I'm sad. Please help me. (A Joshler online/texting fic) ✔️

37: I'll tell you

Two chapters in one day yay!

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"Hey mom", Tyler spoke when Kelly answered the phone. "I wanted to ask you something, 'cause school has been kinda... Rough, today, because I've been away for months", Tyler sighed as he pulled Josh's zip up hoodie around him a little more. "Can I stay at Josh's for one more night?" He asked.

A soft smile appeared on his lips. "Thank you so much, momma. I really need it", Tyler replied. "Yeah, I will. Thanks mom, I love you. Tell Zack and dad that I love them as well", he said. They said goodbye and Tyler ended the call.

"Thank you for letting me stay another night", Tyler said. "Of course, love. Always", Josh said as he grabbed his hand and lightly gave him a squeeze, before letting go and grabbing the steering wheel again.

//

They got out of the car when they got to Josh's house and walked to the front door. They entered and momma Dun came rushing down the hallway.

"Josh! Where were you? It's 8 pm I thought you were having dinner with us at home- TYLER! What happened?!" She shrieked as she saw Tyler's face.

Tyler softly smiled. "We were at the basketball court after school and me being the clumsy and unlucky person I am, got the basketball thrown in my face", Tyler shrugged. "But I'm okay", he smiled.

Josh's heart dropped at how easy it was for Tyler to come up with lies like this, to cover up what happened so that he didn't have to tell anyone what really happened.

"Y-yeah!" Josh helped him. "We were close to Colin so I took him there and we took care of the bruises and the wound", Josh said. "That's why we're late, sorry", he apologized.

"Oh honey I am so sorry", momma Dun sighed as she gently hugged Tyler. "Are you staying the night again?" She asked as she grabbed Tyler's hand and lead him to the kitchen, and Josh followed.

"Yeah if that is okay", he blushed. "Of course, love. C'mon I'll warm you guys some spaghetti", she said and Tyler and Josh sat down.

Ashley came down the stairs and into the kitchen. She greeted them and Tyler again explained what happened, but well, she didn't believe any of it. She pretended to, though, since momma Dun was there.

But she knew Tyler never returned to class or the class after, and she was the one who texted Josh and told him Tyler left and was supposed to return shortly, but had been away for fifteen minutes already.

She sat down with them and while Tyler and Josh had dinner, they just talked about music and some of her poems.

She went back upstairs a while after and Tyler and Josh decided to go upstairs for the night too. Tyler entered Josh's room, but then Ashley opened the bedroom door. "Josh? Can I talk to you for a minute?" She asked. He nodded and entered her room, and she closed the door.

"Is he okay?" She asked. "Yeah he's in less pain and-", Josh started.

"I'm not talking about the bruises and wounds, Josh", she softly spoke.

"How d'you mean? There's nothing-", Josh started again. "Josh, brother, I love you. I know you. I know how your body acts when you're worrying about someone and I know the sad look you got when Tyler told me what happened. I know because it was the exact same when I hit rock bottom", she said as she sat down and so did Josh.

"And besides that, Tyler read my poetry, and it... It brought him to tears. Not the 'I think this is beautifully written and it brings me to tears' kind, but the 'I recognize myself in those words because this is how I feel' way. I know, Josh, that Tyler is not... Loving life", she said.