House of Gold // Adopted by Tyler Joseph

Shopping

     I woke up groggily to the smell of pancakes. The bed I had fallen asleep in was completely empty. I'd never had a whole bed to myself before in my whole life.

Of course this was a one-bedroom apartment, they probably slept on the couch.

I pushed aside my shyness because of the growing hunger in my stomach. I was always hungry, there wasn't a day that my body didn't ache, except when Tyler had made me spaghetti.

The orphanage went out of their way to make sure we didn't eat 'extras'. That included a piece of bread for breakfast, school lunch. And the tiniest bowl of slop, or what they called soup, for dinner.

My feet were awfully cold, I hoped I wasn't being rude by slipping on someone's fuzzy over-sized slippers.

My smelly day clothes still on, I probably reeked to them. The bathroom was just doused in perfume, I'd never owned any before, it smelled like heaven.

So I trudged down the hall, and licked my lips at the smell.

Tyler nor Jenna noticed me, I wanted to clear my throat and tell them to cut it off. But I just grabbed myself a pancake while they continued making out, not noticing me.

"Where's the forks?" I asked politely. "Oh and the little girls room, I gotta go." I danced around as Jenna pulled away from him embarrassed.

"Down the hall to the right." Tyler cleared his throat as I giggled.

When I came back out, they were seated and being decent human beings. Forks set out, napkins placed neatly.

"How old are you?" I asked Tyler curiously.

"Twenty-five my dear." He responded. "You're twelve?"

"Thirteen in October." I chewed my food happily.

"I'm twenty-one, thanks for asking." She joked.

"You guys are a little young to have a twelve year old huh?" I laughed.

"Incredibly. Now what do you say we take you shopping, and you can meet my best friend Josh?" He asked with a smile.

"Sure! You don't have to buy me anything Tyler, I have... stuff." I lied.

"Baby doll, I'm going to spoil you. And don't be shy. Hey, we're all going on tour in a week anyways. You need clothes. This apartment, will be gone. We'll be living on a bus for a while." He grinned. "Then after tour, we'll get a house. Well I have one picked out, but we can move in then."

"Tyler! You bought a house?" I gasped.

"Yes love. Don't feel guilty either, I've wanted to forever. Ohio will make a good place for you to grow up, don't ya think?"

"I've grown up here my whole life." I smiled up at him.

"Let's go spoil you, come on." He got up as Jenna went to put away our dishes.

Living with them was like a dream come true. "I'll help wash them." I smiled.

"Go along hun, Josh is waiting to meet you." She gave me a push towards Tyler as I nodded.

               |-/

The Josh guy had a lot of tattoos on his right arm. Actually it looked cool, Tyler had some on his left. But his were black.

Josh's were colorful, and had trees and stars cascading over his freckled skin.

He was quiet, but friendly and nice to me.

Josh looked a bit odd, I didn't mind, but stared at his gauges and colorful pink hair. A cap placed on top neatly.

I wanted to reach out and feel his curls, they looked beautiful.

"Lily what about this?" Josh held up a shirt with an alien on it. It was pink and white, I adored it.

My style wasn't currently feminine at all, my boxy jeans and two shirts I owned. But always dreamed of swiping on lipstick, putting in earrings, wearing colors like pink, red, violet. Not the dark brown and dingy white shirts I had.

"Wanna sip?" Josh asked as he had a caramel-colored coffee with whipped cream on it. It looked delicious.

"Don't mind if I do." I took a gulp and smiled.

"Josh? She's twelve man, she doesn't need caffeine." He rambled worriedly.

"Chill brother. She just had a sip of coffee. Don't go all overprotective-dad-mode on me." He chuckled and gave me a fist-bump.

"Oh Lily, let's go to Hot Topic!" Tyler announced as I nodded.

Everything was darker in there, the walls were black, I liked it though.

"Awe man, only one twenty one pilots shirt." Josh complained.

"Twenty-what?" I asked over the loud music and chatter of teens. "Woah is this hair dye?" I asked excitedly.

"Yes! Take after your bad-influence-of-an-uncle Josh!" He chuckled. "Which colors do you want pumpkin? I think a nice red or deep purple would suit you." He held the bottles up towards my hair.

"Nope! Is this safe for her? She's only twelve, is this toxic?" Tyler asked as we just giggled at him.

I felt guilty that we had to get every little thing for me. Including dropping bags off in the car, just to find another shop, as Josh carried my bags for me.

"Uncle Josh, I want!" We were in Claire's, Tyler needed a rest, and also refused to come in with us. It was a very girly store after all.

"A flower crown? Anything for you princess." He was about to check out as he saw the earrings. "Wanna get your ears pierced?"

"Yes! Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" I squealed out as he picked out black little skull ones, with roses, and ones with bows.

He even picked out diamond ones, they were fake, but cute nonetheless.

Tyler noticed we were taking longer than usual, the lady had numbed my ear, and began as Tyler panicked.

"Josh, you let her get her ears pierced?! Oh no man, what if they hurt her?" I faintly heard him.

"Dad, I'm fine." I laughed as the lady finished with one ear.

"Okay sweet pea. I'm just new to this whole parenting thing." He sighed.

"You're doing great. I mean, you bought me your band's shirt!" I beamed at the black bag in my hand.

"I did baby. Let get home yeah?" He guided me out as uncle Josh paid.

Josh wasn't really his brother, but they acted like it, and insisted I call him uncle Josh.

"What do you say to uncle Josh?" Tyler smiled.

"Thanks." I ran up and hugged him with teary eyes.

"Also, thanks Tyler." I let tears of joy fall, he was incredible.

"No problem Lily."