//simplicity

chapter 6--dad's home

Tyler's POV//

My face created a sad expression as Josh froze in his spot. Why is he so tense? Who's here? I inch closer to him, before slowly turning my head to see the man, a taller figure who had the complexion of Josh (yet had definitely aged), was standing before us. He wiped his hands on his shirt before speaking,
"Joshua. Who's your friend?"
The mans voice boomed loudly throughout the room. I took the opportunity to speak,
"I'm his friend Tyler, I was showing him the ropes around the school and in exchange due to the lack of my moms presence and my helpfulness he allowed me to stay over if it was okay with you."
Wow. I didn't even stutter once. I just felt brave when I was so close to Josh. He nodded in agreement.
"I just wanted to stop and grab my tool box, I won't be back tonight, I'm taking your mother on a special date night to a hotel for a week or two. Money for food is on the counter. Don't stay up too late you two." He grabbed his beige toolbox and left as quickly as he came. Josh exhaled deeply, I relaxed a bit too.
"Thanks, for doing that.. You didn't have to.." He seemed frightened of his dad. It made me upset knowing he's in constant fear of his own father. My stomach growled loudly and I felt a rush of embarrassment course through me.
"When's the last time you've ate?" He spoke, tilting his head like a confused puppy.
"2 weeks ago.." I mumbled under my breathe but he heard me for sure. His facial expression dropped and he grabbed my arm, giving it a squeeze.
"You gotta eat Ty. It's an essential to live."

"What if I don't want to live."
And the words left my lips before I could even process the situation I put myself through.

I grab my backpack and hoist it onto my shoulders. I didn't want to look at Josh, not after I had said that.

You  fucked  up  again. He's  gonna assume  you're  just  another  emo  fag.

And there it was.
Right back at again.
BlurryFace.
My throat grew dry as I tried to fight the light from fading away from me.
I saw Joshua's lips move but his voice had vanished. I felt so lightheaded.

Give  in. Come  on. Accept  you're  just a  waste  of  space.

Stop.

You're  nothing.

As my consciousness depleted, I heard him say one last thing before my brown eyes met his red ones.

Josh  will  never  love  you. He's  just gonna  leave  like  Jason  did.

Jason.

I don't know where you are...
.
.
.
Please come and find me.

---------------------------------

Josh's POV//

I yelled Tyler's name as he blacked out. I picked him up and carried him to my room placing him gently on my bed. His body was hot, his temples covered in sweat. I grab a wet cloth from my bathroom before hastily sitting next to Tyler. I cleaned his forehead, attempting to wake him up with the cold water.

I pause, taking in the situation.

He was having a heat stroke.

I quickly grabbed the lace of the hoodie I gave him, pulling it over his head and off his body. He was wearing a white button-up shirt with floral edges. It matches the pants I'd given him. I put on a weak smile.

His breathing had calmed down and I went to move his arms off my waist so I could grab a glass of water if he woke up anytime soon. His right arm rolled, revealing his wrists. I could feel my heart crushing violently.
He had scars. Cuts actually. New ones; old ones; deep ones; long ones. Cuts scattered over his forearms and up. I bit my lip to hold back tears and violently jerked my head away from the scene. Tyler didn't deserve this. He was such an amazing boy.

He talked to me on the first day. He let me sit with him at lunch. He forgave me for yelling. He deserved nothing but simplicity. Nothing less.

I grit my teeth, going into the bathroom to grab some medicine and an arm wrap for him. I heard a thump! And ran quickly back into the room, only to find a sobbing Tyler on the floor. His eyes were swollen and red and his sobs became worse after every second passed by. I run towards him and help him up, he winced as I grabbed his arm. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see the mutilated skin that reminded me how much Tyler meant that he didn't care if he lived. He woke up. I wish I was there to help him.

Tyler covered his arms quickly after noticing the jacket was missing. He instantly covered himself.
"W-where am I? Where's t-the.. jacket?" He sat, confused.

"I took it off.. You had a heat stroke. I carried you to my room." I looked him in the eyes. I saw his pain. I couldn't see what was making him do that to himself but I saw that pain inside of him.

He wiped his eyes.

It grew quiet.

I took Tyler's arm into my hand.
"I don't think less of you Ty-guy.. It-.. It hurts me more than you would know to see those.. Memories so painfully placed on your skin. "

Tyler choked on his words, weeping silently.

"Could you take me home..?" Tyler's voice was strained from the tears and lack of water in his system. I nod. I didn't know what I expected. But I just hoped it would end in something more.

••• 10 minutes passed •••

The car ride was silent except the directions Tyler gave me at the beginning of the ride.
We pulled into his driveway, it was around 11 pm by now. He turned to open the door but I stopped him. I picked a pen up and scribbled something quickly on the back of a paper from my bag. I handed him the small paper before letting him get out. He thanked me softly.
"No problem ty-guy.."

---------------------------------

Tyler's POV//

I hurried into my house, throwing the keys onto the table. My dad wasn't home yet. I threw my door open and slammed my body against the bed, collapsing into tears. After a solid 10 minutes of crying I felt something crumble in my hand. It was the paper Josh had given me. It had a phone number and six words on the page.

It read,

'stay alive
stay alive, for me.'

.....

//HEYYY hope you like this chapter.~ I worked hard on the plot of this chapter but it was slightly rushed. ;-; enjoyyy -Savi