unholy (joshler)

chapter eleven

PART TWO
two months later

It's Friday, the twelfth game of the season. Josh is scoring the last touchdown of the night, the crowd cheering wildly, his heart pounding in his ears, but his mind is absent.

Despite the thrill of the game and the fact that they're in the play offs Josh can't seem to focus.

There's a certain somebody missing from the crowd.

Josh knows where he is, probably laying in bed, wide eyed and terrified. He's spent most of his time there recently.

Tyler's nightmares have gotten worse. Terribly worse. His natural beauty is starting to look a little strained, he sleeps around 12 hours a week and his grades are dropping.

Josh finds it's hard to comprehend really. Tyler refuses to speak of what happens and seems okay with the nightmares destroying his life.

Basketball tryouts are in a couple of months and Mr. Jake has already warned him that if he doesn't pick up the slack soon then Dallon might just replace him all together this year.

Josh, being a supportive boyfriend (Tyler asked, a simple red rose and a nervous expression) only wants what's best for him.

And that's why he's worrying while Jefferson and Hernandez are carrying him on their shoulders in celebration. There's two more games of the season and they're most likely taking the gold.

All thanks to Josh, the boy no one knew until the death of Pete Wentz.

"Congrats Dun, you've made a name for yourself." Coach Hodge had said before the game when the stands where practically screaming his name.

When he thinks about it, it makes Josh sick. Not the crowds or the screaming but the fact that he owes everything to that one car accident.

Pete was a good guy, he didn't deserve to die. And yet he did and from that Josh got popularity, a position on the team and an amazing boyfriend/friend group.

He doesn't think about it much, but it's in moments like these where he's living the life Pete used to, that he does.

Josh begins the drive to Tyler's house. He's sure the boy isn't asleep and wouldn't mind staying up with him, he needs someone to talk to. It feels like Pete is haunting him or something. Crushing him with guilt.

Using the key Tyler had given him the week before, he lets himself into the Joseph house. He's spent a lot of time here lately, whether they're getting ready for church (Josh goes every weekend, even though he still isn't feeling super religious yet) playing video games or having family game night, Josh is here.

He was surprised when the Joseph family accepted his and Tyler's relationship so easily. He was expecting the Christian family to tell him he'd be going to hell. Now he guesses that not all religious people fit the stereotypes.

Josh cracks open the door to Tyler's room. It's dark, the only light coming from the fish tank in the far corner. Tyler is nowhere to be found and Josh throws his stuff onto the made bed and looks out his window.

The frame gives a perfect view to the back yard. Its huge with the perfect amount of room to do basically anything.

Tyler is there, standing in the center of the field like it's a perfectly normal thing to do at 11 pm.