STRANGERS » JOSHLER

t w e n t y o n e

Josh's hands are clenched in the sides as he enters the all-too familiar building. He bumps in several people, earning many glares but he doesn't bother to apologize. Heading straight for the elevators, he gets in and presses the sixth floor button.

The elevator stops at various floor, many people getting out at their respective floors. In the end, it's only him and a blonde-haired woman left. Josh doesn't bother to strike up a conversation, seeing he was sure he was gonna snap at anyone at this time. Melanie's words keep going through his head.

It wasn't a date, she'd said, oh, how stupid I was to think it was. She was just asked by your amazing boyfriend to arrange something that'd take me away so that he could spend some time alone with you.

He rocks on his heels, clenching and un-clenching his fists with deep breaths to calm him down.

"Are you okay?" He hears, "Because um, how do I put this, right now, you look like you want to punch something senseless."

"I'm- I'm okay." Josh replies, turning around to face the blonde woman. They are both going to the same floor.

Her frozen lake eyes curiously stare at him. "Who are you meeting?"

"A friend." Josh forces a smile. The woman picks up the hint that he doesn't want to talk and flashes a smile, before checking the time on her phone.

The elevator doors open and Josh steps out first, heading straight for Tyler's office. He's about to turn right when he almost walks into Ashley, the papers in her hand scattering on the floor. She looked ready to snap, but when her hazel eyes fall on Josh's, she smiles.

"Hey, Josh. You're here with Mel?" She asks, beginning to collect the papers and Josh's eyebrows draw together.

"Are you kidding me," He starts, making Ashley give him a confused look as she arranges the papers, "How could you do that to her, Ashley. I thought you knew she liked you. Heck, she loved you. But you just," He runs a hand through his hair. 

"What did I do?" 

"Um, I don't know, asked her out on a date only to tell her later that it was a fucking joke? You tell me, Ash." 

Ashley looks away, "She told me she understood." 

"But did she tell you it didn't hurt? Because judging from the way she's been crying her eyes out, I guess it did." 

"I- I'm sorry. You know how Tyler is when he - " 

"Don't apologize to me. If anything, apologize to her." Josh shakes his head, "And don't worry about him, I'm going to talk to him." 

"I will. Alri- wait, when?" Ashley asks. 

"Right now." Josh mutters, walking past her. He hears her footsteps behind him but doesn't stop. 

"Wait, Josh, he's in a- in a meeting. You can't go in!" He feels Ashley's nails dig into his arm as her panicked voice fills his ear. 

"Watch me." He mutters, swinging the door that said 'Tyler Joseph' open and walking in. "Ty - " He stops mid-way when all the heads in the room turn to him. 

Tyler is sitting in his usual chair with an old man and a blonde woman in the chairs across from his. He recognizes the woman from the elevator. 

 He hears Ashley mutter an 'oh boy' under her breath before retracting her hand. 

"Oh, the elevator boy." The same blonde woman from earlier speaks up when nobody does. "Did you call him in Tyler?" 

"I - um." Tyler's eyes nervously dart from a very confused Josh to the blonde. "Josh, what are you doing here?" 

"Tyler," This time, it is the man that speaks up, "Introductions, son. Where are your manners?"   

"Yes, dad." Tyler's lips curl into a nervous smile. Josh's eyebrows pinch together when Tyler looks at anywhere but him, "This um, this is Joshua, my- uh, the friend of one of the employees here." 

"Alright. Hello, Joshua. I am Chris, Tyler's father." Chris flashes a smile at Josh who nods. He then turns to the blonde woman, "Jenna, introduce yourself." 

"Oh, right." 'Jenna' says, before turning to Josh and flashing a bright smile, "Hi, Josh. I'm Jenna," The name sounds way too familiar to Josh, "Tyler's fiance."  

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i am not an attention seeking whore. thank you