Falling Too (Tyler Joseph)

Chapter 1

I've always had a tendency to be attracted to people that are a bit messed up in one way or another. It's not like I do it on purpose, I guess it's because I'm somewhat broken myself. I knew I was in trouble when I met him though, because someone else's pain has never truly hurt me the way his did. Maybe I wanted to help him so badly because I thought he could help me too. I just never considered all that it would take, and what it would break.

***

"Ash! What are you looking at now? I really need your help with this." My friend Deiadra pleaded as she tugged on my sweatshirt sleeve to gain my attention.

I sighed softly as I turned my focus back to the English Lit. notes in my lap. I had been having a hard time studying this since it basically bores me to tears, staring into space had proved to be more fun than this. I moved around a bit on the uncomfortable bleachers we were on as I asked, "When is the test again?"

"This Friday."

"So, in two days?"

She nodded solemnly and I pulled my hood off despite the curly mess my hair was so I could tie it up, "Alright, well I guess it's time we buckle down on this."

As I reached for the textbook we were sharing the guys practicing on the basketball court start shouting and cursing, grasping both Dee and I's interest. Four of the six boys stood around two guys as one yelled at the other. I realized who the silent one was when I noticed the three large black bands of tattoos on his left arm. It was our college's best basketball player, Tyler Joseph. I didn't know him personally, but then again, he was kind of hard not to know about.

We had gone to the same high school and had managed to attend the same university as well. People tend to know a bit about each other when they live in our hometown, considering how small it is. I doubted that he knew anything about me, at least not anything good. From what I knew his life seemed fairly decent. His parents were teachers, the whole family pretty much lived and breathed basketball, and they all attended church every Sunday. Despite being around the 'cool' crowd in high school, thanks to his skills, I heard he didn't talk much. He also had a good singing voice, he appeared to be nearly perfect.

So now I couldn't help but wonder what this quiet little dude had done to make his teammate so pissed at him.

"You are not quitting this team!" The captain, Chase Dorman, shouted in his face loud enough to be heard by everyone else in the area.

Even though Tyler was probably the most talented that didn't mean he was in charge. He visibly shrunk back from Chase and just shook his head, beginning to turn to leave, but before he even took a step Chase grabbed him. Tyler was spun around like he didn't weigh an ounce. Chase then gripped Tyler's shoulders to the point it appeared painful. It didn't make sense to me, was Tyler leaving the team really that big of an issue? After all it was just a sport and they could always find someone else.

"Oh no, please don't tell me Dorman is going to hit Joseph." Dee murmured looking worried.

That was one of the things I didn't understand about everyone else at this place, they all only called the athletes by their last names and it just seemed weird. As soon as Chase reared back his arm, preparing to hit Tyler I jumped to my feet and shouted, "Aye Dorman!"

Okay so maybe I went along with the last name thing somewhat, but at least it got Chase to not punch Tyler.

"What do you want Blake?" He called up to me. Oh, so I was a part of the name game too.

I was at a loss for words from having all the focus on me, but I tried my hardest to play it off. "I want you to leave him alone."

Chase smirked asking, "Why should you care? I know you don't know him."