Falling Too ~ Josh Dun

Sixteen

I woke up dazzily. I rolled over hoping to find Josh on the other side of the bed, but all I found were cool sheets.

I reached and grabbed my phone from the nightstand.

Message from Josh

Josh: Good morning, girlfriend o' mine! I'm awake whenever you want to come over... Please hurry. Tyler is driving me crazy.

I laughed as I checked the time, 8:16 am.

I got out of bed and hopped in the shower. Then I picked out clothes for the day, black ripped skinny jeans, a maroon lace bralette, and a sheer gray tank top over it. I blow dried and curled my hair and applied minimal makeup. When I was done getting ready I check myself out in the mirror and though unusually highly of myself.

After making myself a piece of toast, I texted Josh that I was on my way over and head out the door.

-----------------

"THAT'S SO DUMB, TYLER!" I heard Josh yell as I walked through the front door.

"NO, IT'S ONLY FAIR!!" Tyler retaliated.

"Woah Woah Woah," I said as I walked into the kitchen to find both boys on opposite sides of the kitchen. "What's going on?" I asked.

Both of them began yelling at once about their sides of the story. I gestured for them to be quiet.

"Josh, come with me, Tyler, take a breather. " I commanded. For whatever reason, they both actually listened. I grabbed Josh's wrist and pulled him up the stairs with me to his room.

"Hi," I said with a smile after we both sat on his bed facing each other.

"Hey." He ran his fingers through his hair. He looked stressed and exhausted.

"Do you want to tell me what all that was about? I've never even seen you annoyed." I extended my hand towards his own and intertwined our fingers.

"It started out as a little disagreement and it just snowballed into this huge fight. We almost never fight." Josh shook his head and looked down in his lap.

"People fight, it's okay. You're probably both just stressed out about the show. It's a big deal. Maybe we should all do something fun today?" I asked.

"That's a good idea," Josh said looking up at me. "I missed you last night, Ally."

I rolled my eyes and laughed softly, "I missed you too, Jishwa."

He lightly kissed my cheek and we went back downstairs together hand in hand. I saw Tyler sitting on the couch breathing angrily.

"Tyler, your turn," I said as I head back to the stairs. I heard him sigh but follow me.

When we were positioned the same way as Josh and me, I looked at him expectantly.

"I'm sorry..." Tyler muttered.

"I am not the person you should be apologizing too. Do you want to tell me what's going on between you two?"

He stayed quiet for a long time. I didn't push the subject again.

"Josh had another nightmare last night he wouldn't tell me what it was about and I got angry and he got defensive," he continued to rally quickly and defeatedly. " Then he said if I was going to be angry maybe we shouldn't all ride together to New York. I don't even remember why we started yelling." He said dejectedly.

I felt the lump in my throat growing after Tyler mentioned Josh's nightmare. Why didn't he tell me? I tried hard to push past it. "Tensions are high. It's a big deal. Maybe we should take the day off of planning and go do something fun?"

He nodded excitedly. "There's a new arcade downtown, I know Josh would love it."

"Perfect. I'll go tell Josh."

"You do that, Imma stay here for a minute or two." He said with a happy smile. "I'll be right down."

I just nodded and walked downstairs to find Josh. He was sitting in the same spot Tyler was on the couch. I crossed over and sat cross-legged facing him.

"Guess where we're going?" I asked him with a smile trying to ignore the weird feeling in my stomach. 

"Hm?" He asked uninterestedly.

"The arcade!" I said over enthusiastically trying to make him feel better.

His face broke into a smile. "Cool!"

I gave a small smile and feel quite. I tried not to look Josh in the eyes because he would be able to tell how hurt I was. 

"Ally? What are you thinking about?" Josh asked I could feel him staring at me. 

The lump in my throat remanded, so I tried to make a joke. "You know, at some point, you'll have to tell me what your nightmares are about." I glanced up at him and his face fell flat. 

"I know, and I will. Just, not today please...?" He sounded so small. 

I nodded, understanding that he needed time, "You should have called me last night Josh." I spoke and placed my hand on his knee. 

He paused and sighed deeply, I know that, too." He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me into his side so I was half laying on him. 

"Hey, Ally?" He asked shyly looking down at me.

"Yeah?"

"You look really beautiful." He spoke. I smiled widely and leaned in for a hug only to be meet with Josh's lips.

"Gross you guys!" Tyler shouted as he came downstairs. "I didn't want to see that!"

That broke us apart quickly. I could feel a deep crimson blush consume my face. I looked up to see a similar hue on Josh's face even though he was laughing it off. 

"Come one. Let's get going!" A now happy Tyler urged us.

---------------

The three of us, stumbling and laugh, re entered the Dun house. We were all exhausted from almost 8 hours at the arcade of go karts and Dance Dance Revolution tournaments.

"Alright. We should go back to planning our trip." Tyler said.

Josh groaned, "Man it's almost 9:30. I say we get to bed early tonight and finish planning tomorrow."

I yawned as I nodded in agreement.

"We're tired, Tyler..." I groaned.

"Fine. I'm gonna go sleep in my own bed at home tonight. I'll be back here tomorrow morning to plan stuff. Okay?" Tyler said, obviously a bit annoyed that Josh and I didn't want to pull an all nighter planning a trip.

We both just nodded.

"Bye." Josh and I mumbled as Tyler left.

Josh flopped on the couch and closed his eyes.

"Come on, Joshy. Let's get you to bed." I said helping him off the couch.

"...do you have to go home tonight?" Josh asked sounding like a scared little boy.

"Me? Go home? Never." I said with a smile as I led him upstairs.

After what seemed like hours had passed, we were both laying in bed wearing comfy clothes.

I snuggled up close to Josh's chest as he wrapped a strong arm around my shoulders.

"Goodnight, my sweet Ally." He mumbled as he kissed the top of my head.

"Goodnight, Joshy." I rested my hand on his chest, statically placed so I could feel his steady heartbeat through his shirt, and drifted off.