Twenty Øne Reasons to Live

Chapter Føur

Josh's Point of View

I went home (home was currently a Best Western hotel room in Ohio) and told Tyler everything again as we ate Taco Bell. The more I told it, the wore I felt, not to mention the stupider I felt. Why would I just show up? Who does that, seriously? She was so upset, and that's my fault. Mine. Maybe Kirsten was right. Maybe I was just hurting everything...

"Don't worry," Tyler finally said. "She'll come back around."

"How do you know?" I asked, playing with my hands a little, which was my own little nervous tick. 

"Because you're Jishua. And because as far as I can see bro, you and I are the only people who are nice to her; that impacted her."

"She doesn't show it," I replied, taking a sip of my drink. Or was that Tyler's? Crap. Maybe he didn't notice...

"Because she doesn't want to. You and I can pick up on those signs because we've been on that side of the fence before. Others won't. I'm betting her sis has no idea she self harms like that."

"You really think she'll come around?"

"Oh yeah. She just needs some space right now."

"Should I apologize?"

"No, not right now. Let her alone for a while? K?"

"Alright," I said, albeit reluctantly. "Hey Tony called me earlier, he wants me to drop by today. I think I'll do that now, so I'll be back by soundcheck."

"Okay."

My Point of View

"What do you mean a friend bailed me out?" I asked, following the principal down the hallway. "Can that even happen??"

"Some guy came into my office, said he was your friend, wrote that on your paper- hey, by the way, what happened to your face?"

"I was in an accident," I dismissed. "Soooo, what did the guy look like, I'm just wondering..."

"I don't know, I wasn't taking his mug shot! He was wearing a backwards hat, are you happy?" He paused. "Actually, he looked a lot like that drummer from that band everyone seems to love."

"Oh."  I frowned. "You mean Josh Dun."

"Yeah! Good heaven, they could be twins!"

I forced out a laugh, opened my mouth to say something, then closed it again.

"So anyway, he gave me fifty bucks and told me to keep Mr. Rider Fleming away from you during school hours. And then he swore to me for like the fourth time that he wrote that, not you and he'd even write it on another piece of paper so I could compare handwriting........ The guy was real desperate."

So many emotions hit me all at once. I felt like I needed to catch my breath. On one hand, it was nice of him to actually care about me telling him off. Most people would just thank the maker and then go throw a party. On the other hand, rage simmered beneath my skin. He bribed the principal of my school to keep Rider away from me and bail me out. I don't need him, or his money, or- Kirsten, he did save you from Rider today. I frowned, turning, and said, "Thanks, see you Monday, Mr. Bowers."

I don't know what Josh Dun wants from me, but he better just realize that I am so much smarter than he might think. I know when people are trying to use me. This has all the signs. I mean, the only other thing it could be is he was actually trying to be my friend, but that's just crazy.