come back // joshler

6: Josh

Josh woke up and looked at his surroundings, realizing he was still in the treehouse. He took his phone from his pocket and checked the time. 9 am. He groaned as he stretched his sore muscles, then got up and decided he should head home. His mom must be worried. He climbed down from the treehouse and left the forest. He stopped for a moment to look at the river, wondering where Tyler was. He didn't want to make himself sadder by messaging Zack, and so he continued making his way back home.

Josh had reached the driveway of his home and checked the mailbox at the end of it. It was empty. Then he started walking up to the house before realizing there was something, someone, on the porch steps. He cautiously got closer and tried to see the face of the person. And then he did.

"Tyler..? Is that you..?", Josh asked in shock, tearing up. Tyler jumped up at that and looked at Josh with a horrified expression on his face. "T-Tyler..?"

"I-I was j-just leaving, I'm s-sorry", Tyler stuttered and looked down at his feet. "I'll go."

"N-no, Ty, I..", Josh tried, but Tyler pushed past him and ran away. Josh didn't know what to do. God he was useless. "Come back, Tyler.."

But he didn't. He probably hadn't even heard him. Josh collapsed down to the middle of the driveway and started crying. He had just seen Tyler. Why didn't he do anything? He couldn't even speak to him goddammit. He curled up into a ball, sobbing and not caring about who saw him.

After some time of sobbing on the driveway Josh finally made it inside and to his room. He was staring at himself from the mirror and despised every inch of human he was seeing reflected from there. He wasn't good enough. What if Tyler was in trouble? He hadn't helped him. He hadn't even messaged Zack. In his defence he was too numb to function, but then again that was no excuse. He heard his phone ding and hesitated on whether or not to check the message. He finally, after five minutes on wondering if he should, decided to check it.

From: Tyjo

hey?

Received 10.54am Today

To: Tyjo

i'm so sorry Ty..

Read 10.59am Today

From: Tyjo

that's what they all say, but they never give any reason for what they've done. and why are you calling me ty?

Received 11.03am Today

To: Tyjo

Trust me, you'd hate me more if you knew the reason. And I don't know.

Read 11.03am Today

From: Tyjo

you're bluffing, aren't you.

To: Tyjo

No I'm not, I swear.

From: Tyjo

you've sworn a lot of things, Joshua.

To: Tyjo

I know, and I'm sorry Tyler.

From: Tyjo

you won't get out of this without explaining yourself.

To: Tyjo

I can't do that, I'm sorry..

From: Tyjo

fuck you, joshua dun, i hope you get ran over by a fucking bus.

To: Tyjo

Tyler, I'm sorry

You can no longer send messages to this number.

Fuck.