Not As Fine As I Seem

Chapter 10

Tyler's POV

I quickly rush Josh into the toilets, I'm worried about him. He isn't okay....

"Tyler, what are you doing?" He groans, "we're gonna be late to maths!"

"Do you really want to go to maths?!" I snap, he's then quiet, "come in this stall with me."

"W-what? Tyler I um-"

"Just get in!" I shout as I drag him in, I needed to see something, I want to help him.

The stall is small, we are pretty much pressed together, I can feel his breath on my neck.

"Tyler? Um...." he looks at me confused, wanting an explanation.

"Josh, please, I'm worried about you. Is everything okay?" I ask him.

"Yes! Tyler, gosh! Come one let's go." He shouts, trying to leave the stall, I push him back.

"Josh... take off your shirt..." I demand, embarrassed.

"Ew! Tyler! I'm not ga-"

Before he can stop me I quickly pull off his top.

"TYLE-"

"OH MY GOD. Oh my god Josh.... what's happened to you?"

He body was black and blue, reminding me of the beautiful galaxies I'd seen in picture books when I was younger... but nothing was beautiful about this. He immediately starts sobbing.

"Josh!" I'm so shocked I don't know what to say, he was so precious and beautiful, who would do such a thing.

Josh suddenly pulls me into his arms, I try to avoid staring at his bruises but it's hard, he's absolutely covered.

"I'm not as fine as I seem...." he whispers, but I can barely hear him, "Pardon me for yelling."

"It's okay, Josh, everything is okay," I tell him, "who did this to you? Billie?" He's never done something like this to me, why does he hate josh?

"No....no..." he replies, weeping.

Then who? Who would hurt him? He seemed fine when he was at my house, did it happen the day he was ill? But he was just with his da-

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry for making you come out with me... it was stupid!"

"It's okay Tyler, he's done this to me before.... it's my fault anyways, everything is."

Josh puts on his shirt but before he leaves I say, "everything? What do you mean?"

"It's my fault my mum left, he still hates me for it."

"What did you do?" I ask.

"I don't want to talk about it..." he says.

"Josh?" I say, hinting that I want to know.

"I don't want to talk about it!" He shouts and runs out the stall.

Great. I've blown it. He thinks I'm really nosy, but I care about him.... a lot.

For the rest of the day Josh wasn't at and any of his lessons, he probably went home.

At the end of the day I decide to text him.

Tyler: Hey. Josh?

Josh: what?

Tyler: I'm so sorry about what happened earlier, I didn't mean to be pushy

Josh: It's okay... I was just upset

Phew, he doesn't hate me.

Tyler: so did you just go home or...?

He doesn't respond straight away so I start to walk home, hoping that he just went home and is safe... is his house safe?

When I get home I check my phone and he still hasn't responded, but he'd seen it. Where was he? Is he okay?

For the rest of the day I just worry about him, I can barely focus on my homework. Thankfully it's Friday so I don't have to get anything done for tomorrow. I try to go to bed early, all I can think about is Josh....

*beep beep*

"Uhhhh," I groan, it's still dark out. Who's texting me?

Josh: Come outside

Without questioning I immediately stuff my feet into some old sneakers and run outside. It's almost midnight so my parents probably went to sleep ages ago, they wouldn't hear the door.

"Josh?" I call out.

"Tyler, I'm over here," he calls from the shadows, "sorry, but I really needed to see you...."

"It's okay, come inside, everyone's asleep."

"No! No... is there anywhere else we can go? Like uhh a shed?"

What? What's happening? I quickly answer, "I have a treehouse, that okay?"

"Perfect."