The Tyrus Fic

In the Driver's Seat

"What are you looking at?"

Cyrus turned around to look at TJ. TJ sat frozen, his eyes focused on the sky.

"The clouds."

"Well what do you see?"

TJ laughed

"You sure ask a lot of questions, don't you?"

 "I just don't know you very well," Cyrus said, crossing his legs in a crisscross position.

TJ sat up from the green grass. He looked toward the woods that were facing both boys and stared off onto the little house in the distance, beyond the forest. 

"Your mom is looking for you, Cyrus."

Cyrus loved the way his name sounded on the tips of TJ's lips. They seemed to curl off so intensely, that Cyrus would get lost in his own fascinations and dreams.

TJ motioned his head toward the forest.

"You don't have to be scared, they're just wood."

Cyrus bit his lip.

"I don't wanna go alone again. Last time I-"

"No. I'll come with you."

"Okay. But..." Cyrus grasped TJ's cold hand. "Hold my hand?"

The boys hiked through the forest. It wasn't a straight path to get to Cyrus' house. So many bumps, prickly plants filled the woods. Some deep trenches, seemingly high mountains to climb over. The road was rough, but simple to get to.

The boys finally reached the house. Cyrus walks toward it.

"I'll be right here, waiting," TJ says.

Cyrus turns around with a worried look.

"Hey, cookie," the mother says.

"Hi," Cyrus responds.

His mother looks out the window, a grocery list in one hand while a pen in another, a concerned look in her face. She smiles at Cyrus.

"So, uh-um," she mumbles, "who were you talking to out there?"

"TJ," Cyrus responds, biting his lip and immediately regretting his answer.

The mother sighs. 

"Uh-huh. And uh- if I may ask, what were you and uh...TJ talking about?"

"The clouds and the sky. He knows a lot about those sorts of things."

"Cyrus," the mother says, gently messing with his fringe, "don't you remember? TJ isn't real. We've been over this."

"Okay, Mom. I'm sorry." Cyrus sat down on the gingham couch.

"Don't apologize, okay? It's just that he doesn't exist."

The mother sat down on the davenport. All was silent.

"I made an appointment for you to see Dr. Boyle today," the mother said, breaking a well-rounded streak.

Cyrus perked up.

"Why do I have to see Dr. Boyle? Why can't I keep seeing you?"

"Honey, I only work with children younger than you," she said as she crossed her legs. "and now that you're thirteen, I-I just think you'd be better off with someone you can uh...trust...to talk to."

Cyrus slumped into the cushions.

"You never even opened up to me, or even Todd."

Cyrus shook his head. The mother leaned closer.