Philophobic : Tyler Galpin

19: Until I Found You

Sunday night, October 27th

[victoria's pov]

"The party's on a Wednesday?" Tyler asked me with a questioning tone. "Why's that?"

"It's Halloween night, obviously," I answered with a grin.

Tyler was driving me back home after we'd dropped Enid back off at Nevermore. I couldn't stop thinking about what Enid had said to me at the Weathervane... I didn't know what to make of it.

And the fact that a part of me believed what she said only got stronger the more Tyler was around... but maybe I was blind–Love is blind.

"I'm surprised your mom is even letting the party take place so late," Tyler commented.

I grinned sheepishly. "She doesn't know..."

"Oh shoot," Tyler laughed. "Maybe I'm rubbing off on you a little. I never tell my dad anything... and he's the sheriff."

"You're a bad influence, Tyler," I teased as I raised a brow.

He chuckled lightly as we came to a stop in his driveway. As we got out of the car, we stood on opposite ends to face each other, realizing how quickly this night ended. And earlier today, I had promised myself one thing... to admit the truth.

"I have something to tell you," I finally said, feeling nervous.

"I do too," Tyler nodded.

"Oh- well, then you go first."

"Ladies first."

"Fine," I said with a firm nod. I balanced on my toes nervously before I sighed and said, "I'm pretty sure I'm psychic. I- I had a vision a few days ago."

Tyler's brow flickered up briefly. Clearly, he did not see that coming. My heart slightly sank when he didn't answer for the first few seconds. But he continued to smile and said, "And I'm inviting you for pizza leftovers... it's not as cool as what you had to say though."

My heart almost beamed from his sarcastic demeanour. It was enlightening that he always knew the right things to say. But as I followed him, I realized I was going to enter his house for the first time. Somehow, it felt like a step into our companionship.

"Scared, weren't you?" Tyler asked as he was busy unlocking the door. His eyes were kept on his keys rather than looking at me.

"Scared of what?" I asked.

"Of how I'd react," Tyler answered. "I can see it all over your face."

We entered his house, which was a walk-in to the kitchen. In the distance was the living room and to the right were stairs that went up. His house was well-kept and almost seemed vacant of life. The lighting was dim, but I didn't mind it as I sat at a stool by the island.

Tyler made his way to the fridge and began to heat some pizza as he leaned against the counter across from me. His expression was heedful to our previous conversation as he thought to himself.

"So you think you're psychic, huh?" Tyler asked, almost sounding nervous himself. "What did you see?"

I sighed nervously before explaining how Wednesday and I had gotten into Xavier and Rowan's dorm. I even filled him in on Wednesday's theory about Rowan being one of the previous monsters.

"Then that guy..." I said carefully. "The driver who almost hit me. He was in our vision too..."

"What for?" Tyler asked, focused on my words.

"The monster was ripping his insides out. I kept seeing his face and then Rowan's..." I explained. "Then that was it. It had to have been the same monster Wednesday and I saw during the Harvest Festival."