Always You | Tyler Joseph

Chapter Nine

"Leaving like a father, running like water."

May 2003

Lennon Davis hated high school with a burning passion.

She hated the cliques, she hated the drama, and she hated to admit that she hated not being a part of any of it.

Lennon stayed in the background, existing under the radar of most of the other students. She had never been considered an extroverted person. In fact, she was the exact opposite. Lennon did not like new things - including people. She had Tyler, and that was all she needed.

The problem was that Tyler flew above it all. He immediately fell into the more popular groups, and started making new friends. He joined the JV basketball team, and converted to a total jock.

Lennon told herself that she was happy for him.

It was complete and utter bullshit.

The thing that irked Lennon the most was that he seemed to have it all figured out. The future was so uncertain to Lennon, but Tyler had a clear path and he was excelling. In the back of her mind, Lennon feared that Tyler would grow on without her and leave her behind - but she knew that he would never do that.

So, instead of shutting down, she tried to meet him halfway. That was why she was currently sat on the top of the gym bleachers, waiting for his basketball practice to be over so that they could walk home together. She buried her nose into a book, and tried to look as invisible as possible - especially in the eyes of the cheerleaders sitting just a few feet away.

Her futile attempt failed, however, when Lennon heard one of them clear their throat.

Knowing better than to try to ignore them, she slowly closed her book and turned to look their way. One cheerleader in particular, Bri, had an amused smirk on her face as she stood with a hand on her hip.

"Tyler must feel lucky to have such a devoted girlfriend that will follow him around like a lost puppy everywhere he goes," Bri mocked, a sickeningly fake smile on her pointed face.

Lennon rolled her eyes, opening her book again and saying, "I'm not his girlfriend."

"So, what," Bri taunted, "you just have some pathetic crush on him or something?"

The rest of the girls laughed as Bri's evil smirk grew wider. Lennon showed no reaction to her words, giving her bored responses.

"I don't have a crush on him either," she said, an annoyed sigh leaving her lips.

Bri walked closer to Lennon, bending down to come face to face with her, saying, "well, then I guess you won't mind if I ask him out."

Lennon stilled at this, finally lifting her gaze to meet Bri's icy one. The two girls partook in a standoff, and Lennon was not about to back down. She had anger-fueled adrenaline pumping through her veins, and found herself with the sudden desire to slap the girl in her stupid face.

"Lenny!"

Lennon only averted her eyes at the sound of Tyler calling for her, gym bag in hand and a confused scrunch in his eyebrows. She turned her gaze back to Bri, who was smirking triumphantly.