//simplicity

chapter 8-- my home

Josh's POV//

Josh: I've got a question before you go.

Josh: Ty..?

    ----------------

I frown as I stare impatiently at my dim phone screen. He was texting back just 5 minutes ago. I grew nervous, assuming the worst. I grabbed my phone and dialed his number. There were A few rings until a voicemail.

"Hey this Tyler, I'll return your call as soon as possible."

I wanted to see him, to check in on him and make sure he was okay. I needed an excuse to go.

After a few minutes I pulled Tyler's clothes from the dryer. I can just say I'm bringing these. Yeah. That'll work. I smile to myself, considering I just had a brilliant idea.

I grab a bag of popcorn and the small jar of cookies out of my cabinet. He was hungry earlier and I need to bring something just in case.

I grab one of my snap backs, pulling all of my hair except my bangs into the top of it. I grab my keys off the kitchen table and walk out the door.

•••

I pull into his driveway, the white suburban missing from the garage. I shake my head. Maybe I'm overreacting  and he just went out with his parents. I inhale deeply before reaching the door and knocking, exhaling loudly. The door opens slowly. I guess they left it open.
"Ty..? Hello?.."

My voice was faint yet determined as I called out to him or anyone really. I pushed through the door after contemplating the outcome.

Tyler was trembling on the floor, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. He had black paint on his neck and hands, fading into the color of his skin. A red beanie laid disheveled on the pale boy's head. I cried out and kneeled beside him.
"Ty are you okay?! Tyler?!"
Tyler groaned, covering his reddened eyes.

"Tyler..? What happened." I spoke in a concerned manner, biting at my cheek roughly as the stress set in. I waited for him to speak.

"It's a long story.."

"I've got all the time you need."
He took a deep breath, explaining his story.

•••25 minutes later•••

"So you have multiple personality disorder.. And your mom left to her mothers while your dad left too, not establishing his destination, because of this alternate personality?"

He sniffles as he nods his head, I held him closely, comforting the shaking boy. He clung to me like a kitten clings onto your arm while attempting to avoid the deadly showers of water from a bathtub. I look at the black stains on his body before taking his hand in mine.

Tylers's POV/:

"Why do you have this paint on your hands and neck..?" Josh held my hand tightly.

"He said he choked me with these hands, I'm assuming it means the black from his hands causes me to get black on my neck from the choking... And he said he creates with these hands.. So everything I create is evil due to these hands.."
I left out the last part, about him 'breaking me with these hands.' I can't have Josh worry anymore. It's not his problem it's mine.

"Let's get it off of you.." He says lightly.

I responded in a monotone voice,
"It hardly comes off, it doesn't come off until a few months later.. But by then it still isn't completely gone."

Josh shook his head, "At least let me help.." He helped me up.

"It's upstairs to the left.."

"Got it." Josh picked me up bridal style just like on Friday and carried me to the bathroom.

He sets me down on the counter
"Put your arms under the water and I'll grab the soap." He grabs the soap and slathers it onto my hands under the warm water. The black starts slowly swirling down the drain. My mouth hung in amazement. He washed away all the stains with ease. I've never been able to do that before. He smiles at me,
"See? It's easier with help."

I could tell Josh was trying to avoid the cuts on my arms, they stung as some of the paint entered the cuts. I bit my tongue to keep from yelping.  He finished soon after he had begun and wrapped a towel around my red wrists. He hummed quietly, tapping his feet to the beat. My lips turned up into a smile at the sound of it. I picked up the tune and hummed along with him, yet softer, trying not to make my participation known. I started adding words to the tune softly.
"I'm holding onto what I know.. And what I know I must let go but i would rather play a song for the.." I thought before continuing
"Eyes to sing along." I sung slightly confidence.

Josh started singing as well
"Dadadada dadadada dadadada dadadada~" As I hummed the rest on loop, he sung those along with me. We faded out and he looked at me.

"We make a good team." He says with a smile. It wasn't just any smile, it was a pure one. His eyes were squinty and crinkled at the corners. His teeth revealed as his lips curl into a wider smile. I smile back, closing my eyes peacefully. I laughed slightly at his comment. 'We make a good team' .

I respond.

"Yeah.. We do."

// so this was a late update ;-; don't hate pls. I'll work hard to update another chapter tomorrow. :^)