They Didn't Know (A Minizerk Fanfiction) {HIATUS}

Chapter 5: Distance

Josh's POV:

Simon's acting really weirdly, even worse than a week or so ago. He barely leaves his room, only to get food or go to the bathroom. I haven't seen him to talk to since yesterday, so I can't even ask him about it. He still records and uploads daily, so the fans don't suspect anything, but he won't record real life videos, especially not with me. We still record together for our second channels, as a group, but he seems to put on a front so none of us think there's anything wrong.

This was starting to eat me alive, I'm so worried about Simon but I don't know what to do about it or how to approach the situation. I don't even know if it's just me that sees it and I'm going crazy, or whether all this is actually happening. Maybe instead of talking to Simon, I could ask Vikk if he's noticed the same as me.

I knocked on his door, watching for him to give me some sign that I could go in, and that he wasn't recording or busy with something. When I heard him shout 'come in', I knew he wasn't busy and I had some time to talk to him.

"Hey Vikk." I said, sitting on his bed as he swivelled round in his chair to face me.

"Hey Josh, what's up?" he replied.

"Have you noticed anything different about Simon?" I decided to get straight to the point

"What do you mean? In what way?"

"Like him acting differently around us, in recordings, around the house?" Maybe I am just imagining things or over thinking.

"I guess. I mean, I haven't really seen him to make a judgment." Maybe I'm not, if Vikk has noticed he's never around too. "With recordings, I've noticed something though. He never talks to us before or after recording, he just leaves the call immediately. He's always in his room, but I don't seem to hear anything from him, not even him screaming at FIFA or some other game that signals he's recording, there's nothing." So it isn't just me that's seen a change in him. "Why'd you ask?"

"I'm just..." I sigh, "I'm really worried about him. He doesn't seem right, he always seems down, he won't talk to me and I'm... I'm scared. I'm scared there's something wrong. I'm scared I've done something that I don't know about. I'm just scared and I don't know what to do!"

My sudden outburst shocked me, I didn't mean to do that, but it did feel good. I looked over at Vikk, only to see him staring back at me, wide eyed, also shocked and maybe slightly scared at my outburst. "Sorry Vikk, I didn't mean to..."

"It's fine Josh." he cut me off before I could finish apologising. "Now come here." he beckoned me over, standing up from his chair as I stood up from his bed and gave me a hug. It didn't last particularly long, but it was comforting, and it was just what I needed.

"Thanks Vikk, I really needed that."

"It's not a problem Josh, anytime. I'll try and speak to Simon and see what's going on, and if I can't get through, I'll ask Jide to try. Okay?"

"Okay, thanks." I said, leaving his bedroom, and him to go back to his editing. Maybe Vikk approaching Simon is better than me trying, since its me he seems to have a particular problem with. Or Jide could work, since he's known Simon the longest out of the Sidemen.

Simon's POV:

What if distancing myself wasn't the best idea? It is, trust me, it will help keep this a secret. But what if me being distant causes problems within the Sidemen? Oh and you being gay won't change anything? Of course it will, but they'll accept me, won't they? And what if they don't? What then? You ruin strong friendships you've built. But what if me distancing myself is ruining those friendships anyway? Then that's what happens. It's your own fault for being gay. Being gay isn't a choice! It isn't, but liking one of your best friends is. I didn't choose to like him, it's not my fault that of all people, I develop feelings for him! He won't like you back anyway. He probably hasn't even noticed you've been distancing yourself. He will have noticed, he's my best friend, he knows me better than I know myself. But he doesn't know any of this, does he? He doesn't care. He does! He just can't know because I don't want to lose him. But you've probably done that anyway. I haven't! Shut up. And why would I? Please, just leave me alone! Go on, go cry like the baby you are. It's all you're good for.

*A/N* Hey guys, extra long chapter today, because I felt it was necessary (and by long I mean 850 ish words). Just be aware, that this fanfiction will be quite slow moving, so stick with me please.

Also, thank you for 200 reads! That's amazing! I'm really greatful!

Until next time, bye x