Chapter Text
Josie had Hayley drive her home, neither of the parents were home so that meant her and her siblings were home. She went up to her room and plopped onto her bed after she changed into some plaid sleep pants.
She texted with Hayley on discord while scrolling through tiktok, that was when she came across tyler’s account. It was a simple video about her boyfriend and their relationship.
“god she’s so far up his ass.” Josie scoffed and followed tyler. Okay, she didn’t like Tyler but she should still follow her right? yeah, she should. Josie messaged hayley and giggled to herself.
𝗝𝗼𝗲𝘀_𝗯𝟰_𝗵𝗼𝗲𝘀: dude tyler is so stuck up david’s ass. it’s so funny.
𝗗𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗛𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗲𝘆𝗢𝗻𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆: stfu ur obsessed w/ her.
Tyler sighed as she finally got home, mumbling a ‘hi’ to her mother before she slumped up the stairs.
She pulled her converse off and threw her jeans somewhere across her room, instantly face planting onto her bed. Tyler stayed there for a moment before turning her head to the side, cheek smushed against her bed sheets.
Tyler opened her phone, reading some notifications before furrowing her brows at one of them, her stomach already starting to flutter up.
𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗲 has followed you.
She let a grin slip its way onto her face, following the girl back before she got comfy in bed, already viewing Josies account to stalk it.
Josie only had one video posted on her account and it was an art dump. a few pictures of her doodles and a few clay sculptures and that was that. She was good at art, she was good at pretty much everything.
Tyler liked the video, commenting a small compliment on it before trying to exit the account. She almost did before she accidentally sent a wave emoji to Josie.
Her jaw dropped and she basically slammed her phone onto her bed, covering her face with her hands in embarrassment.
Josie scoffed, of course Tyler was trying to make buddies. she sent a quick reply before she swiped off the app.
𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗲: sup joseph.
Josie went to message Hayley and talk about the fact that tyler just followed her. She typed a message and sent a screenshot.
𝗝𝗼𝘀_𝗯𝟰_𝗵𝗼𝗲𝘀: BRO SHE FOLLOWED ME
𝗗𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗛𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗲𝘆𝗢𝗻𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆: oOoO i wonder why.
𝗝𝗼𝘀_𝗯𝟰_𝗵𝗼𝗲𝘀: she messaged me a wave emoji wtf??
Tyler gripped her phone as she read the message josie sent to her, her mind stuck on overthinking about what to reply with.
𝗻𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲𝗿: hi josie.
𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗲: hru? i saw ur vid abt u and dave, happy anniversary ig.
𝗻𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲𝗿: im good, thanks. was expecting a nice dinner but he brought me to subway instead lmaoo but it’s fine. How about you? Any boyfriend??
𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗲: i’m gay. me and hayley make out all the time. idiot.
tyler frowned at that message, putting her phone down and leaving Josie on read.
She didn’t know what it was but she felt a ugly green creature rear its head in her stomach, a bitter feeling bubbling up in her stomach.
When josie saw that Tyler didn’t reply she rolled her eyes and started to get ready for a party she had been invited to. she put her new fishnets on and a red skirt paired with her classic my chem shirt. she laced up her converse then called hayley.
“hey hoe, are you on your way?”
“yeah i’m almost there, whore.”
A few minutes later, tyler bit her lip and got the courage to message Josie again.
𝗻𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲𝗿: oh. Are you guys dating or something?
Josie felt her phone buzz after she hung up with hayley, she checked the notification and clicked on it.
𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗲: EW. never.
Tyler felt a wave of relief flood through her for some reason, her slight smile coming back onto her face as she got more comfortable under the blankets.
𝗻𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲𝗿: lol so no gf then??
𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗲: nah. few casual flings here and there tho. i can’t ever seem to hold a real relationship.
𝗻𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲𝗿: is there a reason why orr? how did u even find out u like girls lol i don’t think i could ever. 😂😆
𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗲: apparently i don’t communicate how i feel well enoug?? and girls r very hot, do not yuck my yum. yo r u going to that party tonight?
𝗻𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲𝗿: ehhh. What party? I haven’t heard about anything.
𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗲: the party mark is having? dude i thought you and dave were talking abt it earlier.
𝗻𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲𝗿: oh that one. Idk i might go but usually i go home early or alone cause David gets too drunk and stays over. So maybe.
𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗲: ewgh.. idk how you date him. he seems like a dickhead.
𝗻𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲𝗿: he’s nice sometimes, there’s not really anybody else I can go for, our school has relationships growing left and right.
Josie heard Hayley’s car pull up so she grabbed her bag and announced that she was leaving to her siblings. She got in the car and threw her backpack in the back seat. “sup hoe.” She spoke to Hayley before sending a quick message to Tyler.
𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗲: yeah ig ur right. yo i gotta go. see you later maybe.
Hayley gave a hello and started the car with a little roar of the engine. She pulled out of the driveway and played some music through the speakers of her car. ‘tongue tied’ by grouplove was the first song on the playlist.
Tyler frowned as she got Josies message, she did really want to continue talking to the girl.
She thought for a few moments, looking at her mirror and the mess of her hair. “ should I really go? “, tyler spoke outloud to herself, thinking.
In the end, she did get up. She got dressed, gave her straightened hair a little curl and hairspray, a touch up on her makeup and a few pieces of jewellery.
Tyler wanted to prove to josie that she was pretty, she didn’t know if it was from jealousy or hatred but she wanted josies validation.
Josie sung along with the words of the song before Hayley made a comment. “youre all dressed up. why’s that?” Hayley looked at Josie for a split second before turning her eyes back to the road.
“uhhhhh because my super hot best friend named Hayley is gonna be there? duh.” Josie teased and laughed softly at herself. She checked her phone to see if Tyler had texted her. No notifications. She frowned slightly and shook her head, why would she want Tyler to text her?
Tyler finally got ready, biting the inside of her cheek as she decided to just walk over, the party was pretty close to her anyway.
She put her phone in her pocket, not before checking it first and seeing nothing, grabbing her keys and pulling some makeup in her bra for an emergency.
Tyler opened her door and started making her way down to the party, since it was literally only a block away, she was able to get there pretty soon. She couldn’t be bothered waiting on David and then being ditched for the twentieth time.
She finally got to the front lawn, stepping up the concrete stairs, already seeing people, cars and loud music. Well, she heard the loud music.
“ oh gosh. “ tyler sighed, rubbing her palm against her forehead as she stepped through the wide, fully opened door, scanning the room to see anybody she knew.
Josie and Hayley pulled up to the party and walked in with big grins on their faces. Josie immediately went to the kitchen for a drink while Hayley looked for her boyfriend. Josie got a red solo cup full of beer and plopped down on some couch when a girl caught her eye. Tyler.
“yo! Tyler!” Josie called out and waved while taking a sip of her drink. She stood and walked over ti Tyler with a grin and slung her arm around the girls shoulders.
Tyler stiffened a bit before she realised who it was, staring at Josie and blinking awkwardly.
“ hi Josie, you look..nice. “ she spoke, shuffling a bit closer to the warmth of the girl. Josie looked pretty.
Josie grinned widened at the compliment, she sipped some if her drink before replying. “thanks, sweetheart.” She looked at the girls outfit and nodded, as if giving her approval.
She pointed to the kitchen and spoke in a soft tone.
“you wanna drink? i can go grab it for you.”
Tylers chest flared up in warmth and she set her gaze to the floor. “ yeah, can I go with you? “ she spoke, fiddling with the ring on her finger again.
“yeah! ‘course Ty.” Josie immediately nodded and started to walking to the kitchen where the alcoholic beverages were. She undid her arm from tyler’s shoulder and grabbed a red solo cup.
“right, so what do you want to drink?” She said gesturing to the various drinks on the counter.
Tyler stared at the counter for a good minute, reading the labels of all the bottles. “ uh.. I’m not too sure, can I just get what you have? “
She turned her head to look at Josie, the girl taller than tyler because of the shoes she was wearing.
Josie took the words in and nodded, she looked at the table and grabbed a bottle of strawberry flavored vodka and poured some into the red cup.
“here, try that. tell me if you like it.” She handed Tyler the cup and waited for her reaction.
Tyler gently took the cup, setting it up to her lips, careful to not get her lipstick smudged off, and took a sip. There was a slight burn as she swallowed it but it wasn’t enough to make her throw up.
She set it back down and turned again, to Josie, “ thank you, that’s perfect. “
“no problem, dude. Is dave here or are you alone? i wouldn’t trust the guys here if you alone.” Josie warned and wrapped her arm back around the girls shoulder, practically dragging her over to the couchs.
Tyler nodded, settling on the couch. She felt a small satisfaction as the thought if Josie protecting her. “ yeah, I walked here so.. “
“you can stay with me and hayley tonight, i don’t want weirdos creepin on you.” Josie nodded towards Hayley and the guys she was making out with. Hayley was such a hoe it was funny.
“ I thought she had a boyfriend? “ tyler furrowed her brows, following Josies gaze to look at haley
“she does. their relationship is mad weird, they’re sleeping other people and each other.” Josie shrugged and looked back at tyler with a smile.
Tyler didn’t notice the look, to busy on staring at Hayley and the she was making out with. “ just stick with one person.. “ she mumbled.
