Down In The Forest

Chapter 2

Tyler's P.O.V

I wander aimlessly around the seemingly endless corridors of the school. God I need help. Where the hell is room 15? I swear I have searched everywhere. I would ask for help, but we all know that's not going to happen, don't we? I must've missed a turn or something somewhere...

Josh's P.O.V

Where the heck is Tyler? He's five minutes late, and he couldn't have picked a worst teacher to be late for.
"Hey, Josh. Where's Tyler?" Melanie asked. "Seriously, I have no idea. We shouldn't have let him go alone, he probably got lost." I felt kind of guilty, this is not how I would have liked to start my time at a new school.

Tyler's P.O.V

CRAP, CRAP, CRAP! I'm already 10 minutes late. 
"Maybe you should ask someone, idiot. Or is that to difficult for you? Jesus Christ you're weak."
"I'm not weak" I say aloud. Sometimes I consider suicide just to get rid of him. Whoever he is, whatever he is, I just want him to go away. Finally, I find room 15, but I don't want to go in. The thought of everyone staring at me and the humiliation I would get from... what was her name? Miss Robertson I think it was, terrified me. I took a deep breath and slowly, I pushed down the handle of the door, revealing the bored faces of the students and one very angry Miss Robertson...I think.
"And where have you been young man?" She demanded viciously. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. I tried again, and again. "I...I was..."
"He's new Miss. He must've got lost" I heard a voice from the other side of the room. It was Josh's. I remember it this time. 
"Is this true?"
"Y-yes miss..."
"very well then, the seating plan is on the board." She explained. I search the board for my name. My seat is next to Josh's, and that makes me smile for some reason. I walk over to Josh, still smiling and he smiles back. "You should've let us help you." He says gently.
"Yeah....." 
"Well, you made it and that's the important thing."
I don't know, maybe we could be friends after all?
"Don't even think about it."

Josh's P.O.V

Luckily, Miss Robertson is running a few minutes late, but Tyler isn't here yet. I don't know why I'm worrying about him so much but I am. It's only a matter of minutes before... Nevermind, she's here. 
"BE QUIET CLASS! YOU ACT AS THOUGH YOU'RE STILL IN PRIMARY!" She screeched. I never understood what secondary teachers had against primary school kids, but whatever. We walk in, and analyse the seating plan on the wall. I'm sat next to Tyler, it could be a chance for me to get to know him better, even become good friends, if he ever shows up. Five minutes later, I hear the door handle moving and from behind emerges the frightened face of Tyler. God I feel sorry for him. 
"And where have you been young man?" She asks aggressively. He stutters and struggles to speak, so I say he is new and probably got lost. She dismisses him. He looks at the board and smiles when he sees he's sat next to me (I hope that's why he's smiling). I hadn't seen him smile before, not properly. He walks my way and sits down next to me. "You should've let us help you" I say, 
"yeah......" Is all he replies with.
"Well, you made it and that's the important thing." His smile drops, I don't know why. Was it something I said? This boy remains a mystery to me. 

Tyler's P.O.V

I want to tell him, about the "voice". One day I will. One day I'll tell him. Maybe. But for now It's a secret only I know. 
"You will tell no one, and if you do, no one will believe you, they'll think you're crazy. Josh'll think you're mad, insane. He'll never want to talk to you again".
He was right. I hate it when he's right.   
"So Tyler, would you like to hang around with us at break and sit with us at lunch? It's ok if you don't, but I was just wondering." I've only known Josh a few minutes, yet he's already been nicer to me than anyone else has been in my whole life.
"it's because he doesn't know you, once he realises how truly messed up you are, he'll want nothing to do with you; say no Tyler, it's for the best."
"That would be great," I said. I had done it. For the first time, I had beaten "it". I had disobeyed "the voice" and it felt amazing.
"son of a bitch"
It may have been a small victory, but it was a victory nonetheless.
"Really?" Josh said, with a surprised smile on his face. I nodded. "Great! you seem like a cool person. We'd love to have you join our group." For the first time in my life, I felt strong. For the first time in my life, I felt genuinely happy.