unholy (joshler)

chapter four

"The bell can't possibly be louder." Chris mutters grumpily as they make their way to first hour.

After Ashley's confession last night he's done his best to focus on virtually anything else.

"And you can't possibly be higher." The boy shrugs.

"You've got a point." They take their seats in the far left of the classroom, watching as the other kids file in.

It's Tyler Joseph that catches Josh's attention. His face is puffy and red, his eyes bloodshot. He takes a seat closest to the door.

Josh shoves Chris lightly, raising a brow. Chris peaks with interest but doesn't know what's up either. Odd. He seemed just fine yesterday.

The morning announcements begin.

"Good morning CHS! Please stand for the pledge of allegiance." They do and after the weather report, the Buckeyes score listing and a moment of silence to pray, the principal coughs lightly.

"As some of you may know, our school has just witnessed a great tragedy." Josh and Chris sit up in their seats in interest. "One of our most adored athletes, Pete Wentz, has passed away."

Collective gasps spread throughout the class, all eyes darting to Tyler whose biting his lip to hold back a sob.

"He went due to a car accident late last night and will be missed dearly. If you'd all please attend the funeral Thursday that'd be wonderful. Thank you and have a great day."

Josh has never sympathized with Tyler more than he has in this moment. He can't imagine losing a friend like that, it's a horrible thing.

And to think that yesterday Josh thought he didn't have a care in the world.

The boys a reck. A tear soaked face, matted, messy hair, and droopy eyes.

But what's odd is he looks almost inhumanly sad.

That glow, the one Josh thought that maybe everyone had when happy, is still lingering around him. Only now it doesn't look to metaphorical. A purplish yellow coats the boys skin, his eyes looking even brighter when full of tears.

He looks...alien.

Josh shrugs it off, paying attention to the teacher instead as he goes on about the difference between dirt and soil.

-

Ashley's all packed up by time Josh gets off the bus, Chris trailing behind him.

"Hey Josh, Chris." She greets and Josh doesn't respond and Chris smiles sadly.

"Hey Ashley, how have you been?"

"I've been okay. Is your mom fine? I heard she had a cold."

Josh walks away, throwing his bag onto his bed. The whole left side of the room is empty, the floor swept and cleaned and all the posters off the wall. The beds missing. It looks so...empty.

He slams the door and locks it.

The nerve of Ashley to get up a leave now, to leave all of this on Josh. She may think she's doing whats right but she isn't.

Josh wipes away his tears furiously, pushing his bed to the middle of the room. He takes some of his posters and hangs them on the now empty wall, taking his drums from the closet and setting them in a now empty corner.

He doesn't hear the knocking until he's calmed down a little.

"Josh? Buddy it's me. Let me in." As soon as he opens the door Chris is holding him in a tight hug. Josh finds it safe to break down.

"Why is she leaving?" He says between sobs. "I can't do this alone!"

"I hate to break it to you bud but, you'd been doing it alone anyways. She slept and ate here that's all." And he's right, she worked so much she was never really around.

But that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.

"I miss her."

"She's in the kitchen." Josh sniffles. "Go talk to her."

"No." He pulls away from the hug.

"Why not?"

"I'm mad. So I'm proving a point."

"By giving the silent treatment?" Chris says, his voice the one you'd use with a child.

"Yes. Leave me alone or get out." His words are harsh but Chris seems to understand as he plops onto the bed and pulls out a magazine to read in silence.

Josh loves his best friend. He wonders how Tyler's doing.

-

Pete Wentz's funeral is everything Josh thought it would be. It's held in the Joseph church, almost the whole town is there.

Jordan and Abby stay at home with Cindy and now that Ashley is gone Josh goes with Chris.

They stand towards the back in black tuxes.

The whole service is long and sad and when it's over Chris breaths deeply.

"Alright let's go. I can't handle these kind of places." Josh's eyes widen.

"What? We can't go until we've paid respect. Do you want his ghost to possess you in your sleep?" Chris rolls his eyes but follows him anyways.

"I'm so sorry for your loss." Josh says solemnly as he shakes Mr. and Mrs. Wentz's hands.

"Thank you son."

After Chris's similar apology they prepare to leave. On their way to the door Josh sees Tyler sitting out back of the chapel. It's the first time he's seen him all day.

"Hey, I'll catch up with you at the truck." Josh says before he scurries to the back door, walking out quietly.

Tyler looks up when Josh sits next to
him on the low brick wall, his eyes watery and his nose red.

"Hey." He mutters and Josh smiles back weakly. He looks very nice in his tux but his shaking shoulders and wobbly lips make Josh's heart clench.

Even now though, he looks unnaturally godly.

"I'm so sorry man. I can't imagine what you're going through." Tyler shrugs.

"It's alright. Thank you."

It's silent after that, Josh starring at his shoes and Tyler playing with his tie. It's a moment later that Tyler rests his head on the other boy's shoulder, sending hot waves of fear threw his entire body.

A single tear rolls off Tyler's cheek and onto the material of Josh's coat jacket.

"I'm sorry, I just, I miss him, ya know?" Josh nods because he knows what it's like to
miss someone.

"I-"

"Tyler? There you are baby." Jenna comes walking out, engulfing Tyler in a hug as he buries himself against her.

She smiles gently at Josh, mouthing a quick thank you. He takes that at his cue to leave.

Back in Chris's truck, he's talking on the phone.

"Yeah, sure. Let me drop my friend off and i'll head that way." He hangs up as Josh is buckling up.

"Party?"

"Party."

Josh doesn't ask to go. He never does.