It Ain't The Speakers |-/ JOSHLER

12.3: haven't yøu taken enough frøm me?

🍪 TYLER'S PØV 🍪

Someone, please, cleanse my eyes. They're burning.

A smooth talker with a smile on her lips. She's got a nasty reputation that nobody can miss. And last but not least, her familiar brown hair...

"Hey Deb, this is my best friend Tyler." Josh introduced me, laughing. "Ty, this is my girlfriend, Debby."

Uh. WHAT???

"I am so glad to see you again, Tyler." The devil grinned at me, and I just glared.

Caught somewhere between shock and confusion and something else which I didn't know what.

"You guys know each other? Nice!" Josh smiled, and for the first time, I didn't smile back.

"I know him better than you'd expect... Am I right, Jojo?"

Jojo.

Ew.

...She still remembers how to piss me off.

Rule #1: Never reveal your emotions.

Really wanted to cringe, but tried to maintain a straight face anyway. I could really learn a thing or two from Mikey... He's got the best pokerface.

But holy crap seriously... Of all the girls in the entire school, he HAD to go for Debby? My favourite enemy and my most hated friend..?

Come on, Josh... You can do better than that.

I've been avoiding her for around five...no...six years. Quite successfully, I would say. But now that Josh is here......

HOLY SHIT. NO. The voice in my head screamed at me.

I quickly shot out my hand to grab the blue lunchbox, but she had eyed it first. She grabbed the remaining three cookies and put one in her mouth.

"Don't forget, you owe me." She said, visibly enjoying the first one. I watched in horror.

Rule #2: Never show a lack of confidence or control over the situation, even if you have to fake it.

Have some composure, Tyler. Where's your posture? I sat up straight and held my head high.

"Uh, Debby..." Josh tried to say something. Tried.

Ray looked most offended, followed by Gee. Only they would understand, but they knew they couldn't do anything. Frank was just as confused as Josh.

"You promised, Jojo," she pouted. "I'm only taking three today." She proceeded to drop the second one into her mouth.

She was easily the biggest mistake I've ever made. Why did I ever pity the girl? Why did I ever decide to befriend her? And why on earth...did I make that promise?

A scene started playing out in my head. I was seven, she was six and a half. The girl with brown hair hid behind her mother's satin dress, her eyes fixated on me. "Go on, Debby. Go make some friends." The girl was pushed towards me and I just sat there, noticing how her arms were bruised and her eyes were just puffy.

"Hi," I said.

"I'm Debowah," she said timidly. I giggled at how she couldn't pronounce her R, causing her to step back in fear. I didn't mean to offend her.

"I'm Tyler." She looked so afraid at that moment, and the seven year old me didn't know how to comfort a kid.

"Uh, want a cookie?"

I held out my blue lunchbox and she stared at the last cookie. She quickly turned to look at her mother for approval, who nodded. She took it and bit into it. Her eyes lit up, and I couldn't help but smile at her.

"It's gweat," she said. I was taken aback by her compliment.

"I'll give you one every day I see you during lunch." I told her.

Her mouth fell open. "Weally??"

And I kept that promise. Out of the five cookies I brought daily, I'd give her one. Whenever she missed a day, I'd give her two the next day I met her. Her trust in me helped her become more confident and less afraid... I was just happy that she was happy. We became best friends at that time, and she promised we will always be.

Two years later, I had met Ray. Debby and I were now in different classes, rarely seeing each other. Once, she didn't meet me for a week, and expected to get all five of my cookies during lunch the next day I saw her. That was fair, I had thought, and gave her all my lunch that day. I went hungry for one afternoon to keep my promise.

But as time went by, she went overboard and things got out of hand. I had tried to avoid her for months and almost stopped making cookies entirely, because everytime I didn't keep my promise...well... She made sure I did. Ever since then, I knew I wanted nothing to do with her.

And that was my worst memory.

I looked at her now. She has changed completely... How was this even possible? Why is she like this?

...This isn't the Debby I befriended.

So what if I promised her? Some promises were meant to be broken... Especially when the other person broke their side of it first.

She held the last cookie, waving it in front of me, threatening to make it disappear. I felt like screaming.

Rule #3: Never react the way they expect/want you to.

Stop her, Tyler. Put an end to this. Don't let her have her way... Do something!

But I just continued staring.

A corner of her lips curled upwards and she gave Josh a peck on the cheek. Disgusting.

"Thanks, Jojo."

She walked away with the last cookie, and I just watched. She knew I hadn't the guts. The girl turned to look at me one last time to savour my reaction. My eyes stung.

God... Why?

I couldn't bear to hurt her. Not just because she's now with Josh and I'd never want to hurt him, but also because deep down I knew I still cared for this bitch... Sort of. Wtf..?

Mom told us that our fears shrink when we grow older. I'm fifteen. Am I not old enough yet? Why do I always screw up at Rule #3?

Why am I so fricking useless?

Shock and confusion... I couldn't find the right word to describe what else I felt, but I think I knew how to summarise it all... I just didn't want to admit it.

Fear.

I waited for the brown haired girl to leave my line of sight, then stood up, shaking my head vigorously. "Let's go, math is starting in five."

Josh, Ray and I quietly walked to our last class together while the other three went for their own classes. I put up my hoodie and led the way... They can't see me like this.

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Jebby shippers please forgive me D:

And oh happy birthday Frnk YAY hope he's ok now