Under The Covers {joshler}

senior year - part two

"Bren?" Josh cleared his throat awkwardly, hanging back in the doorway of Sarah's hospital room. She'd been stabilised and left to sleep in a private room. Her parents had been informed and were on their way over.

Brendon looked up slowly at the call of his name. He looked exhausted and worn down, his eyes sunken and dark, hair a mess from where he'd ran his hands through it anxiously all night. He could barely sit upright in his chair, but he remained determined to sit at Sarah's bedside, his hand firmly around hers.

"You need to sleep and have a shower, you look dead." Josh said gently, as though talking to a small child. Anyone could see Brendon was hanging on by a thread.

"No-no, I'm gonna stay, wait for her to wake up. I don't want her to be alone." He said, his voice hoarse.

Josh moved to his side, crouching down so he was eye-level. He put a hand on Brendon's knee for comfort. "It's not your fault, none of this is your fault Bren."

"How can you say that?" Brendon almost snapped his eyes brimmed with tears, he stared down at where his hand encased Sarah's like a life line. "I cheated on her and I left her. I should've been there, then maybe-maybe this wouldn't have happened."

"Brendon, she was drugged and so were you. So was Ashley. None of you were in your right minds, even if you'd been with Sarah when she collapsed it wouldn't have made much of a difference. The fact that you feel so horrible about what happens proves you care. I'll talk to Sarah; she will understand it was a drugged mistake. This isn't your fault."

Brendon squeezed his eyes shut. "I was supposed to keep her safe, I promised. I- shit- I want to marry her one day Josh, and I know you know what that feels like because I see the way you and Tyler look at each other. And instead I've thrown it all away and put her in danger and I almost lost her, it fucking hurts man." Brendon broke down then, sobbing into Josh's shoulder as he pulled him into a hug, soothing him.

"Stop this, stop being self-destructive right now. Focus on Sarah, you love her right?" Josh asked pulling away and holding Brendon by the shoulders. Brendon nodded, taking heavy sniffs to get rid of the overwhelming emotions. "Then be here for her now. Make up for not being there before. Be here for her, nothing else matters, no what ifs, it happened, so stop thinking about the past and figure out what you're gonna do to get the future you want Bren. Be here when she wakes up, look after her, have an honest talk about what happened and tell her how important she is and how much hurt you're feeling. Relationships are about communication and trust; you'll get through this."

"Okay." Brendon sniffed, taking hold of Sarah's hand again as she continued to sleep.

Josh gave Brendon a sloppy peck on the forehead as he stood up, causing Brendon to let out a snotty laugh.

"Thanks Josh."

"What are best friends for?" Josh smirked, he pat Brendon on the back. "You gonna be alright if we leave? I need to get Ty to bed."

Both boys laughed a little and Brendon smiled slightly rubbing his eyes with his free hand.

"Yeah, I'll be okay, go take care of your boyfriend."

With a smile and another pat on the back Josh left the room, yawning and making his way back to the waiting room.

Tyler had his head in his hands and Josh instantly wrapped an arm around him pulling him up to stand.

"Let's go home." He sighed and Tyler leant into him, resting his head on Josh's shoulder.

"I'm never drinking again." Tyler groaned and Josh huffed out a laugh.