57. BLOOD

I'd missed a few days of school. I hadn't been ready to go back yet. Everyone was blowing up my phone, everyone other than Dave, Taylor and Nick. They were smart to leave me alone cause if they called it might set me off.

Joe had already talked to the school and the police and stuff. I told them my side too. Everyone's waiting for T to remember though. Until then I'm not sure what's gonna happen. One thing's for sure. If I see any of them in school today I'm not gonna be able to control myself.

I let this happen to him. If I had just stepped in earlier Timothy would be okay now. I feel so damn guilty. I know Charlie was right somewhere. I didn't physically do this to Timothy but if I'd had more balls this could've been prevented.

I slammed my car door and made my way into the school.

The halls were covered in anti bullying posters. There was a sad atmosphere in the school.

I walked by T's locker and there were cards and flowers on the floor. And a group of girls crying in front of it.

"The fuck is this?" I snapped.

"Oh Josh!" Claire cried, flinging her arms around my shoulders. "I can't believe this happened!"

"I hope Dave and those other guys die in prison." Ashley said through tears.

"Why is it always the innocent people that die?" Another girl cried.

I pushed Claire off of me.

"What the fuck are you guys talking about? He's not dead!"

"Huh?"

"Timothy's in the hospital but he's not fucking dead!"

"But everyone's saying-"

"They're full of shit!"

"Oh." Most of them stopped crying and began wiping their cheeks.

I looked down at the flowers and post cards. Luckily T was alive but if I'd been just a little later he could've really died.

Claire stroked my arm. "You guys are friends, aren't you?"

I nodded. Now the girls were suddenly consoling me.

I pulled away. "Where's Taylor? And Nick..."

"You didn't hear? All three got expelled. One of them confessed to everything." Claire shrugged.

"Who?"

"Taylor."

Of course. Dave would never. I was sure his rich parents were already getting him all lawyered up. Sure, his parents gave a fuck less about him but having a son in prison wasn't exactly a good look. If he didn't go to jail I wouldn't know what to do.

I banged my hand against the locker. "Cowards!"

I went to class, stepping right on top of Timothy's flowers.

✪

I was surprised by how many people cared. Even those who I thought were indifferent to him seemed upset this had happened. Allie wasn't in school today. She wanted to be in the hospital with Tim and Charlie.

I made my way to the cafeteria and bumped into Jen. Her apple fell off her lunch tray. I caught it in my hands.

She looked sort of embarrassed for a moment but then she forced a smile. "Josh,"

"We really shouldn't be talking." I said, putting the apple back on her tray. I tried to move past her. She held me back.

"Are you really gonna ignore me?" Jen put her lunch on one of the tables next to her.

"I don't have much to say to you. I don't know why you thought it would be a good idea to kiss me. Then and there, even! In front of the whole school! In front of Dave! No wonder he flipped out!"

"Wait you're saying what happened to that emo kid is my fault?"

"That emo kid has a name! And yes it's partly your fault!"

I stared at my shoes. "And mostly mine." I mumbled.

"How? Dave is fucking crazy. We both know that."

"Is that why you kissed me?" I asked. "To escape him or something?"

"I kissed you because I like you and I thought.. I hoped maybe you felt the same way." Jen stared at the ground.

"I don't." I said matter of factly. Jen frowned and looked away.

"Sorry." I added.

"It's fine." Jen said softly. She fixed her face. "Just don't beat yourself up too much. Dave would've lost it at some point anyway. Every time I spoke to him he was filled with rage about something." Jen shook her head.

"This was just an accident waiting to happen." Jen grabbed her lunch and left.

I wish I could feel that way about it.

I sighed and shuffled over to my friends.

I sat with them more out of habit than because I wanted to. I wondered how much they knew about what'd happened to Timothy. What our friends had done to him.

"Hey man," They greeted me.

Most of them slapped my shoulder.

"We heard you found him." Alex said. He usually didn't say much. He normally just kind of went along with what everyone else was doing.

I nodded.

"Can't believe they really went that far. We talked about it and stuff but actually doing it is another thing."

I was surprised they cared. I'd been sure they'd be on Dave's side or something.

"So none of you knew those guys were going to beat him up?" I asked.

