True Colors (joshler, multi-fandom)

18 - See The Stars Above

Josh: hey can I do my astronomy homework at that clearing in the forest behind your house (Delivered 8:19 p.m.)

Tyler: why? (Delivered 8:19 p.m.)

Josh: not as much light pollution. All my observations have been the same and i was just wondering if it would be different (Delivered 8:21 p.m.)

Tyler: yeah go ahead (Delivered 8:21 p.m.)

Josh: just one thing (Delivered 8:22 p.m.)

Tyler: yeah? (Delivered 8:22 p.m.)

Josh: will you go out there with me? Pretty freaky going out in the forest alone at night (Delivered 8:23 p.m.)

Tyler: of course I will. I was just about to offer (Delivered 8:24 p.m.)

Josh: thanks fren (Delivered 8:24 p.m.)

Josh pulled into Tyler's driveway around five minutes later, right behind Tyler's car, somehow, without his parents knowing.

Tyler opened the front door for his friend slowly and quietly.

"Is everyone already asleep?" The purple haired boy whispered.

"No, just follow me to the back." Tyler whispered back in reply.

They got outside successfully, quiet as if it were the midnight. The sky was clear, letting the stars shine and sparkle like crystals. The air was cool, and was filled with noises of crickets and frogs.

Both boys had flashlights at hand, and Josh carried a notebook for his observations.

"How far back are we going?" Tyler asked.

"Only to that clearing. It might seem farther since it's nighttime."

Tyler nodded, and turned on his flashlight. Josh followed and turned his on a few steps from the back porch.

Josh stayed close behind, since walking in the forest at night like this was like a scene in a horror movie.

Fear really shone in Tyler's voice. "Josh, walk next to me."

The sun just set over the horizon, with the teal and orange of the twilight sky in the West making enough light to still see the ground. Tyler runs frantically through the forest, each direction he turned looking the same. He's almost lost. In his mind, he is. He screams "hello, hello." What or who is he looking for? Not even he knows. He's panicked and frustrated, frustrated being an understatement. He never felt more alone.

Josh was now inches from Tyler's body, accidentally brushing hands a few times. The finally make it to the clearing before Josh can offer to hold his friend's hand in the near pitch black forest. Instead, he exclaims, "Look at those stars!"

"It really is a beautiful night," Tyler agrees. A strange aura seemed to fill the clearing. The treeless area seemed calm and happy, but so ominous all at once. Josh already sat down on the grass, pointing his flashlight down at his opened journal in his lap as he wrote something down.

Tyler sat down next to his best friend, under the brilliant stars, in the middle of the neighborhood forest. He watched his friend write down names of constellations and planets, along with making a sketch of the sky above him, looking up at this patch of stars to try to copy its form. Josh bookmarked the page with his pen and closed the journal. "I'm done."

"No you're not. We haven't even been out here ten minutes. You should look deeper." Tyler teased, making his best teacher voice.

Josh turned his flashlight off. "Yeah, it is a nice night." He straightened his legs out from under him and laid down on the grass, with his arms under his head.

Tyler looked around in the silhouettes of the trees before laying down next to his best friend.

"So after all these years, you're still Astronaut Spookyjim gazing up at the stars?"

"Yeah."

"And despite everything-" Tyler's voice got lower. "I still have Blurryface."

Over the trees, Tyler noticed the blinking red and blue lights of the police cars and the ambulance in the driveway of his house. He stood petrified. He could hear the officers and paramedics rushing through to get to him. What happened? What made Tyler just run out of his house screaming? What happened to little Ty-Ty all smiley and bubbly all those years ago? That's all he remembered before his vision went blurry, then he saw a figure in a red robe and no face. It's death, he thought. Then darkness overcame his vision.

Tyler slowly reached his hand over to Josh's arm and lightly tapped the back of his hand. Josh, surprised to say the least, took his best friend's hand and held it firmly, with his thumb rubbing up and down the back of Tyler's hand.

"Thank you." The younger boy whispered, choked up. Warm tears filled his eyes.

He thought he could hear Josh whisper, "The stars will hold you. The earth will sing."

Tyler managed a single word. "What?"

"Do you need me to-"

"Yes."

They both sat up in near complete darkness, Josh with his arms outstretched. Tyler leaned in to his friend's embrace. A single sentence formed and he chanted it like a mantra in his mind. They won't get 'em. They won't get 'em. No, they won't get 'em.

While this was all happening, nothing else in the world mattered. All that mattered was Tyler, Josh, and all the stars and planets surrounding them. A moment like this is always so special, yet crucial for Tyler.

Finally, the blood stopped pounding and the voices stopped screaming. Tyler could now speak.

"Josh."

"Yeah?"

"I'm so grateful for you."

"Me too."

"I think it's safe to let go now. But just in case, will you hold my hand til we get to the gate?"

As they walked back, the darkness seemed less threatening, like this was daytime. It might as well could be.

***

The first meet at Jon's house for the party went according to plan. They figured out where to tape off where the stage would be and everyone agreed to bring some food or drink, like a school party. Except Tyler, who already volunteered for decorations.

Spencer asked for the food list, "Are you guys getting any chips?" Which received a couple nods, and a reply from Ryan, "No, but I got Cheese Whiz."