Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Tyler groaned as she woke up, throwing an arm over her eyes for the sake of not being blinded.
She laid there for a good minute, sleep almost catching back up to her before her mom knocked loudly at the door, a muffled voice telling her to wake up.

“ I’m up “ Tyler announced, taking her arm off of her eyes and just laying it on the mattress.

Tyler glanced down to the end of her bed, feeling a wave of annoyance wash through her as she caught sight of the mess she was in the mirror.

After another good minute, she dragged herself out of her bed, set herself down on her vanity chair, rubbed her full skincare routine on her face in under two minutes and took a bit more time on her makeup.

She rolled her eyes, already in a pissy mood for the cause of getting mascara on her eyelid.

“ this is so stupid. “ Tyler mumbled to herself, roughly rubbing the extra mascara off.

She didn’t really need to, since her hair was already straight down to her shoulders, but she still straightened her hair, adding to the slight frizz of it before drowning it in hairspray.

As soon as tyler got downstairs, her mom handed her bag to her, a tired look on her face.

“ Have a nice day. “ Tyler paused, turning around from where she was unlocking the door, “ thanks, I love you. “ she gave a small smile before ripping the door open and shoving herself out.

Tyler narrowed her eyes as she scanned the front of her house, not seeing her boyfriend’s car anywhere.
She sighed, crossing her arms and leaning against the concrete wall infront of her house.

“ First day back and he’s already late. “ Tyler grumbled to herself, checking the time on her phone.

David, Tyler’s boyfriend, pulled up a few minutes later. He looked all smiley, that was the usual reaction but it was pissing Tyler off even more. Who’s that happy at 7:30 in the morning?

“Sorry baby! i woke up late, i hope your not mad..? “ David spoke, his tone of voice genuinely apologetic but the look on his face said otherwise.

Tyler walked around the car and opened the passenger side door to get in the car. She sat down and set her school bag in the floorboard before looking at David and speaking.

“ you could’ve texted me or something.”

“Ty, baby i’m sorry. are you on your period or something? you seem moodier then usual..” he muttered that last part to himself mostly but it could still be made out.

“ Excuse me? “ Tyler scoffed, staring at David like he had grown two heads. She couldn’t believe his audacity. Her staring turned into a glare, disgust obvious in her expression.

“what? all i said is that you seem moody?” David turned the keys and the engine roared. it was loud seeing as he drove a douchey sports car. for a 18 year old David was kinda a snob.

“ You literally just asked me if I was on my period, how much of a dickhead can you be? “ Tyler continued to glare at her boyfriend.

She gave up after a few seconds, rolling her eyes and muttering an ‘asshole’ under her breath as she gripped the straps of her bag from where they were on the floor, tightening her grip.

David shook his head and turned up the radio, some random rap was playing. Of course David knew the words, muttering them as he drove.

it was only a couple minute drive from tyler’s home to the high school they went to. By the time the song had ended David was parking his car and unbuckling.

“get out sweetheart, we’ve got classes let’s go.” David spoke while grabbing his black nike bag from the back seat. He had to grab his football stuff because he had practice after school, that meant tyler would be riding the bus.

“ I already asked you to stop calling me that. “ Tyler complained, grabbing her bag and shoving it onto her own shoulders while she was still in the car, roughly opening the door without any care for damages.

“lighten up baby. please..” David gave her an annoying baby voice and puppy dog eyes. god why was he so annoying? that question went through tyler’s mind atleast once a day if not more.

when tyler just rolled her eyes in response David chuckled and put a hand on the small of her back as they started to walk into the school building.

Tyler let out a huff of breath for the tenth time that morning, walking slightly faster than David so that his hand fell short of her back.

She didn’t want him touching her right now, not while she was pissed off.

David shook his head and went over to his jockey friends. most of them being the football players and a few basketball boys, they were all rude in Tyler’s opinion.

He sat down and his whole group erupted into a fit of laughter, Tyler didn’t know what was so funny. was it her? was it the fact she walked ahead? whatever she thought to herself.

Tyler grumbled to herself as she tried to open her locker, sighing as it didn’t open first try. Her locker was usually like this, never opening until you basically abuse it.

She wacked her hand against it, the sound echoing down the hallway, gaining her glances and glares from other students.

