It Ain't The Speakers |-/ JOSHLER

17.2: løøk up anymøre

JØSH'S PØV

It was quite a long walk home, but we had all the time in the world anyway. It felt good, not needing to rush for anything. Well there's math, but screw math. Who needs math when I've got Tyler.

"It's a pity you crashed your bike..." Ty suddenly said. "You haven't told me what happened though?"

"Uhh..." I wasn't planning to tell him about it. "Distracted I guess? There were lots of red in the trees on my way home that day and I suppose I rode straight into one."

Ooh lies. Tsk tsk.

Technically, it's not wrong.

"The lights again? At least you weren't hurt, I guess," he chuckled a little, looking down at his feet.

We continued our way to my place, on foot for the first time, but with every step I was getting increasingly excited to show him his surprise.

-----

"Don't peek yet," I told him, removing my hands from in front of his eyes. "I won't," he laughed and I went to bring it out, leaving him standing in the middle of my backyard. Cute.

"Kay, now you can look."

He opened his eyes took a moment to look it over. "Josh...a tricycle?! This is SICK!" His expression then turned into one of confusion. "How did you even afford it, though..?"

"Remember how I was skipping lunch to buy my Mom a nice gift? Actually, I was saving up to get you something too. Guess I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done."

"Haha like what?"

"Existing, perhaps."

His cheeks turned slightly pink as he avoided eye contact, stepping closer to touch his new bike.

"I can't cycle though... I'm still scared."

"That's why it's a tricycle. You won't easily fall out, boy."

"Um... Guess you're right."

"Of course, I always am," I grinned.

Lol, yeah right.
The only person that would
agree with you is Pi.

It's sarcasm, don't you get it? I rolled my eyes at the stupid voice in my head that keeps bringing up a friend of mine he claims I killed. Just because he hasn't been around doesn't mean he's gone.

I watched Tyler carefully place his feet on the pedals, stepping down on them lightly. He was still afraid, I could see.

"Come on, Ty, I'll push you."

He smiled and nodded. I put my hand on his seat and guided him forward onto the middle of the road. There's barely any cars here, and it's great how wide and flat it is. It's the perfect place to cycle (and get over your fear of it).

We started out slow, but it wasn't long before I started jogging, then almost running. Tyler just pedaled along at the speed I was going.

"Josh, I think we're going too fast!" he yelled into the wind.

"That's under your control, Ty!"

"No, you're pushing me!"

"Look, I'm not!" I was running to keep up alongside him, proudly holding out both hands to prove it. His jaw dropped.

"YOU LET GO?!"

"Yes but LOOK TY YOU'RE DOING IT."

"WHERE'S THE BRAKES ON THIS THING?!"

"NO TYLER don't brake! Just slow downnnnn"

He gripped the handles tightly and tried to slow the pace, eventually coming to a stop. I offered him a hand and he took it, stepping off the tricycle.

"You ok, Princess?"

He looked stunned. "Well that was... Uh..."

I waited for his response, panting harder than he was. I just hoped he wasn't too scared to ever try it again, because that would defeat the purpose of it, and the amount of exercise I just got wouldn't be worth it for a slob like me.

"Fun." He finally said.

"Fun?"

"Yeah. I guess I'm not too scared anymore," he giggled. "Even though it's obviously a tricycle, not a real bike."

"That's great!" I huffed, tasting a bit of sweat at the corner of my lips while trying to catch my breath.

Tyler looked worried. "Josh... Your face is red."

I took off my sweaty shirt and wiped my face with it, though it didn't help much. "I'm fine," I smiled at my best friend, watching a golden orange light dance around him. "It was worth it."

"Thanks, Josh."

"You're worth it, Ty."