True Colors (joshler, multi-fandom)

5 - On the Run and Go

(standard disclaimer: I pulled these teachers' last names off of a website because they were common and I tried my hardest not to match them with any teacher I've ever had, so if they happen to match a teacher you have/had, it's purely coincidental.)

Tyler and Ruby go to class together and share the same first period: English. Tyler notices another familiar face, too. He's another one of Brendon and Ryan's friends, Spencer. He's in the corner in the back, while Tyler and Ruby chose desks in the middle next to each other. As they sit down, they look at each other and Ruby gives Tyler the "I'm watching you" signal and raises her eyebrows. Tyler rolls his eyes at her and looks back to the front of the room and reads the whiteboard: "August 20. Mr. Turner English III. Welcome back Cheetahs!" Tyler almost snickered at the last line. He always thought the mascot being Cheetahs was amusing.

They got here pretty early, even though this class is upstairs. Ruby watches the students trickle in the door, and someone catches her eye.

Tyler thought she looked a lot like Jenna, except this girl is shorter than Jenna is and has a longer nose. She stops in the doorway and looks around for a desk to sit at. She decides to sit at the empty one next to Ruby.

Ruby is trying her hardest not to stare at this girl. She's breathing into her hands and biting her lip. This girl, dressed in aqua blue and denim, turns toward Ruby. Ruby glances back at her and the girl smiles, making Ruby slink down in her desk. "Are you okay?" the girl asks.

"She's uh..." Tyler enters.

"I'm, uh. I'm tired." Ruby managed to say.

"Hi, tired. I'm Nicole."

"Nicole!" Ruby catches herself and sits back up in her desk. "My name's actually Ruby."

"Ruby. That's a pretty name. Why didn't you just say so?"

"I'm tired." This makes Nicole giggle.

The bell rings and the teacher walks in and closes the door. "Good morning and happy first day back. I'm Mr. Turner, and welcome to my class." The class quiets down, but Nicole and Ruby are still looking at each other. "After I take roll, I will pass out the syllabus and go over it as a class." Tyler suddenly gets eight times more tired. This process is what he has to put up with all day. Now he just wishes he could go home and sleep. He puts his face in his hands and closes his eyes.

"Tyler Joseph. Tyler Joseph?"

Ruby nudges Tyler. "He's calling for you."

"Oh. Here. Sorry."

"Don't apologize, Tyler. It's the first day." Mr. Turner says reassuringly.

Maybe this day won't be so bad. This teacher wasn't as boring as Tyler expected, and Ruby ended up getting Nicole's phone number and Instagram username by the end of class. Tyler remembered he shares his next class with Josh, so he walks faster. He gets to the classroom with three minutes to spare, and saves the seat next to him for Josh. He spies on the door. Not Josh. Not Josh. Not Josh. Gerard?

"Tyler! I didn't know you were here!"

"Me...neither? Hey can you sit here?" Tyler points to the desk he just had his feet on. "I'm saving it for Josh."

Gerard rolled his eyes at him and smiled. "Won't you two just date already?" he teased as he sat down in the desk. Tyler blushed. Very slightly, but he blushed. Just as Gerard sat down, Josh walked through the door.

"Tyler!" Josh greeted with a smile.

"Great. Now I have to get up again."

"Sorry about that, Gee."

Gerard relocates to the desk directly behind Josh.

"You didn't even move that far." Tyler retorted.

"Only to watch you two. You know." Gerard grinned so wide his eyes slightly closed from the bottom.

Josh sat down in his desk. "How was your first class, Ty?"

"Actually not that bad. Ruby's already made a new friend."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. Her name's Nicole."

The bell rings. 

"Good morning, everyone. My name is Mrs. Davis, and I teach U.S. History. Now I'm going to take roll and pass out the syllabus for everyone so we can get started."

Just as Tyler predicted, same thing, different class. He looked over at Josh. He looks slightly concerned. Naturally, Tyler becomes concerned. He watches over Josh and makes sure he doesn't get too anxious or uncomfortable. He taps Josh on the shoulder. "What's wrong?"

Josh very slightly shakes his head. "I didn't hear the greatest things about this teacher."

Tyler doesn't ask Josh to elaborate, in case Mrs. Davis was listening. "Tell me later, okay?"

"Are we gonna have a problem here, boys?" What did they do? Tyler and Josh exchanged confused looks.

"N...No ma'am." Tyler stammered.

"Alright. Keep it that way."

Both boys are visibly concerned. Tyler now realizes why he should be wary. This teacher is going to be a problem.

"Joshua Dun."

Josh's response was delayed. "....Here..." Tyler's getting more worried by the second.

Thirty seconds later, "Tyler Jose-"

"Here!"

The teacher stopped. Tyler didn't bother turning around to see her expression.

Thirty more seconds later. "Gerard Way."

"Not having it."

"Excuse me?"

Gerard shakes his head. The entire class is staring at him, except Tyler and Josh.

"I'm not gonna let you scare my friends like that."

"Like what?"

"When you said, 'are we gonna have a problem,' it sounded like you already do. They just exchanged three words, quietly, while the rest of the class was still talking." Very rarely does Gerard talk with a serious tone of voice, and when he does, like this, you know he's serious.

"I apologize, boys." That apology sounded insincere in all the boys' minds, but to avoid further conflict, they accepted anyway.

For the rest of class, Tyler and Josh exchanged reassuring looks after that confrontation, while Gerard mentally took note of every look Mrs. Davis gave them. Each glance at Tyler and Josh had a hint of disgust. But what on Earth for? All Tyler and Josh were doing was looking at each other. It's very clear Mrs. Davis has a problem with them.

Class finally ends, and Josh sighs in relief. All three boys get up from their seats and head out the door.

"Hey Josh," Tyler begins. "I hope this never happens in your other classes when I'm not there." There's genuine worry in his voice. "I hate to see you scared like that."

"It's okay, Ty. I'll be fine."

"Just text me if you need anything. Alright? See ya." He pats Josh on the back for comfort, like how Ryan patted Brendon on the back earlier this morning, then part ways.