choke ↣ joshler ✓

17. Terrifying

It was a little before midnight when Josh pulled into Tyler's driveway to drop him off. The brunette stared out the window with dread. He really didn't want to go home to an empty house after spending the whole afternoon with someone.

Tyler let a sigh escape his lips. "Ty?"

He turned to see Josh looking at him "Yeah?"

"Stay safe," he said.

Tyler was confused. "What?"

"Ya know the murders and missin' people reports we see on the news all the time. Be careful," he clarified.

Tyler smiled slightly. "I will."

He went to open the door when Josh stopped him. "Ty."

The mentioned looked over once more and was taken aback when Josh pressed his lips to Tyler's, kissing him. Tyler melted into it and let his eyelashes flutter closed. When they broke apart Josh was smiling. "Night."

Tyler blushed and his own smiled widened. "Good night, Josh."

He got out and slammed the door before hurrying up to his front door, unlocking it, and going inside.

"You're home late."

He jumped when he turned around and saw his dad sitting on the couch, a plethora of files sitting on the coffee table. "Um, yeah," he nodded. "I was with Josh and we lost track of time. I'm sorry."

Chris instantly looked up. "Josh?" He paused. "Dun?"

"Uh... maybe," he paused for a second, trying to think.

"Pink hair?"

"Yeah. He's the one that was in the nurse's office on the first day of school."

A look of sympathy crossed his dad's face. "He's the son of the man that went missin'."

Tyler was confused at first before his eyes widened. "What?"

"I went ta his house yesterday afternoon ta ask his mother some questions," he clarified, closing a manila folder. "We questioned him instead. He seems like a nice kid though."

Tyler couldn't help but smile once again. He felt happy. For the first time in a really really long time, he felt genuinely happy. "Yeah. He is."

Chris smiled back. "Get ta bed. Night, kiddo."

"Good night, Dad."

---

"I didn't know your dad was the man who went missing," Tyler spoke when he saw Josh the next day at school.

The pink haired looked up, confusion on his face. Tyler had been walking in after the bus dropped him off and seen him walking up from his truck and decided to seize the opportunity to ask him about the information he had received last night.

Ashley was with him and once Tyler began speaking she gave Josh a look. "I'll meet ya inside," he told her, sighing as he did so. She nodded and they watched her walk off before Josh turned back to Tyler. "Okay, what?"

"I said I didn't know your dad was the man who went missing," Tyler repeated, his hands tightening nervously around his backpack straps.

"Yeah. And?" Josh replied, looking like he was expecting something.

"I mean... I don't know. I expected you to say something back," Tyler huffed. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Josh nodded, shrugging slightly. "I mean... I didn' like my dad. He was an asshole."

"Do you..." Tyler took a deep breath as they began walking inside. "Do you think he killed the girl?"

"Yeah."

"Do you think he connected to the other murders?"

"No."

Tyler looked over and saw Josh was staring off, not paying attention. "Josh?"

The mentioned turned to look at Tyler. "Yeah?"

"Are you scared?"

Josh didn't reply at first. "For myself? No. For others..." he gestured to Tyler. "Yeah. I can handle myself. I can' control what happens ta others."

Tyler's heart began beating rapidly. Josh wanted to protect him. That made his heart fill with happiness. "I can handle myself too."

Josh started laughing. "No ya can'."

"Josh..." Tyler whined but he was smiling.

"Guess I'll jus' have ta never let ya outta my sight," he pulled Tyler in to the side of his body causing the younger to blush.

"Fuckin' fags!" A voice called. Tyler instantly pulled away to see a kid with black hair standing by a row of lockers and smirking. He saw the two other kids who tripped him on his first day standing there with him.

"Jus' ignore him, Ty," Josh mumbled, picking up his pace. Tyler did so as well but let out a gasp when the black haired grabbed Josh's shoulder, pulling him back and slamming him against the locker he stood in front of previously.

Tyler saw Ashley start walking over to him and Brendon walked the other way towards the math classrooms.

"Is that your new boyfriend, Dun?" The kid asked, pressing him further into the locker. Tyler watched, helpless, not knowing what to do.

"No. Leave us alone, Frank," Josh sighed. Tyler's eyes widened when he remembered Josh was used to this. The nurse had made it seem like a regular occurrence. Tyler guessed she was right.

"What the fuck did ya jus' say ta me?" Frank yelled. Tyler noticed a few students watching with curiosity but no one stepped in. "Ya 'nd this kid are walkin' around like good for nothin' faggots 'nd ya think ya get a say in what happens ta ya?"

Tyler flinched as Frank punched Josh in the stomach, the pink haired winced but didn't move.

"I'd say fuck ya but I'd probably catch some shit Gerard gave ya," Josh spat.

Frank's eyes widened before he grabbed Josh's arm and pinned it behind his back and flipping him around, slamming his face into the locker and creating a loud bang.

"Get him to stop!" Tyler looked at Ashley, terrified.

The blonde just sighed. "We've tried. This ain't the worst that he's done ta Josh."

Just in time, Mr. Weekes began running down the hallway, Brendon in tow. He pulled Frank off of Josh. "What the hell is wrong with you?" He asked.

Frank didn't say anything to the teacher as he spit in Josh's general direction. Mr. Weekes just led him down the hallway towards the office.

Students went back to what they were doing and Tyler ran over to Josh who had slid down to the ground in front of the locker. "Oh my God," tears filled Tyler's eyes. "Are you okay?"

Josh smiled despite the blood that was running down his nose and the cut above his eyebrow. "'M fine, Ty," he grabbed the brunette's hand and squeezed it lightly. "This ain't my first rodeo."

Tyler pulled Josh in for a hug, not caring if he got blood on his shirt. He let out a sob and Josh hugged back. "That was terrifying."

Josh pulled back and looked at Tyler worriedly. "Are ya okay?"

Tyler wiped his nose as another sob left his lips. "I'm just shaken up," he stood up and helped Josh up. "Come on. We're going to the nurse."

Tyler didn't look at Brendon or Ashley as he began leading Josh towards the nurse's office. He didn't care about them right then. He only cared about Josh. He just wanted to make sure he was alright. He cared about Josh so much it hurt. He liked Josh.

Yet that didn't scare him.