Josh
I wake up to the feeling of a vibration.
I pat around the bed, searching for Tyler's phone.
I locate it, gently removing it from his hand.
He almost wakes up, but doesn't.
I lightly place my thumb on the home button, unlocking the phone.
Tyler got a message from Brendon.
I open it, seeing a picture.
Brendon:
I sigh, feeling extremely relieved.
Brendon will no longer be bothering us.
I put the phone down, looking up at my boy.
His eyes are shut, his mouth a little open.
I lift myself up towards him a little, kissing his neck.
He awakes with a giggle, and pushes me away.
"Josh, stop it!"
I laugh, grabbing the phone again.
"Hey, I have some good news." I tell him.
He sits up, rubbing his eyes.
"Tell me."
"You will no longer have to worry about him coming between us."
I bring the phone up to Tyler's face, showing him the picture.
Tyler looks like he hits realization.
"He's leaving?"
"Yeah." I nod.
I lean in to kiss him, but he puts his hand in between us, pushing me away.
"Uh-uh. Morning breath."
I roll my eyes, playfully, and jump out of bed.
"Whatever, I'm going to fix myself up. We still going to the girl's today, right?"
"Mhm." Is the response I get.
I close the bathroom door, taking my sweatpants off.
I grab my toothbrush and put toothpaste on it.
As I'm brushing my teeth, the door opens.
I give Tyler a confused look.
"If we shower together, we save water." He laughs.
|-/
Tyler parks the car in front of where we used to live.
We get out of the car, looking at the building.
"This all happened so fast, didn't it?" He questions.
"Yeah, but aren't you glad it did?" I smile at him.
We walk in the doors, holding hands.
As we approach Debby and Jenna's room, we hear yelling.
Tyler gives me a confused look.
We both realize the screaming is coming from their dorm.
We run towards it, attempting to open the door.
I kick it twice, opening it the second time.
My eyes dart straight to Jenna, up against the wall, terrified.
I look over, seeing Debby, holding a knife.
I look at Tyler and point to Debby.
He runs in front of her, grabbing her hand.
I step in front of Jenna, facing the other two.
"Debby, look at me." Tyler says.
She has a tight grip on the kinfe, while Jenna is sobbing behind me.
I look around, seeing glass on the floor, along with Jenna's phone.
Debby tries to walk past Tyler, but he stops her.
He pushes her back, until she's against the wall.
Tyler's hand on her shoulder and the other holding her wrist.
"Give me the kinfe. I know you do not want to hurt Jenna."
Debby looks at Tyler with sadness in her eyes.
She bursts into tears, falling to the ground.
Tyler grabs the knife, putting it on the table.
He kneels next to the sobbing girl, comforting her.
I finally turn around, looking at the traumatized woman.
"Jenna, Are you okay? W-What happened?"
She looks me in the eyes, shaking her head slowly.
I take her by the hands, walking her out of the dorm.
I close the door behind me, sitting her down on the floor.
Jenna's breathing finally slows down.
She starts sobbing, "Thank you for coming when you did. I think s-she would've killed me."
"Can you explain to me what happened?"
"I-I wish I could. She came home, already frustrated from work. She went into the kitchen a-and got even angrier from something. I don't know what it was. S-She started yelling at me and I got scared. She pulled a knife on me. I froze, I-I didn't know what to do. She just kinda snapped. She said something about me not doing anything right. I don't know what she means. Josh, I'm scared."
She sighs, I wrap her in a hug.
"You're fine, Jenna. You're safe now."
I comfort her until I hear my name being yelled.
"Stay here, I have to help Tyler."
She nods, looking down.
I walk in, Debby is sobbing on the floor and Tyler has a bottle of pills in his hand.
"I know what's wrong." He tells me.
I nod, letting him proceed.
"Debby is bipolar. Remember? But she obviously hasn't been taking her medicine recently." Tyler places the bottle on the counter, "I don't think she ever told Jenna."
I agree with him, looking at Debby.
She finally speaks up, "I'm sorry, Jenna." She whispers.
She looks up, not seeing Jenna.
"W-Where is she? Did I hurt her?"
Tyler kneels back down.
"She's fine. Listen, I need to take you to your doctor. You haven't taken your medication and I'm trying to help you."
She nods, taking Tyler's hand.
They both stand up, walking out.
I follow behind them.
Debby sees Jenna on the floor as Tyler and her walk past.
Tyler takes Debby to the car and I take Jenna back inside.
I let her take a seat on the couch as I get us drinks from the kitchen.
I bring them to the living room, setting them on the coffee table.
Jenna wraps a blanket around herself.
"I can explain why she did this." I sit down.
She looks at me.
"Debby, She's bipolar. She has been on medication since she was about twelve or thirteen. I thought you knew."
Jenna thinks about this for a second, "No, I didn't. I mean, s-she has had some mood swings then and there, but I didn't think much of it. You know I would just think she was on her period or something, but obviously not."
"She hasn't taken her medicine, so she's going with Tyler to get help."
She shakes her head, "I'm really happy that you guys are getting her help and everything, but I-I can't."
I tilt my head to the side, "What do you mean?"
"I can't stay with her. I know she will need me to be here when she gets back, but I'm too scared. I don't think I can handle it. She nearly hurt me with a knife, Josh."
"I know, Jenna. I know how it feels. I've been in a relationship before where my boyfriend at the time went crazy on me. But he wasn't bipolar or anything, he just snapped. Accused me of cheating and lying. He almost shot me. It's scary, I can say that. I understand why you would want to leave. I don't blame you, but I don't blame Debby either. When you explain to her, You don't have to stay here. Remember, my old dorm is still open and Tyler and I have a pull-out couch."
Jenna gives me a small smile, taking a sip from her green tea.
"Thanks for understanding, Josh."
"Always."