They all shook their heads and then Karl came in. He sat down like nothing was wrong. I remembered when I asked him where Dave was he said he wasn't supposed to say. He knew. I glared at him as my body burned with rage.

"Are you okay, man?" Dennis asked.

I stood up. "You knew." I growled at Karl.

His eyes widened. "Dude, I thought they were just going to scare him a little I promise!" Karl raised his hands in the air in surrender. "I didn't know they'd go this far."

What a weak excuse.

"Fuck you." I said before leaving.

✪

School had been awful with everyone asking how Timothy was, how much blood there'd been, if he was really dead and what not else. Each question made me feel shittier. Angrier at myself and at Dave.

I knew he was the one who started it. He was always the instigator. Everyone else always followed. I couldn't control myself. And before I knew it I was at his house. His dad's house, where I was sure he was hiding out surrounded by lawyers.

I banged on the door.

The door opened soon enough and I was face to face with Dave.

His eyes widened at first. Then his surprise faded and his eyes went back to their usual snake-like slits.

"Was wondering when you'd show up." He stepped aside for me to come in.

"I'm not coming in." I said.

Dave sighed. "Fine. What do you want?"

It took every inch of me to keep my hands to myself. But I hadn't come here to beat him up. Yet. I came for answers.

"Why did you do it? I thought we talked." My voice and my hands were shaking.

"I thought you said you'd be there for me. Instead you made out with my girl. So." He shrugged

"I told you she came on to me! And what's Timothy got to do with that!"

"He's your new best friend, right? I saw the way you fucking looked at him, you just traded me for that fucking-"

"Watch your mouth." I stepped forward.

Dave gulped. "You took something from me so I took something from you. I was trying to wake you up man, he's a loser."

"No, you're the loser!" I pushed him to the ground. "You're so lucky I'm hanging out with him cause if it wasn't for him, I would've fucking kicked your ass by now!"

Dave laughed and got back up. "So pathetic. You sound gay as hell."

"And you're going to jail."

"I didn't think so. The best lawyers win. And that fag isn't dumb enough to open his mouth."

"I am."

"Well good luck with that." Dave began closing the door. I pushed back, the door banged against his hand.

"Ah! Fuck!" He shrieked.

"Don't you have at least a little remorse! You left him in the cold, he could've died!" I screamed.

Dave massaged his hand. Then he looked at me.

"So what? People die every day." He said coldly.

I lunged forward and grabbed his collar. I pushed him against the wall. He cringed in pain.

"Who the fuck are you!" I screamed.

I looked into his eyes.

Dave looked emotionless. And entitled. It was like he was checked out. Every good thing he'd ever been was gone and only hate was left.

I wanted to kill him. I squeezed his shirt so hard my nails dug into the palms of my hand.

Fear flashed in Dave's eyes. He masked it quickly.

He pushed me off of him, out the door.

"See you in court." He said before slamming the door in my face.

✪

My phone was deformed, the screen cracked, the passenger seat of my car was now half ripped apart and my knuckles were bloody.

And still I didn't feel better. I'd gone home to get some more clothes for T. I got him his favorite ones. If.. they even were still his favorites.

When I got out of the car I saw Allie coming from the hospital.

"Hey." She smiled at me.

"Yo." I gave her a hug. "How is he?"

"He's okay." Allie tried to smile. Then she frowned and shook her head. "This is so messed up."

"I know."

Allie stared at the ground. "I hope they all die." She muttered, tears of anger in her eyes.

I pulled her into a hug.

She cried in my arms and I stroked her back. "They'll get what they deserve."

Images of violence flashed before my eyes. I imagined each and every one of them getting their own painful death.

I still can't understand how they even did it. How can you be so cruel?

"They got expelled. And they're gonna get it way worse. I promise you." I said.

"You're not gonna do something stupid, are you?" Allie pulled away. She wiped her eyes. "Timothy needs you. You can't be there for him from jail."

I sighed. "Yeah." I looked at the ground. At least then I could get my punishment for not being there for him. I could make it all up just like that.

I shook my head. Dumb idea.

"Is that leech still in there?" I asked.

Allie laughed and shook her head. "He went to his job."

