Fear Will Lose // twenty one pilots // Joshler

Chapter 16

//In case it wasn't clear, this is Josh's memory of going to Tyler's house for the first time since Debby died//

Josh sat at the dining room table, anxiously fiddling with the string of his cross necklace. After what Dustin had told him and the way Tyler had reacted at the mall earlier that day, he had no idea what to expect from the evening ahead of him.

The room had barely changed from when he lived with Tyler, but almost everything else had changed.

As he had arrived, he was shocked to see the size that the now 10 year old Jay had grown too; he also received a hearty hug from Tyler's dad Chris, and another from Kelly.

Kelly soon explained that Maddy was away at summer camp, but Zack was in the shower and would be down soon. There was no mention of Tyler.

"So you're staying with Dustin? From school?" Kelly asked awkwardly.
"Yeah, I'm going to start looking for somewhere more permanent pretty soon but for now his apartment is a nice place to get back into the swing of Columbus life."
"I'm really sorry that I'm not in the position to offer you a place here just right now, but if you need any support, financial or something else, with finding a place then please ask." Kelly said apologetically.
"No no I understand, and that's very kind but too much to ask, thank you though." Josh replied.

"Mom! Tyler's in the kitchen again," Zack yelled from another room.

Kelly made a rushed apology before quickly walking out of the dining room, leaving Josh alone.

A few seconds later, Zack walked in. His hair was dripping wet and his clothes stuck to his still damp body, and he smiled as he made eye contact with Josh.

"Hey," Josh greeted him.
"Jesus, if it isn't the elusive Joshua Dun," Zack said before giving him a quick hug. "Didn't expect I'd ever see you again, you like to cause trouble don't you?!"
"Sorry," Josh apologised sincerely; despite Zack joking, Josh knew that his absence had caused a massive impact on him.
"Where have you been hiding then?"

"Oh fuck you!" Josh heard Tyler shout, shocking him a little.

"Should we do something?" Josh asked Zack concerned.
"Nothing we can do, it's like this constantly with him, don't waste your breath." Zack told him. "You just learn to ignore him."

"It's fucking bullshit, I fucking hate you," Tyler shouted through the walls again.

"He's not allowed in the kitchen, dunno whether Mom explained it to you, but yeah, he gets a little angry when you try and tell him what to do. I caught him trying to light a spliff on the stove. What you're hearing now is basically every single time you try and talk to him." Zack explained casually.

Before Josh could reply, the dining room door swung open and Tyler charged in, followed closely by Kelly.

"Zack give me a fucking light," Tyler barked, an unlit spliff hanging to his bottom lip.
"I don't have one."
"Bullshit. Give me a fucking light you lying piece of crap." He spat.
"No Tyler, I don't have one since you smashed up my last. And anyway, Mom doesn't want you smoking, so do me a favour and get out of my face." Zack said calmly, barely looking up from the text he had begun to type.

"Oh go fuck yourself Zack," Tyler shouted with a glare and slapped the phone out of Zack's hands to the floor, then strode towards the drawers against the wall. He tried to open them but they didn't budge.

"Are you kidding, are actually fucking kidding me? You've locked the fucking drawers," Tyler yelled, slamming his fist down then turning towards his mother.
"Yes sweetie, there's no smoking in my house,"
"I'm fucking leaving, but I need you to get me a fucking flame first, understand woman?" Tyler screamed at his mother.
"Sweetie, it's gone 7pm so the doors are all locked, you know the rules. You're not getting a light, and you're not leaving this house." Kelly said slowly and calmly.