It All Started At Midnight

//Twenty Two//

Tw- mentions of the attempted r*pe between Josh and Eric, and a panic attack. Please don't read if any of this triggers you. If you want to know what happens, feel free to pm me and I'll gladly explain.

Josh went home shortly afterwards, the angel not wanting to talk about his worries about Jenna. It could be nothing after all. The two walked closely, keeping an eye for Eric. Tyler even suggested to stay home with Josh. However, his mom didn't work that day so the conversation was cut short when Tyler saw the car of Josh's mom.  It was sweet though, Tyler had no idea what caused the couple to split but was ready to protect Josh no matter what, it warmed Josh's heart.

It was a strange sequence of events. First they get chased by an ex, then Tyler suddenly opens up, and the two are trying to calm each other. Josh stayed home with a heavy heart. After Tyler finally opened up, he held the angel in his arms. The two were both broken in their own ways, and needed each other in these times. The two were silent, the smaller boy humming softly to soothe the crying angel. At first Josh didn't know why that had bothered Tyler so much but then he realized...

Tyler would leave at midnight to see Jenna, so why is she leaving now?

Of course Tyler thought it may not be that reason at all. He could be overthinking it. Though Josh had a feeling his hunch was correct. But who would crash that information on their best friend like that? He'd find out sooner or later he figured.

———

The pink-haired boy was sat on his bed, leaning back against the headboard. The events from school just now catching up to him.

He was alone in the bathroom with Eric.

Eric looked frustrated. Just like the last few times.

Josh was alone. Defenseless. Frozen.

His hands were shaking and his senses were getting overwhelmed. His mind kept racing to all the memories of Eric, the good and the bad ones. He hated it. It's been months since that event occurred and yet, he still felt defenseless against his ex just by his mere presence. What would have happened if Tyler didn't come in the bathroom?

What would have happened if Tyler wasn't at the park that one night?

He wasn't chased that night, Eric was too intoxicated to do so. Yet, he feels something bad would have happened if Tyler never came to the park.

He hated the power Eric had over him. He hated how weak he's been constantly feeling. He hates the nightmares, he hates the pain, and he hates feeling alone because of it.

He hates it.

He hates it.

He hates it.

His fingers tugged at his hair while he tried to keep himself from passing out from hyperventilating. (Forget the term for it and had to google it lmao). He couldn't keep a steady rhythm of breathing and no one was there to help him. At least, it didn't feel like it.

"Josh?"

"Josh c'mon, breathe with me!"

"It's gonna be okay."

It was Issa. His best friend. He was rubbing Josh's back, counting a breathing exercise. His voice was muffled but he could faintly here the numbers. He tried to match his breathing with it and found himself looking up, fingers swollen from being tangled in his hair. It took his mind a while to process what was going on. Issa was in front of him, worried, really, really worried. Josh was starting to calm down.

"I-Issa?" He croaked, his voice dry and quiet.

"It's me Josh, are you alright?" Issa asked.

Josh sat up fully, Issa handed him water and Josh downed it quickly. He wasn't new to the boy's panic attacks, he knew how drained he would be after them. Issa then held Josh, not bothering to ask any questions. He didn't want to stress him any further.

"Wh-what are you doing here..?" Josh asked curiously.

"I missed hanging out with you boo, it's been a while." Issa replied softly.

"Can you stay for a while?" The smaller boy asked weakly.

"Of course I will." Josh smiled slightly and kept holding on to his best friend.

Issa and him have been friends since 7th grade and Josh would tell him everything. Yet it seems these days Josh was been too beaten down from everything, so he didn't talk to Issa that much. He feels terrible, it's been a while and when they finally hang out, Josh is having a panic attack.

"I'm sorry..." he spoke after a moment of silence.

"You have nothing to apologize for Joshua." His friend reassured.

"But I haven't made time for you and this is how you end up seeing me when we do hang out. I'm such a mess." He started tearing up.

"You're going through some shit Josh, you don't have to tell me if you don't want but when we go through tough times, it's draining and life makes it so it feels impossible. But bad bitches get up in the end. You'll conquer this."

——————

Tyler decided tonight he'd sneak up on Jenna. He needed to figure out why she's been going out at night. If it wasn't for Kelly, he'd have no idea.

Tyler never had trust issues when it came to Jenna. But lately he's been feeling weird around her. His gut was predicting a negative outcome.

When he came home after making sure Josh was safe, Jenna tried to talk to him but Tyler just said he had too much school work to do. He walked to his room and locked the door, a bit winded from the walk up the stairs.

He's been really weak.

But Jenna didn't care. She knew what she was doing, so all she did was smirk outside his door.

I lowkey think this chapter turned out bad, my writing sucks lmao.