Air Catcher

Cobwebs and Flies

Alyx's pov

"So... I have a song I want to show you." Tyler didn't look up from the paper he was writing.

My head shot up. "Really?" The teacher looked in our direction and I put my head back down.

It had been two and a half months since I asked him to play me a song and a little more than a month since I got mad at Merritt and Hannah for the incident.

'Took you long enough.' I thought. I turned to look at him and grinned.

At the end of class we walked together to our lunch spot where Merritt, Hannah, Patrick, and Josh already sat.

I moved to sit between Merritt and Hannah, leaving Tyler to complete the circle by Patrick and Josh.

"Jish, how's your drumming going?" he asked.

"I think I'm ready." Josh responded, tapping nervously.

Tyler nodded. "Sick."

I gave him a questioning look but he only shrugged and smirked.

Hannah picked up a conversation about dry shampoo, the most random thing I was sure she could think of. Not that it was unusual for my friends and I to have strange conversations. The topic flowed into what a pain hair was; the boys shifted uncomfortably while they listened. Except Josh, that is, who could at least sympathize with dying hair.

"Oh hey, Alyx. Mere told me you don't know her natural color." He smiled mischievously.

"Can you believe I've known her for over a year and she won't tell me?' I asked.

"Wait... do you know?" Hannah asked.

Josh grinned.

"No way!" I exclaimed, scowling at Mere.

Josh took out his phone and typed something in.

"Josh, don't you d-" Merritt was cut off by two phones dinging. Hannah and I looked down at our phones.

'She was blonde. Like, really blonde.' the text read.

"I knew it!" Hannah and I yelled at the same time. We laughed loudly.

"Joshua William Dun!" Merritt looked furious.

"Man, Merritt the Ferret used your full name, you're done for." Tyler laughed.

"Ferret? I know your full name too, Joseph." she turned back to Josh and calmed down slightly. "I swear I hate you so much."

"No you don't, you know you love me." Josh smiled at her.

"Right now I really think I do hate you." I didn't miss her playful smile.

"Uh huh... sure you do." Josh leaned over to her and kissed her. She didn't take long to kiss him back.

"Aww, how cute!" Hannah smiled.

"Come on guys, no PDA at school." I groaned. Not that it wasn't adorable.

"Why?" Hannah asked. "Does it make you uncomfortable? Cause if it does I can get Gee and Frank over here." She grinned at me and then turned and pulled Patrick to her face, kissing him passionately.

I stared down at my lunch determinedly. Without moving my head I glanced up and saw Tyler doing the same. Finally both the couples pulled apart. Josh left his arm around his girlfriend's waist.

Merritt rolled her eyes at Josh and then looked at Tyler. "Now, Tyler Robert Joseph." She said his name slowly and deliberately.

Tyler scooted back a little. "Any chance I can get away with a kiss too?" he chuckled nervously.

"Don't even think about it." Josh pulled her closer.

Luckily everyone laughed, so I don't think anyone realized mine was a bit strained.

_____________________________

After school we all went to Tyler's house and walked down to the basement where Josh had already set up his drums. A ukulele sat in the corner of the room across for a piano. Tyler sat down at the piano and he looked over at me with a small smile before they started playing.

"You say things with your mouth, cobwebs and flies come out," He started singing. I tilted my head questioningly. "I hear a second voice behind your tongue somehow. Luckily I can read your mind, flies and cobwebs unwind. They will not take you down; they will not cast you out, out." The music quieted and Tyler sped his voice up. "Dear friend, here we are again, pretending to understand how you think the world is ending. Sending signals and red flags in waves; it's hard to tell the difference between blood and water these days." He looked up at me. "I'll pray that one day you'll see the only difference between life and dying is one is trying- that's all we're gonna do, so try to love me and I'll try to save you."

I looked down.

"Won't you stay alive? I'll take you on a ride. I will make you believe you are lovely."

The song continued. It sounded amazing. It was admittedly a bit odd, but so was everything the boys did.

"Don't be gone... don't be gone... don't be gone!" Tyler shook his head vigorously. I smiled.

After they finished we all clapped and cheered. Merritt hugged a sweaty Josh and Hannah was bouncing. "You guys are my new favorite band." She decided.

Tyler walked over to me. "Can I talk to you?" He asked quietly.

"Of course." He lead me to the far side of the basement dropped his head to his chest.

"Do you... do you like me?" He asked, his voice still hushed.

'Yes.' I thought.

I didn't answer.

"It's- it's just because the whole gang seems to think so and I... was hoping you do." He didn't look up at me.

"Tyler... you're an amazing friend. But I think it should stay that way." My heart dropped a thousand feet and shattered.

He twitched his head up and down in what I supposed was an attempted nod. He still wouldn't look at me.

"Cobwebs and flies." He whispered.