brendon pounded on the bedroom door, begging for tyler to open it.

tyler stuffed his metal friend into his pocket, opening the door and staring at brendon.

"what?"

"i know you're upset, and i'm sorry. want me to make breakfast?"

tyler wasn't hungry but he nodded, thankful brendon would have something to keep him distracted from the small boy. brendon went off into the kitchen, tyler sneaking into the bathroom.

he sat on the edge of the tub, pulling his jeans down to pool around his ankles. he lifted the edge of his boxers up, eyeing the scarred flesh.

he needed this.

this was his escape.

nobody would ever understand him. nobody would ever see josh the way he saw him. brendon couldn't even begin to understand how much pain tyler was in. he probably didn't even care. he just had to act like it to be nice. in reality, he probably wanted tyler far, far away from him.

tyler let a tear roll down his cheek. brendon hated him already. he ruined everything. anything good life gives him, tyler fucks it up.

the tears flowed now, tyler choking back a sob. he dragged the blade across his thigh, eyes shut tight from how bad it hurt. he'd ripped open a few wounds that weren't fully healed, leaving a huge gash behind.

"fuck..." he muttered, wiping the hot tears away with the backs of his hands.

he moved to a spot above his knee that had yet to be scarred. he dragged the blade across his skin over and over again, free hand covering his mouth so he wouldn't start sobbing.

there was suddenly a knock on the door, nearly giving tyler a heart attack.

"w-what?" he choked out, trying hard to keep his voice steady.

"are you crying?" brendon frowned.

"no."

"what're you doing?"

"n-nothing."

"don't lie to me."

"leave me alone."

"t..."

"y-you promised you'd leave me alone when i asked... so l-leave me alone."

the air fell silent for a second before he heard brendon walk away. he let out a sigh of relief, quickly rushing around to clean up the mess he'd made.

he left the bathroom a few minutes later, his thigh burning every time he stepped with that leg. he tried to ignore it, forcing himself not to limp out to meet brendon in the kitchen.

"i made eggs and sausage."

"it's done already?"

"yeah, they don't take long."

tyler hoisted himself up on the stool at the island, glad he could take the pressure off his leg.

"i can tell you were crying, t."

"what?"

"your face is all red and patchy."

"so what? you said it's okay to cry."

"it is, i just wish you'd let me help you."

"you don't get it."

"i'm trying."

tyler fell quiet. was he being like josh? was he hurting brendon? oh god, he hoped not.

"i'm sorry... am i hurting you...?"

"what? no, t. you're not hurting me. i just wish you'd understand what i'm trying to say."

"i'm sorry i don't. i'm fucking stupid."

"no you aren't," brendon shook his head, taking a seat next to the boy as he began eating.

tyler stared at his food.

"aren't you hungry?"

tyler shook his head.

"t..."

"i'm not."

brendon could tell tyler was starting to get bad again. he placed his hand above tyler's knee, making the boy gasp and yank his knee out from under his hand. he unknowingly grabbed tyler's fresh cuts.

"what?" brendon asked in confusion.

"n-nothing..."

"did i do something wrong?"

"n-no.."

brendon fell quiet, staring at the brunette who took an interest in his lap. it suddenly clicked.

"t..."

"stop."

"why..."

"stop, please."

"why would you do that?"

"please, b."

"god, i'm horrible... i was in just the next room over... i'm so sorry."

tyler frowned because it wasn't brendon's fault. why did he feel so bad?

"it's okay..?" he asked in confusion. "it's not your fault.."

"yes it is. i made you upset. don't lie to me."

"i'm not," tyler frowned. it wasn't anybody's fault except his own.

"are they bad?"

tyler shrugged.

"show me."

"no."

"show me, t."

"i said no."

"show me right now."

tyler sighed. something just made him want to listen to brendon. he slowly tugged of his jeans, revealing his bruised legs. the cuts above his knee were bleeding again. he lifted up the bottom of his boxers, showing brendon the worst cut which was still bleeding.

"holy shit, t..." brendon whispered, eyes trailing over his legs.

"i didn't know it was this bad..."

"neither did josh," tyler blurted out, instantly regretting it.

"don't bring him up," brendon ordered, feathering his fingers over the fading bruises on the boy's skin.

"'m sorry," the brunette whispered.

"please, t, next time you need to hurt yourself come to me. please. i can help you feel better."

"b-but..."

"no buts. i can't be the nice guy anymore."

"w-what's that supposed to mean?"

"we need rules."

"what? r-rules?"

what was brendon, his father?

"uh huh. i'll draw some up. eat your breakfast."

"i'm still not hungry."

"fine, then i guess we won't watch any movies later."

"what? why?"

"because you need to eat."

"fine! i don't know why you're being so mean all of a sudden!"

"i'm not being mean, i'm being strict."

"well stop."

"no, because i care about you."

"you're annoying."

"you're the one that's still not eating."

tyler shot him a glare, forcing a forkful of eggs into his mouth.