Always You | Tyler Joseph

Chapter Two

"Take me back to the start."

May 1994

Lennon sat on her bedroom floor, playing with her toys, breathing in the savory aroma of the dinner her mother was cooking. She shifted uncomfortably in her 'nice clothes' that she had been forced to wear. She had been told that their new neighbors were coming over, and she had to make a good impression.

She never liked meeting strangers. She didn't like the idea of having to start over with someone. The unknown was scary. That's why Lennon was afraid of the dark, and growing up, and strangers. She was also afraid of thunderstorms, but that was entirely unrelated. Anyways, she was comfortable with where she was. She knew her room, she knew her parents. She knew her dolls, and the elaborate backstories she gave them. She didn't need anything else.

Her mother said that the neighbors have a son that was her age. She said that they'd both be starting school in the fall together and that it would be nice to have a friend; but Lennon didn't want to start school or make new friends. She wanted to stay in her room, with her toys, but the doorbell was ringing and her parents were beckoning her to come downstairs.

She got up with a huff and smoothed down the scratchy material of her dress. She put her toys away and reluctantly made her way down the stairs. Her parents were already greeting the lively family in their living room. The woman was talking to her mother with a young boy held on her hip, and the man was laughing at some corny joke her father had made with a slightly older boy hiding behind his legs.

"Oh, here she is!" Her dad wore a big grin, waving her over. "This is our daughter, Lennon."

The family smiled at her while she eyed them skeptically, keeping close to her dad's side.

"This is Mr. and Mrs. Joseph," her mom told her.

"Oh, please, call us Kelly and Chris," the woman, Kelly, said with a laugh. "These are our boys. This little guy is Zack." She motioned to the boy on her hip who hid his head in her shoulder. "The one hiding behind his father is Tyler. He's about to start kindergarten, just like you!"

The boy, Tyler, slowly moved from his hiding place with a pink tinge on his cheeks. He had fluffy brown hair and big brown eyes. The two children stared at each other; both wary of the other. Slowly, Tyler stuck his hand out.

"Hi, I'm Tyler," he said.

"I know," she responded.

Tyler dropped his hand.

"I'm Lennon," she said.

"I know," he responded.

The adults chuckled at the children and Lennon's parents ushered everyone into the dining room. Lennon pushed the food around her plate, occasionally looking up at Tyler while their parents talked and shared stories. Kelly and Chris would ask her questions, but Lennon's responses were short and to the point.

"She takes a while to warm up to new people," her mom explained, apologizing for her.

Lennon didn't think she needed to apologize.

Once dinner was over, Kelly helped her mother clean up while her father was showing Chris his collection of old records. Zack was asleep on the couch and her and Tyler lingered behind awkwardly.