“huh?” Josie made a confused face and looked back at Hayley and the dude.
“ like they should just stick with eachother instead of hooking up with loads.. “ tyler corrected herself, turning her gaze to look at Josie
“hm, i guess your right. sticking together is probably better in the long run anyway.” Josie blushed softly at the sight of Tyler right now. Ew why was she blushing? She quickly shook her head and looked at the floor as she took a sip of her drink.
Tyler stayed quiet, still staring at Josie before glancing around the room, looking for her own boyfriend.
She rolled her eyes as she saw David beside his group of football friends and a bunch of cheerleader, shaking her head lightly. Tyler leaned into Josie instead, wanting to keep the warmth with her.
“aren’t you supposed to be hanging with the girls from the basketball team?” The emo suddenly asks before looking at Tyler. She set her drink down and brought her hand to her fishnets, pulling at the material they’re made of.
“ do you want me to? I can leave you alone. “ tyler said, shuffling her body away from Josie slightly. She watched the girl pick at her fishnets, squinting slightly,
Josie looked up, slightly shooked at the suggestion and shook her head. “what! no, no your good. i just was just asking because being seen with the schools emo isn’t always the best thing for your reputation.”
Tyler snorted, leaning back against Josie before resting her cheek on the girls shoulder so that she can look at her. “ I don’t really think my reputation can be ruined, especially with me literally dating the footballs team captain “
“oh yeah.” Josie felt a pang of jealousy run through her body as she nodded. She didn’t know why she felt jealous, she didn’t even like tyler. Josie grabbed her drink and took a sip, more like glup before she spoke again. “I forgot he was football captain. Makes him more of a douche in my book.”
Tyler nodded at her statement, trying to shuffle closer to the girl. She wanted to be close. To a girl she’s know for a day. A day. What was wrong with her?
“ I can’t disagree with you, he’s been such an asshole lately “ tyler herself frowned, letting out a small sigh.
“hm. Tell him to kiss some dudes dick if he continues, you deserve better then him.” Josie’s tone was soft but you could tell she wasn’t the happiest about the situation. She chugged the rest of her drink before undoing her arm around tyler and standing, she looked at tyler and spoke again.
“be right back, gotta refill.” She walked to the kitchen before Tyler could reply, she looked at the drink table before choosing the hardest liquor she could find and poured it in her cup.
Tyler kept the frown on her face as the warmth she was covered in was instantly gone, the cold air creeping up over her.
She glanced around a bit, seeing if she was close with anyone just incase Josie never came back. She shouldn’t be doubting the girl, but she didn’t know her well.
Tyler felt like she had said something to upset her, but she couldn’t tell what. She hadn’t insulted Josie or anything, it was all that her mind was stuck on. Did she say something that Josie didn’t like? Or does Josie still not want to be close to her? Is she making Josie uncomfortable? Her questions went unanswered.
Josie returned with a now full cup, she plops back down on the couch and looked at tyler. Her cheeks went hot and her heart was beating fast. she quickly looked towards her lap and set her drink down.
The music was loud, you could feel the bass in your finger tips. Josie liked when parties were like this, free reign to drinks and lots of people, it made her feel good.
She rubbed her thumb against her rings before she wrapped her arm around Tyler again, just a bit looser than before. She was still looking at her thighs as she heard Tyler speak.
“ so.. anyone catch your eye tonight? “ tyler spoke up, her gaze back on Josie. Her mind had paused for a minute whenever the girls arm was around her.
She leaned into the side of Josie, letting out a quiet hum as she waited for the girls answer, eyes trained on her jaw and how her throat moved when she took a drink.
Tyler really could care less about the loud music playing, all her attention on the pretty girl beside her.
Josie blushed at the question and nodded. “yeah actually.. cant say who though. sorry sweetheart.”
She would never say who, not yet atleast. She pulled Tyler closer and looked at her with a smile.
Her ear tips felt warm once she saw Tyler smile back, the warm look on the girls face sent shivers down Josie’s spine. She sipped her drink then coughed slightly once she swallowed, the liquor burning her throat.
“ you okay? “ tyler said quietly, yawning slightly before bringing a hand up to run through her hair, clearly tired.
She leaned her head against Josies shoulder, squinting a bit as she focused her gaze on the floor. She felt that sick feeling again. Tyler didn’t know if she enjoyed it or not. Maybe Josie had something wrong with her, maybe tyler was allergic to something Josie was wearing.
Her hand subconsciously went up to the cross necklace around her neck, her thumb caressing the small design on it as she thought about Josie and how she felt.
