Child • Jøshler

chapter fifteen

Trigger warning: mention of choking

The last bell rang and the red-eyed boy finally exited the school. The first thing he did was check his phone, finding a missed message from Patrick.

"wait for me after school, we'll go to andy's house to play a little, yeah? great! maybe pete will come lol"

Tyler gulped, not wanting to bump into Brendon while he waits for Patrick. Maybe Josh's parents remember what he looks like. It's only a matter of time. They'll describe him to Brendon and Brendon will know and Brendon will kill him.

He looked for a head of red hair, hoping to avoid it. Either of the two redheads really. He was too ashamed to look Josh into the eye. He was the person who killed his family, after all.

There was a curly head of red far away from where Tyler stood. Tyler sighed in relief, glad that he won't have to face Josh. One down, one to go.

He was alarmed by the feeling and sound of his phone vibrating in his pocket. He rolled his eyes; his Mom always worried, but he didn't give a damn about her. Why can't she just leave him alone, he's not three anymore?

But it wasn't his Mom who was calling him.

"Hey, Tyler! I gotta be quick!"

"I'm waiting for you, where are you?" Tyler said, looking around himself and searching for any sign of a fedora but getting zero positive results.

"I got detention, we're gonna have to call tonight off. Sorry"

Tyler groaned quietly, clicking his tongue "Why did you say earlier"

"S-O-R-R-Y"

"What?"

"I just spelled 'sorry' for you"

"Oh"

"Man, you seriously didn't catch that?"

"Shut up, Patrick"

Patrick laughed on the other side and Tyler only rolled his eyes again.

"By-"

"No, no, wait!" Patrick begged from the phone "I need you to do me a favor"

"Do you think I'm capable?"

"Tyler..."

"I'm kidding. Hit me"

"Can you tell Pete I love him? Please?"

Tyler laughed softly "Really?"

"Yeah"

"Alright, if I see him"

"Thanks!" Patrick said enthusiastically "Bye!"

Tyler sighed as he lowered his phone back into his pocket.

An arm rested on his shoulders. His eyes popped.

He looked at the person holding him to find Brendon with his trademark grin. Pete walked beside him, talking something Brendon didn't care to listen to. All three started to walk toward their homes together.

"What up, kid?" Brendon smirked at Tyler. But Tyler was absolutely terrified. He tried not to look to scared, but he was not sure of himself.

"The sky" Pete retorted, annoyed with the fact that Brendon was not listening to him "Did you even hear what I said?"

"Do I look like I care?" Brendon eyed Pete, yellow swirling in his eyes.

"I'll listen to you" Tyler offered. He soon regretted opening his mouth, because the devil's gaze was directed to him once again.

"Thanks man" Pete smiled "See Brendon? Us vampires, we stick together"

Brendon snorted, moving his arm off Tyler's shoulders and plastering his eyes to his phone "You're not a vampire anymore, you jerk"

Tyler will never understand the need teenage boys have to insult their frens. Seriously.

"I can still tackle you" Pete threatened. Brendon only stopped walking, rising one eyebrow. Pete crossed his arms on his chest. Tyler was starting to fear a start of a fight.

"You can tackle me?" Brendon asked, getting a firm nod in response "I can wrap your veins around your throat and suffocate you. With my mind"

Tyler took a step back, seeing a lot of yellow in Brendon's eyes "Uh, guys"

They didn't hear him though.

The tension could be cut with a goddamn knife.

Then, suddenly, Brendon's cheek was pinched and he was pulled down.

"Here's pretty boy!" Mrs Kacey kissed Brendon's forehead multiple times "How was school, darling?"

"Uhm" Brendon gulped, narrowing his eyes at Pete who was having a real hard time keeping himself from laughing out loud "Hi, Mrs Kacey"

"Oh, no" Mrs Kacey let go of Brendon and shot him a serious look "Not another B, Brendon. Stop disappointing me, please"

Brendon let out a nervous laugh "Don't worry, it's not a B"

"Good" Mrs Kacey smiled in satisfaction "Now, let's go home, leave the boys alone"

Pete pointed at the house behind him "This is actually my house, so, bye"

"Oh, goodbye, sweetie" Mrs Kacey said, going in to give Pete a kiss, but he already spun on his heel with a smile and made his way into his home.

Mrs Kacey looked so over to Tyler "What abou- Oh my God"

Tyler first frowned in confusion, but when Brendon's eyes popped, his did too. Mrs Kacey must've saw his eyes and fangs. Not good, not good. Abort, abort.

Mrs Kacey grabbed Brendon's hand, pulling him with all the strength she had in her. She started panting even before she started to run. Brendon shrugged and mouthed 'Sorry' to Tyler as he was being pulled away.

Tyler didn't go home. He went into the forest and lied in the grass for hours. He got a text from Brendon with a short apology right before his phone died. RIP phone.

When night fell, he lazily rolled over to stand up and went to sit in between the trees, right next to the road. He waited for a car. And had a decent meal.

Afterwards, he returned to his grassy spot in the grass and cuddled into the ground, various animals cuddling with him.

His eyes shot open when the animals ran away. He looked up, not alarmed enough to get up. But when he realized what made the animals go away, he was sitting before he could decide against it.

"Jenna?"