Down in the Forest || Joshler [Completed]

24- Tomorrow

"Tyler," Josh hummed in my ear. His breath tickled my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

"Yea," I said back, quietly.

"How many hours?"

We'd been like this since we came home from camp. I'd been going to Josh's house everyday and we would just hang out. Sometimes I would play some music and other times we would just play video games or watch movies. Everyday Josh would ask me how many hours we had left until school started. I clicked on my phone and frowned at the numbers I saw.

"12." He sighed against my neck and cuddled closer to me. I tightened my grip around his waist.

I was nervous about school. I knew that I wanted to be with Josh. He knew that too. But I was afraid. I was filled with my usual fear of rejection.

"When do you have to go home?" I thought for a moment. My dad wanted me home in time to have a final family dinner before the summer was over.

"Soon," I replied. "I wish I could stay here, though."

"I do too."

----

I walked in my door and let out a heavy sigh. I heard footsteps in the kitchen clicking towards me. My mom soon appeared in the doorway.

"Hey, Tyler," she said, smiling. I smiled back and slid my shoes off. "Dinner will be done soon. Can you tell your siblings?"

"Sure," I said, jogging up the stairs. I knocked on each door, saying, "dinner!" The doors opened one by one, revealing my brothers and my sister. I walked back down stairs and helped my mom set the table. We sat down together and my dad led us in a prayer.

I spent the majority zoning in and out. My thoughts wandered between Josh, basketball, and how hungry I was.

"And please let Tyler have a good basketball season and get a scholarship," my dad said. I looked up from my hands. His eyes were closed but his mouth was stuck in a line. "Amen." We all repeated him before starting into our food.

"So, Tyler, who's this Josh guy?"

"I met him at camp," I said, nonchalantly. I shoveled food onto my mouth. I wanted to finish so I could go up to my room.

"Does he go to your school?"

"Yea, but we've never had classes together." My dad nodded and looked down at his food. I ate my last bite and took a long sip of my water.

"Why were you in such a rush to finish?" my mom questioned from across the table.

"No reason." She raised an eyebrow and I just smiled back. "Can I be excused?"

"No," my dad said, quickly. "You can be excused when everyone else is finished." He looked up at me sternly and I nodded in response. I slumped back in my chair and watched everyone finish their meals, twisting my thumbs anxiously beneath the table. I heard Jay laugh next to me but I didn't look at him. I kept my focus on the table in front of me.

When everyone finished eating, we sat silently. My dad looked around at all of the plates before wiping the corner of his mouth with a napkin.

"Tyler, you can do the dishes. Everyone else can go." I tried not to left my frustration show and sighed. I heard Jay and Zack laughing as they ran up the stairs. My mom placed a kiss to my forehead before walking into the living room. My dad just stared at me until I stood up and began collecting the plates. "Don't forget to load them in the dishwasher. Don't just leave them in the sink."

"I know," I said. I heard his footsteps lead down the hall.

Once the dishes were all done, I went up to my room and closed my door behind me. I grabbed my phone off of my bedside table and looked at my missed messages. They were all from a kik group chat that Hayley started of all of the counselors (minus Brendon and Dallon).

Hey-lee: You start school tomorrow??
Jish: Yea. When do you guys start?
Hey-lee: I start next week
Pete: ^
Patty: Same
Marina: I started last week!
Jish: I'm so sorry
Gerry: Andy and I start tomorrow too
Andy: Ye
Melony: I start tomorrow too !
Jish: Nice
TyGuy: RIP us
Hey-lee: TYLR
Patty: I thought you were dead
TyGuy: Almost. My dad was getting mad about nothing in particular
Jish: I'm sorry /:
TyGuy: It's okay
Jish: <3
Pete: This isn't a private convo, guys
Patty: Get a room
Melony: awwww

I heard a knock on my door and I said to come in. I locked my phone when I saw my dad in my door way.

"Do you have everything you need for tomorrow?" I nodded. "Good. It's gonna be a good year. Just don't goof off anymore. You should know not to risk this sort of thing."

"I know dad," I replied, blandly. "You gave me this speech last year. And the year before that."

"Well, it didn't seem to sync in last year," he said, giving me an incredulous look. It took all of my power to not roll my eyes at him. "Don't stay up late." He closed my door behind him. I sat there with my head in my hands for a while, calming myself down. I picked my phone back up and told the group I was going to bed. I read their goodnight messages before plugging my phone into its charger and changing into my pajamas.