heathens

it looks like

"you're my guardian angel," i whisper. josh looks at me, surprise gleaming in his star-filled eyes.

"how do you know?" he asks quietly.

"you're protecting me."

"maybe i'm just a nice person," josh suggests but i shake my head.

"you're an angel. you're my angel."

josh cocks his head, his hand sliding into mine. "is that what you want me to be?"

i smile. "it's what you are. you're keeping me safe after all i've done. i've killed people, josh." my voice trails at the end and i feel myself shaking. josh squeezes my hand to calm me.

"you couldn't control that," he says in my defense.

"but i still hurt them. i hurt you."

"you can't hurt me."

i frown. "what?"

"because i'm not real, tyler. not really. i'm an angel, like you said," he explains. i shake my head. "i only exist if you say i do."

"no, that's not how it work."

he sighs. "tyler-"

"no!" he tries to pull me into his arms but i pull away, crossing my arms. "you- you promised to get me out of here. so just get me out, okay? i want to go home."

josh looks disappointed then nods, hanging his head.

"okay. we'll get you out."