When the locker finally opened, Tyler basically yanked her school bag open, shoving all of her books inside it so that she didn’t have to come back until the end of the day.

Zipping her bag up, she slammed the locker shut with one last echoed bang and started making her way down the hallway, ignoring the looks she got from all types of people.

Tyler almost broke the door of the hinges, well she thought she almost did, as she walked into her first class, history.

Tyler clicked her tongue silent as she noticed her usual seat was stolen, rolling her eyes and glancing around the room for a free one that wasn’t beside the booger-picking nerds.

Tyler saw there was an open seat next to some emo chick, or whatever her style was. She sat down and set her books on the desk with a slam. This action made the girl next to Tyler jump slightly.

“ How the hell did that scare you? “ Tyler muttered to herself, not intending for the girl to hear her as she crossed her legs, adjusted her sweater and pulled her only pen out of her pocket.

“ rough morning? you seem pissy. “ the girl scoffed and played with her already torn fishnets, she pulled out her pencil which was shaped like a drumstick.

Tyler instantly looked back up at the girl, a scowl on her face. “ don’t be a dick, emo. Your parents let you out looking like that? “ To emphasis her point, she made sure the girl could see her look her up and down.

“okay, asshole. jesus..” The girl shook her head and scoffed. She tapped her pencil against the desk before speaking again. “Aren’t you on the basketball team?”

Tyler groaned as she basically threw her head back in annoyance, lolling it to the side to look at the emo. “ seriously, do you really need to be asking me all these questions? And to cure your curiosity, yes, yes I am on the basketball team. “

The girl smirked and nodded, she ran a hand through her red-ish hair. “Thanks, Joseph.” The girl picked at her fishnets again as the teacher started to speak.

Tyler raised her brow at the fact that the random girl she had just met knew her name, but she wasn’t surprised.

Tyler turned her gaze back to the front of the room, not wanting to make it seem like she wanted to talk to the girl beside her.

She tapped her foot lightly against floor occasionally, listening to the teacher drawl on. She wasn’t really paying attention, just doodling random swirls on the side of her page, she wasn’t much of an artist.

The girl was also doodling, but hers was much more detailed. It was a doodle of Tyler with a basketball. The girl smiled and leaned back in her chair before looking at Tyler then easing the doodle.

Tyler’s hand went down to play with the hem of her hoodie, another going up to play with a few strands of her hair as she dropped her pen lightly on her book so that it didn’t make a loud noise.

She moved her legs from being crossed to being spread, trying to get more comfortable in the plastic seats their school provided. She took a glance at the girls page and made a face, scrunching up her nose.

“ what the fuck.. “ she mumbled quietly to her, slighting shifting herself to the other side of her seat so that she was further away from the girl.

The girl stood and set her drumstick like pencil down on her desk before walking up to the teachers desk. She had a quiet conversation before she walked back over to her desk, grabbing her bag and searching through it before she sighed and turned to Tyler.

“do you have a pad? tampon even?”

Tyler glanced up at the girl again from her hands, staying silent as she turned around in her chair and zipped open her bags front pocket, grabbing both a tampon and pad, hiding them in her hoodie sleeve and then setting them ontop of the girls seat under the table.

“ do you want me to check you? “ tyler sighed, moving her body so that it was fully facing the standing woman and looking up at her.

“nah im good, im wearing black shorts, it wont show.” The girl grabbed the feminine products and nodded her head as a silent thank you before walking out of the room.

Tylers eyes followed the girl as she walked out, her gaze lingering on the back of her head as she narrowed her eyes.

She didn’t know who the girl was and she was confused on how she had never seen her before, but she brushed it off.

She settled back into her original position, facing the teacher as she went back to fiddling with her hoodie, her other hand back to playing with the back of her own hair.

The girl went to the bathroom, did her deeds, checked her phone, washed her hands and walked back into the classroom. She sat down, adjusting herself every few minutes due to the pad being uncomfortable. She grabbed her pencil and started to doodle again.

Tyler kept glancing over to the girl, staring at her drawings and basically staring at the girl herself. She tried to squint her eyes, trying to see what the name on the front of her history book.

She slightly shuffled forward, trying not to be obvious. No way in hell was she asking for the girls name to her face.

“it’s Josie.” The girl, Josie, said after realizing what Tyler was trying to do. She looked at Tyler and smirked. “Could’ve just asked instead of being nosy, Joseph.”

