Ice Cream | Joshler

Chapter 2

Tuesday

Tyler

After Debby left the parlor yesterday Josh was back to his usual quiet self. It was sad to see and the tension was hella awkward. And i probably did not make it better when i wrote my number down on a napkin with a small note to him:

xxx-xxx-xxxx
In case you ever need to talk to someone.

I don't actually know if he read the note because i put it down and then i left to go to work.

Today was Tuesday and that meant Josh had marching band practice after school. I had basketball practice on Monday and Wednesday. On Fridays we had games.

As i got dressed for school, i heard my mom shout my name. Instead of shouting back, i decided to finish getting dressed and just go see what she is shouting about.

"TYLER!" She shouting my name again as i was three feet away from her.

"What is it, Mom?" She turned around and glared at me.

"You're basketball coach called and ask if you were alright because you weren't at practice yesterday." She took a second to look at me to see if i had an explanation. When i didn't answer she sighed and continued:

"Tyler, you cannot skip basketball practice. Your whole future depends on basketball." I looked down at the floor as she continued to scold me. I blocked her out with my own thoughts:

Spending the rest of my life doing something i hate. I can already feel the regret. Its like spending your whole existence being in love with someone and never actually telling them.

"Do you understand?" My mothers silence interrupted my thoughts. I couldn't speak so i just nodded my head. I went back to my room, grabbed my bag and my car keys and left for school.

As i pulled into my spot at school i saw Josh leaning against his truck talking to someone on the phone. I tried to hear who he was talking to but it was no use trying to strain my ears. Instead of walking into school, i waited by my car, Watching him.

Josh

I thought we were over all the yelling but I guess not. I felt my heart drop as she yelled into my ear. It was that moment I realized I was living a lie. I didn't like her anymore nor did I ever really like her. Once my truck was parked, i got out and leaned against my truck.

"Debby for the last time I'm sorry." I sighed into the receiver. I saw tyler pull in but didn't turn my mind to him.

"Look its-" I was cut off by more of her yelling.

"You know what Debby I thought that we were fine and I guess not. I thought we could get through this. But we just aren't meant to be." with a sigh I heard her start to cry.

"Baby dont cry but I think it's time we see other people. You're not even going to school here for half the day and I never really see you when you are here." Her sobbing that came from the other side of the phone was killing me.

"Im sor-" I heard her call me an asshole one more time before she hung up on me.

Great. I ruined her day. I always hated making people feel like that but I didn't like her anymore, even in the beginning I didn't. I pushed off my truck and sighed walking across the parking lot. I was trying to forget all of the stuff on my mind and I saw tyler jog to catch up to me but I wasn't in the mood to talk. Though any other day I would love to talk to Tyler, today in this moment just wasn't that time. I didn't even want to see him but as my luck would have it he caught up and started talking to me.

"Hey J." He spoke louder than I wanted to hear and I didn't look at or answer him.

"What's the matter J?" I walked faster and ignored him. He eventually gave up when i reached my locker and for the rest of the day we didn't speak to each other.

The painfully slow school day was finally over. Now it was time for marching band practice and I couldn't have been happier. This was something I could throw myself into without having to think about anything else than it.

I grabbed my drum and worked with the drummers until it was time to leave. By the end of the practise I was back to smiling and joking around with my friends. I said a quick good bye to eveyone and dashed out to my truck. I got in and turned on the radio as I drove home.

I walked into the shop in a way better mood than this morning and washed up. I cleaned the ice cream bar and smiled as I hummed drum beats to myself . The jingle of the little bell on the door rang and I looked up to see tyler walk through the door.

He walked up to the counter and looked at me. After a few minutes of silence Tyler spoke up.

"Why were you ignoring me this morning? I tried to talk to you but you didn't even acknowledge me." I sighed and looked up at him.

"Debby and I got into a fight again...and we broke up." I mummbled the last part not fully wanting Tyler to know but I did in a way. Tyler nodded hearing the last part completely.
"I'm so sorry Josh." I nodded.

"I-its fine Tyler it's not your fault." Tyler put his hand on top of my hand that was on the counter. He gave a reassuring squeeze and then smiled at me.

"Same thing as always J." He smiled and I almost melted. I felt my face heat up a little as I nodded.

"C-coming right up." I smiled a little trying not to think about my studdering. I made his order and handed it to him. As he took it our fingers touched and a gasped quietly and felt my face go fully red.

"S-sorry T-tyler." he laughed a little

"Its just fine, J." he offered a nice smile as he sat down in his normal seat and I went back to cleaning things to keep me from staring at him.