static [joshler]

confront

"Bingo."

Josh stomped up the stairs. He walked right in to Tyler's room and set his board next to Tyler's closet. He then started taking off his backpack, shoes, and coat.

"Make yourself at home." Tyler mumbled into the pillow..

"If you say so." Josh ripped off his socks.

"Ew. Who takes their socks off at someone's house? And why did you wear a full-on coat here?"

"Its cold outside."

"Its May."

"Its all misty out. Probably gonna rain or something. Do you not look out your windows?"

"No. Wait, why did you skate here if its gonna rain?"

"My dad is fixing my car. It didn't start last night."

"Don't you have like a new car?"

"Yeah but they can still break, Ty."

"What did you do to it?"

"No idea." Josh clapped and rubbed his hands together. "Alright. I'mma get started on that list."

"Apparently I can't stop you."

"Oh, right." Josh took a step backwards and dug in his backpack, pulling out his phone. He set it by Tyler. "This is for you."

Tyler lifted his head and knitted his eyebrows. "What?"

"You can borrow my phone."

"Why?"

"I'm sure you're bored. Have at it. Play a game, watch YouTube, google random shiz. Just relax, my guy."

He slowly picked up the phone. It made an unlocking sound as he turn it on. Tyler squinted at the bright screen. "Thanks, I guess."

"No prob."

Tyler watched Josh leave the room. He rolled to his side and looked at the phone. The first thing he did was turn the brightness down. Then he tried to find a game to play but got bored of them really quick. He clicked on Josh's gallery out of curiosity. It was mostly random selfies of his youngest sibling, Abbi. It seemed like she stole his phone and spammed it with pictures. There was only a few selfies from Josh himself. Tyler found a lot of artsy photos of the outdoors or just random objects around his house. There was even some pictures of a drumset from a store. Josh snapped a picture of the price too. Tyler assumed he wanted it.

He closed out of that and went to his contacts. Tyler froze over one named Jenna Black. He thought if he should try and talk to her. What if she hated him?

Tyler sighed and clicked on the messages. He sent two to her.

josh from work:
hey
this is tyler

He stared at them for awhile. When it never said she read it he gave up. He sighed and turned the phone off completely. He would just have to wait.

The world went dark as he closed his eyes. A cough erupted and his mind wondered off. What if Jenna doesn't want to talk? Josh said she seemed excited to but it has been days and days since then. Maybe she forgot.

It wasn't until an hour later that he got a reply.

Jenna Black:
NOO WAYY
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ??
I'VE BEEN TEXTING YOU

Tyler's eyes widened. He replied with;

josh from work:
i got my phone taken away. didn't josh tell you that??

Jenna Black:
NO??
oh i haven't worked w him in a few days. the schedule got changed

josh from work:
that explains it

Jenna Black:
ANYWAYS
I CAN'T BELIEVE IM TALKING TO YOU

josh from work:
its through texting but yeah this is so weird
i haven't seen you in months

He watched the bubbles appear and disappear. Until finally something else happened. There was an incoming call.

Tyler cleared his throat. "Black?"

"Joseph! We have so much to catch up on!"

"Yeah." He sniffed.

"Listen, I want to apologize first. I know I disappeared suddenly. It was a shitty move, I'm aware. You have permission to hate me." She rushed out in one breath.

"Not gonna lie I was kinda pissed but if this story is good I'll forgive you."

Jenna laughed sadly. "Okay, okay. Fuck, I missed your voice."

"Dude, I've got a cold or some shit. I sound like garbage. Yours is way better."

"No it isn't... Is the... you know, progressing?"

"Yeah."

"I'm so sorry."

"Its whatever. What's the story?"

"Okay, anyways. It all started when I got home from the skatepark. The cops were searching the apartment next to mine. Debby said they were looking for drugs because some kid we were selling to got caught and told them what block we lived on. So we packed our shit and left town. Make fun of me all you want but I rather not spend time in jail. Anyways, I lost my phone and had to get a new one, including a new number. That's why I didn't call you. I went to Texas with Debby. Her grandma was sick. We were so busy with that, that time got away from me. Soon it was months that we lived there for. Long story short she sadly died. That only reminded me of you. I fucking left you after all you've been through. Tyler, I love you. I was selfish. I didn't tell you anything. I'm a terrible friend."

"Jenna, I love you too. I assumed there was a good reason behind it. And hey, look, I'm still kicking. I've got Josh. He's a great guy. You wanna know what he's doing right now?"

"What's that?"

"He's literally cleaning my house for me. To make this short as possible because you already know the details about my family situation, it got worse. My father found out I stole his car and now he's making me his little slave for everything. I have chores to do. It doesn't seem that bad and I told Josh that but he saw right through that lie. I don't know if my body can actually take this for much longer. My Dad hits me now and-"

"Shut up, and you are putting up with this? Fuck me for leaving you. You needed me and I left. What kind of friend am I?"

"I stayed over at Josh's house a couple times. Its fine though."

"You can come over to my house too. Whenever you want."

"Where do you live?"

"Downtown. I can send you the address later."

"Okay. One question, aren't the cops still on your tail?"

"Oh we found out that they found someone else with drugs in their apartment and accused them. They only got a few months then they went on parole. I'm sure they're fine. Me and Debby are cutting off from the the dealing business anyway. Since the job. Debby's trying to apply at the bank. I heard you can get some big cash there. As for the extra we have from dealing we are only using that money as an emergency fund now."

"Damn. I wish my life was that exciting."

"I wouldn't call it that but its very eventful."

"The most eventful thing I did in the past 2 months was pass out after a tickle fight with Josh."

"I have no idea whether to laugh at that or cry."

"Me either."

She sighed. "So how are you? How bad is it?"

"I haven't been back to the doctor. So I obviously don't know for sure but yeah. I'm worse. Hell, I can barely walk up the stairs on my own anymore."

"Tyler... That's terrible. I'm sorry."

"Stop with the pity train. How about this, I'll forget about you leaving if you don't do the 'I'm so sorry' shit. 'Ight?"

"Deal. You just gotta keep me posted on what's going on with you though. Yeah?"

"Yeah. Alright."