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Monday rolled around and Josh wasn’t as ready for it than what you might think. Sure, he would be able to see and talk to Tyler but everyone else was there too. They’d be sure to humiliate Josh in front of Tyler or even pull him away from Josh, leaving him
Josh got dressed in a gray short sleeve and black skinny jeans. He put a snap back on to top it all off.
“Josh! Are you going to eat breakfast today?!” Joan called out to her son.
“No! I’m just gonna head out!” Josh called back, grabbing his bag and slinging it over his shoulder.
“Alright! Have a good day, sweetheart!”
“Thanks mom, you too!” Josh finished, walking out the door and making his journey to the school. Just as Josh put his music in, Tyler came up behind him, tapping him on the back.
“Hey there, Josh!” Tyler exclaimed.
“Good morning, Ty. You seem excited.” Josh chuckled.
“Yeah, well, it’s the first day for me. Can’t not be giddy, you know?”
“No.” Josh looked at Tyler with confusion. “No, I don’t know. I thought you didn’t like school anyways.”
“Yeah but first days are like the day you get to scope out everything, you know?” Tyler explained. “You see who’s who. Who’s popular, cool, annoying, stupid everything!” Josh just laughed.
“You’re an odd one, Joseph.” They continued to walk. “But cool, nonetheless.”
“Thanks” Tyler smiled. The two boys were turning into the school by now, preparing for a long day at school.
—
“Here’s the office. You’ll get your schedule and someone will come to bring you everywhere. Good luck.” Josh told Tyler, dropping him off at the school’s main office. Josh didn’t know who would show up but he knew his school had a new student shadow program where any new kids would be shown around and brought to their classes by a designated student. It was a different person each time.
“Thanks, Josh. I’ll see you later.” Tyler thanked him. He was nervous but more excited than anything.
“So, here’s your schedule,” the woman gave Tyler his information. “And the person showing you around is right there.” She pointed out.
“Hey, I’m Brendon.” The taller boy introduced himself.
“I’m Tyler. You’re showing me around today?”
“Sure am. Let’s go.”
Brendon brought Tyler to his first period class and every other and now they were at their lunch wave.
“So, you can sit with me today since it’s your first day and you probably don’t know anyone else.” Brendon informed Tyler.
“Oh, actually, I did meet someone. Do you know Josh Dun?” Tyler asked nicely. Brendon just laughed.
“Josh Dun? How do you know that loser?” Brendon continued to laugh.
“Loser?” Tyler questioned. Who was he to say that about someone he didn’t know.
“Yeah, loser. He doesn’t even have friends. Just sits in class disrupting things with his constant tapping. Annoying if you ask me.” He sat down at his table full of friends, waving and occasionally saying his hellos.
“He’s not annoying. He’s a nice and cool person. You’d know if you talked to him.” Tyler became defensive at this point.
“Yeah, I’m sure he is. Listen, jut sit down and avoid loners like him.” Brendon forcefully pulled Tyler down into the seat, securing him with his arm. Thousands of judgmental looks were being given to Tyler as he sat there. He felt so uncomfortable sitting there with the people that, quite obviously, didn’t like his new friend.
“Why is he here again?” He heard a girl with blonde, short hair whisper to her friend. Clearly she didn’t know how to whisper though because, even though across the table and four people down to the right, Tyler could hear her comprehensively.
“I don’t know. I heard he hangs out with that outcast of a kid, Josh though. What a freak.” He friend said back. Tyler sat there irritably silent, waiting for the lunch wave to be over so he could just leave. He could figure out where his last two classes where.
Tyler was in the midst of tapping his foot with aggravation when Josh walked by with his tray of food. He had been looking for Tyler all day; it seems they had no classes together so far.
Josh looked at Tyler with wide eyes. He opened his mouth to say something but was immediately silenced by one of Brendon’s friends.
“Can we help you with something?” A boy with black, short and raven styled hair spoke up. He had piercing green eyes that threatened Josh a little.
“Oh, uh, no not really.” Josh replied. He was getting ready to leave when Tyler said something.
“I’m sorry, Josh.” He said in a small voice.
