One Too Many Thoughts

Chapter Eight: Mask What is Real

Josh put his arm around his friend and dragged him towards the two adults.

"This is Tyler," Josh told them. "He was James' friend."

Tyler tried to let the thoughts sink in. James? That's why he was feeling down.

Tyler reached up to his face, rubbing his eyes. I could have saved him.

You could have. But you didn't. You're a failure.

"I'm sorry..." Tyler mumbled, letting the tears run down his face. "James was...a really good friend of mine."

"I should have noticed." The man grudged. "I should have."

His wife put an arm around him. She looked at Tyler.

"Well..." She didn't know what to say.

"Can you please head to the stage, boy's?" The teacher glared at them and pulled them away. "I'm sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison."

"No, i-it's fine, they were friend's of James'..." She cried.

The teacher pushed Josh and Tyler away.

"I-I didn't know it was James..." Tyler muttered as the walked down the halls.

"Yeah, the speaker cut off," Josh mumbled. "I was there..."

"What?" Tyler questioned him, glancing up at Josh.

"Or, not there. I asked James to come eat with us since he apologized to me. And you, what he said. Then he said no, he's good." Josh explained. "So I left and went to find you when he went to his locker and pulled something out in a bag. I went back and asked him, but he said it's his lunch and he was eating with Erika. I walked away, forgetting about them breaking up. Then I couldn't find you in the cafeteria when I heard a gunshot and saw a bunch of teachers running. I went with them and one of them went inside of the bathroom. They came out with James' suicide note, and they asked if I knew a Tyler because he must have mentioned you. They took it away before I could read it, and I freaked out. Then James' parents came, and I was a bit calmer, but they didn't even ask about James. So, yeah."

"Josh," Tyler told him. "You and James were close."

"Not really, but yeah." Josh corrected him, taking a deep breath. "Good friends."

They walked into the auditorium to Mr. Frasier trying to calm everyone down. Most people were still whispering to each other though. Josh pointed to two seats beside the brown walls. The seats were actually cushioned with rose lining, which was nice. Tyler grabbed the seat beside the wall and rested his head on it, shutting his eyes.

"Okay, this topic is very serious, and the most you could do to help is stay calm and not...freak out and not listen!" Mr. Frasier yelled. "I thought that you would all act more mature, but no, you all decided to cry and scream and make the situation worse! We are trying to deal with this as best as we can."

Tyler opened his eyes and rubbed his face. He looked over at Josh, who looked like he would burst out crying.

"This isn't helping the Harrison's either." He lectured them. "Can everyone please wait here while we deal with this in a mature manner? Ms. Colejae will watch you."

Mr. Frasier walked off the stage, trading places with Ms. Colejae.

"You can whisper, but no funny business or detention!" She waved her boney fingers at them.

Tyler turned to Josh, who was staring off into the distance.

"Josh?" Tyler nudged him.

"Oh, sorry," He smoothed back his hair and looked at Tyler, trying to smile."Y'know, this might sound selfish, but..."