“ what? I wasn’t trying to see what your name was, are you delusional? “ tyler scoffed, rolling her eyes and trying to act cool but the light pink dusted on her cheeks from embarrassment gave her away.

“lies. i know a creeper when i see one.” Josie smirked again and readjusted herself once more. She brought her hand down to her shorts and played with the stray strings of denim.

Tylers cheeks went an even brighter pink as her eyes were stuck on Josies hand, a weird feeling in her stomach.

“ I wasn’t being a creep.. you’re the one drawing me. “ Tyler steadied her voice, eyes stuck on the girls hand as she swallowed spit down her throat silently. “ if anyone’s the creep, it’s you. “

“me? i’m the creep? ouch, joseph.” Josie spoke in a teasing voice and smiled. Okay, Tyler had a point, drawing her was kinda weird. Josie looked at Tyler and her smile turned into a smirk. Tyler Joseph was staring.

Tyler bit her own cheek, avoiding the gaze of Josies eyes as she took her own gaze away from the emos hand, her face hot as she tried to cool it down by drinking from her water bottle that was in the side pocket of her bag.

“ why do you keep calling me Joseph, it’s tyler.. “ she spoke, her words slightly muffled by the cap of her water that she was trying to unscrew with her teeth.

“is it not your last name? sorry ty.” Josie shrugged and looked at her paper.

“ ty? “ she almost choked on her own spit as she kept trying to unscrew the cap, keeping herself busy.

“jesus just give me the bottle-“ Josie stuck her hand out, revealing her black nails and rings.

“ don’t say the lords name in vain. “ tyler glared before it disappeared, her eyes again locked on the girl hands, this time the rings.

She set the water bottle into Josies hand, not wiping her spit off of the cap out of spite.

“ew you freak, you could’ve wiped it off.” Josie wiped the cap off on the bottom of her shirt before easily undoing the cap and handing it back to Tyler. “oh and if i wanna say the ‘lords’ name i will.”

“ thats disrespectful and rude. “ tyler snatched the bottle out of Josies hand, shaking her head lightly. She ignored the warm feeling she got in her stomach at the sight of the girl easily opening the bottle.

“why should i care? jesus hasn’t done much to help me.” Josie spoke without thinking and shook her head with a scoff. She looked back at her paper and started to take her notes.

Tyler brought her hand up to thumb at her own cross necklace that was hidden under her hoodie, staring at Josie.

“ maybe if you turn to God instead “ tyler started her sentence, already sitting up in her chair more for a clearer voice.

“shut the fuck up, joseph. don’t force your religion on me.” Josie snapped at Tyler and shook her head for what seemed to be the millionth time that class period. Her hand went down to mess with her fishnets as they made a small tearing sound.

Tyler felt a small sense of guilt flare up in her chest and instantly, her mind was screaming at her to apologise. But she stayed silent.

She turned her head to stare at Josie silently, slowly looking the girl up and down. She wasn’t trying to be a creep.

The first period bell rang and Josie immediately fled the classroom. She walked to her next class, Health and Physical Education. She changed into her gym uniform and sat on the bleachers as she waited for the teacher.

Tyler herself finally walked out of the changing rooms, wearing the same uniform but with her schools basketball hoodie ontop of it.

She glanced around the hall before making her way up to the bleachers aswell, sitting on the same bench as Josie but a decent bit apart from her. Tyler tapped her foot, staring at the changing room door.

Josie sighed and leaned her head against the bench behind her with a soft thump. She put a hand over her eyes and took a deep breath.

Tyler glanced at the sound of the thump, her gaze tracing the girls side profile, mostly getting stuck on her nose, before tearing her eyes away incase she got caught by Josie.

Josie sat like that for a few moments before sitting back up and rubbing her face, her eyes were droopy. clearly she hadn’t gotten much sleep.

Tyler bit the inside of her cheek, ignoring the moving from her peripheral vision, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees as she waited for the gym teacher.

“dude what the fuck is the god forsaken teacher?

swear to god i’m gonna fall asleep if he doesn’t show up soon.” Josie spoke in an angried tone and shook her head angrily. Of course today, of all days is the one where the gym teacher of all teachers is late. Josie didn’t know how much longer she could keep up.

