Keystone Outcasts

[CrystalSmith]

Joshua shrugs, "I can't leave him Robbie. I swore to my mother I'd look after him." He says lightly as he walks beside him, he moves a hand and touches his eye lightly,

 

[buildingaspaceship]

"But... Then get him help or something." He says, slowly. "I don't know. There's gotta be some kind of hotline for drunk fathers. They have 'em for everything nowadays." He says. "But you gotta remember that your mother wouldn't ever want you to be hurt just to look after him. She wasn't like that."

 

[CrystalSmith]

Joshua sighs, "I keep forgetting how she was. It's like she just fades away every second and soon all that's left is the memories, the they get fader each day too." He says with a sigh, "He's my father, I have to look after him." He says.

 

[buildingaspaceship]

"You shouldn't forget how she was Joshua. You need to hold on to her memories." Robbie raises his eyebrows and turns on to his street. "And your father... There's a difference between looking after him and letting him beat you up at every opportunity."

 

[CrystalSmith]

Joshua sighs, "I don't let him beat me up. It's not like that, he blames me Robbie, for letting her die." He says quietly, looking away.

 

[buildingaspaceship]

"And he shouldn't. You didn't let her die." He insisted, "you shouldn't feel guilt for something you couldn't, or anyone couldn't, control." He walks past the cars that are lined outside of his house. People were already in the pub, children running around screaming and older people sat around smoking outside. There were more inside.

 

[CrystalSmith]

Joshua looks around, sighing, "I know, it's just hard you know. I lost the one person who ever cared enough to be there. My mum, well she was everything in my life Robbie." He murmurs.

 

[buildingaspaceship]

Robbie holds the door open for Joshua. "And there's nothing you can do about that now except find someone else to be your everything. I know it sounds harsh, but it's true." He says this quietly, avoiding the eager ears of eavesdropping adults.

 

[CrystalSmith]

Joshua goes quiet, not wanting people to hear their conversation, "And who is supposed to be there for me? A girl?" He asks lightly, making sure he was only speaking to Robbie, his voice quiet.

 

[buildingaspaceship]

"Fuck no." Robbie says, guiding Joshua over to the 'staff stairs' which led up into the proper house. "No, I mean friends. Sure though, a girl is good too. Just... You need someone who takes your mind off things and you know... Is your everything."

 

[CrystalSmith]

Joshua nods, "well I have you Robbie, and Lee and Mel and Chloe. So I'll just stick with you lot." He says, following him up the stairs and smiling weakly, "I'm sure a girl will come across me eventually." He says lightly.

 

[buildingaspaceship]

"They will do. I don't remember exactly what you said last night but imagine that I'm repeating that right this second. Inspirational and stuff." He laughs a little and shrugs his shoulders, before opening the door at the top of the stairs to his house. He walked in, these stairs led straight into the living room, his mother and father were sat on the couch, talking in worried voices.

 

[CrystalSmith]

Joshua nods and grins, "Something like that." He says lightly. He looks at him and then he's parents, "I found him." He exclaims lightly before smiling slightly, "And he's fine!" He adds.

 

[buildingaspaceship]

His mother stands up and hurries over to Robbie, wrapping him in a one sided hug. He didn't hug her back, instead looked at the wall behind her. His father stood up too, but didn't approach. When she let go of him, and stepped back, Robbie shifted around uncomfortably. "Uh... I slept at the Doctors. I'm fine, though." He shrugged his shoulders and then grabbed Joshua's arm and pulled him down the long corridor and into his room.

 

[CrystalSmith]

Joshua chuckles lowly before entering his room and glancing at him, "She was really worried," he points out before sitting on a chair and looking around. He focuses back on Robbie, "Sorry about last night, Man. I was drunk and shouldn't of kicked off." He says with a small laugh.

 

[buildingaspaceship]

Robbie shut the door behind them and moved over to his bed. There were open art books all over it, with comic drawings of people with guns to their heads or ropes around their necks. He sighed and bundled them all together, shutting them and putting them on his desk. "They've gone through my stuff again..." He mumbles quietly, then sits on the bed, crossing one leg underneath him and dangling the other over the side. "It's alright, I shouldn't have ran off."

 

[CrystalSmith]

Joshua glances at the sketch book, "They're just worried. Hell I would be if my kid was drawing a lot of people about to kill themselves." He murmurs, "And anyway, you're okay now, no one need to worry." He comments lightly.

 

[buildingaspaceship]

Robbie tuts, rolling his eyes at the comment about his drawings. "Ever heard of art therapy?" He lays back on his bed and looks up at the ceiling.

 

[CrystalSmith]

Joshua shrugs, "Is it like music therapy but with art?" He asks guessing slightly, he ruffles his hair and smiles slightly.

 

[buildingaspaceship]

"You draw how you feel." He says slowly. "Doctor King recommended it when he found out about- when my parents told him about what I did." He scratches his forehead and then moves position so that he could take his hat off. He throws it onto the floor and then takes his jacket off, then lays back down.

 

[CrystalSmith]

Joshua nods slowly, "Well, does it help?" He asks light looking over at his friend and smiling slightly. He looks at the floor, pausing.

 

[buildingaspaceship]

"No." Robbie says bluntly. "It just... I don't know. It sort of helps, sometimes, but most of the time you can't sit and draw a picture, you might not have the book with you, or something like that. Then it really doesn't help. I mean... I've drawn god knows how many and I still want to.. Y'know."

 

[CrystalSmith]

Joshua nods, "It's hard, but if it helps just keep drawing. I'm sure everyone would prefer that you kept it on the page." He says, looking around, "You'll get through this." He comments.

 

[buildingaspaceship]

"I don't think I will. I think you guys are the ones who need the shrinks, thinking I'll get through this is crazy." He laughs a little, "but sure, I'll keep drawing. I'll die anyway."

 

[CrystalSmith]

Joshua looks at him, "Maybe we do, but there's nothing wrong with having hope. I don't want to lose another person Robbie." He mutters, he taps his leg lightly.