the group, one that was not possible to fill and one that would have consequences far more detrimental than anything he could expect. Josh did not realise how important he was to the others, he did not realise how much he meant to all of them as a group and if that fact was realised by anyone else, they would know what an absolute travesty it was.
Tobi was blissfully unaware of what Josh was doing. he too had been pondering their relationship. The questions he asked himself were different, he knew that Josh and him loved each other and did not need to question that in any capacity, but Tobi's questions were more individually centred. Should I change my mind and go with Josh to Canada? What we have at home here and the stability we have would suggest no, but the sense of adventure, the chance to do something different would suggest yes, Tobi becoming more enticed by the idea. Is Josh going to come round an agree to stay here? His rejection of the offer would suggest yes but his adventurous and free spirit would suggest no, Tobi starting to realise deep down that perhaps Josh would leave some day. Tobi would be sacrificing too much by moving away, his family, his friends but he knew that if he didn't let Josh be his own person or encourage him to explore his outgoing tendencies then he would be sacrificing the most important thing of all, his relationship with Josh. This relationship had been a learning curve for Tobi. He had learnt to embrace other people's qualities, he'd learnt to truly overcome adversity but most of all he'd learnt to truly appreciate the other people in his life, not that he didn't anyway, he'd just amplified it to next level, something the others had noticed with his other qualities like his kindness and generosity , something they couldn't quite believe because Tobi was arguably the nicest person they'd ever met, just going to show that anyone can improve themselves, even if they didn't really need to. Like Josh, Tobi's selflessness meant he didn't truly understand how deeply the others cared for him, an equally unfortunate travesty, but he didn't need to know, because in typical Tobi fashion he embraced everyone for who they were as everyone did to him and he couldn't and didn't want to ask for more.
The other five Sidemen had been doing some thinking as well. Their questions were centred on Josh and Tobi and what their relationship brought to their group, something they could compare with the other couple, Emon, whose relationship had been incredibly successful since it became real, but the answers to their questions were far more straightforward. Are Josh and Tobi incredibly important to their group? Obviously yes. Despite everything that's happened, is Josh and Tobi's relationship more a benefit than a hindrance? Most definitely yes, they come out of their shells and bring the best out of the others and this is only amplified with them being together and most of all, it ultimately just brings the group closer together. Can Josh and Tobi maintain what they'd built together? They definitely had the faith they could do so. The Sidemen were also oblivious to what Josh was doing. Josh was leaving in a few days, but they didn't know that.
Tobi and the others were unaware of their unknown deadline.
Josh was getting ready to leave.
Canada was calling.
A/N: Hey guys, the book is nearly over and I'm so grateful for all the lovely and kind feedback you've given me. I never thought my first book would get this many views and to get over 4K is just incredible to me. Thank you so much and it's been a pleasure to write this for you lovely people. I hope you're ready for the final two chapters! Thank you so much - Riak64 :)
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10 Years (Zerkaa/TBJZL) (A Sidemen Story)
FanfictionA story that explores Josh and Tobi's friendship and other aspects of the Sidemen. Will their friendship turn into something more? This is my first attempt at a story on here so I hope it's ok!
