Dulcet (TylerxBrendonxJosh)

3. Bar

Start song: passionfruit cover by paramore.

True to his word Tyler isn't at the bar that night.

Josh sighs and he watches another boy, the one with thick rimmed glasses instead. He's there when Tyler's not, he's there and he picks people up just as fast. Josh can't tell what does it, Josh wonders what he says to the strangers to get them into bed.

Josh watches him leave, they share eye contact again.

*

Rain splints against the windows of his apartment. He's only got three of them and the rain is so loud, it doesn't even feel like the morning anymore. The sky is unbelievably dark and Josh is curled up on his couch with Oscar and Bear snuggled against him. He picks at the threads of his knit blanket, rough under his finger nails. Thunder roars and both his cat's meow, Josh shakes his head and pulls them in.

He's tired, his under eyes are tinted purple and his skin is stupidly pale. His body is sore as he nudges his feet underneath him in comfort. His cats move with him, they're affectionate and just as scared of storms as Josh is. They don't like the noise or the darkness of the living room, the tv is on but the volume is muted and the sound of thunder protrudes over everything. Josh flinches every time there's noise outside, he sighs and he pets his cats in comfort. They've always been a safety blanket for Josh.

His curtains black out the room completely, he'd boughten them because watching movies during daylight sucked when there was a glare from outside. So he'd went out and boughten them. He was glad to have them now, no light leaked through even during the storm although Josh could hear water dripping through the cracks of the cills. He stares as it drops onto his floor beside his cat's scratch posts.

A puddle of water forms on his floor. He's not in the mood to move, he doesn't want to go anywhere and his battered leather couch is comfortable, he sinks into it, it's cushiony and just slightly hard to get up from. His cats like it though, Oscar always sleeps behind it or underneath it. He's just slightly smaller than Bear and Josh lets him be most of the time.

Thunder strikes again, Josh sighs, his head hits the back of the couch and he's uncomfortable with the sounds coming from outside his window. It's too loud and both of his cats are scared and curling against his torso for warmth and protection.

Josh pulls on a hoodie and loose sweatpants and he sniffles a little as he sees lighting strike. He hates storms.

His neighbours awake, he knows this. He scrambles out of his apartment, large blue slippers on his feet they make scratchy noises against the carpet as he crosses the hallway.

He knocks and shivers and he folds his arms. He hears shuffling on the other side of the door and then it swings open, Jon is in his pyjama's. He rubs at his eyes tiredly and yawns before noticing Josh.

"Woah Josh, you okay man?" Jon asks, he's concerned. His boston terrier runs up to Josh from the open door and circles his feet, He crouches down to pet her. Oreo, a name Josh had always laughed at lays on her back, pleading for belly rubs.

"C-can I just hang out here for a bit? The storm is freaking me the fuck out." He says quietly, his tone soft.

"Course man, i'll make you some tea." Jon says, whistling for Oreo to follow him inside. Josh follows, closing the door behind him.

"Is chai okay?" He's walking into the kitchen, its visible from the front door. Oreo stays with Josh as he trudges around slowly.