Tyler glanced around the two of them, seeing if there was anyone else that Josie could’ve been talking to except for herself before she spoke up. “ not too sure, maybe if you kept your voice down they’ll be here faster. “

“ew that was the most middle school response ever. grow up, Joseph.” Josie shook her head and closed her eyes again. she crossed her arms and leaned further into the bleachers.

Tyler squinted her eyes at the girl, leaning her chin on her hand so that she could look at Josie. “ I’d like to say it was a pretty good response, who said I needed to grow up? “

“i did? you’re being annoying..” Josie scoffed and looked at Tyler with sleepy eyes. As if on cue to end the discussion the gym teacher and finally walked in and rounded up all the students so they were sitting on the bleachers.

Tyler didn’t take her eyes of Josie, observing the way the girl was leaning against the bleachers. She shuffled over a bit, getting closer so that she could whisper, “ you’re going to get in trouble if you fall asleep. “

“don’t care.” Josie sighed, clearly tired of Tyler already. She sat up and crossed her legs to atleast make it look like she wasn’t tired.

Tyler didn’t have anything else to say to the girl but her mind kept telling her to talk to her. “ uh, where are your rings from? “ she said, pointing at Josies finger as she chewed the inside of her cheek.

“uhh hot topic and goodwill.” Josie looked Tyler and stuck her hands out for Tyler to see the rings better. There was one specific one, on her pointer finger. It was a sliver skeleton hand wrapped around her finger.

Josie withdrew her hands and crossed her arms again. “i have an extra skeleton hand if you want it, doubting you would though.”

Tyler blinked slowly for a second, processing the words. “ yeh, I wouldn’t mind, if you really want to. “ she bit the inside of her cheek again, stopping a smile from appearing on her face.

She felt weird, like her stomach was doing flips, her face heating up. The only time tyler had ever felt like this was when she saw her boyfriend for the first time. Was she sick again?

“Oh shit actually? i’ll give it to you after class, i think if i go back to the locker rooms Mr. Wilkins will scream at me and i don’t wanna deal with his bullshit.” Josie chuckled lightly and smiled, it was a more genuine smile then the ones before.

Tyler nodded, giving Josie her own smile before adverting her gaze to her lap, hiding another large grin. She felt as if she was going to throw up, but in a pleasurable way.

Gym class soon came to an end, Tyler was waiting for Josie near a changing stall in the locker room. Josie walked back in how fishnets and panic! at the disco shirt. She smiled and dug through her bag as she looked for the ring. “fuck sorry one second. i can’t find it.”

Tyler shook her head softly, watching as Josie searched through her bag. “ its okay. I can always wait until tomorrow. “

her gaze was sharp on the girls outfit, staring at it and glancing down at herself, comparing their styles differently. It wasn’t that she was jealous of Josies outfit, more like she liked the difference.

“ugh finally! here you go dude.” Josie pulled her hand out of the bag and handed the ring to Tyler. They’re hands brushed against each other for a second and this action seemed to make Tyler go beat red.

It took a second for her to actually take the ring but when her body rebooted, she slipped it onto her ring finger, flipping her hand to look at the ring on her hand, admiring it.

“ it’s really pretty. “ tyler said, the ring didn’t really suit her outfit but she didn’t care.

“yeah like you.” Josie smiled and nodded at Tyler before slinging her bag over her shoulder and staring to walk. She walked out of the locker rooms to the gym floor and sat on the bleachers till the bell rang.

Tylers face erupted into red again, her jaw dropping open as her chest flared up with a nagging feeling.

“ what the fuck? “ she mumbled to herself, pressing her palm to her chest and rubbing it, trying to soothe the feeling. Tyler turned her head as the bell rang, grabbing her own bag and stepping out of the locker room, watching Josie leave the gym.

The school day was fairly boring after the interaction, Josie had her best friend Hayley pick her up and the two girls decided it was be fun to go to the mall. Hayley pulled up to the building and parked her car before slamming her door shut and waiting for Josie. Josie grabbed her backpack and threw it on before following Hayley inside.

Tyler sighed as she was sat in a subway, her head leaned against the wall as she waited for David to come with the food. He brought her to subway for their one year anniversary. Subway. How inconsiderate could he be?

