drummer boy (boyxboy)

Chapter Three

It was nearing noon when Josh finally woke up and he noticed his mom wasn't there. Figuring she probably went grocery shopping, he connected his phone to his speaker and started playing some music.

It was Hands Like Houses, again. He couldn't seem to find a reason to stop listening to them lately. So far it's been three days of listening and he hasn't gotten tired of them yet.

Josh began to make himself some spaghetti for lunch, considering he hasn't eaten anything for the day, when he heard a knock on the door. Thinking it was his mom in need of help with the groceries, he hurried to answer and opened the door ready to assist. It wasn't his mom though, that's the problem.

"Tyler?" Josh spoke up. The smaller boy was walking away when Josh opened the door. He was second guessing himself; thought Josh wouldn't want to hang out with him today.

"Oh," Tyler chuckled. "Hey, Josh."

"Hey..." Josh looked intently at Tyler. Why the heck was he at his door acting all weird? "Can I do something for you or?"

"Oh! No, no. I was just, ya know, in the neighborhood." Josh laughed and shook his head.

"I know, Tyler. Would you like to come in?"

"Yeah, that sounds good!" Tyler expressed. It was obvious to Josh that he wanted to hang out with him but Josh felt like being a little difficult at the moment.

Josh led Tyler in the kitchen where he could sit down and Josh could finish cooking his food.

"So what really brought you over here?" Josh asked, turning down the music as he spoke.

"Well, I was just kind of wondering if you wanted to hang out. We don't have to if you don't want to. Whatever is fine by me. I know people have things to do and-"

"Ty, relax. We can hang out. It's not like I have some big plans or anything." Josh chuckled.

"Okay, cool, cool. But, um, Ty?"

"Yeah, I don't know. Just suited you, seems like."

"Oh, okay." Tyler responded. His spirits were lifted greatly; he liked his new nickname.

"So, uh, I don't have much to do here. Usually I just listen to music in my room and chill out, you know?" Josh added a bit awkwardly. By now his food was done and he was sitting across from Tyler eating it. He should've offered Tyler some but it, somehow, slipped his mind.

"Yeah, I don't do much either. I have nothing to do in that house anyways." Tyler shrugged. His house was like prison and it was pretty suffocating.

"Dude, same here. Your parents seem... restricting? No offense." Josh told the boy. He got up from his seat and motioned for Tyler to follow him up to his room as they talked.

"Ah, none taken. They are. It's insanely annoying but it's whatever, I guess." Tyler replied. He followed Josh into his room and looked around in awe. Everything was so... cool. None of the things that were in his room would even be allowed in Tyler's and he thought the way Josh personalized everything it made it even cooler.

"Sick room..." Tyler mumbled, still taking it all in. Josh's walls were black with posters of bands scattered all over them. He saw Hands Like Houses, Crown The Empire, Nirvana, My Chemical Romance and even more. Christmas lights ran along the ceiling as well, but hung down when they needed to. He had a small drum set in the corner of his room aside from his bed.

"Thanks, man." Josh said, plopping down on his bed. Tyler awkwardly sat on it as well. "You can get as comfortable as you want, you know." Tyler nodded in agreement and leaned back against the wall, crossing his legs.

"So what made you want to hang out with me? I know it wasn't just to admire my folksy smile." Josh joked.

"You know, it actually was." Tyler joked along with him. He could be just as sarcastic as anyone else.

"Wow. Well, I'm flattered but, I have to warn you, my smile isn't too well today." Tyler poked out his bottom lip and Josh sighed. "I know, I know. Dental hygiene, you know? Just not on top of it today, I'm sorry."

Tyler shook his head. "I'm not here to judge, Josh. You gotta do what you gotta do and, you know what?"

"What?"

"Stuff happens. Sometimes you have great smiles and other days, well, they're just sub par."

Josh laughed his head off with Tyler for about 10 minutes before he spoke again.

"You're not too bad, Tyler. Better first impression than your parents, I must say." Josh said, sighing. They were both just laying on his bed now, relaxing.

"Thanks. Means a lot. So, what's up with you then? Your mom seems real nice. Could I ask what happened to your dad." Tyler sat up, looking at Josh.

"Eh, I never met him." Josh sat crossed legged, looking back at Tyler. "He split when my ma was pregnant with me."

"I'm sorry.." Tyler said in a small voice.

"Don't be. Not your fault." He shrugged. "Alright, question. Why do your parents hate your music so much?"

"I don't know. They think it's 'not appropriate' and that it 'leads people down bad paths' or some shit like that." Josh just laughed and shook his head. People could be real simple minded sometimes.

"That's stupid, dude."

"Tell me about it. You're lucky your mom doesn't care."

"No, she cares. She just wants me to be happy and stuff. School's not the greatest for me."

"Oh.. Well, why not?" Tyler seemed generally interested in everything Josh had to say and he liked it. Josh enjoyed being listened to.

"Just school jerks and stress. It's pretty stupid but whatever. Why did you move here, by the way?" Josh asked. It's been on his mind for the last couple of minutes.

"Ah, my dad didn't like my last school. I didn't either. Not many friends, to be honest with you." Tyler looked down. He didn't like admitting he was a lonely kid and he usually didn't do it but with Josh it felt different.

"Me neither.." Josh confessed. "Sounds like we're becoming friends now though, right?" He piped up.

"Yeah," Tyler breathed. "That's right." He smiled, now excited for school and his soon-to-be friend, Josh.

The two sat there in Josh's room talking for hours and by the time they stopped it was practically midnight.

"Hey, I should probably get going. It's like 11:45 and I'm freaking tired."

"Yeah, I feel you. Alright, I'll let you go." Josh got up and walked Tyler to the front door. "See you later, Ty."

"See ya later, Josh." Josh smiled and closed the door, sighing.

He enjoyed his Saturday. The new friend that Josh has made seems to enjoy his company just as much as he does and he hasn't had a friend like that in a long while. Josh couldn't deny that he really liked talking to Tyler. Each time Tyler spoke, he was left hanging off every word and he was so engaged in their conversations as well.

Even tonight as they talked about nothing in particular, Josh was so intrigued and interested in what he had to say. Josh couldn't wait to actually see him in school. He wouldn't be as lonely in that hell-hole then.

***

Okayokayokay. Happy Valentine's Day :) Hope it's well for people. I didn't feel like looking up Josh's mom's actual name so I went with Joan. She needed a name anyways. I feel like doing another Joshler after this and the POV won't be third person this time. I don't think I'm too good at it :/ it's whatever though.

This Joshler will be short btw. Maybe like 30 or so chapters? Maybe less, idk.

fair winds *