But Who Would You Live For?

We Got A Lot Of Problems

Tyler:

Three.

Three nights on tour.

Three shows.

Three after parties.

Three times Debby Ryan showed up.

It was almost three in the morning and I was waiting for her to leave our bus. And then everyone else would head to bed. I really needed to sleep. I had a post show headache. I skipped the after party. And sat on the sofa on the tour bus. Waiting hours for the party to be over. So Josh could come in and sleep with me. I always slept better next to him.

But things didn't go as planned. Obviously.

Instead of just him walking in, the guys followed after. Dallon, Brendon, Pete and Andy. I would have been fine with it if it stopped there. I prayed for it to stop there. Of course it didn't. Debby came prancing in with her revealing dress and ridiculous heels looking... looking amazing. Even after hours of partying her hair was styled perfectly and her makeup wasn't smudged. It was annoying.

That was an hour ago. Yet the little after after party showed no signs of slowing down. They were all laughing and telling stories. Drunkly stumbling over words. Every one was wasted except Andy. He was sober but somehow still enjoying the company of the intoxicated people around him.

I was beginning to worry about Josh. My friend was becoming very comfortable with drinking. I knew he was a consenting adult. Legally allowed to buy and drink it. But it just wasn't like him. I saw his reaction the first time. He didn't like it. I had to wonder if this was because of Debby.

That wasn't fair and I knew it. He finished his first cup before she even showed up. But a part of me wished it was her fault. So I could have a valid reason not to like her. Because I already decided I wasn't her biggest fan. Quite the opposite. I'd just feel like less of a jerk if I had an excuse for it.

The other guys seemed to love her. She charmed them all on the first night with her smile. I, on the other hand, couldn't and wouldn't be so easily swayed.

"My mom is calling." The volume on the bus died down. Not completely, but a respectable enough amount for a mom's call at three am.

"Why is your mom calling so late?" Debby asked. Like it was any of her business. It was bad enough she'd made a permanent seat out of Josh's lap, now she was questioning his parents? How rude could she be?

"I don't know. But I'm going to step out and take it."

She stood up. Final freeing my best friend's thighs from her butt. "Tell her I said hello."

I didn't bother hiding my grimace. This was the third day they'd known each other. Why was she trying to become acquainted with his mother? Josh clearly wasn't bothered by it. He grinned and answered the call. Opening the door and stepping off the bus.

The others jumped back into a conversation. Not letting Josh's absence deter them. No one was paying attention to me since I decided against making myself an active participant in their talk. I took advantage of that to slip out the door after Josh.

It was cooler than it was when I'd gotten on after the show. I could hear the faint sound of his voice at the head of the bus. Waiting for him at the side seemed like the better option. Whatever his mother called about at this time had to be important. I shouldn't interrupt or listen in.

Seconds later, Josh was visible to me. He looked surprised to see I'd followed him out. But he didn't look displeased. Which is what I was irrationally worrying about. His eyelids were heavy from a night of drinking. His slow smile was also an effect of the intoxication.

"Is Debby staying on the bus tonight?" It was the most subtle way I could tell him that I wanted her to leave. "It's getting late."

"She asked to." He shrugged. Like that was a normal thing to ask after only knowing someone for three freaking days. "I thought it'd be okay."

My fist balled up at my sides. He would know that this wasn't a good idea if he was sober. "You've only known this girl for three days."

His laugh was dry. "We're just staying in the same bed, Ty."

"Isn't she famous? Can't she get a hotel room?"

"I don't want her to." Quick. Defensive. Not Josh. "I like spending time with Debby. We're going to cuddle and talk and stuff."

"Stuff?" I challenged.

"Stuff." He confirmed.

"What stuff?"

"I don't ask what stuff you and Jenna do."

Nothing. We do nothing. But I wasn't about to tell him that.

So that's what this was about. He was trying to make me jealous because he was jealous of my relationship with Jenna. But it wasn't the same. Couldn't he see that? I loved Jenna. We were together. He and Debby were glorified strangers.

"Jenna is my girlfriend."

"Debby." There was a pause. Like he was deciding if he wanted to go down that path. Apparently he did. "Is my girlfriend."

"You just met her!"

"And I like her a lot."

"Are you doing this to get back at me?"

"Get back at you for what?"

"For Jenna."

"Why are you allowed to be happy, Tyler?!"

My eyes widened when he yelled it. Josh didn't like to yell. Could they hear it on our bus? Could the other buses hear it? Frantically, I looked around to make sure no one was watching on.

"Josh-"

"Why are you allowed to be happy without me? But I'm not allowed to be happy without you? Huh?" He was even louder. So Josh was the loud drunk? Good to know.

"You're moving too fast."

"I'm happy with the speed." He wasn't yelling anymore.

"It's not healthy."

"Are you jealous?" He snorted.

I froze. Unwarranted anger flashing through me. I didn't know Josh could make me angry.

"You know what? I don't care." The smug look left his face. For a second, he was my Josh again. But it was too late. "Just don't keep me up." I opened the door. Ignoring the call of one of the guys as I walked into the bunk area.