Who Is Tyler Joseph? (Joshler) [✓]

18! Punishment

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Josh exits the office with tears in his eyes, a frown on his face and a detention slip in his hand.

Although he didn't engage in the fight itself, he "shouldn't have gotten involved at all" and "gotten a teacher to deal with it". Tyler thinks that's bullshit and was sure to let Mr. Armstrong know, but all that got him was promise of a more severe punishment, which is also complete bullshit but a stern look from Brendon made him refrain from lashing out.

"Now," Mr. Armstrong says as Josh's sulking foot-drags echo down the hallway, "Your punishments."

Tyler scoffs a little under his breath. Brendon elbows him. He elbows back.

"Enough," Mr. Armstrong groans, leaning back in his old wheelie chair that whines under his weight. "What on Earth was that fight about?"

Brendon waits to get angry at the reminder of what caused the fight, but he can't help but hesitate.

Josh is gone, and Tyler looks crushed. He knows he shouldn't have done it. But Brendon still can't help but think that punishment is a good way to really snap some sense into Tyler.

"I started it. I was angry and just wanted to hit something." Tyler says, voice monotone and face blank.

Mr. Armstrong stares at him, before letting his shoulders go slack with a sigh.

"Tyler Joseph," He mutters to himself, rubbing at the wrinkles in his forehead, "What are we gonna do with you?"

Brendon clears his throat, shaking his head, "It wasn't him, I started it. He didn't even fight back." He defends.

Mr. Armstrong freezes a little, looking from Brendon to Tyler, to Brendon's knuckles to Tyler's face.

"But," Brendon continues, "He was giving Josh a hard time. Dumped the garbage out in the poor kid's locker. Smells's like shit and a few of his notebooks are probably ruined."

Mr. Armstrong nods, rolling his neck and clearing his throat. He taps his pen on the desk.

He looks to Brendon,

"Detention. After school everyday for a week, and then lunch detention for next week. I'll be calling your parents, as well. Now get out of here." He says sternly.

Brendon stands with a huff, nodding in farewell and then leaving after giving Tyler one last look.

Tyler watches him go, before sighing and turning back to the principal, who is already looking at him.

"Tyler." He says with a shake of  his head.

"I thought we were past this." He says tiredly.

Tyler shifts in his seat eyes rolling a bit, "Billie--"

"No, Tyler," He interrupts, leaning forward. "You can't keep doing this. Pretty soon, this is going to be a very serious issue, and I won't be able to save you from your rightfully earned expulsion as soon as this problem goes to a higher-up." He says seriously.

Tyler sighs. He sees the look in Mr. Armstrong's eyes and nods reluctantly.

"I'm trying," He says quietly.

Mr. Armstrong clicks his pen once.

"Try harder."

Tyler is dismissed.

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Brendon and Tyler sit in a fence silence. The curb is uncomfortable but neither boys want to offer to discuss this elsewhere.

"Where's Josh?" Tyler finally says.

Brendon clicks his tongue, "At study group. Finally."

Tyler nods slowly and they lapse into silence again.

Until a few minutes later, when Brendon finally asks,

"Why did you do it?"

Tyler freezes and scoffs, "I already told you why I did it. Then you beat me up." He snorts, but it's fake. So fake.

Brendon snorts in return, "Yeah, we both know that it's not true. You don't think Josh is an annoying piss-baby. If anything, you have him on the highest pedestal." He laughs, shaking his head.

Tyler isn't amused, instead focusing his attention on flicking tiny rocks a few feet away.

Brendon sighs and stands, angrily wiping the dirt off of the butt of his jeans.

"Look, you fucked up, and I know you're going to continue to fuck up. I don't think you're good for Josh." He deadpans,

"But I know my word doesn't mean shit and both of you are just going to sulk until I force you back together, so I'm speeding up the process a little," He exclaims with a fake cheesy grin.

"I don't like you. But apologize to Josh and take him out and spoil him like a fucking princess, or I'll rip your balls off." He nods to himself, giving Tyler one last pat on the shoulder before walking away.

Tyler watches him, but shouts before he can get too far away,

"Why are you helping me?"

Brendon pauses, thinking for a moment.

Without turning around, "Think of it as punishment!" He says cheerily.

Then he's gone.

Tyler wants to ask how this is punishment, but he figures it's no use.

Tyler sits on the curb a while longer, thinking over Brendon's words. Eventually, it starts to drizzle a little, and Tyler is forced to retreat under the schools roof.

He takes his phone out of his pocket and stares at the black screen.

He turns it on, and is met with two messages.

BJ:
Your mother expects you home this weekend. If you're still in the house by twelve on Friday I'm throwing you outside and locking the door.

Tyler snorts, shaking his head. He's heard that one plenty of times before. He grimaces at the thought of going home but knows he's going to have to.

The second message is from his step-father but he ignores it. Instead going into him and Josh's messages.

After only a moments hesitation, his thumbs start typing.

Tyler:
meet me in the schools backyard? neer the baseball diamind?

He quickly replies to Billie's message and then shuts off his phone. After staring at it for a few moments, and not receiving any messages back, he starts dragging his feet to his car.

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