JOSH DUN VS THE WORLD ✓

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE ROCK-IT

YOU'VE DECIDED TO:
TELL YOUR BAND ABOUT TYLER

+1 whole relationship
+7 hours of heavenly sleep
-1 close friend/ ex girlfriend
+1 bad memory

A FRIENDLY REMINDER THAT ANY AND ALL CHOICES YOU MAKE ARE PERMANENT AND WILL HAVE A LASTING IMPACT ON THIS STORY. THEY COULD EVEN RESULT IN THE DEATH OF YOUR CHARACTER. CHOOSE CAREFULLY.

Josh wakes up a few minutes after Tyler, who stands across the bed from him, facing away. He's speaking quietly into the phone tucked between his shoulder and ear, pulling his pants on.

"No, I told you that we're done. Screw your record deal. You're really bringing that bitch up? You've known me long enough to know that I don't care about her, it was a phase."

Tyler grabs a pair of converse from his closet and slips them on." Yes, it's possible to have a straight phase, didn't you have one? Oh, fuck you, she did count. Nice try, but you're not messing up my life this time. Bye, asshole."

Tyler blindly throws the phone over his shoulder and onto the bed, hitting Josh in the face, who yelps and falls off the bed.

"Ow," he says, rubbing his forehead. "You should try out for little league with that arm."

"Shit, I am so sorry."

"Nah, it's fine. I've had worse post-sex moments. Or, post-not-sex-but-close-enough moments. Who was that on the phone?"

"The devil. He really does wear Prada."

Josh laughs, but Tyler doesn't return it, so he stops and picks up his phone. The screen's unlocked, so he sees the name DW of the last caller before he tosses the phone back to Tyler.

"Look, Josh, I hate do this," Tyler grabs a turtleneck and his green parka from off the ground, yanking both over his head. "But I need to go. I have a newbie to train on how to deliver packages, she has no idea how to use the mailing tape."

Josh peeks over the ocean of blankets. "Can I come with you?"

He gets a cold laugh in return. "Believe me, you don't want to come with me to work. Amazon Prime is the worst thing to happen to deliverers like me. Don't eat everything in the fridge while I'm gone."

Tyler speed walks to the door, Josh naked and close behind. Before leaving, Tyler turns and pecks him on the cheek. "I'll see you later," he says.

"You better." Josh beams and leans in for another kiss, feeling silly in the moment of simple domesticity. "By the way, my band's performing later tonight for Battle of the Band." Tyler's already walking away. "Don't be late! It's at nine, at the-"

NOW ENTERING:
THE ROCK-IT

The space within the venue is packed, and their usual pre-show freakout is in full swing. Josh stands behind the practice drum set with Young Ryan, tuning his bass guitar. Hayley has her head on the snare, her groaning growing increasingly higher the faster Max paces.

"Oh my god, we're going to lose," Max cries out, waking up and down the backstage. "Oh my god, I am going to walk right out of this place and jump off the highest building in Toronto, I swear to Holy fucking Christ I will."