delinquent

THREE

josh pov:

I had a bad nightmare, so I got out of bed. trying not to wake the peacefully sleeping tyler, who was cuddled on my chest. I went to go sit in the corner and a few seconds later I started crying.

That dream was so scary its was terrifying ive never had one quite like that, in fact no where near as bad as that one. Almost a minute later Tyler came over and hugged me, rubbing soothing circles onto my back, I gripped back onto him, clinging to him and sobbing into his shoulder. 

Slowly, with the help of Ty my crying subsided "'m sorry..." I mumbled, I hadnt meant to wake him up from his sleep. "dont even worry 'bout it joshie, do you want to talk about your dream now?" he questioned but just the thought of telling him about me dream made my skin crawl where we made contact. I quickly jumped out from his grasp, putting both my arms out, in a small attempt to put some distance between us.

right now he scared me for the first time ever I was afraid of tyler, my tyler all because of a dream. I know it seems ridiculous but it was so... real so... possible.

Slowly, he stood up still facing me, his arms up in surrender and took three steps back. When he saw that tears were crawling down my cheeks again, his face softened impossibly more. I hated that look, it was a look of pity, one that I had only gotten from people that thought I wasnt a real threat and that I was being pressured into hanging out with tyler, like I wasnt strong enough to break free if I wanted, like I was dumb.

He took a step back towards me "Joshie, you know you can tell me anything, Im not gonna judge you... or hurt you or do anything bad, I would never" Tyler whispered. The worst part about all of this is that I knew he was right, but I was so scared, scared of him.

"J- just stay away, for a bit please." I asked, looking at the ground in fear hoping he wouldnt be mad at my request. I glanced back up at Tyler and saw him nod head with the saddest look ever on it and walk to his bed laying down and curling up under the covers/.

the dream sparked back up so many memories, the ones that took years to repress.

<dream>

I had finally worked up enough courage to tell Tyler, and thats what I just did just told Tyler that I liked him, and instead of what I had hoped, he yelled at me, screamed at me, told me he hated me, he started hitting me, harder that he had beaten anyone before, and it was my  fault.

I had broken my and tylers friendship, because I liked him.

<end of dream>

<the memories it brought to light>

"No!" I screamed, trying to get away from my father, I had failed to complete my multiplication homework, so my 3rd grade teacher called my dad, funny how I never liked that bitch. Now he was pissed, and drunk the perfect combination.

"daddy! no! please!!" and then,

whack,

He had hit me, and it didnt stop for almost  two whole years, hits and burns, and it broke my nine year old heart, over and over again, well until tyler found out and got mad at everything and made me tell an adult.

Tyler had saved me that day. As much as he could.

<end>

The scariest part was that Tyler reminded me if my dad in that dream, and that terrified me.

I tried to stand to go back to bed and I let out an uncontrollable sob as my knees buckled and I crashed back onto the floor. Tyler immediately threw his blanket off and walked over to where I sat on my knees "Josh, please tell me" Tyler said, sounding almost as sad as I would if I tried to talk right now.

"i-it- y-you hu-urt me a-and i j-jus- m-y d-d-dad" I poorly tried to explain myself through my sobbing. Before I could say anything else, I felt his strong, warm arms wrap around me. "Joshie, I will never, ever hurt you, and I wont ever let your dad hurt you either, ever again, I'll make sure of it, even if its the last thing I do." Tyler said, determination riddling his voice and face

"W-why?" I stuttered out not believing that Tyler really could care that much about me. "What do you mean J?" He questioned, causing my brain to go into overdrive.

"why, wont y-you h-h-hurt m-me? w-why do you -e-even c-care?" I asked, something I had wondered since the day I had met him I mean its a question thats lingered in the back of my head since second grade why stick with me, of all people?

"because I love you Joshie, more than you can ever imagine." Tyler said, softly.

"R-really?" I asked, not believing that Tyler, my Tyler, this man who is practically a gift from above, could ever possibly love someone, something like me. Tyler pulled away from the warm and comforting embrace which at first confused me until a moment later his warm lips were pressed onto mine.

(886 words)