unholy (joshler)

chapter twelve

"Tyler stop I'm driving." Tyler giggles, a sharp contrast to the crying from that morning, and continues to play with Josh's hair.

"No, it's soft. Literally clouds." Josh just sighs and focuses on the road and not the soft hands buried in the locks on his head.

The drive to his house is quick and that makes Josh sad. Despite his demand he enjoys the attention and coming home means no more.

It's not that he's hiding his relationship, in fact Cindy and the kids know, but he decides that PDA isn't cool in front of them. It's awkward.

He thinks of Ashley then. They haven't talked in forever and that makes Josh a little angry.

Upon arriving Josh parks Tyler's car, one he's been using a lot lately as he doesn't have his own and Tyler hasn't gone anywhere but school as of lately, and heads inside.

"Joshy!" Abby screams when Josh enters the house. She clings to him.

"Hey little honey bee, I haven't been gone 24 hours." He laughs and she's about to respond but she sees Tyler and gasps.

"Ty!" She jumps onto him, letting him pick her up as she lays her head on his shoulder. Abby loves Tyler more than she loves her doll Angie and Josh often finds himself jealous.

"Wheres Grandma?"

"In the kitchen." Josh nods and casts a smile at Tyler before taking a step towards the place where food is made. "With mommy." And then he's still.

His bodies tense, his face scrunched. Filled with sudden rage he glares daggers into the wall.

How dare she come around again! Sure he knew she would but it was months ago that Debra called, he'd hoped she'd forgotten or fell into a ditch somewhere.

After everything that's happened since he got the call he's absolutely done with her. He doesn't need her and no one else in this house does either.

"Josh?" Tyler's soothing angelic voices pulls Josh from his thoughts, his fists clenching involuntary. "Baby?"

He takes a deep breath and heads towards the kitchen, Tyler's footsteps sounding behind him indicate he followed.

Cindy and Laura are sitting at the kitchen table, Jordan in Laura's lap. Josh's blood boils.

The woman looks up at her son, her eyes widening. She's definitely not clean.

Despite her styled hair and okay makeup, she looks like shit. She's sweating horribly, her hands fidgeting and her leg bouncing.

She's noticeably lost a bunch of weight and Josh can make out holes high up on her arm from what he can only assume are from shooting up.

"Josh," Her voice is breathy and awestruck. "You're so much older than I remember. Handsome." Josh scoffs.

"Thanks. You still look like shit." Cindy's hand comes down hard onto the table, making everyone jump.

"Language Joshua." Laura clears her throat awkwardly.

"It's alright Mom, I can take it." She smiles at Cindy before her eyes, wide pupils and slightly red, wonder to Tyler. "And who's this fine piece of man?" She smiles suggestively and Josh tries not to vomit in his mouth.

"Uh, I'm Tyler-"

"My boyfriend." Laura's eyes widen.

"Boyfriend?"

"Yep." They stare each other down, a challenge, dangerous. Tyler clears his throat.

"Jordan, Abby, wanna go outside?"

"No. Stay. I wanna get to know the boy who stole my babies heart."

Much to Josh's dismay Tyler agrees, sending Abby and Jordan to play before sitting across from Cindy and Laura like they're having Sunday dinner.

"So, where did you snag this one?" Laura asks Josh who rolls his eyes and leans back in his chair.

"School." He answers shortly and Tyler sips his tea awkwardly.

"He's beautiful. Kind of Godly." Tyler and Josh exchange a nervous glance before Tyler clears his throat and flashes the two women a sweet smirk.

Josh finds he prefers the messy half smile.

"Well thank you, but Josh is the true star. A dime piece really." Cindy smiles widely and Laura attempts the same reaction.

God, Josh hates her.

"How did you meet?"

"Through sports." Tyler says quickly, wrapping his foot around Josh's comfortingly.

"Oh? Which?"

"Basketball and football." She nods.

"That's cool." Cindy pours more tea.

"How old are you Tyler?" Laura questions and Josh scoffs.

"I'm 18."

"Why does it matter?" Josh interjects, ignoring Cindys warning glare.

"I can't have you dating an older man, now could I? What kind of mother would I be?" She laughs out and Josh finely understands what she's going for.

She's trying to seem like a good mom, like she's been here all this time and that she's not on drugs this very moment.

"As far as I'm concerned Laura, not any kind. All you are is baggage." Josh responds smoothly and Laura's eyes widen.

"Josh that is enough." Cindy says, her glare pointed and firm. Josh returns the stink eye, surprising himself as much as everyone else. He never talks back to Cindy, but enough is enough.

"No. No it's not. She comes around her twice a year for money and that's it. She's no mother, she's a druggy with a lot of baby daddy problems. I don't want to see her anymore and I don't want her around my siblings. I love you Grandma but if you keep helping her out I'm asking to stay with Debra."

Josh is panting by time he's done with his spill. The thought of living with Debra wasn't an option until now, but he's willing to take it.

Laura is worse than moving schools.

"I...I.." Cindy can't seem to find the words to say and Josh sighs sadly.

"I'll be in my room." He moves to stand but the sound of the front door opening stops him.

Ashley walks in, Jason trailing behind her.

"Laura." She says, unamused.

"Ashley! How are-"

"Get out." Everyone looks to the tall blonde in shock. She's never been upfront or rude to anyone.

"Excuse me?"

"I said, get out. I'm tired of you pushing your way into our lives only to leave again a day later. Leave. Now."

"Ash, please-"

"Grandma stop. She may be your daughter but we are your grandkids. Who are you going to pick?" It's silent and as everyone awaits Cindy's answer Josh grabs Tyler's hand nervously.

He casts his purple eyes towards the boy and gives him that messy half smile that makes the moment feel more like Christmas than a fight.

"Laura, I'm sorry but this has to stop."

"Mom-"

"Rehab. Either go or don't come around here anymore." Laura stares at her in shock, a small smile taking over Josh's face and turning into a full on grin.

He and Ashley make eye contact and she offers him an apologetic smile. He gives her a forgiving one, maybe she didn't fully leave after all.

"I don't understand." Cindy grabs Josh's free hand and looks to her daughter bravely.

"I'm picking my grandkids." She looks between Ashley and Josh and smiles gently. "I always will."