It Ain't The Speakers |-/ JOSHLER

2: spirits in the dark are waiting

🎶 JØSH'S PØV 👻

"What does that even mean, Tyler?" I wasn't even trying to hold back my laughter.

He shrugged and continued sipping his iced coffee. I could see he was trying not to smile too much, and he was failing.

Every little thing about him seemed to catch my attention. The way he walks, the way he talks, and even the way he spazzes a little when he was performing. How do you describe that?

"You rap and you play the piano, what else can you do, Tyler?"

"Umm... Ukulele, bass, accordion..?

"Dude you're sooooo talented!"

And as he turned away to finish up his coffee, I could swear his face got slightly pink. (but not as pink as my luscious hair)

"Well I know almost nothing about drums... Other than the fact that you were pretty sick just now."

Aww. "Haha thanks! I taught myself when I was like, eight...? I've always wanted to play the drums."

His eyes widened. I'm impressive, aren't I?

Food in this school wasn't super nice, but edible. I was craving Taco Bell, as usual. Tyler showed me around the school, which was a little bigger than I had expected, with perhaps too many stairs.

I kind of missed my hometown, the sun is a little too strong here. Family problems, so my mom and I moved, while my brother and sister stayed with dad in Ohio.

The people in school are normal I guess. Not cold but not particularly friendly either. The judges were nice, they seemed experienced but I don't really know much about them. And though I've just met Tyler, I already know he's amazing.

"How long have you been here, Josh?" he asked, while taking me around the school.

"I arrived exactly one week before school started yesterday, I'm in the same grade as you I think? But I didn't attend lessons on day one."

Following closely behind him, I explained to Tyler that my mom was always out on Mondays and she didn't want me to go to the first day of school on my own, so she told me to stay home. But knowing that it was the last day for auditions, I sneaked out. It was just me and the short teacher yesterday, Mr Branch or Trunk or something like that I think. Then came two more judges today.

Pretty stupid to have auditions before school even starts, but I guess they didn't want it to distract us when the amount of schoolwork starts increasing like an exponential function. Or something like that. Idk. Math is my worst subject.

Today was a Tuesday. History, Physics, English. What a way to start school, right? I was bad at all of these, or rather I was bad at everything, but nothing was worse than math.

"I like math, though"

I raised an eyebrow at Tyler. (People didn't usually use the word "like" and "math" in the same sentence)

"Sometimes I'd come here to do my homework... Or just um... Time alone, y'know?"

I had just noticed our surroundings. He had taken me all the way across the school, to a deserted corner on the second floor. It was a large empty square area, mostly covered with dust other than the spot he just sat down at, which also happened to be just bright enough to read comfortably. In contrast, the other end of the area was far darker. Just a few brooms and stuff were placed against the wall, barely discernable, but I'm sure no one actually used them. I didn't see why anyone would come here.

"That's the point," he said. "No one comes here, and that's why I do."

I sat down beside him, leaning against the short wall and gazed at the dark corner opposite us. I felt calmer than I had been ever since my family was ripped in two.

How long did the silence last? I didn't know and I didn't care. I usually didn't like too much silence, but for once I think I actually appreciated it.

"I call this place the Midland," Tyler suddenly said.

The Midland... That name triggered something in my head. I couldn't remember and might have taken a bit too long to reply.

"Why the Midland?"

"Well... Technically, it's in the middle of the second and third floor. And I call it a 'land' instead of an area because it felt so different from the rest of the school... It's like... a different country altogether. A country no one really goes to..."

Some memories suddenly flashed across my mind, but I couldn't make anything out of them, it was all a blur. A voice in my head was repeating over and over, "the Midland, the Midland, the Midland..."

Then I realised a hand was waving in front of my eyes.

"Wuh?"

"I was wondering if I could have your number, Josh... Y'know, since we're gonna perform together in the next round of the competition."

"Ah right" I pushed the weird recollections out of my mind. They probably weren't very important.

Tyler passed me his phone and I saved my number in it, while I passed him mine for him to do the same.

"You're taking quite some time Tylerrrrr the sun is setting."

I stood up, leaning forward against the wall, and watched the sky get darker.

"Give me a moment... I might have forgotten my own number..."

"Ahaha what?! Well if you don't remember soon I'm gonna count to ten and then drop your phone down from two-and-a-half-floors..." I dangled his phone over the ledge.

"One, two, thr..."

"WHAT WAIT NO JOSH" he now stood up and was trying to grab his phone from me, and I wasn't giving him an easy time. He was just slightttttttly shorter than me at this point of time, but that was enough.

"...seven, eight..."

"JOSH. CHILL."

"If you can't remember your number then I guess you'll have to text me first when you get home. Hehe. Catch." and I threw him his phone, which he caught pretty well. Better then I expected. Maybe he plays basketball something.

It's the second day of school, but from the moment I first saw him I knew we were gonna be great friends. Watch me prove myself right.

===============

So I was thinking of introducing a different side of Josh with the idea of the Midland. Sounds lame yeah I agree haha but I'll try to explain it and make it feel legit enough.

I'll slowly reveal more about their past and stuff. That will take some time tho. I wonder how long I'm gonna write.