Light breezes caressed the trees, soft gushes of light seeping through the leaves in an array of light and warmth. The swoosh of the occasional car passing was almost like a lullaby. The cold concrete growing slightly warm as the sun dripped onto it, like honey in a perfect cup of tea. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as Tyler walked home. The school day was finally over, he could escape to his room. His room, where he actually felt free and perfectly alone. Tyler liked being alone sometimes, he didn't mind hanging out with his siblings or his parents and on the crazy occasion a friend asked to go do something with him. As Tyler walked, his feet gently padded on the sidewalk. He counted his steps, one two, one two. It sounded like some sort of song. To him at least. He yawned a bit, adjusting the bookbag straps on his shoulders. Once he approached the crosswalk, an odd looking car pulled up beside of him. Some 1990-whatever piece of junk. It was silver, with tinted windows and black tire caps. He raised an eyebrow, glancing at the car and walking a bit faster, but the car just inched along with him. Finally it stopped, the window slowly rolled down and- No way. Absolutely no way. Tyler's gaze shifted from the window to the bright red hair that popped out of the window. "Tyler!!" Josh shouted, leaning his entire front half out of the window. His cheeks flushed, again, as he slowly walked over to Josh's window. He looked both ways before crouching down to be on Josh's level. "Uhhh.. H-hey! Josh." He choked on his words, clearing his throat in embarrassment. "Hey," Josh smiled, unlocking the car "Get in." Tyler shifted his footing, checking his watch, "Josh, I really gotta get home, I don't have time for this.." Josh chuckled, getting out and opening the passenger door for Tyler "Not even to hang out? We can stop by your place, you can pop in and tell your Mom or whoever that you're gonna hang with me." He playfully shoved Tyler towards the passenger side, "C'mon, Tyler, it'll be fun." He pleaded. For some reason, Tyler couldn't say no. He nodded, putting his bookbag in the backseat before getting in the car. Josh closed the door for him and got into the drivers seat. He clicked his seatbelt, turning to Tyler "How do we get to your place?"
Once Tyler had told Josh the directions, they pulled up into the driveway of some suburban home. Of course Tyler lived in a house like that, he looked the type. Josh got out, following Tyler. He hesitated before stepping inside. "Mom?" Tyler called out, looking around. Mrs. Joseph came downstairs, holding a laundry basket. "Oh Tyler! Hello honey, how was school?" She glanced at Josh, giving him a confused look before turning her attention back to Tyler. "It was good! Yeah, just the regular day." He smiled at his Mom "Hey uhm.. I- I want to hang out with Josh, is that cool?" He looked at Josh for a second before looking back at his mother. Mrs. Joseph looked at Josh again before setting the laundry basket down "Josh, honey, can you give me and Tyler a second?" "Of course, ma'am. Take your time." He smiled and nodded, stepping back a bit. Tyler followed his Mom as she led him to another room, in a hushed voice she said "Tyler, you know I love you and I encourage you to make friends but, this guy.. He just seems off." Tyler couldn't help his brow furrowing as he listened to her concerns. "No, no Mom he's a nice guy.. He just dresses different I guess." He shrugged. For a second he questioned himself. Why was he defending Josh? He just met the guy less than 3 hours ago. His Mom sighed and nodded, "You're a senior, I trust your judgement. But please, if anything happens and you're in a situation where you're uncomfortable-" He smiled, placing a gentle hand on his Mom's shoulder "I'll make sure to call you." Mrs. Joseph nodded and smiled, hugging Tyler. "Be safe honey. Do you need anything before you leave?" "Not that I can think of, but thank you Mom. I love you too." He nodded before leaving the room. Josh looked up from his feet as Tyler came back in. "I can go." Tyler smiled. Josh returned the gesture, calling out. "Thank you Tyler's Mom!" Tyler laughed a bit, "Josh, you can just call her Mrs. Joseph.." Josh nodded, "So you're Tyler Joseph? It's got a ring to it. I'm Josh Dun." Tyler was sure to remember that name as he left the house, Josh following closely behind.
"So.. What's the plan?" Tyler looked at Josh as they got into his car. Josh pulled the car out of the driveway and drove down the street, "Ice cream, screw around in a Wal-Mart or the mall, get to know each other." Tyler shifted in his seat, nodding "Sounds.. uh..-" Josh cut him off, "Like a date?" He teased, looking at Tyler. Josh was relaxed in the drivers seat, one hand on the wheel and the other on his lap. Tyler's face heated up "N-no! Not a date, no just.. It sounds nice.." Josh smirked, "Oh c'mon man you know I was joking." Tyler nodded, "Right, yeah." As they drove, he thought about it. A date with Josh? That wouldn't be too bad. But on the other hand, Tyler wasn't a girl, so that'd never work out. He sighed a bit and focused on the road. The familiar sound of light air passed them as Josh rolled the windows down a bit. He motioned for Tyler to open the glove box. "I've got some music in there if you want to find something and pop it in." Tyler nodded, finding some CDs, "Holy.. Man you've got The Postal Service in here??" Tyler's eyes lit up, pulling out the CD. Josh smiled and nodded, "Yeah they're some of the softer stuff I listen to. Pop it in." Tyler slid the CD into the car's CD player. The first song that played was 'Such Great Heights' Tyler loved that one, and apparently Josh did too. They sang along to the lyrics in unison, "I am thinking it's a sign, that the freckles in our eyes are mirror images and when we kiss they're perfectly aligned. I have to speculate that God himself did make us into corresponding shapes like puzzle pieces from the clay." Tyler couldn't help the heat rising in his face and through his body, and Josh couldn't stop looking at Tyler. Josh turned the radio down, looking at Tyler "Can I say somethin'?" He glanced at Tyler, who nodded in response, still singing a bit "I can tell I'm gonna like you, Tyler. We're gonna do great things man." Tyler smiled, "I think I'm gonna like you too, Josh."
Tyler couldn't believe what Josh was saying. He didn't want to misinterpret what Josh was trying to say, so he offered "Best friends?"
Josh nodded, turning the radio up and restarting the song "Best friends."
