the florist ❀ joshler

(13) yellow carnation

disappointment, rejection

tw: derogatory words

❀

"you should have me over more. i think jay enjoyed my company more than yours. i'd also love to hear more about what you say about me."

"oh, put a sock in it. i was only reminding them you were coming."

josh raises an eyebrow. "tyler, it was an impromptu plan. i'm not stupid. nor did jay even mention something like that once."

"okay, well, either way that was a one time thing. you're lucky i even agreed to it," tyler humphs, pouting like a young (immature) child.

"alright, you do that," josh sticks out his tongue in return. "oh yeah, i forgot to ask. what days do you work?"

"why do you want to know?"

"no reason," josh shrugged. "just curious."

"most days. there's really no schedule. my mom owns the shop."

"okay. well, see you soon, then?"

"sure, josh. sure."

tyler would be lying if he said he wasn't left smiling the rest of the day.

❀

"how was your weekend, ty?"

"um, good, i guess. since when do you care, though?" tyler laughs nervously. a strange occurrence it was; why would his teammates care?

"aw, that's too bad. maybe you should've come to nick's (literally the first name that came to mind) party with us on saturday. real fun that was," another teammate adds. "or could you not come because you were hanging out with your new boyfriend?"

tyler's mouth suddenly went dry. "my w-what now?"

"you heard me," his teammate growled, shoving tyler slightly. "we saw you with the faggot the other day. since when have you become such good pals with him?"

"i told you not to call him that."

"and you didn't answer my question."

tyler gapes, unable to find the words to say. "he's... i..."

"is that where've you've been drifting off to?" the boy questioned with an overtly judgemental tone. tyler could almost say he felt as if he were shrinking inwards toward himself. he felt claustrophobic.

"i swear, this is all a misunderstanding, i swear," tyler cowers. he hated feeling this way. he hated how it came so suddenly.

"yeah, sure it is," his teammate snorts. "look, no hard feelings, but... we can't keep hanging out with you if you're, y'know, one of them."

"i'm not! i swear! c'mon, guys," tyler was almost panicking now. no pleading could save him now though, he knew.

"well if you want to prove your worth, find the fag, kick his ass, and then maybe we'll consider your redemption. in fact—we should go find him right now," the jock suggests, grinning. "how's that sound, joseph?"

was tyler seriously going to consider this?

there was a pause of silence before tyler gave the meek answer of:
"y-yeah. sounds g-good."

damn stuttering. made him sound weak.

"alright, what a surprise joseph chose us over the faggot," the jock replied with plentiful sarcasm. the much leaner boy "playfully" claps tyler's shoulder. "'atta boy. now how's about we go and find dun, hm?"

"yeah. let's," tyler responds quietly. shamefully, for sure.

❀

josh sat at home, angry and upset and disappointed and so much more. this was complete and utter betrayal! a busted lip and a bruised cheek was what josh dragged home with him that day. and currently, he was slouched over on the couch, clutching an ice pack to his face. the tv was on an inefficient distraction in the background.

it was then when he heard the doorbell ring, which, might he say, rarely happened.

josh wouldn't be lying if he said he approached the door with caution. if it were a salesperson, he didn't think he could deal with that right now.

he kept the ice pack to his cheek when he pulled open the door. his loosened his grip a bit and the pack strayed from his face just the slightest.

tyler was at the door, fiddling with his hands, and with an apologetic appearance to his face. "look, josh, i'm really so—"

before tyler could finish, josh began laughing. he laughed and laughed, comically pretending to wipe a tear from his eye. "ah, that was a good one tyler. a real funny guy you are."

tyler expression had changed to that of confusion. "wh-what are you..."

"you don't get it? oh, well, i just find it really funny how you thought you had the nerve (by the brobecks. good song. should listen.) to appear at my doorstep and apologise for screwing up my face even more so than it already was! quite hilarious i'm finding this, actually."

"josh, i—"

"no, no, tyler. it's fine. i get it. you say you want to change your act, manipulate me into 'helping' you, all just to have you beat me up yet again. it's all a-okay," you could finally hear the irritation beginning to set in josh's tone, though simultaneously, he felt like crying. "you know what, fuck you, tyler joseph. fuck. you. now get off my fucking property before i call the police."

"please, i can explain, please," tyler begins begging.

"no. you've had your shot, and you screwed it up. see you later," josh finally snaps, slamming the door.

unbeknownst to the two of them, they were both on the verge of tears.

❀

y'all imma publish something else when i finish writing the first part. i though of an idea and now i really wanna write it and h ngh. also, sorry for the late update.

either way, i hope you're doing well, and until next time?? maybe?? who knows?? yikes??
-parker ✨