Chapter Text
The weather in Columbus was finally starting to actually feel nice. It was the first weekend in May. Tyler was back to riding his bike to work. He usually does a double shift at the mall, an open and a close, but Jenna gave him the morning off. It was a pretty bleak morning, gray skies on a rainy Saturday. Tyler prefers to work a lot so he's not left alone with his thoughts. The rain had stopped by the time Tyler left for work, outside smelled like wet cement and mud, a smell that takes Tyler back in time to the good old days. Tears started to well up in his eyes and the lines on the road went blurry, why couldn't Jenna just give him a double?
The mall was busy when Tyler got there, teenagers hanging out with their friends, parents wrangling their kids. Tyler pushed past a group of teenagers as he was walking up to Claire’s, why do they always stand in massive groups? He doesn't remember ever being like that, was he? He got to the punch clock and swiped his card.
“Hey Tyler! How was your morning?” Jenna was always so peppy even when she wasn't dealing with the guests. It's what made them perfect friends. She was always so happy and smiling, and he was the complete opposite, although you would never tell. Tyler was so good at masking how he felt, but Jenna knew when he was faking it. She always knows, even when they were little kids.
“It was fine. Slept mostly.” Tyler lied, hopefully Jen didn't catch it. “How was the morning here? Was it busy?” he had asked her.
“Oh you know it's Saturday. In the middle of prom season and graduation season is coming up. So many kids and parents are coming in! I wish I would have actually scheduled you to come in. I could have used you, but you needed the sleep Ty. Really, I'm glad you got some!”
Jenna always tried to be helpful and caring, but it did not always help. He loved her though, he really did. But not the way that his parents wanted. She would've been the perfect girlfriend. Kind, caring, compassionate. She went to his church, his parents loved her, so why couldn't he? It's not like they didn't try it out. They did, but it didn't work, she just was not his type. To be honest Tyler isn't even sure that he is Jenna's type.
“Anyway, today could you run the registers? I'll do the stock and organize the shelves, mmkay?” Jenna hummed as she was rearranging the earrings stand. “Yeah sure no problem Jen” Tyler said as he looked up and smiled at her. He had only been working for about an hour when he glanced across the mall floor into Spencers, he never really understood what that store was even about. They sell the most random stuff there. He rarely goes in there, however when he does, it is usually to buy a gag gift for birthdays or Christmas. Usually for Mark if he pulls his name for secret Santa. But he doesn't ever dare to go to the back of the store. It makes him anxious, why should he have to look at it?
As he is staring off into space dissociating, he notices someone new in Spencer's window rearranging the mannequins. This man appears to be the same height as Tyler but the yellow mohawk gives him more height. He's wearing red vans, with baggy gym shorts and a silly graphic tee he probably got from Spencer's. When the boy turned around, Tyler could see that he had round boba eyes, some tattoos sprinkled up his forearm, and a lip ring piercing the middle of his lips that had the biggest smile on the planet earth, Tyler swears by it.
“Hey Jen? Who is that? Is he new, I've never seen him before?” Tyler asked her quizzically. “Yeah he just started yesterday. Auttie was telling me that he's just finished college and was looking for a job, he looks like he fits in there doesn't he Ty?” Jenna laughed “you should talk to him, you need more friends Tyler, I'm only telling-”
“Telling me because you care, I know Jenna i knowwww okay?” Tyler dragged out a laugh. There is something about this boy that makes Tyler feel nervous, like the room was getting smaller and someone had turned up the heat. Why did it feel so hot? He didn’t realize he lost track of time, or how long he was staring at him. Tyler quickly turned around and asked “Hey Jenna, it's not that busy can I go on my break now?”
Before Jenna could answer Tyler was already clocking out. “Uhm sure, are you okay Ty?” worry filled Jenna's face as she watched him head out the front of the store. “Yeah fine! Slept all day just really hungry! See you in 30!” Tyler shouted back at her as he pulled his sweater on. Tyler rushed out of the store with his head down, looking at his phone to avoid any eye contact with him. Why was Tyler even still thinking about him? He needed to get his mind off it. Without paying attention to his surroundings Tyler slammed into someone, “Hey watch where your-” Tyler stopped dead in his tracks as he turned around and saw the man with the bright yellow mohawk.
“Hey! My name is Josh. I work across from you at Spencers! Nice to meet you!!” Josh had a big smile plastered across his face. Tyler nervously swallowed as he stared into this boy's eyes. God josh had those eyes that you could get lost in for hours. Of course his voice sounded perfect as well. What else about him isn't? “Uhh Tyler.. Nice to meet you man, I guess I'll see you around!” Tyler quickly turned around and booked it out of there, making a beeline towards the Taco Bell. He just has to make it through the rest of the night without thinking about him. He will have to pray harder at church in the morning. Maybe he will stay there the whole day, as Sundays is usually his day off.