43

                                    

                                          
Andy used to be one of Josh’s patients before Tyler came; Brendon takes care of him now. Andy has been in Imagina for a year, and has made tremendous improvements. He came to Imagina extremely violent and uncooperative. Now, Andy is a sweet and chill kid. Truthfully, Josh thinks that Andy should’ve been discharged already, but he still has a month left.
                          
Andy’s room was close to the entrance of the ward. He had it covered in rock band posters and flags since the doctors cleared him to be stable enough for room decorations; Andy loved heavy metal and rock. He had a good amount of tattoos, but don’t judge him because he’s one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet.
                          
Josh had previously asked Andy about meeting Tyler, so Josh knocks upon entering, knowing that Andy would be soon ready.
                          
“Hurley!”
                          
“Josh!!” Andy says excitedly from the chair, walking up to Josh, and greeting him with their own handshake.
                          
Andy was dressed in a black sweatshirt and jeans. Once again, Andy had been cleared to wear his own clothes since he wasn’t at risk. Josh hoped that Tyler would eventually get to this point knowing that Tyler was stuck in a ‘safe’ hospital gown and plain room for now.
                          
The two of them made small talk as they walk down the hallway. Josh gave Andy a bit more information about Tyler (everything that he can legally share, of course). Once they reached the door, Josh asked Andy to wait outside first while Josh makes sure that Tyler is stable.
                          
When Josh walked into the room, Tyler was sitting on the bed, and staring off into space.
                          
“Ty? You okay?”
                          
“Hmm?” Tyler asks, still spaced out.
                          
“Ty.” Josh says firmly causing Tyler to break his stare and look up. “Waaa? Yeah? Sorry Josh.”
                          
“It’s all good. You okay?”
                          
Tyler takes a deep breath, and closes his eyes for a split second. “Let’s get this over with…” Tyler mumbles.
                          
“Well, that’s the spirit.” Josh jokes, walking to the door to let Andy in.
                          
Andy steps through the door timidly, scared of what Tyler might do, or say. To Andy’s surprise, Tyler stays quiet, and just observes the boy.
                          
“Umm. Hi Tyler, my name is Andy.”
                          
Tyler keeps staring at Andy wearily. Tyler is so close to just running out of the room, or screaming. Tyler doesn’t do people; people and Tyler don’t match. Tyler doesn’t know what to do; he doesn’t know what he’s supposed to say.
                          
Awkward silence filled the room, and Tyler knew that he had to speak; he just didn’t know how to get the words out.
                          
Tyler swallows before beginning: “H-hi…”
                          
Josh sits back, watching eagerly. He needed this to go well, but he couldn’t intervene; Tyler had to do this himself.
                          
“So, um. How’s your day going?” Andy asks, uncomfortably sitting down on a chair.
                          
“O-kay, you?”
                          
“Mine’s pretty good.” Andy says before adding: “Other than Brendon ripping off my blankets this morning.” Andy says with a dramatic eye roll, trying to lighten the mood. This causes Tyler to laugh, something Tyler and Josh haven’t heard in a while.
                          
“Josh is pretty annoy-ing too.”
                          
“Tell me about it...I’m so glad you saved me from him.”
                          
Andy and Tyler both laugh while Josh makes an effort to defend himself:
                          
“Hey! I’ll have you know that I’m pretty cool, and I think I’m the bomb.”
                          
Tyler quirks his eyebrow up, and Andy responds:
                          
“Yeah, /you/ think you’re cool. None of us do.”
                          
“Geez.” Josh says, clutching his heart comedically. “Did you hear that? That was my heart breaking.”
                          
Andy does another eye roll: “See what I mean? Sooooo annoying and dramatic.”
                          
Tyler chuckles: “Yeah, he’s so high main-tenance.”