"Oh he has a job now!" I mocked.

"I doubt it'll last long. Authority problems and such." Allie nodded.

I smirked at the image of Fangs getting fired.

"I'll see you around, okay?" Allie squeezed my arm.

"Take care." I said. I took a deep breath and went into the hospital. I walked down many halls before making it to T's room.

I knocked on the door and came right in.

He smiled when he saw me. "I was starting to wonder where you were. I haven't seen you in at least.. ten hours."

"And I'll bet you missed me for all of them." I closed the door and make my way to his bed.

"Of course." T said seriously. Then he smiled again. Such radiance for someone who was beat up.

"What are you up to?" I asked. T was holding a note pad and pen.

"Making lists. They say it helps cognitive function. It might speed up the process so I'm not permanently stupid."

"You're not stupid. The doctor said your memory should be back within a week tops. Let's just trust that."

T sighed.

I grabbed his pad. He had a bunch of lists. Blue things, family members, teachers, happy things..

I wasn't on that list. I tried not to show my disappointment. I cleared my throat.

"What's that?" T looked at the huge bag I was holding.

"Oh, I brought you some stuff. Dahlia picked up random crap but I figured you'd miss your favorite hoodie." I pulled out his striped one.

"Oh! I missed this! Thank you!" T grabbed a hold of it. He seemed very happy.

"I even brought your ridiculous hello kitty outfit."

"You liked it, liar."

I shook my head. "Anyway,"

"You're awfully thoughtful for someone who hates my guts." T said playfully.

"I don't! I love- Never mind."

T frowned confused.

"Sorry, I'm just.. You need to heal on your own. I can't be confusing you and all that."

"Can you at least tell me how much I don't remember? Is it important?"

"Forget I said anything."

"I can't." T was starting to lose patience.

"How are things with Fangs?" I asked to change the subject. I also wanted to know how he felt about him now.

T shrugged. "It's weird. Something's off.. I don't know what."

I nodded. So that meant he wasn't head over heels for him like he had been before, right? Maybe somewhere he knew something had changed. I felt so relieved.

"What's that look about? Do you know?" Timothy asked.

"Kinda." I said.

"Then tell me! I'm sick and tired of being in the dark!"

"I'm not supposed to."

"Come on, Josh! You look at me as if it's almost impossible for you to be near me and then you bring me all this stuff! And then my dad's being tight lipped about everything and who the hell is Dahlia? What's going on? I'm sick of this!" For once T wasn't calm or joking around. He looked genuinely frustrated.

"I know it's hard now but you'll get better in no time. "

Timothy sighed and turned away.

I grabbed his hand on instinct, without thought.

Timothy looked completely confused now.

"Sorry." I pulled away.

Timothy sighed and leaned back on his bed.

"You're annoyed." I concluded.

"Smart ass." He grumbled.

I laughed. "Guess you hit your head pretty hard then. Interesting."

"I'm glad this is amusing for you."

"I have something that might cheer you up." I searched through my bag.

T looked at me disinterestedly.

I pulled out T's purple plushie. "Remember this?"

T began to smile.

"Of course I remember!" He took it from me.

"It's JP!" He said happily.

Wait what? He remembered the name? But he only gave it that name after Charlie left..

Timothy fumbled with the plushie. "You gave it to me for my birthday after everything..." His words trailed off. Timothy frowned.

I stared at him.

"After.." He mumbled.

What the hell..

Suddenly he looked scared. He sat up and looked at me with fearful eyes. "Josh-"

The door slammed open and Charlie came in as if called.

I glanced at Timothy. I wasn't sure how much he knew. Did he remember everything or just the plushie? Did he remember that Charlie left? That he relapsed? That we were so much more than friends?

"God, I think I'm gonna quit. It's just not for me. And of course nothing's worth being away from you." Charlie smiled at Timothy.

Timothy only stared at him, frowning.

Please remember.

Selfishly, I wished he would cause I couldn't stand to see them kiss again.

"Babe," Charlie came to Timothy's bed.

Timothy's frown turned into a glare.

"What's wrong?" Charlie reached for Timothy's face.

Timothy slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me!" He yelled.

A/N

Only five chapters left, y'all o.o This is crazy.