unholy (joshler)

chapter twenty two

"No!" Josh can hear the faint screams of Dallons agony after the light has left the room, but he's too out of it to react.

He can feel his fingertips, a tingling sensation surrounding his whole body. But he doesn't want it. He doesn't want to feel anything without Tyler there with him.

The sadness is weighing on him like a ton of bricks. Tyler knew, he knew that by doing this he would die and he still did it.

Josh wants nothing more than to disappear.

"Josh? I'm home." Cindy's voice comes ringing through the house and Dallon continues to sob into Chris's chest. Now that he finally has the strength to, Josh stands and walks into the kitchen. 

He's numb, waiting for the true effect of what happened to hit him.

"Hey Grandma." He says simply and she smiles before ruffling his hair. "If you don't mind, Dallon and Tyler are staying the night."

He doesn't want her coming into his room and Dallon is in no condition to drive. It's only half a lie anyways.

Cindy looks up over her grocery bag and frowns.

"Why would Dallon Weekes and Tyler Joseph be in your room? You haven't talked to either of them in years."

Josh stares for a moment, not fully processing her words. What the hell?

"Grandma, they were just here earlier. You talked to them." The old woman cackles.

"Sure, son. Whatever you say. Goodnight, you have school tomorrow. Go, go!" She ushers him away and Josh shakes the encounter off. He has bigger things to worry about anyways.

-

Getting ready for school the next day is a hassle. The kids are still at Debra's which helps a bit but Josh is all over the place.

His mind is still trying to come up with alternate reasons as to why Tyler isn't by his side and why his hands won't stop shaking.

Dallon is completely mute, all void of emotion. But Josh doesn't blame him, he's lost two of his best friends in the matter of a year.

Chris is silent as well, trying his best to give him sad smiles when they make eye contact, but they remind Josh of those messy half smiles Tyler always gave which makes his stomach churn uneasily.

As they're heading out, Josh can't find his varsity jacket. Instead of worrying about it, he touches the feather against his chest roughly and tries to think about Tyler being at the school, waiting for him with open arms.

It feels like everything's changed. No ones eyes are on him, he's invisible again. Jefferson bushes past them, not giving Josh a second of attention.

As the three boys walk into the breakfast hall they exchange nervous glances.

What will people say when Tyler doesn't show? What will his parents say when they find out he's dead?

As they look around, Josh is confused even further.

There's a boy slumped over in Tyler's seat, his hair matted and messy and his skin an ugly tan.

What scares him even more so is Pete, sitting in the chair Josh has claimed as his own as if he's not dead. Dallon is pale, frozen in his spot.

Jenna comes prancing in, giving Dallon a smile and completely over looking Josh and Chris. She approaches the slumped boy and taps his shoulder.