“For what?” Brendon spoke. “For saving yourself from an idiot?”
“He’s not an idiot!” Tyler was fed up. His first day was turning out shit. Josh just fled. He didn’t want to carry out his day anymore but he knew he had to. He couldn’t help but wonder why Tyler was sitting with them. He had the option to leave, why didn’t he?
He ran out the cafeteria doors and outside to the football field where he could sit in peace on the bleachers. Josh sat down on the bleachers and broke down a bit.
He thought he found someone who was nice and interesting and cool to talk to and was into the same things he was into. He thought he found a friend in Tyler but, no. No, Brendon got to Tyler and took him away.
Josh continued to cry and now he was letting out broken sobs between shouts of anger when someone sat down besides him. It was the last person he wanted to see, too.
“Josh, I’m sorry. Brendon was keeping me there. I didn’t want to sit there.” He patted Josh’s back but he moved away, still crying. “Josh, listen. They were saying horrible things about you. I know they’re not true.”
“No you don’t. You believe them now. You think I’m a loser who just sits there by himself everyday. That I’m a freak.”
“I don’t believe any of that, Josh. I believe you’re a cool, nice person that has gone through some shit with no one there but I’m here now. I’ll help you through it. I’ll be with you.”
Josh couldn’t say anything. Just sit there and cry. Tyler moved towards him little by little and Josh gave in eventually. He cried in Tyler’s arms for an hour until they got up and walked home together.
Tyler brought Josh into his home and Joan immediately ran to him to assist.
“Was it Brendon?” She asked, holding her son.
“Yeah, how’d you know?” He sighed, sitting down next to her.
“Not the first time, honey. You can go on home now. I’ll take care of him.” She directed the boy.
“If it’s okay with you, I’d like to stay for a little. Josh was crying about me thinking I wouldn’t want to hang out with him anymore and I feel like leaving would make him even sadder.” Tyler explained.
“Then, by all means, stay. I have no problem with it. Just make sure you tell your mom, okay?”
“Yeah, thanks.” He told the mother, helping Josh up and bringing him to his room. Josh was exhausted from all the crying he’d just done so he made a beeline for his comfortable bed, curling up into a ball.
Tyler sighed and took out his phone, getting ready to leave the room and call his parents to inform them he wouldn’t be home until later tonight. But, Josh stopped him before he could leave.
“Please don’t go…” He choked.
“Josh, I’m not leaving you. I’m just telling my folks where I am, okay?”
“Okay…” He agreed.
Tyler quickly made a painful phone call and returned to Josh. When he got in he noticed he was silently crying again.
“Josh, what’s the matter?” Tyler asked, coming to his side.
“I don’t know. I thought you were going to leave or something.” He sniffled. “I know you said you were coming back but, I don’t know. I just met you like two or three days ago but I think you’re a really good person and I want to be your friend but I’m too clingy and it’s weird, I’m sorry.”
“Relax, relax it’s okay. ” Tyler got on the bed with Josh and sat next to him. Josh sat a bit closer, putting his head on his shoulder. “I don’t think you’re being clingy and I’d like to think we’re already friends.”
“Really?” He wiped his nose on he sleeve.
“Of course. You should sleep, Josh. Let’s sleep, okay?” Tyler suggested to Josh.
“Okay.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, falling asleep shortly, still on Tyler’s shoulder. Tyler moved down so he was comfortable as well and smiled. Josh seemed fragile no matter how tough he looked and he thought it was cute in a way. He needed someone there for him and Tyler was more than willing to be that person. Sure, they just met a few days ago but it felt like Tyler felt like he knew Josh for months, years even.
Tyler sighed, making Josh’s body fall on his chest. He didn’t move him in risk of waking him up and instead he held him close. He too fell asleep while holding Josh. It had been a long day for them both and they needed their rest.
***
longer chapter, nice fluff but it’s moving fast on purpose haha. the blonde haired girl was Jenna and the raven haired boy was kellin btw. She’s mean but it’s okay because she’a a beautiful sweetheart irl same with kellin tbh
okay, enjoy it. 🙂
fair winds *
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