Josie walked into hot topic while speaking with Hayley. “Dude she is such an asshat. she was forcing jesus on me and was super judgmental. Shes pretty but she’s snobby and rude.” She rambled on as she mindlessly looked through the shirts and studded belts.

“Jo, you do realize that you’ve talked about her the whole time here? i think your overthinking it, just a little. And if she’s so ‘snobby and rude’ why do you talk to her?” Hayley said while holding up a 3ho!3 shirt.

“she talked to me first!” josie nodded and gestured to the shirt. The girl went up to pay, josie got a new my chemical romance shirt and a new set of fishnets while hayley got the 3ho!3 shirt and some bracelets. “$56.19” The cashier said with a boring tone. Hayley paid and the two walked to the food court.

Tyler forced a smile on her face as David sat down infront of her, setting her 6 inch down. “ thanks. “ she muttered, not feeling anything for her boyfriend. She can’t remember when her body stopped feeling warm when she saw David, or when she stopped grinning from ear to ear when he messaged her.

She unwrapped the sandwich, slowly taking a bite as she stared at the ring on her right hand.

She didn’t understand what she felt when she caught sight of the girl who gave it to her. Tyler didn’t feel normal, she felt sick to her stomach. But not in a bad way.

Tyler sighed, shuffling so that she was a bit closer to the wall as she stared at David, waiting for him to say anything, even a ‘happy anniversary’, but it never came.

Josie and Hayley sat down in a seat next to some couple, still talking about Tyler and how much she pissed Josie off. “and she would not stop staring at me! and the comment about my parents? uhh i should’ve punched h-“

“jo! stop!” Hayley pushed Josie’s shoulder and pointed to the couple next to them.

Tyler was still leaning her head against the wall, taking bites of her subway occasionally as David started talking about how he was going to a party later today. “ thats nice. “ she sighed.

Her eyes caught movement from the side and she moved her head a bit, looking to see what it was. She made eye contact with a girl she had see before in school and, something that was a surprise for her, Josie.

As if clockwork Josie and Hayley’s food from mcdonald’s came over, Josie nodded towards the employee and grabbed the tray. She looked at hayley and made a small ‘shoot me’ motion. Hayley laughed and shook her head while taking a bite out of her fries.

Tyler kept her eyes trained on Josie, she physically couldn’t take them away. Shes starting to think the emo is some type of witch and tyler’s under her spell. She was basically ignoring David at this point,

Josie are her food while she made short conversation which hayley. after awhile she realized Tyler was staring at her so she turn and spoke. “hey joseph, if you find me hot just say so. no need to stare.”

“ I do not find you hot! “ she basically squeaked out, fist clenching on the bottom of the plastic seats.

Tylers ears and cheeks were dusted pink in embarrassment, her head instantly whipping around to seeing if her boyfriend heard Josie.

The boy was mindlessly scrolling through his phone, not paying attention to the outside world. Josie smirked and looked at Hayley. “see Hayley, that’s what i mean! she likes to stare!”

Hayley shook her head and ate more of her food, not really wanting to get involved with the situation.

Tyler kept glancing between her own boyfriend and Josie, everytime her eyes caught Josies, a warm feeling erupted in her gut like a volcano.

Her right thumb was playing with the matching ring she had on her ring finger without even realising it, her own mind wanting her body to remember Josie.

Josie stood, as did hayley. They took their tray of food to the tray return before Josie came back to the table and grabbed the hot topic bag and her backpack. Josie shot tyler a wink before she walked off with hayley.

Tylers cheeks literally blew up red, her hands going from the chair to her thighs, fingers gripping onto the denim for dear life.

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.

Chapter Text

Tyler yawned as she got changed into get basketball uniform, sluggish because it was early. She slipped the shirt on, putting her shoes on before leaving the changing rooms to go join her other team mates.

She walked over, sitting down on the bleachers with them as she listened to them talk. Tyler heard her own name being said before she turned her head, staring at them.

They were already looking at her, waiting for her to answer their question. They weren’t particularly friends but they did talk occasionally, they were civil.

“ sorry, what did you say? “ tyler squinted at them.

Kaylee, the main girl in the trio, spoke up. “ we want to know if your still with David. “

“ yeah I am. “ she sighed, turning her head away.

