Robbers - [joshler au]

Chapter 3.

Trigger Warning

//

Drug and alcohol use; marijuana.

Wait to start the song.

Josh laid in bed, staring at his ceiling. It had been a week since he went with Brendon to that party, and a week since he'd seen Tyler. It seemed like, outside of that environment, Tyler didn't exist. There was no sight of him around town, and anyone who might've known him didn't mention him or act like they did. Maybe Josh had actually gotten drunk off those two drinks and he hallucinated him the whole time.

He would probably believe that if that kiss Tyler left on his mouth didn't feel so real.

Brendon had gone out to another party tonight, and, true to his word, didn't invite Josh this time. Hayley had said last time that he was more than welcome to show up whenever they were having a party or even if they weren't. They liked Josh, and they liked that he knew how to limit himself and that he had goals. They thought it was really admirable.

But Josh really wanted to see Tyler.

Since last week, he's been on Josh's mind in the form of daydreams, passing thoughts and even dreams that crept up on him in the middle of the night. Josh felt like he was going crazy, but he rationalized his feelings as just an infatuation with a mysterious boy who didn't care that he was a square. Tyler saw him as a normal person, just like everyone else, regardless of what he did or didn't do.

His mind was running at a hundred miles an hour as he sat up in his bed, running his hands over his face. He looked at the clock, the green numbers facing him almost in a mocking manner as he stuck his feet in his shoes and grabbed his car keys, calling to his mom that he'd be back tomorrow before leaving the house with not a clear plan floating through his mind.

* * *

There were about the same number of cars and people floating around Hayley's as last time when Josh pulled up. He looked at the house, sighing to himself before killing the engine and leaving the car, heading up the sidewalk to the front door. He didn't knock before entering, no one ever really did, and he immediately went on a search for Hayley or Brendon. He walked around for a moment before finding Hayley on the back patio talking to some of her friends. When she made eye contact with him, her face lit up and broke into a wide grin as she made her way to him.

"Josh!" Her voice was loud and high pitched, and Josh could tell she was already tipsy as she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. "I thought you weren't coming! Brendon said you weren't, anyway."

Josh shrugged gently, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Nothing else to do, you know," he said with a soft laugh. "I don't work on Sunday's so I figured why not show up? I don't have anything going on tomorrow, so.."

Hayley laughed gently, nodding as she took him by the hand. "Let's go get you a drink, then." He allowed Hayley to lead him to the kitchen and hand him a drink from the fridge. He twisted the top off and took a small drink, watching Hayley laugh as he didn't grimace this time. "Looks like you're getting used to it now, huh?"

Josh laughed and nodded as he took another small sip. "I guess so."

Hayley nodded looking around the room before leaning closer to Josh and dropping her voice. "Tyler's here, you know?"