Avenir // tyler joseph

thirteen // the world is not so difficult

--Tyler's P.O.V--

The water slide freaked Courtney out more than I thought it would, but I was glad she agreed to go down it with me regardless. It showed that she wasn't totally pissed at me for trying to kiss her cheek. I was grateful for that.

However, I was a bit confused on her involvement in Panic's performance. She didn't seem too happy with her role, but she was determined to keep Brendon's mouth shut. For some reason, he wanted to tell Pierre about what he saw, but Ryan was quite content with keeping quiet.

"I bet I know what she's doing on stage," Josh remarked as we made our way towards the main deck from our cabin. "Do you remember the Live in Denver concert Panic did awhile back? Remember the dancers they always had in the background, especially Build God, Then We'll Talk? Brendon has to be making her dance. That's the only thing that would be considered blackmail."

Brendon always had a strange personality that I never understood, but stooping so low as to make Courtney dance as a form of blackmail was just wrong on so many levels. If I was her, I would have just let him tell Pierre, but she loved avoiding conflict at all costs.

"Well, that's just sick," I remarked, running a hand through my hair. "I would have just punched him in the face and moved on."

Josh scoffed. "Can you imagine Courtney punching anyone, Tyler? She's so petite and passive. It kills her to even tell any of her kids no."

"You do have a good point."

A few minutes later, we finally arrived onto the main deck to see practically everyone else already there. We made our way to the front row and sat down next to Walk the Moon. Nick was laughing as he bounced Séverine up and down on his lap. Chuck had a hold of Bowser while Seb, who was sitting next to him, had a hold of Benji.

"Courtney has such a big support system. It's honestly amazing," I commented, turning to Josh. "She has so many people that care about her and her family."

Josh smiled, patting my arm. "You have a big support system too, Tyler. A lot of people care about you, including Courtney whether it's in that way or not."

I sighed. "I know, Josh. I just wish that I could be a part of her support system, but I can't. She lives all the way in Canada and we are in Ohio."

"Nick's from Ohio too and he is still one of Courtney's closest friends in the world. Just because she is in a different country doesn't mean that you can never talk to her or see her. You just need to decide on whether you are happy with just being her friend or not."

I understood where Josh was coming from. I originally ended Courtney and I's friendship because I didn't want to see her with Pierre. Four years later, I finally came back into her life and tried to make a move on her. Now I was wondering why I wasn't a part of her inner circle of supports, but in truth, it was my own fault that I wasn't. Maybe if I didn't wait years to contact her or maybe if I didn't end our friendship, things would be totally different.

"I can see it in your eyes, Tyler," Josh said, shaking me out of my thoughts. "Stop blaming yourself for everything. By the end of this tour, eberything will work out exactly the way it's supposed to, alright?"

I nodded. "Alright."

•••

Build God, Then We'll Talk was the last song that Panic performed and the moment Courtney stopped out on the stage as one of the dancers, Bowser yelled "momma," as loud as he could. I could see the smile that formed on her face as the music began to play.

Honestly, Courtney was not a bad dancer, but you could obviously tell that she didn't want to be up on that stage. Pierre probably didn't even know why she was performing with Panic. I wondered what story she told him.

"Hopefully, you don't get another boner, Tyler," Josh snickered from beside me. I nudged him in the ribs and he let out a grunt of pain, causing Eli from Walk the Moon to glance in our direction. Josh and I both fell silent, but the grin on my best friend's face didn't fade.

I knew that I wasn't going to get another boner, but just as a precaution, I kept looking down to make sure everything was alright. When Josh noticed what I was doing, he had to hold back laughter. Sometimes being his friend was utter chaos.

The song was almost over and I could see Courtney sending Brendon death glares every time she had to dance near him. Ryan seemed to feel bad that Brendon forced Courtney into something she never wanted to do in the first place. Based on what I knew about Panic at the Disco, Brendon seemed to be the jerk of the group.

As Brendon hit the last note in the song, I watched him step back towards his piano. However, he stumbled before he reached it, causing his entire body to fall on top of the keys. He quickly got to his feet and played along with it by slamming his fingertips into keys, making a booming kind of sound.

Then the song was over and Courtney appeared breathless as she climbed to my feet from falling onto the ground.

"Well, that was the last song, guys! Thank you to our fantastic dancers, especially Courtney Akehurst. I'm so glad you volunteered to do this!" Brendon said, grabbing the microphone.

Josh leaned towards me. "Now I want to punch Brendon in the face."

--Courtney's P.O.V--

"I cannot believe you purposely tripped me!" The outraged lead singer cried as we got backstage. Spencer and Brent, apparently not wanting to be a part of the conversation, hurried to their dressing rooms without saying a word.

"You deserved it for blackmailing me!" I retorted, ripping various bobby pins out of my brown hair, causing it to fall down my back.

Ryan attempted to step between us, but Brendon pushed him aside. "You shouldn't have blackmailed her. That was wrong."

"Well, since you decided to trip me, maybe I'll go right out there and tell Pierre that you and Tyler's history isn't over!"

I stepped forward, my body a mere inches away from Brendon's. "And if you do that, I'l go right out there and announce to the world that Ryden is a thing."

Ryan stared at me, mouth agap. "How did you know about that, Courtney?"

I smirked. "I didn't. You just confirmed my assumption." I turned my head back to Brendon, who was utterly speechless. "Still going to tell Pierre?"

The boy shook his head, grabbing Ryan's arm. "We will let you get changed." Brendon yanked on his boyfriend's arm, pulling him towards one of the dressing rooms, leaving me with the remaining empty one.

I sighed, pushing open the door and stepping inside. Sometimes I wondered how my life went from being so peaceful to being world war III in a matter of days.

I'd probably never get the answer.

A/N: Just a short crappy update for you guys! I'm starting driver's ed Monday and things haven't been going well for me lately, so this may be the last update until next weekend. I'm sorry.

However, Nicholas Petricca is honestly one of the most adorable human beings in the world and if you don't know, his father was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's and his condition has worsened, causing Walk the Moon to cancel their summer tour. I just feel so bad for him and my prayers are going out to him and his family 

-L.A