until i'm nothing

tethered by timing (let it undo)

They had only just pulled out of the laundromat parking lot as Tyler said, clicking his seatbelt in, "So. You're not going back to Ohio."

Josh's stomach flipped, remembering their argument. He started the car. "I thought we already discussed this."

"We did," Tyler said quickly. He was watching Josh, scanning his reaction. "We have. I just think there's more to be said."

Josh hummed in acknowledgment. Tyler's tone suggested that he wasn't looking for another argument, but Josh didn't want to talk about this again.

"Like, what's your plan?"

"Plan?" Josh asked weakly. He suddenly felt self-conscious, like anything he said would be a wrong turn.

Tyler raised his eyebrows in the corner of Josh's vision. "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you haven't even thought about it."

Josh swallowed, his right hand gripping the steering wheel, left elbow propped on the side of the door, staring straight forward. He honestly had no idea where he'd be right now if Tyler hadn't picked him up on the side of the road back in Ohio. He didn't have a car of his own, and even if he did, he didn't know if he would've been able to take travelling alone. He wasn't prepared for Tyler to have such an impact, not only on him, but on his future.

Josh realized that, someday soon, they would inevitably have to part ways. Tyler had to go back, and Josh couldn't go back. They'll probably never see each other again. Considering he'd only known Tyler for a few days, that idea hurt a lot more than it should.

"You really have no plan?" Tyler said. "Wow, maybe you're more spontaneous than I thought."

Josh rolled his eyes. "I just left, okay? I wasn't thinking about the future, or my destination, I just wanted to... get out."

Tyler looked away. "Well, maybe it's time to plan something."

"Now? Really?"

In the corner of Josh's eye, Tyler shrugged. "No time like the present. So, what are you good at?" Josh snorted, but Tyler urged, "Come on, play along."

It took him a moment. What was he good at? Nothing, really. Nothing important. Nothing that could make him a living. Except...

"Cars," he answered confidently. "I'm good at cars."

"Alright," Tyler said, sounding slightly disappointed. "And what do you like to do?"

This one was even more stumping than the previous question. He liked... God, he'd spent so much time stacking up the reasons why he hated his life in Ohio that he couldn't think of one thing he genuinely enjoyed doing.

"I like skateboarding," he said. "Load of help that is. And... I like... uh...." He shook his head. There had to be more. There had to be.

"What about drums?" Tyler asked, and his voice was hushed as if he was talking about something forbidden, as if he knew what Josh's response would be.

"What?" Josh said, nearly laughing. "What are you-- I've literally sat behind a drum set once, and it was only because you practically begged me to."

"And you looked so alive," Tyler said, but Josh shrugged the comment off with an exasperated sigh. "You loved it. I know you did."

"I didn't," Josh said, his voice far too defiant. But he really didn't love it. He didn't. "I didn't, okay? It was just... it was weird. I didn't love it."

Tyler sat back in his seat. "Imagine how sick that would be. A drummer with purple hair."

At this, Josh grinned reluctantly and swung his head to finally face Tyler, who was wearing a stupid grin of his own.

"I'm just saying. You should consider all options."

"I know nothing about music. At all. I'd hardly consider that an option."

Tyler raised his hands in defeat. "Whatever you say. Where do you want to live?"

This was something Josh had pondered previously. "I don't know. I've thought about going to LA."

At this, Tyler burst out laughing.

Josh sighed again. "What's wrong with LA?"

"Nothing," Tyler said, as soon as he could. "Nothing, it's just... well, it's LA, isn't it? What's in LA for you?"

"The weather's nice," Josh said. "All year." He didn't say what he meant: that LA was the opposite of Ohio in practically every way possible. "Don't have to deal with the horrible winters of the midwest."

"Fair enough," Tyler said. "So, LA and cars. That's what we've got so far." He paused. "And possibly drums."

Josh gave him a look that was supposed to say very funny but instead, it only made Tyler laugh again.

~~~~~~~

A/N it's actually embarrassing how happy my own fic makes me bye