Gay/ Joshler

30.

Josh's pov:
It's one of those days.

It's been one of those days for the past week.

A few nights ago, I had an episode. When I mean an 'episode', I really mean my vitals fell dangerously low due to my IV drip running out in the middle of the night. Nurses thought I was well enough to lower my medicine dosage. I lost consciousness in the middle of the night, setting off all alarms across the ward. Sure, it wasn't hard for them to regain my consciousness, but I now have to stay in hospital even longer. I was due to be discharged in 3 weeks.

So, it's one of those days.

This place is deadly quiet. Not a scream from a woman in childbirth, not even the tapping of children's small feet across the hard hall floor. The only sounds I can hear is the piercing beeps off the ventilator and sloshing liquid of when I shake the IV bag in a desperate attempt to have it emptied into my system. The sooner I can get out of here the better.

"Hey, Joshua..." a soft voice fills the room with a soothing vibe. I rip the sheets off my head to see who's interrupt my miserly. Thankfully, it's mom followed by dad, followed by Tyler. I try to sit up but my head doesn't let me, I groan silently. "Oka-Just stay there" mom orders by holding my head down on my pillow.

I tap my hand across the bed and on the side trying to look for my red emergency button. Even though it's for emergencies they've told me to use it for when I either feel faint, sick or drowsy. Selena scurries in with a tray, "Morphine or IV?" she asks, knowing my usual two options. "Morphine, please" I manage to breathe out between winces of excruciating pain.

Hesitantly, I hold out my arm from under the cover. I turn my head away, pressing the back of my arm against my eyes. When I feel a pinch and a cold sensation of pin and needles rushing up my arm, my first reaction is to bite my knuckles harshly. Tyler rushes to my side to ease me. His hand runs through my hair kindly. The needle is pulled out and she flicks the IV to push more shit through my body.

"Did you sleep much last night?" Mom whispers. I shake my head. "Apologies if I fall asleep" they all rush to say not to worry, they'd like if I slept.

They talk amongst themselves, occasionally including me in the conversation. Tyler turns to me and rests his chin on the railing. "You'll get better soon" he coos. He toys with my hair by wrapping it round his finger gently. A tired feeling slowly comes over me, probably from where Tyler's playing with my hair.

Tyler's pov:
His eyes droop shut but I still continue to play with his hair, whilst joining in the conversation about the latest episode of Jerry Springer. 

With great distraction, Josh becomes more restless. I slip my hand under his covers for his hand to hold. He continues to stir even more, he looks like he's in pain or uncomfortable.

"Josh?" I whisper. I stroke the side of his face with my thumb carefully avoiding the tube that goes from his nose, across his face and down his top. He eventually wakes, looking a shade of white. "Do you want a nurse, or something?" his dad suggests. He shakes his head. "Water?" Laura asks calmly. He shakes his head again. "It's just my head" he sits up slowly, I'm guessing not to make himself dizzy. "We're getting you water you look pale" his parents get up and leave in a hurry. "Il open this window" I fiddle with the handle before it budges open a smidge.

"Is there anything I can do?" I feel sorry for him. He's really trying to get better but this is a long term recovery. But, I have faith in him. I know he can do this. "Could'y pass me that?" he murmurs whilst pointing to a cardboard bowl. Placing it on his lap, I back up slightly. He moves his pillows around and he lies back against them.

Quickly, I look up from my phone as Josh makes an unhealthy gagging sound. "Don't stop it, you'll only get even more sick" "But- it's only going to make'm feel even more si-" "I will shove my fingers down your throat if I have to" he glares evilly at me. "You've put me off" we laugh lightly.

"Drink" Laura shoves a bottle of water in his face "Thanks, but no thanks" he rolls over to face me. I take it from her hand and I place it on the drawers next to some fresh flowers. 

His parents try to make excuses to why they're leaving, they say need to go home and cook dinner for his brother and sisters. I invite Brendon and Jenna up, since Josh may fall back asleep. In the mean time, there is silence in the room. Neither of us is talking. Not even any interruptions of sounds from behind the closed door. It's a good silence.

"How're you feeling now?" my hand finds it's way back through his hair. It's almost like a natural action to me now! In a sore, raspy voice he replies with, "Just tired". "You can go to sleep, I'll be here when you wake up" I smile at how cute that sounded. I internally praise myself. "No-not that kind of tired. I'm tired of having all these needles in me, I'm tired of having nurses bug me 3 times a day, I'm tired off eating the gross stuff here, I'm tired of being here, I'm tired of being sick. I'm tired of being tired, Tyler". It breaks my hearts to hear him like this.

"Move up" he raises an eyebrow. I start to take off my shoes and jacket. "Just move up" with confusion, he places his cardboard bowl the side and moves up slowly. I've waited too long to be near him. I finally let my instincts take over and I climb over the stupid bed railings that's separated us for the pasts three months. I scoot closer to him. "Come here" I say in a calm soft tone. Without hesitation, he wraps his arms around my chest and I hold him closely. Carefully and gently, I pull the sheets up over us.

I feel him softly yet slowly breathing on my neck. That gives me a sense of somewhat safety. His head nuzzles closer into the crook of my neck when I make a rhythm of caressing the back of his neck. Soon enough, his hold becomes less attached and he's fell asleep. Perfect timing as Brendon and Jenna come through the door, grinning widely at the sight.

"We stopped off at McDonalds, and we got your fave-oreo mcflurry!" Jenna chimes as she roots around in the paper bag. Brendon passes me the ice cream and I shift slowly so I don't wake Josh. "How's he been? Is he getting better?" he asks sounding rather concerned. His eyes  scan over Josh and his machines. "Well" I quickly swallow my spoonful of sweet ice cream. "He had been recovering really well, he was due to be let out in a couple weeks. But, his vitals dropped low last night, like really low" I look down at Josh, thankful he is with us here. "But, he's alright now, right?" Jenna frowns. I cautiously shrug my shoulders. "We can just hope. I reckon he's going to be just fine" I give my best reassuring smile.

*30 mins later*
I've got out of Josh's bed and I've joined the others, occasionally turning behind my shoulder to check on Josh.  "How's, uh, school?" I ask. Whilst I've been here, they've been at school with everyone else, leading a somewhat normal life, this has become my normal. "Eh, finals have started" Jenna trails off, "I've been meaning to talk to my teachers about that..." I scratch the side of my head. "We've gone and spoken to your teachers, they said they'll give you last year grades" they explain in unison. That's one of many problems taken off my shoulders.

We all notice Josh shifting and tossing  but we take no notice. Until, he props himself up on his forearms on his side. "Ty, can you p-" a dry heaving noise stops him mid sentence. I run to his bed and I lean across him to reach the cardboard bowl. By then it's, too late. He's already started to spew down the side of the bed, making a sloppy mess on the floor in front of me, nicely coating my shoes.

He doesn't chuck up anything else once I manage to ACTUALLY give him the bowl. Instead, he spits out a few chunks that got stuck at the back of his throat or teeth. Jenna has her shirt pulled over her eyes where as Brendon has his head tilted examining the splatter of watery vomit on the floor with a disgusted yet impressed facial expression.

"Press that red button, Bren" I order whilst wiping Josh's mouth and working my way down to the splattered sick on the floor. "Ohh, I'm so sorry, I couldn't hold it in-" "Sh, it's fine" I hush him. Two nurse and a cleaner file on to deal with the matter and were ordered to stand outside.

"Could someone clean my shoes?" it's a clear no when they both gag and turn away.