Schizoid

:.Over:.

You've made it. This is the final chapter before the epilogue. Trigger warning. Don't start the song yet. 

Ten days after the the trial, the jury reaches a verdict. It shocks me when Jenna tells us this. I didn't expect it to happen so fast. A part of me wants to be optimistic, wants to assume that the jury was able to quickly agree on Tyler's innocence, but I'm not good at optimism. I have a bad feeling. Everything in me is screaming that this won't end well; telling me that this is it and Tyler will never be able to live the life he wants to. Even so, I refuse to tell Tyler that. As we sit on a metal bench joined by a few guards, he asks me what I think is going to happen. I remain silent. I can't bear to be honest right now.

"If you think I'm gonna lose, then just say that," Tyler finally pouts softly, his shoulders slumping. I think he's going to keep quiet, but he doesn't. His mouth opens to speak once again. "Josh, do you know what today is?"

Of course I know what today is. "Today is the day that everything changes," I say. And it's true. For better or for worse, everything will be different from here on out.

Tyler shakes his head softly, staring down at his shackled wrists. I see tears welling up in his large eyes. "It's my birthday, Josh." He sniffles a little. "I'm 25 now."

My eyes widen as I realize that he's right, I look over at him, but he won't meet my eyes. Today is December 1st, and not only is it the day that Tyler will be sentenced, but it is also the day he was born 25 years ago. Today will be his most important birthday, his second birth. Today, everything changes. I run a hand through my hair, then take a breath in preparation to speak. My train of thought is cut off when I hear that oh-so-familiar thud of ugly heels plopping down against tiled floors. Jenna is moving quickly towards Tyler, stopping at the bench and getting ready to sit down... on me.

I let out a scream as Tyler shouts, "What are you doing?", startling Jenna, who jumps back into a standing position before she can connect to my lap.

"What?" Jenna asks breathlessly, dramatically placing a hand on her chest.

"You're about to sit on him," Tyler says, narrowing his eyes at her as if she had known what she was about to do.

"Yeah, right," Jenna mutters, wiping her hands across her butt as if to dust it off from her close encounter. She tucks her hair behind her ear in transition. "So, are you ready?"

Tyler's head spasms before he replies. "Yeah, I think I am." He wipes his presumably sweaty palms on his jumpsuit, rubbing them together and exhaling evenly as if to prove his point. Jenna squats down in front of him and grabs his hands. They look each other in the eyes, neither of them needing to say a word. This irritates me. If Tyler ends up making me share a house with her, I'm gonna be pissed. I sigh loudly, breaking the silence of their moment.

"Tell her my name," I say resentfully.

Tyler's jaw drops a little. "Are you serious?"

"Just do it, Tyler," I answer, unable to meet his eyes.

"His name is Josh," he finally tells Jenna, whose eyes widen in... fear? It's almost like she knows something we don't. Tyler still clutches her hands, and she does the same, holding his hands like her life depends on it.

She looks in my general vicinity, unable to look me in the eyes because she cannot see them. "Why did you tell him to tell me that? I thought you hated me."

I laugh a little. "Oh, I do. But he doesn't. It's his birthday, Jenna. Let's just try and make the kid happy." Tyler translates my message with as much of a smile as his twitching face can manage, but it's good enough for me. Jenna nods in agreement, looking... apologetic? Something has changed in the way she acts around me, and I still just can't figure out what it is. I try to ignore it as talking ceases once again. I watch as Tyler takes a paperclip off of one of Jenna's documents, pocketing it. The silence is welcomed and light, almost pleasant.