Our Wrong Choice - Joshler

Chapter 7: The Breakdown

They had done it. It had been more than a year of shows and they finally were finished with the tour. They were just leaving the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, a venue they'd played many times before the pinnacle of their fame. They were positively brimming with endorphins as they pushed their way from the backstage exit door. They'd ended with 'Trees,' as always and the duo was covered with red confetti and sweat as they started toward Tyler's car. It was a relief to Tyler to know that there was nothing keeping him from home, but he remained conflicted about being away from Josh, who was scheduled to leave Columbus for L.A. in a little less than two weeks.

Tyler had told Jenna that he and Josh were going on a Taco Bell run after the show and he fully intended to, but he really just wanted to be in the drummer's presence for as long as he could, before their time ran out. Sure, for the next two weeks he could spend as much time with him as he wanted, in theory, but there was a certain magic to everything that had happened between them during this tour. Steven waited for Josh back at his parents' and he would be flying with Josh to L.A. when he left. The separation would be painful, but Tyler felt assured knowing that before he'd known it, they'd be back together again, in the studio, but even more likely, he'd finally get it together and Josh would come home, for good.

Jenna had been acting pretty strange lately but he figured so had he, so Tyler tried not to think too much into it. He was afraid to think that she had somehow suspected him of cheating. She'd always been somewhat jealous of Tyler and Josh's friendship but had warmed to Josh a lot over the last couple years, but recently she eyed him with a note of skepticism that Tyler wasn't sure whether or not he was just imagining out of paranoia. He and Josh were getting closer to the pivotal moment when Tyler would finally dive headfirst into his and Josh's relationship like he'd never fully done with Jenna.

Since that night in Louisville, all those weeks ago, there had been no pressure from Josh to have sex. There had been plenty of moments when Tyler wanted him desperately and while he and Josh continued to fool around, it seemed the drummer was almost afraid of pushing Tyler too far. After his panic attack, Tyler didn't blame him for a second. He knew that when the time came, he would have to be the one to initiate. He knew it was coming soon. He knew in the next two weeks, his marriage with Jenna would end and his life with Josh would begin, at long last.

They were just pulling into the parking lot of Tyler's favorite Taco Bell franchise and Tyler was raring to eat a chalupa. He was just finishing an argument with Josh about why nachos were better without sour cream and tomato when his cell phone started to ring. He retrieved it from his pocket, but he didn't recognize the number.

"Probably just a wrong number," Tyler said with a laugh and declined the call. He and Josh went inside, and his phone began to ring again as he paid for his and Josh's food, then once more as he was squeezing fire sauce onto a taco. He was beginning to become worried. He and Josh exchanged a glance.

"Maybe you should answer it, Tyler," Josh began before taking a sip of his drink, "what if... something happened to Jenna or something, and it's an emergency."

"But you would think if that was the case, they'd leave a voicemail," Tyler retorted taking a big bite from his taco. By the time they had finished eating, the number had called an additional four times and the brunette was worried and annoyed simultaneously. It began to ring again as they were buckling themselves in and Tyler didn't know what to do. Before he could think about it, Josh snatched the phone from his hand and slid to answer it.

"Hello?" Josh spoke cautiously. He paused to listen to the response.

"No, this is Josh," the yellow-haired drummer said with a bewildered expression.