american beauty // joshler

7

tyler's point of view

"stevey, you'd like to get a smoothie with me wouldn't you?"

"of course i would, mr. joseph," steven looks over to me and smiles, switching lanes so as not to miss his turn.

"perfect. my usual place, please."

"will do."

we arrive at our destination within a few minutes and i lead him inside.

"order whatever you want steven. on me." i move to stand behind him while he orders first.

our smoothies are both in our hands very quickly. because i'm here so often (and tip so well), i've been deemed a priority customer i think.

steven and i sit down at a table outside of the building, sipping our drinks.

"this is nice, mr. joseph. thank you."

"no need to thank me, stevey," i pause, stirring around the yellow beverage with my straw. "i think you know me better than a lot of people, even if on accident."

"yes, well, a bit more than i'd like to i think," he lets out a small laugh, his tone lighthearted.

"what's that supposed to mean?" i laugh with him and he gives me a knowing look.

to his credit, he's listened to many rants, drunk, high, and hungover musings, and overheard many phone calls that he does probably wish he hadn't. i can't really blame him.

when we finish our drinks, steven takes me back to my house to drop me off.

"thank you for coming with me, mr. steve. take the rest of the day off." i climb out of the car and make sure to grab all of my things.

"let me know if you need me, sir."

"no, i'll find another ride if i get too restless. you go spend time with your wife! tell her i said hello. go buy her something nice. take her to dinner!" i leave him a bit of cash in the cupholder.

"thank you for your generosity, mr joseph. i'll see you next time."

-

a few hours into being home, i decide i don't want to be alone anymore. i'm draped across my couch, my legs hanging from over the back of it. i pause the show i was watching and grab my phone from the coffee table, dialing one of the only numbers i have memorized.

"what's up, buttercup?" brendon answers after a few rings, a bit out of breath.

"helloooo, brenny. i'm bored. can we go somewhere later?"

"sure thing, love. i'm in rehearsals right now, but do you wanna go to that new club down on fifth tonight?" he suggests.

"you think we could get in? i heard it's mostly invite only."

"i've got friends in very high places, hun. i'll get you wherever you wanna go." i can hear the smile in his voice.

"alright then. i'll be waiting for you, mr. disco."

"i'll see you later, babyboy."

-

the lights in the club flash and change colors, illuminating the room in different shades of greens and blues. the pill i popped in the car on the way here begins to kick in and it makes the view ten times more enjoyable.

"drinks?" brendon returns to the table i'm sitting at with a few of his bandmates. he passes the glasses out and sits next to me, throwing an arm around my shoulder. "i love this fruity shit, i don't even care."