Hey... It's Me

Chapter 7.

*Monday still at school, Josh's point of view*

I know why I did what I did. I was just too scared to tell Tyler. Rose found me after lunch.

"Josh what is wrong with you?" She said.

I stayed quiet.

"Josh look at me!" She practically shouted.

I felt tears in my eyes but I didn't care if she saw them, it was other people I worried about.

"Josh." She said. "Please?"

I wanted to tell her everything so I brought her to a place in the hallway where no one would hear us.

"Look I did it for a reason." I said.

"What is a good enough reason to beat your friend?"

"Rose, I did it because I didn't want the guys to do anything to me, you, or him. They would've hit him harder."

"Is that why you did it? Or did you do it to keep your reputation going, huh tough guy?"

"Rose I'm sorry."

"I'm not the one you need to apologize to. I can't believe you'd do this."

She walked away.

I rested my head against the locker then felt a tap on my shoulder.

"I knew you were with us Josh." A familiar voice said.

I turned around and I saw Ryan.

"What?" I asked.

"I knew you weren't really that weirdo's friend. He's such a freak."

"Oh uh yea."

"You feeling alright?"

"No I uh I'm fine."

"The boy's are coming to my house later, wanna come?"

"Uh sure."

"Cool." He said with a smile.

Then he walked away. I sighed.

*Tyler's point of view*

I don't even know if I want to carry on going to school. What's the point anyways? I sighed as I closed my eyes and imagined how life would be if I didn't exist. I thought about it for a while and then opened my eyes again. Everyone was happy that I wasn't there.

Why does this happen to me?

Then my phone started to ring. I picked up.

"Hello?" I asked in the same emotionless tone I gave Josh when we met.

"Tyler?" A familiar voice said.

"Who is this?"

"It's Rose."

"If you're calling me to laugh the-"

"I'm sorry for what Josh did."

"Why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything."

"I could've done something to stop it."

"Where's Josh?"

"He went to Ryan's house, why?"

"Just asking."

"Are you okay?"

"Well I just got beat by my only friend so-"

"I'm sorry. It was a dumb question, and Josh isn't your only friend."

"Yea you're right. I don't have any friends anymore."

"Tyler don't say that."

"But it's true! Friends would stop me from making the biggest decision in my life! I don't have anyone to fill that position."

"Tyler, what are you talking about?"

"I WANT TO KI- you know what, I don't need this."

I hung up.

*Ryan's house, Josh's point of view*

Ryan, Andrew, Derek, and Chris were sitting on the couch. Andrew and Derek were playing video games. Ryan and Chris were playing at the foosball table. I sat on a stool on my phone reading through old text conversations Tyler and I had. Some of them made me smile but I hid it and when I was asked what I was smiling about, I said that I was talking to Rose. They didn't know about the argument we had at school.

"Josh, wanna play?" Ryan asked.

"Oh no I'm, uh, I'm good." I said.

"Suit yourself." He replied.

Why am I even here?

I put my phone down and walked to the bathroom.

I should be with Tyler right now.