Down in the Forest || Joshler [Completed]

18- Lovely

A/N
This was my first week back to school so I'm sorry for how much time there was between chapters
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I pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it into my bag on the floor. I unzipped my shorts and removed them, replacing them with a pair of basketball shorts. I turned around to the other bunk beds to make sure all of the kids were okay.

"Are you going to sleep?" Josh asked from the doorway. I nodded my head in response. "I believe I was promised a song."

"Oh, yea, sorry." I walked back to my bag and pulled on a sweatshirt before grabbing my notebook and ukulele. "Where do you want to go?"

"I have an idea," he said, holding the door open for me. I exited and he closed the door softly before grabbing my hand, tugging me towards the woods. I giggled at how his hair blew in the breeze from our running. He slowed his pace as we got further. Soon, we were walking hand-in-hand past all of the trees I had grown used to seeing. I tried to admire the nature but my focus was completely drawn to our hands. It felt much nicer than the last time. It felt more natural.

We came to a fork in the path and he led me down the one on the left. I could tell that it didn't get much foot traffic by how many of the plants were growing farther into the walkway. We walked silently for a while before Josh said something.

"It should be close," he said. I nodded my head. As we got closer to our destination, the path widened. Soon, we came upon the most beautiful thing I'd seen all week.

In front of us was an old cabin that was surrounded by beautiful flowers. The house itself looked abandoned, yet the flowers looked well attended-to. I took a step closer and Josh released my hand. I walked up to the flowers to see them better. They were red, pink, yellow, and white.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Josh asked. I turned to face him, nodding.

"How did you find this?"

"Last year, after what happened with Brendon, I ran into the woods to be alone. I just ran until I got here," he explained, walking to where I was. "Now, let's get to that song!" He laid down a blanket I hadn't noticed he was carrying under his arm. He sat down and I joined him.

"What kind of song do you want to hear?"

"I'll listen to anything you play," he said, smiling. I started flipping through my notebook. "Preferably something happy this time."

"I think I know a good one," I said. I set my notebook, open, on the blanket and grasped my ukulele. I looked up at Josh to see him looking back at me excitedly.

You say things with your mouth
Cobwebs and flies come out
I hear a second voice behind your tongue somehow
Luckily I can read your mind
Flies and cobwebs unwind
They will not take you down
They will not cast you out, out.

I snuck a look at Josh and he had his eyes closed. He was really listening. Everyone else just hears me. Josh listens.

Dear friend, here we are again pretending
To understand how you think your world is ending
Sending signals and red flags in waves
It's hard to tell the difference between blood and water these days
I'll pray that one day you see
The only difference between life and dying
Is one is trying, that's all we're going to do
So try to love me and I'll try to save you.

The last few lines were always ones that I adored. They just flowed so naturally when I wrote the song. I didn't need to think about them. They just were.

Won't you stay alive
I'll take you on a ride
I will make you believe you are lovely.
Won't you stay alive
I'll take you on a ride
I will make you believe you are lovely.

I looked up at Josh again and took in his still form. I was sad that I couldn't see his eyes, but his perfect lips were stuck in that adorable smile.

Your redemption won't grow stale
We are now just setting sail
On the seas of what we fear
Treason now is growing near to me

I screwed my eyes shut to sing the last line.

Don't be gone
Don't be gone

I opened my eyes and set down my ukulele. I watched as Josh's eyes fluttered open softly. He met eyes with me and spoke.

"That was so incredible, Tyler."

"Thanks," I said, blushing. I looked down and closed my notebook, holding it tightly in my hands.

"You're so talented. Not just your voice or your playing. You're writing is so truthful and meaningful. I love it so much." My blush deepened and I tried to hide my face in my hands. "And you don't need to hide your blush. It's cute." I, somehow, blushed even more, but removed my hands.

"Thanks, Josh. It means a lot."

"Thank you for trusting me."

"Of course." I watched Josh stand up and pick a pink flower. He twirled it between his fingers before sitting back down next to me, much closer than before. He smiled down at it.

"Here," Josh said, holding it out towards me. I took it carefully from his grasp and admired it. I smelled it's sweet scent and smiled. The smell of flowers always reminded me of my childhood. I tucked it safely behind my ear.

"How does it look?" I asked.

"Lovely," Josh said, breathlessly.