Under The Covers {joshler}

freshman year - part one

Freshman Joshua Dun didn't have the best start to his high school life.

He had been semi-popular in middle school while he had been in a relationship with the prettiest girl in school; Debby. She was all doe eyes and pouty lips and she was sweeter than sugar it made for a winning combination. They were the closest thing to in love that two thirteen/fourteen year olds could get, but only two weeks into their first high school year they split up suddenly. Debby told her cheerleader friends it was because Josh was gay, needless to say the rumours spread. Each one more extravagant than the next;

"Did u hear about that freshman who got caught in a gay orgy." 

"I heard he was filming an illegal gay porno." "My mom says being gay is a sin, do you think he like worships the devil too?" "Did you hear about this freshman Jonny something, he's like a gay satanist how wild."

Josh felt the least they could do is get his name right, but then he realised that most people outside of his school year also had no idea who he was and it allowed him to slowly shrink away into the background. None of the rumours were true of course, but that didn't stop the basketball jocks from shouting slurs and slamming his slightly chubby fifteen year old body into lockers two minutes before the bell went.

The only good thing that came out of the drama was that he'd discovered who his real friends were. Granted there were only four of them but he didn't need hundreds of friends anyway, no sir, just four; Colin, Hayley, Brendon and Ashley (not to be confused with his sister who was the year below him.)

The four of them often sat at the back of class or ate lunch in the art classrooms together. They enjoyed each others company and the rest of the school seemed to find this fact disgusting enough to stare judgmentally.

Colin, Brendon and Ashley often skipped class to smoke on the roof of the science building which left Josh and Hayley alone in music class. Usually this wasn't much of an issue, if it wasn't for the fact that basketball tryouts and initiation were finally over and that meant new freshman had been chosen for the team. Freshman who were eager to prove the 'dumb jock stereotype' was legitimate it seemed.

Just as everyone began packing away their instruments said 'dumb jock' and his scrawny sniggering buddy approached Josh while Hayley was distracted stacking violins.

"Hey you're the faggot right?"

Josh ignored the guy as he worked on packing his trumpet away, his eyes flitting over to the drum kit, he wondered if Mr. Wentz would let him play them in his free period next. He'd have to ask.

"Hey, fairy boy, I'm talking to you, didn't your mom teach you it's rude to ignore someone?" The jock spat, his greasy companion high-fiving him. Josh felt his fists clench as his attention was redirected towards the bully. He was taller than Josh (as expected) and Josh knew he wouldn't get far with violence, his mom did raise him well actually, well enough to know violence isn't the answer at least. He smirked as he looked up at his intimidator and replied.

"Yeah, didn't your mom ever teach you to use all three of your brain cells before you speak?"

"The fuck did you just say to me fag?" He stepped into Josh's way and suddenly Josh realised maybe he should've just walked away immediately.

"Thats enough Brad." A soft voice came from behind the jock and everyone turned to see the new presence. "He's not worth getting kicked off the team for." They said and Josh didn't really feel relieved despite the fact that with a loud huff the jock and his sidekick were heading out of the classroom.

Josh felt a rush of air enter his lungs and then it was like he couldn't take enough in. He begged his anxiety to go away. He wanted to scream but he still couldn't seem to swallow enough air.

"Hey, are you okay? Just breathe okay, in and out." Josh felt a hand on his arm and he looked up to see the guy who helped him counting breaths for him. When he got his breathing level Josh was finally able to recognise who his saviour was, he immediately flinched out of their grip.

"You're Tyler Joseph." He was still a little breathless. Tyler nodded but something about the gestured seemed sad. "You-you're one of them, your dad's the principal, you're on the basketball team."

Before Tyler could speak Hayley reappeared.

"Why cant you stupid jocks just leave him the fuck alone honestly? Go get a life you're pathetic." She spat before wrapping an arm around Josh and guiding him out of the music room, leaving Tyler stood in disbelief watching them leave.