“mhm.” Josie nodded and brought her hand to her fishnets, the nervous tic coming back when she felt Tyler’s head against her shoulder. Did she like tyler? No, never. She was a bitchy popular girl who made Josie’s life hell for years without knowing it.
she looked at Tyler, the tiredness clear in her face. She spoke softly and gently as she sat up straighter. “do you want me to walk you home? you seem tired.”
“ I don’t know, I think I want to be around someone right now. “ tyler replied in the same tone, her fist clenching around the cross as she looked up to make eye contact with Josie.
“you need sleep dude, you should head home. i really don’t mind walking with you.” Josie insisted, caring for tyler’s needs. She picked up her drink, checked her phone, and looked around the room before standing.
“come on.” She said while looking at tyler and gesturing for the girl to follow.
Tyler glanced up before grabbing her own phone, checking to see if David messaged her, before getting up and following Josie.
She felt weird whenever Josie had put space inbetween them as they walked. She felt as if she was having heartburn. She didn’t like it and she didn’t understand it.
“uh which way from here?” Josie looked down at Tyler as they walked down the driveway of the house they were at. She saw how Tyler had put room between them and she suddenly felt a bit sad as. She enjoyed being close to tyler.
Tyler glanced up at her, before staring at josies hand. “ uh.. just round the corner I guess, it’s not that far. “ she shrugged, eyes squinting as she stared at the hand, her brain screaming at her to reach out and grab it for reasons she didn’t know yet.
Josie nodded and looked at the ground as she walked with tyler, something warm and fluttery growing at the moment. She felt Tyler’s eyes on her and it made her face go warm.
She sighed and ran a hand through her hair, one of her rings gently tugged a few strands. “ah-“ she quietly exclaimed and withdrew her hand from her hair.
Tylers eyes instantly went up to josies face, a strong feeling of worry flooding through her body. “ are you okay? “ she said softly, taking the chance for her hand to shoot up and to grab Josies.
She went to check on the ring, basically a big coverup for the sake she wanted to lace their fingers together. Which she did. Because she’s friends with Josie. This is what friends do.
“y-yeah i’m good! just pulled my hair.” Josie quickly replied, laughing slightly as she did so. She looked at Tyler and smiled as her cheeks warmed up.
Tyler nodded a bit, unlacing their fingers after a few moments, a feeling of guilt building up inside of her. She shouldn’t be holding hands with a girl.
Josie looked at their hands and frowned, she picked at her fishnets as she walked and looked at the houses the two were passing.
“uh which one’s yours? i can walk you too the door if you want.” Josie suggested in a small voice. She didn’t look away from the houses, the feeling of anxiety gnawing at her.
“ its just the one with the blue mailbox. “ tyler said, taking her gaze from the concrete to the houses, she knew her street pretty well anyway. “ and yeah, I’d appreciate that “
“alright.” Josie nodded, she saw a house with a blue mailbox not to far away.
The feeling of anxiety was building up more in her stomach. Why did tyler let go of her hand? Was it something she had done? Did she make Tyler uncomfortable? She shook her head and cleared the thoughts out of her mind.
Tyler made her way up the steps, glancing down behind her ever few minutes to check if Josie was following her. She doesn’t know why she felt guilty, but it felt normal. She didn’t know why everytime she looked at Josie, she felt warmer than she had before.
“uhm see you at school tomorrow, ty. bye.” Josie gave a small wave as Tyler approached her door. She gave a sheepish smile and started to walk away.
“ yeah, bye.. “ tyler’s voice trailed off as she stood at her front door, watching Josie leave the same way they just came before she turned around, opening the unlocked door.
Josie walked back to the party, she felt lonely now though. Hayley was no where to be found and none of her other friends were there.
She sighed and just decided to walk home, the walk was a bit long. She sent hayley a text and walked out of the house, headed back home.
𝗷𝗼𝘀_𝗯𝟰_𝗵𝗼𝘀: yo i left the party. i couldn’t find you.
The sun had fully set by the time Josie got home. She asked her brother jordan if he had made food for their siblings or if she’d have too.
Of course josie had too make the food, jordan was a lazy slob. She pulled out a reddish pot and put some lukewarm water in it, pasta was on the menu tonight.
tyler laid in bed, undressed, staring at her phone. She had gotten a text from David asking why he couldn’t find her.
She didn’t reply, just blankly stared at her homescreen. She never ignored David, so why was she doing it this time?
Tyler felt disappointed about the fact Joshie hadn’t messaged her, maybe because she was her friend. She felt terrible, upset.
She felt like she had been stabbed through the heart again. Why did she feel like this for a girl?
She sighed, shutting her phone off and placing it on her bedside table, getting comfortable under her blankets before falling asleep to the thought of pretty brown eyes and fishnet tights.