One Word (Tyler Scheid x Reader)

Chapter 3

[1,220 words]
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(Saturday)

(Your POV)
I stand outside the airport at the pick up area, checking my watch every few seconds. I'm starting to make myself paranoid. 'I texted Eth five minutes ago. Where could he be?'

"(Y/N)!!!" A shrill, exaggerated, familiar voice calls over the noise of taxis and buses. I turn around to see my vibrant, blue haired best friend dashing toward me from a stopped car. I rush over to him.

"ETHAN!!!" I yell back. I jump onto him with a tight hug as he swings me around. "I missed you!"

"I missed you too!" He squeezes me in a bear hug then lets go to let me grab my suitcase. He leads me to the car where a man just a few inches taller than Ethan step out of the passenger side. He has dark hair folding over in waves, dark brown eyes, and a smile I immediately recognized belonged to one of the most popular people on Youtube. I haven't watched many of his videos, but I knew how popular he had become.

"You live with THE Markiplier?! You could have at least mentioned that!" I loudly whisper at my friend, who's trying not to laugh.

"I'd prefer just Mark," the famous youtuber chuckles, stepping up to me with an outstretched hand. "Nice to meet you, (Y/N)."

"H-Hi," I answer softly, my voice failing me in my flustered state. I shake his hand shortly and think to myself, 'Wow, he's just as polite as I had imagined. Oh my god, (Y/N), you're shaking Markiplier's hand!'

"May I take your suitcase for you?" he asks politely.

"Sure." There I go again. Only being able to speak one word at a time. Ethan rest a hand on my shoulder comfortingly.

Ethan drives us to the house while I'm in the passenger seat and Mark is in the back. The famous youtuber seems surprisingly interested in mine and Ethan's history, as he is firing off question after question.

"How long have you guys known each other?" The question is directed at me, but thankfully Ethan answers, knowing I'm not good with socializing.

"Since 6th grade, right (Y/N)?" He glances at me with a reassuring smile.

"Yep."

"Sorry if I'm asking too many questions..."

"Oh, no uh..." I stutter out, not wanting Mark to think he's making me uncomfortable. I look to my friend for help.

"It's alright. She's just a bit of a quiet person. I'm sorta her translator," the blue boy laughs, making me giggle and nod. "That's why I call her Silent (Y/N). And you know what? She can sneak in and out of a room like a ghost. She can literally just disappear. It's like magic!"

I laugh softly and my face goes red. 'Oh great, here come the embarrassing stories.'

All the way to the house, Ethan regales Mark with tales of my quiet nature, funny moments, and my 'disappearing act'. When we arrive, Mark takes my suitcase upstairs while Ethan takes me in to introduce me to some of his newer friends.

"(Y/N), this is Amy and Kathryn," he points to each of them, a blonde and a brunette, and they greet me warmly. I could see myself being good friends with them, perhaps.

"Hello," I say, still stuck in one-word mode. I need to get better at this human communication thing.

"And there's one more person somewhere around here..."

From the other room, I can hear Mark talking to someone. Through the doorway comes the youtuber dragging along another, taller, man whom I assume is the second housemate. Ethan starts pushing me forward.

"Go on, Ty. Greet our new guest!" Mark demands in a whisper then pushes the man in front of me.

I'm frozen in terror as I realize how attractive he is, with curly brown locks under a grey slouch hat and intense blue eyes behind a pair of thin glasses. 'Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no. What do I do? What do I do? Think, (Y/N)! Say something!'

The (surprisingly tall) man standing in front of me opens his mouth to speak, but remains quiet. Maybe he doesn't speak? I try to say something as well, but it feels like I've lost my voice.

(Tyler's POV)
'Oh no no no no, she's really pretty. Oh god what do I say? Open your mouth, idiot! Say hello!' I think, mentally kicking myself. I open my mouth but nothing comes out. 'What was her name again? Oh man, why can't I say something?'

I can't stop looking at her, she's beautiful. I glance at Kathryn, looking for some help, but she just smiles and tilts her head toward the girl to tell me to say something. I just can't seem to speak!

(Your POV)
I still haven't said anything, and he's starting to look uncomfortable. Oh no, am I making him uncomfortable?

"Uh, let me introduce you two," Mark says, breaking the awkward silence. He places his hands on our shoulders. "One Word Tyler, meet Silent (Y/N). Silent (Y/N), One Word Tyler. I'm sure you too will have a lot in common."

My voice suddenly returns to me as I utter a first 'Hello' and hold out my hand. Tyler returns the 'Hello' and shakes my hand. 'Wow, my hand looks tiny in his.'

"Oh wait! You gotta meet one more!" Ethan exclaims and rushes out of the room.

"Um..." I'm about to call to my friend to wait, but in bounds a happy young golden retriever to greet me with a wagging tail. I gasp and kneel down to pet and coo at the adorable ball of happiness. "Well hellooo! Aren't you the cutest thing on the face of the Earth. It's very nice to meet you too! Haha!"

"Chica brings out the best in everyone," Ethan laughs.

I realize everyone is still in the room so I stand back up and compose myself. That was a little embarrassing. I don't know why, but it just was. Amy and Kathryn are smiling and giggling happily while Chica goes around to everyone. Mark looks a bit surprised, and Tyler looks...what is that look? Is that maybe a half-smile? He seemed happy.

A short while later, Amy shows me upstairs to my room. A nice sized space with a twin-sized bed and a dresser; everything looks organized and pristine almost like a hotel room. I soon find myself having a conversation with Amy as we sit on my bed, like two friends at a sleepover.

Meanwhile, while Amy and I are upstairs (surprisingly) talking, Mark and Ethan are formulating a devious plan. Tyler has since taken Chica outside, so the youtubers had the perfect opportunity to scheme, which Kathryn wanted no part of.

"Okay, I've got an idea," the older starts. "Since (Y/N) seems to be most talkative with Chica, we keep her in the room when Tyler and (Y/N) are in the same place. That'll be Plan A."

"And Plan B," the blue boy goes. "We keep telling stories about them, but tell it wrong so they'll each have to correct us and explain to one another the true stories."

"Dude, that's so evil!" Mark makes a horrified face at him that turns into a grin. "I love it."