Under The Covers {joshler}

freshman year - part three

The next day Josh was suprised when he reached his locker to find freshly photocopied english notes had been pushed inside. Josh flipped through them realising they replaced the ones Brad had ruined the day before and he couldn't help the small blush that crept up his face as his eyes fell on the sticky note attached to the front.

"Sorry." was written in loopy writing that matched that of the notes and Josh knew instantly Tyler was to thank.

"What's that?" Ashley peered over his shoulder, Josh jumped and just managed to pull the sticky note off before it could be spotted.

"You scared me." Josh said before going about pulling out his books. "They're just some english notes someone copied for me." He said nonchalantly.

Hayley, who'd arrived when Ashley had, pulled them from his grasp. "Who did you even get these off I'm your only friend in Weekes' class?"

Ashley hit her on the arm with a scowl before going back to leaning against the lockers beside Josh. Josh sighed and took the notes back, tucking them neatly into his binder before packing them away. "I don't know Weekes gave me them." He lied, Hayley looked confused but a great lie presented itself. "He came back right after you and Tyler stormed out yesterday and said he'd get someone to copy them for this morning."

Ashley scrunched her nose as she played with a strand of hair disinterestedly, "ew Tyler Joseph."

"Right?" Hayley added blowing a stray hair out of her eyes. "He's so arrogant, thinks he's the shit cos his dad's the principal."

"I mean he's cute to look at in a lost puppy kind of way." Ashley sighed as Josh slammed his locker shut, he wanted to say he hadn't noticed but he knew his cheeks were already tinged pink. The trio began walking to their next class.

"As if." Hayley snorted. "Sewer rats can look cute in the right lighting doesn't mean they're not disgusting."

"Come on Hayls." Josh started but she cut him off with a glare.

"Josh you cannot be defending him right now." She said shocked, eyebrows raised.

Josh just sighed in defeat, Hayley could be just as stubborn as Tyler when she wanted to be.

The next day Josh and his friends all headed up to the roof to eat their lunch together but they stopped when they saw a figure huddled in the corner of the rooftop.

"What's he doing here?" Hayley sneered.

"Who?" Brendon replied half lit cigarette in his mouth turning to see where Hayley was looking. Ashley snatched the lighter from Brendon rolling her eyes, she quickly lit her cigarette.

"Who cares?" She said before handing the lighter to Colin.

"Hayley, it doesn't matter he's just minding his own business." Josh said trying to turn the small red head around, but she was determined to say something. Before anyone could stop her she was storming over to him. When Josh realised the other three had no intentions of getting involved he rolled his eyes.

"I'll go after her then." He snapped. Ashley gave him a sympathetic smile at the same time Brendon shrugged and all three took simultaneous drags of their cigarettes. Josh followed after Hayley.

"Leave." Hayley said to Tyler who looked up surprised. Josh just giving Tyler a sympathetic look.

"You don't own the roof." Tyler mumbled clearly not in the mood, Josh assumed he was up here for a similar reason to the other day. He tried to pull Hayley away but she shoved him off.

"Yeah well you don't have ownership over the whole school, despite what your dad lets you think." She huffed folding her arms.

"Hayls come on?" Josh begged, turning back to his friends who were watching on hesitantly from across the roof as they finished their cigarettes.

"No, what if he tells his dad on us?"

"Why do you have such a low opinion of me?" Tyler replied finally getting up on his feet.

Hayley scoffed. "Well you're arrogant for starters, you and your friends constantly shout abuse at anyone who's different, harassing my friends, you think the whole world should just fall into your lap and honestly i'm sick of it."

Tyler sniffed before stepping closer to her. "You don't know anything about me."

"Asshole." Hayley spat.

"Hayley." Josh warned, and the pair both looked to him, suddenly Josh felt sheepish under their intense gaze.

"I better not catch you here again." Hayley pointed an accusing finger before she was walking over to join the others again.

Tyler pulled his backpack on with a frustrated sigh, and Josh felt sorry for him. Right before Tyler stormed off the roof he muttered something just loud enough for Josh to hear.

Josh gave a subtle nod before heading back to his friends, thankful that the exchange hadn't been noticed as Hayley was busy letting off steam, stealing the others attention.

"Just ignore him babe." Ashley said slinking an arm round Hayley's shoulder. "Let's bunk off and go get chipotle?" She suggested and Brendon immediately jumped on at the opportunity.

"Yes! Chipotle sounds so good right now." Colin and Hayley quickly agreed.

"I can't come." Josh said, his friends all immediately dropped their smiles. "I have to finish some homework I'm so far behind and my mom will kill me if I don't pass my classes this semester.

Ashley pouted moving off Hayley to squeeze his cheeks. "Poor Joshie."

"That sucks dude." Colin added, as they all began to head off the roof, cigarettes finished. Brendon slung his arms around Josh and Ashley as they all began joking and heading down to the stairs.

Josh split away from the group as they all headed off to get food. He headed into the bathroom hoping he heard Tyler right and he hadn't left him waiting too long. As soon as he was inside his eyes met Tyler's, who was leaning against the grimy wall.

"Hey, are you okay?" Josh immediately asked as Tyler looked up at him.

"Yeah, just a bad day I guess." He shrugged off. "Sorry, your friends are probably waiting for you I shouldn't have asked you to meet me." Tyler looked down as he scuffed the toe of his sneaker against the floor.

"You're allowed to have bad days, ya know?" Josh replied softly. "Hayley doesn't know how to let things go sometimes, she's stubborn but what she said about you it wasn't- she was wrong you're not like that, you're not who she said you were."

Tyler doesn't know why he did it, not really, but it just felt right, he pushed off the wall and pressed his lips to Josh's. Josh froze in shock and Tyler panicked, about to pull away before Josh was responding eagerly, pushing back. Tyler's touch was dizzying and Josh wasn't sure how he hadn't melted into a puddle as Tyler's back hit the wall and his nimble fingers threaded through his hair. Their lips worked against one another furiously battling for dominance as Tyler pushed them around until Josh hit the wall, his hands gripping his hips tightly, a small gasp escaped him but Tyler swallowed it.

They eventually broke apart gasping for air, Josh's hair a mess that he tried to flatten back with shaky hands. The pair stood in silence for a minute before Tyler was grabbing his bag and running out the door leaving Josh dazed and confused.