Hounded

45. resistance

Tyler spent the next week ar his and Josh's house. He spent his time sleeping or playing his piano. He played it until the batteries died. When they did he frowned. "No come on." He said, trying to turn it back on. He sighed when it wouldnt turn back on and decided to get something to eat. He was starting to run out of food again.

He ate one of the last two chocolate bars and the last few chips before going to get dressed. He wore a hoodie and jeans again, stuffing the money he stole in the pockets. He grabbed the backpack he used last time and headed out again.

He went to a different store that was a few blocks away from the one he robbed last time. It was a bigger store. He grabbed a cart and walked around, looking for stuff to get. He got mostly non refrigerated items but he bought a lot of it. All different kinds of chips, cookies, crackers, bread, peanut better, muffins, chocolate bars and a bunch of water.

He went to the checkout and put the stuff up when it was his turn like Josh always did when they went grocery shopping. When it was all rang through his total came to one hundred thrity two dollars and seventy eight cents. He stared at the cashier before taking the money out of his pocket.

He looked at the total again then back at the money in his hands. "Um..." he trailed off. "Do you have enough?" The girl asked, she was younger then Tyler, probably still in high school. "Um... I-um.. is.. um is this enough?" He asked handing her all the money.

She gently took it and counted it before looking up at him worriedly. He pursed his lips. "I-I dont know how to do this... I dont understand it."  He whispered. She smiled softly and recounted the money taking out the amount he owed and handing him back the rest. "You gave me too much. You keep this and I'll give you the rest of your change in a second." She said.

"Thank you." He said taking the left over money back. She opened her register and put the money in before giving him his receipt and change. "You're headphones are cute." She said. He was taken back for a second. "Oh um... thanks." He said. She smiled at him. "Do they play music?" She asked. He shook his head.

"You just have them on for fun?" She asked. "Its too loud without them... hurts my ears." He whispered. She nodded understandingly. "I see. They're still cute though." She said. He smiled slightly. "Thanks." He said. She smiled back and helped him fit as much as he could in his backpack but there was alot that didnt fit.

"Do you have a drive?" She asked. He shook his head. "I'll call you a taxi okay? That way you dont have to carry all this." She said. "Okay." He replied. When the taxi got here she helped him put the stuff in it.

"You know your address?" She asked. He nodded. "Okay so tell the driver your address." She said. He nodded and did so. "How much is it gonna cost to take him there?" She asked. "Eight thirty two." The driver replied. "Okay so take out your money." The girl said.

Tyler did so. She gently took it from him and took out the money and handed it to the driver. "There you go. Hope you have a good day." She smiled. Tyler smiled back. "Thank you.. uh you-you too." He said. She smiled again and headed back inside.

The drive back to the house was shorter then walking and the taxi driver helped him take evrything inside before leaving. He put everything away and got himself something else to eat.

He sighed afterwards and sat on the couch, hugging one of the decorative pillows. He missed josh but Josh was mad at him so he didnt want to go back. He zoned out for a bit, staring at the wall. When he zoned back in he was outside in the backyard and it was dark out.

He doesnt remember coming outside or even when it got dark out but he picked himself up off the ground he was laying on and headed back inside. He locked the door and headed upstairs to get ready to sleep.

The next day he headed back out. He walked back into town, completely zoned out again and not knowing where he was going. When he zoned in again he was at the grocery store he was at yesterday but things were different this time.

The first thing he saw was the cashier from yesterday, she looked scared as did everyone else around. He looked at the person he had in a choke hold for some reason and dropped them, taking a step back. He looked around, confused. He didnt know what was happening or why.

There were cops here though. They had guns pointed at him. He looked at the guns, having a quick flashback from war. His breathing spiked and he walked back until he hit a wall. Then he slid down it and wrapped his arms around his head.

The cops came over and pulled him to his feet, about to put cuffs on him. "No  stop it." He said pushing them away. "Stop resisting." One of the officers said trying to grab him again. He fought back, he was scared.

He only stopped when his headphones got knocked off the officers were yelling, customers were panicking and everything was just so loud. He quickly pushed away from the officer he was fighting and clamped his hands over his ears. He dropped to his knees before laying down. He rolled onto his back, pressing his hands over his ears harder.

He was grabbed then, yanked up and his arms were grabbed and forced behind his back. "No stop."he cried softly trying to cover his ears again. They didn't listen. They didnt understand. He was handcuffed and pinned to the floor face first while they cleared the rest of the people out of the store.

Tyler was crying softly, everything was too loud. Every tiny noise made him tense and try to cover his ears. He swallowed harshly breaths quick and heavy. When the officer took his sunglasses off that was it for him. He needed to leave. He kept his eyes squeezed shut and teleported himself back to the house. He didnt care if there was a bunch of people watching. He just couldnt stay there. It was too much.

He landed in porch and collapsed on the ground, sniffling. He kept his eyes shut and just laid there on his stomach, his hands cuffed behind his back still.