Down In The Forest

Chapter 9

Josh's P.O.V

Something's wrong. Why can't he just tell me? It can't have been that bad since he didn't do anything wrong, at least I don't think he did. Clearly it had upset him so I decide to stop asking questions. Instead I talk about break.

"Where do you want to go? Do you want to go and get something to eat?" He shakes his head immediately.

"No, I'm not hungry. Can we use the music practice rooms?"

"Yes, as long as we ask a teacher first."

"Can we go there please?" He sounds and looks so scared. I desperately want to help, I hate to see him like this.

"If they're free of course we can." I had no idea where the rest of our 'clique' was, but break time alone with Tyler sounds just as good as break with them.

"We'd better get there quickly before they all get used." I suggest. We walk swiftly towards the music practice rooms. Jordan and his 'friend' walks past. When he notices me he looks worried for a second. I mouth 'congratulations' to him and smile widely. His expression of worry turns into one of religious and he smiles back. 'Thank you' he mouthed before walking off. I notice that Tyler isn't walking slightly behind or infront of me, he's walking beside me.

"You're walking next to me." It looks like he's just realised as well and he smiles from one side of his mouth; it's adorable.

"Oh yeah, I am."

"This is rare isn't it?" He looks up away from the floor and at me, smiling from both sides of his mouth, but it's kind of a sad smile.

"Depends on who I'm walking with." I can feel myself instantly going red. All I can do is smile, I don't know how else to react.

"Have you ever actually walked next to anyone else before?" What was I thinking in asking that question? Of course he has walked next to someone in his life.

"What? You think I'm that antisocial?" He doesn't look or sound at all offended.

"No no no that's not what I meant. It was a stupid question, sorry." He just laughs.

"Don't be, I actually haven't walked properly next to someone in a long time so...it's not THAT stupid of a question." We arrive in front of the music practice rooms and I see Mr Taylor sat in the music staffrom. I knock at the door and wait for the 'come in'.

"Come in."

"Can we use one of the music practice rooms please sir?" I ask.

"How many of you are there?"

"Just two sir."

"Yes, if they are free."

"Thank you sir." We walk slowly down the corridor of practice rooms checking for a few one. Tyler spots one. We stand there awkwardly for a while upon entering. It's seems that we are not too shy to play our instruments in front of each other.

"Can you play me something on the drums?" He asks shyly. The added 'me' in the sentence me feel something inside, I can't quite put put a word on it.

"If you want." He nods. I position myself at the stool and play the last drum beat I played. I guess I was showing off a little bit because it was pretty complicated. It seems to be working as Tyler looks very impressed. At the end he claps quietly.