《Atrocities // Joshler》8

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When Tyler woke up, it took him about ten minutes to realise he wasn't dreaming.

It definitely felt like a dream. Everything was disoriented and blurred around the edges. He didn't recognise where he was or who the people around him were, so he figured it was all part of his imagination. His heartbeat felt like it was in the back of his head, pounding away and sending thumps of pain through his skull.

He couldn't hear, either. People were talking to him; he had figured out that much. What they were saying, though, was a complete mystery. He just stared at their wide eyes and twisted mouths, their words shooting straight past Tyler and dissipating helplessly into the air behind him. They looked distorted and unnatural, but Tyler wasn't scared. Tyler wasn't anything.

Josh looked at Brendon. "What's wrong with him?"

"He's concussed," Brendon replied. "You have to keep him awake, okay? I'll go get the ice. It should be ready by now."

Josh nodded and turned his focus back to Tyler. He was blinking slowly and mumbling incoherent words. Josh cupped his face as the boy's head lolled back.

"Tyler? Tyler, you have to stay awake."

Tyler didn't respond. He didn't even notice Josh's words. He seemed to be looking at nothing, his eyes glassy and blank. Josh shook his slightly, unrealistically hoping to jolt him out of his concussed state.

Brendon returned with a towel wrapped around a handful of ice. He gave it to Josh, who presses it to Tyler's head. Tyler winced, which Josh took as a good sign, because at least he was responding. He lightly tapped Tyler's cheek.

"What the fuck?" x Tyler slurred.

Josh almost laughed. "Hey, it's alright. Do you know what day it is?"

"You speak funny," Tyler giggled.

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Josh cleared his throat and spoke again in an American accent. "Do you know the date?"

Tyler shrugged, his movements sloppy. "Dunno. 'm pretty sure it's Wednesday or somethin'. Hey- hey, why aren't I at- at school?"

Josh turned to Brendon. "I have no idea how to handle this."

"Don't worry," Brendon said. "You've been concussed enough for me to know what to do." He kneeled down next to the couch. "Tyler, you have to start talking. Talk about anything, okay? Don't stop."

Tyler lowered his voice. "I'm gonna tell you guys somethin', m'kay? But you- you can't tell anyone. No one. No-no tellin', 'kay?"

Brendon and Josh nodded in unison, both curious and glad that Tyler was responding.

Tyler took a deep breath. "When- when I was lil', I was playin' make-believe with my friends. We-we sent one of 'em out ta get fake-fake foods , y'know, and she came back with a las-lasagna. A whole lasagna. I was like, 'Lasagna! Where- where'd you get lasagna?' and she was like 'Don't worry 'bout it', so we all- we all ate the lasagna. And then- then we found out she- she stole it! And we got in trouble, and we all went to the princ-principals office 'n stuff. And I- I nev'r told my parents 'bout it. I couldn't sleep for, like, a year. You- you can't tell 'em, though. Please- please don't tell 'em."

Josh chuckled and shook his head. "I promise I won't. Tell me another story."

Tyler furrowed his eyebrows and leaned slightly closer to Josh. "Who- who are you?"

Josh paused and turned to Brendon, who spoke up for them both. "That's Josh. I'm Brendon."

"Why 'm I here?" Tyler asked. "And why's everythin' fuzzy?"

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"You got hurt," Josh explained. "And we're here to help. Everything will make sense later, okay? When you're better."

Tyler nodded. "Can I sleep now?"

"Woah, no," Josh chuckled. "You have to keep talking. Maybe we'll put on some television, too. You just have to stay awake for a little bit longer, alright? Then you'll be okay."

Tyler ignored Josh's words and tried to lie down. He snuggled into the pillow and whined over-dramatically when Josh pulled him back into a sitting position. Josh grabbed the remote from a nearby table and studied it for a second, trying to figure it out. When he caught the gist of it, he turned the TV on and pulled himself up onto the couch. He had one hand still pressing the ice to Tyler's head while the other was holding the remote and navigating through the channels. When they reached a certain channel, Tyler hummed and Josh took it as a sign of approval.

Josh wasn't entirely sure of what was going on in the show, but Tyler seemed to enjoy it, so he kept it on. They watched it together, Tyler making slurred comments every now and then and Josh pretending to understand.

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