Overwhelmed by the sudden peak in his career, Josh is forced into lying and alienation from his family, and close friends. The boy tries to hold on to privacy as long as he can, but it becomes more difficult when an untruthful and cautious Josh meet...
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The more I dodge the more my back's against the wall.
☼ Phoebe
"Breathe, Tyler." I urge the agitated boy that sat uneasily on the couch, "You have to breathe."
"Does he usually have panic attacks?" I try to soothe the anxious boy by rubbing his shoulders and look back at Josh. When looking back at the tattooed boy I find that he isn't doing anything but pacing around my room, "Josh, can you help me out here!?"I raise my voice at him, becoming visibly angry.
"I can't- I can't remember the last time he had a panic attack, I don't know how to handle it anymore!" He shut his eyes in frustration, "I-I don't know what I'm supposed to do." He pulled tightly at his pale curls.
"Go hide or something." I suggest, "Just go somewhere."
"W-What about Tyler?" Josh choked out, "Your dad can't find him here. I don't want him to get punched in the face either; we can't leave him here."
Tyler lets out a small cry at Josh's words causing me to grab a hold of his hands and lace my fingers with his at an attempt to distract his anxieties. Josh is paralyzed behind me looking like he was gonna scream at any second from frustration and anger at both the situation, but I needed him to focus. I needed him gone.
"I'll take care of him, just go." I could hear the humming of my dad's engine die, "Josh you need to go, now!" I say in a final tone, holding Tyler's hands tighter.
Reluctantly, Josh tore himself from where he stood and made a run for it. He had disappeared to somewhere deep inside the house because I could hear him stomp away with his heavy boots. I held Tyler's eyes in compassion and breathed deeply asking for him to mimic me to calm the lump in his throat.
"Tyler please calm down." Pleaded softly and as comforting as possible. Without Josh's constant pacing and unhelpful complaints, Tyler's shaking becomes less apparent, and his breathing slowed, but his eyes were still wide and wild with panic. I pushed him down to the couch and waited for the door to open revealing my dad.
"Hey buddy, your mom forgot her phone." He said as he shut the door, "How was your-" He started but paused when he saw the scared looking boy on the couch. "Who's this, Phoebe?" His was voice stern and filled with caution.
"This is Tyler." I introduced him as quickly and sweetly as possible.
I watch as Tyler stands anxiously, teetering a bit before almost falling, and reaching his hand out to my intimidating father.
"What's he doing here?" He looked between me and him, leaving Tyler's hand hanging in the air.
"Alex, him, and I are watching The Bee Movie" I wave him off nonchalantly, hoping he eats the lie like he has done for the past few days.