“ did everyone else just decide not to come to practice? Can we go walk around the halls, I don’t think coach is coming. “ the middle girl, Megan, drawled on, staring at the gym door.

It was silent for a few seconds before they all agreed, standing up and making their way to the hallway and walking down them.

They ended up making their way to the cafeteria, which had breakfast club on so a few tables had people on them, but not many.

Josie was one of the few members there, she was conversing with a girl who had bright green hair and was wearing a pink shirt. she looked up from the conversation and saw tyler, she gave a soft wave before smiling softly.

Tyler was about to raise her hand to wave back but was interrupted by Kaylee scoffing at the appearance of the two girls, already walking up to their table with Megan to say something.

“ are you trying to look like that? You look like a drug dealer. “ Kaylee said in a snappy town, a smug look on her face as she stared down the two girls.

“excuse me?” Josie spoke, her tone confused as the comment come from nowhere. She looked at the girls infront of her and her face was suddenly full of angst.

“ you heard me. “ Kaylee raised her brow, putting her hands on her hips. Tyler stared between the two of them, her eyes slightly wide. She didn’t know what to do.

“what do you want, Kaylee?” Josie clenched her hands and stood from the seat she had been sitting in. the girl who she had been talking to stayed quiet, fearing that if she spoke she’d get beaten to the ground.

Kaylee rolled her eyes, Megan coming to stand beside her incase anything went south. “ I just want to know why you guys dress like that, you look like you slit your wrists. “ she said simply, blowing a bubble of her gum.

“and so what if we do? you gonna do something about it?” Josie took a step closer to kaylee and spoke in a rude tone.

She just laughed, glancing at Megan to make sure she was backing her up. “ haha. Very funny, I’m so scared. “

The emo scoffed and shook her head. “kaylee just shut up. i don’t know why you care about how we’re dressed, you must be jealous or something.” She looked at the girl she was previously talking to before looking back at the athletes.

“ jealous of what, your greasy hair? You need to get a shower. “ Kaylee scowled, getting a bit annoyed that Josie kept speaking back to her.

Tyler stood off to the side, biting her nail as she watched it happen, worry flooding through her.

“jesus, you’re not all that kaylee. you never have been. you’re just a bitchy basketball player who thinks that they’re popular. trust me, no one really cares about you or what you do.” Josie snapped, her tone sharp and mean. She squeezed her hands shut and looked at her rings.

Kaylee’s eyes narrowed and she turned to tyler instead, not in the mood to reply since she didnt even know what to say. “ you say something. “ Kaylee snapped to tyler.

Tyler glanced between then again, picking at the skin around her nails as she stared. “ uh.. Do i have to? “ she said awkwardly.

“ you know how easy it is to spread rumours, tyler. “ kaylee spoke, an edge to her tone.

Tyler bit her lip, making eye contact with Josie before speaking. “ your parents must hate you if you walk around looking like that.. When was the last time you got a hug from one of them? “

she looked down, not wanting to see Josie angry at her even though they just became friends.

“tyler.. come on.” Josie’s voice sounded hurt, yes tyler didn’t know the history between Josie’s parents and her but still the comment hurt coming from the girl who gave her butterflies.

“you don’t have to play into their bitter attitudes.” she spoke, her tone a little angrier as she looked at kaylee and megan. The two girl infront of her giving not so kind looks.

Tyler stiffened up at bit, understanding that if she sides with Josie, she couke basically be bullied off the team. “ i think i can tell why your a lesbian, clearly no man would ever want someone who looks like you. “ tyler shot back even though Josie didnt insult her.

“wow. thanks, i thought we were cool.” Josie shook her head and looked at her rings again, this wouldn’t be a bad time to just punch one of the girls, but her parents would be pissed if she did.

Tyler faked a scoff, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. “ you thought I actually liked hanging out with you? Catch a grip. “

“i’m the one who needs to catch a grip? rich coming from the girl who had me walk her home last night.” Josie could that Tyler’s actions were fake but they still hurt. She had a pained expression on her face and sat down next to the girl with green hair again. She didn’t speak this time though, she just sat there.

Tyler squinted her eyes, shifting her posture so that she was standing up straighter as she watched Josie sit down. “ I literally could’ve walked myself, but you offered. You’re acting as if I’m helpless but

atleast I don’t like women. “ she spoke harshly.

