Birthdaypresent(s) [Broshler]

Worries

"Bren, something is wrong." Josh pushed the car keys into Brendon's hand. "I texted him way too many times already and he hasnt replied, hasnt even seen them. I tried calling a few times and he doesn't answer. I'm telling you, something is wrong, let's go."

Brendon seemed hesitant, even though he agreed with Josh that something seemed off. Jordan just walked into the living room and observed in confusion.

"But what do you want to do when we get there? I mean.. what if he's not even home, but at work, or just.. out? I mean it's 2 pm."

Josh walked around the room, nervous fingers wrapped up in his hair. "I don't know! Normally he texts when he's at work." Josh's heart raced, something felt so wrong and he was close to panicking.

"Are you guys okay?" Jordan hesitant interrupted.

"No!" Josh answered, a little too snappy. "Sorry. No."

"What if he just ignores it all because he wants to?" Brendon shrugged. "Who are we to just barge in and.. y'know? Maybe he's even still with the guy from his date?"

"Who are we talking about?" Jordan tried, still not understanding anything of the situation.

"Tyler", Josh and Brendon answered in unison. "Something is wrong, I know it", Josh explained. He stopped next to Brendon, pulling his arm to direct him to the front door.

"I don't know Bren, I dont know. If he still is with that guy, we'll see and then at least we'll know he's okay. But what if something really went wrong? There's nobody else looking out for him, Bren. He's got nobody here."

Brendon nodded, Josh's statement seemed to hit home. "We can go to his work first, see if his car and bike are at his home, I dont know, but let's go now!" Josh opened the frontdoor.

——

Josh swung the door open, Brendon following right behind him. They hurried to the first person they saw, a tall buzzcut guy, and they frowned a little when they noticed the couple of purple bruises around his eye and cheekbone, but ignored it.

"Hey, is Tyler at work right now?"
The guys eyes grew wide for a second, scanning the room desperately as if he was looking for a way out. He didn't really answer though and Josh sighed.
"Hellooo? Simple question: is Tyler at work right now?" He got irritated. They didn't have time for this, just answer the fucking question.

The guy shook his head. "No."

They didn't bother thanking him, just rushing out the door again. Brendon jumped in the drivers seat, briefly looking over at Josh before he drove off.

His face was frozen in a frown, and it reminded Brendon to how had Josh looked when they drove to Jordan when he was in hospital. He reached out his hand, gently holding Josh's.

"Hang in there, babe. " He tried, knowing Josh wasn't doing great, but he wasnt sure of what else to say. Brendon hated saying 'it will be okay' when you had absolutely no clue if it would be. Some people find it reassuring to hear, he knew Josh would just get annoyed by it.

Josh just smiled at him softly, squeezing his hand before letting it go so Brendon could drive off.

——

"This one?"

"I think so?" Josh gazed out the window, looking at the apartments on their right.
"Just park here, we'll look for the number."

Once Brendon found a spot on the parking lot, Josh jumped out. "Thats his car, Bren", he nearly whispered as he speedwalked towards the back of the building, loaded with schrapt bikes. "And his bike!"