smile. || joshler ||

Ch. 12

It didn't take much to wake Josh up. He was pushed off the bed and groaned, hearing Tyler run to the bathroom in the hall and the sounds of puking were heard.  Josh didn't have much of a hangover, he did have a major headache, but he ignored it and stumbled into the bathroom, seeing Tyler leaning over the toilet.

"Breathe Ty," He said quietly, crouching down and rubbing the boys back. He felt bad, if he hadn't brought Tyler to the party then the boy wouldn't be throwing up.

Soon, he was done and Josh flushed the toilet, helping him stand. He was shaking slightly, and mumbled out, "I'm s-sorry Josh, I di-"

"Hey, it's okay. Come on, we have a spare tooth brush." Josh opened the cabinet and ripped the packet open, handing Tyler the toothbrush.

"My head hurts," Tyler breathed out.

"It happens, we'll talk after you shower. I'll be downstairs okay? The right knob is for the hot water, left is for cold. You can use my washcloth, it's the blue one." Tyler blushed, but nodded and Josh handed him clothes and towels.

He gave Tyler one last glance, seeing him strip his shirt and memories of last night occurred, and the bruises were still there. Purple, blue and huge. When he wen't downstairs, hearing the water turn on, he sighed and saw his mom cooking breakfast.

Josh's thoughts were still blurry, and he was missing some parts of the night but not too much. He was sure they'd come back, but he did remember Tyler kissing him. He absentmindedly lifted his fingers to his lips, tracing them.

Josh snapped out of his thoughts when his mom asked, "Tyler taking a shower?"

He nodded and she looked down at him curiously, then sighed, "You drank didn't you?"

"What? No," He scoffed, she raised an eyebrow and he frowned, "Yes. Tyler did too, I think his drink was spiked, he's pretty hungover, I'm sorry mom."

She groaned, rubbing her face in frustration. "It's fine, but it's not right when it's someone else's kid. Is he okay?"

"Yeah, he just threw up and has a major headache-"

Before he could finish, a quiet voice asked, "Sorry to bother you, but where would you like me to put this towel?"

Josh smiled at Tyler, who was standing there awkwardly, "Just put it in my room. I'll put it in the dirty clothes later."

He nodded, and soon returned wearing a sweater and sweatpants.

Josh's mom smiled at him, placing pancakes on the plates and said to him, "Morning sweetheart, would you like some bacon?"

"No thank you, I....I'm not hungry," He said quietly.

Josh frowned, "But we didn't eat last night."

"I'm just full, I ate alot before the party." Tyler said with a timid smile.

Josh stared at the boy, who always seemed to be more quiet when around other people besides Josh. Maybe he can get him to talk in his room. So, when his mom gave him his plate, he had Tyler follow him upstairs.

When they got to Joshs room, he shut the door and set his food on the side table. Tyler sat down, keeping a bit of space between the two. He asked with a worried tone, "What happened last night?"

"You don't remember anything?" Josh asked, not shocked at all. It's common, but he was hoping he knew about the kiss.

"No.." Tyler spoke softly.

Josh laughed, shaking his head. "Okay, well you were stripping and dancing, you said I was yours since you called me cute and Hayley agreed. Umm, you said the walls were white like marshmallows, and...." He trailed off, but Tyler urged him to go on, he contemplated telling him, but in the end he said, "You tried changing but passed out."

Tyler groaned in embarrassment, curling into a ball. Josh leaned in slightly, Tyler's breath fanned his lips, but when he tried brushing their lips together, Tyler whimpered in pain and Josh gasped, "Are you okay?"

"Um. Yeah. Just-my head hurts," Tyler replied, obviously lying. Josh knew it was his ribs, and how badly bruised they were.

It was obvious someone tried to hurt him really badly, it wasn't an accident. No one can hurt themselves that bad unless falling down the stairs, or being pushed.
"I saw them."

"Saw what?" Tyler asked, avoiding eye contact, looking at the posters. He was faking interest, trying to act calm, but his eyes were shimmering with fear, Josh wanted to know what caused the fear. He needed to know, because he needed to protect Tyler as best as he could.

"Your bruises, when you stripped last night I saw them. You didn't do that to yourself, I know you cut yourself but there is no way you can purposely cause those."

"I slipped in the shower," He shrugged, speaking low and wrapped his arms around his body, almost like an instinct.

That made Josh's heart falter, the thought that Tyler was use to hiding his bruises. It must happen a lot. He sighed, reaching out for his shirt, trying to lift it, "Stop," He commanded when Tyler tried pushing him off.

The bruises were worse up close, he traced them with sad eyes, "Ty, who did this? Do I know them?"

He saw Tylers chest rise and fall quickly, his breathing was loud and he shoved Josh off, scrambling off the bed. Tyler shook his head repeatedly, "I..I gotta go. Thanks for last night, even if I was a pain."

"You weren't a pain! Tyler, stop," Josh grabbed his arm, the one without the cuts, and begged, "Please, we can talk! You can trust me Tyler, you know that. Don't hide from me, I'm your friend."

"I-I can't," Tyler frantically said, pulling his arm away, "My dad's probably worried, I'm...I'm sorry Josh."

And he shut the door, Josh didn't bother chasing him. He knew he was pushing Tyler, but maybe that was a good thing. In the end, pushing could be what Tyler needed. He had to know someone cares about him. He needed to know that Josh worries about him, so he can feel the guilt and the pain of knowing someone would cry if he ever died.

So, Josh walked to his window, glancing out to see Tyler walking down the street, his arms wrapped around himself and book bag on his back. He was shivering and Josh just wanted to run out and hug him, holding him close.

But he didn't, because people need space sometimes and Josh knew that's what Tyler needed right now, but tomorrow is another day.