“you make it sound like that an insult, oh and you’re the one said yes. don’t forget that.” Josie shot back is a tone just as harsh as Tyler’s. She chuckled but it was a dry, bitter chuckle.

Tyler clenched her fists, her mood slowly dampening. She didn’t want to argue with Josie but she was being fueled up. “ atleast I can actually keep a relationship. “ tyler shot back.

Josie stood again and grabbed her bag. she slung it over her shoulder and pushed by the other two girl and stood infront of Tyler. “jesus Tyler! you and your boyfriend have more problems than any relationship in our school! you guys had a anniversary dinner at subway, you can not be talking!” She pushed tyler back a bit and huffed.

Tyler stumbled, letting out a small huff before standing back up straight, steadying herself. “ that doesn’t prove anything, my relationship has literally been going on for over a year. Seriously, when was the last time one of your relationships lasted for even a month? “ she scoffed, crossing her arms.

“i’m pretty sure that none of your goddamn business. you’re a bitch tyler, you always have been.” Josie shot back in a harsh manner, she looked at Tyler and all the enjoyment she had once had when she looked at her was gone. she really hated tyler now, no doubt about it.

“ how am i a bitch, Josie? You don’t know me. “ tyler said firmly, ignoring the ugly feeling crawling its way up from her stomach and out through her mouth. She felt like she was going to throw up.

“no, you don’t get to pull the ‘you don’t know me’ card. You’re the state champion in basketball, you’re dating the football captain, you are a popular, snarky, arrogant, athlete. of course i know you, everyone knows you.” Josie spat back, her hands were shaking. her picked at her fishnets and shook her head before simply walking away before the situation got out of hand.

Tyler watched her go, not even trying to object to her words. Was that really what Josie thought about her?

She sighed softly, turning around to face the other three girls as they also walked off, clearly pissed off. Tyler felt a sticky feeling in her chest, almost like a pain. She wanted to go home.

As soon as tyler got home, she didn’t even waste time taking her clothes off, instantly whipping her phone out of her pocket and texting Josie. Was it maybe a lost cause? She wasn’t sure but for some reason, she didn’t want to let the girl go.

neonflyridetyler: sorry for earlier.

Tyler bit her lip as she watched the text go through, a feeling of nervousness settling in her chest, melting its way into her stomach.

when josie got the notification from tyler she rolled her eyes and replied. she was pissed that tyler even had the nerve to text her after what she had said earlier.

demolitionjosie: bro don’t try that bullshit. don’t act all buddy-buddy with me then be a total asshat the next minute. fuck off.

Josie flopped on to her bed and texted hayley to let her know that she that she wasn’t gonna be at school. she only went for breakfast club because her mom was passed out and wouldn’t make or even try to provide food.

Tyler groaned as she got the notification. She knew she had messed up but she didn’t think this is what she deserved. They were friends, weren’t they?

neonflyridetyler: josie cmon im sorry??? I wouldn’t have said any of it if my teammates werent around.

demolitionjosie: you shouldnt have said it if they were around or not?

neonflyridetyler: josie I’m sorry, please.

neonflyridetyler: I’ll do anything.

Tyler didn’t even understand where she was pulling these words from, he’ll, she wouldn’t have begged her own boyfriend like this. Why was she begging some random girl she’s only known for a few days?

Pathetic. This was so truly pathetic to Josie because the Tyler she knew would make rude comments about her no matter what, pathetic because Tyler was funny, and pretty, and sporty, and Josie loved that about her and Josie hated that she loved it more than anything.

She didn’t reply to Tyler, just opened the message then started scrolling through tiktok till she fell back asleep while laying in her bed. Hayley came and picked up  Josie’s siblings and took them to mcdonald’s Josie loved that about Hayley, she was always kind.

neonflyridetyler: josie?

neonflyridetyler: jo??

neonflyridetyler: hello?

neonflyridetyler: i said i was sorry

neonflyridetyler: please Josie

neonflyridetyler: are you ignoring me?

neonflyridetyler: hello??

neonflyridetyler: I think I’m going to go to bed

neonflyridetyler: goodnight Josie

Obviously tyler knew she was being a bit needy with the spamming, biting her nails as she turned her phone off and set it down. She didn’t understand why she was acting like this over a girl. She’s being annoying, she’s never like that.