By Your Side (Twenty One Pilots)

You Waited Then You Hesitated

It was dark when Josh and Tyler got back to their apartments. Josh, upon opening the door, found that the TV was still on and that Debby had fallen asleep on the couch.

"Debs," Josh whispered softly as he gently shook her shoulder. "Debs, let's go to bed."

"Hm?" Debby mumbled as she blinked her eyes open. "Why are you back so late?"

Josh blushed. "Tyler and I kinda got on the wrong bus..."

"Again? Debby asked. She sat up and looked at Josh in the disapproving and endearing way she always did when he did something stupid. "That's the third time this month," she laughed. "You two need to figure out how to read."

"I know," Josh replied. "Did you try and stay awake for me?"

Debby nodded and Josh shook his head.

"Come on. You should have gone to bed a while ago," Josh said. Debby put her hands up and Josh picked her up and held her close to him while he carried her to their bedroom, much like he had done tons of other nights.

"Says the boy who got on the wrong bus and ended up at the old guy's farm again," Debby joked.

"Hey," Josh defended himself as he set her down on her side of the bed and got ready for bed. "We only went as far as the intersection before his farm this time."

Debby laughed and switched off her bedside lamp, plunging the room into almost total darkness, save for the window on the far side of the room. "Dork."

"Meanie."

They lay in silence for a few minutes, just listening to the sound of the cars pass by on the street only a few stories below them. It was calm and peaceful; almost like an industrial lullaby just for them.

"I love you," Josh whispered into the dark room.

It was a few seconds before Debby replied.

"I love you, too."