The One I'm Not (Twenty One Pilots)

To Become Best Friends

Remember what Tyler said?

About pulling the steering wheel?

You could do that too.

Josh's dark voice was enjoying the effect the energy drink had on him.

Oh, you passed that pole.

That would of been perfect.

No one cares about you.

Josh was about to fight back when he saw a car ahead of him pulled over to the side. As he got closer he realized it was Tyler's car. Josh pulled over to the side and walked up to the passenger side and knocked on the car window.

"Tyler?"

No response. It looked like he was crying.

"Tyler?!"

He tried opening the door but it was locked.

"Tyler, come on! Open up!"  

He saw Tyler turn his head to him slowly. His eyes were so red, it was scary almost. 

"Go away, Josh." Tyler said in a defeated tone.

"No! Tyler, let me help you!" Josh said as his voice cracked.

Tyler turned back to the steering wheel then unlocked the car. Josh got in and sat in the passenger's seat. Tyler noticed how Blurryface wasn't there anymore; it was just Josh.

"Why'd you pull over?" Josh asked.

"Why'd you?"

"Tyler, I'm here to help you. Please just let me do that."

Tyler broke, "What's the point!? No one cares about me! I feel like I'm in this all alone! I've been fighting for so long, Josh! I'm just... I'm just done."

"Tyler, you're not alone. I know exactly how you-"

"No, you don't! That's the thing! You don't know how I feel! Do you know what it's like to want to die everyday? Do you know how hard it is to live with these thoughts? Do..."

Tyler was hesitant.

"Do you know how sick it is to feel so sad and depressed that you just take it out on yourself? Do you know how it feels to have this dark, deep demanding voice always overpowering you? Telling you that you're worthless? Making you do horrible things to yourself?!"

Tyler looked down as he ran his hand over his left arm.

Josh was shocked but knew exactly how Tyler felt.

"Yes, I do actually! Tyler, I know exactly how sick that is! I've done it myself! Do you know why I've only been wearing long-sleeve shirts or sweaters ever since we've met!? I'm hiding it, Tyler! Before I left for college I had a total mental breakdown at 4 o'clock in the morning and relapsed after the whole summer clean! Do you know how it felt to break that record?! I felt so worthless and stupid!"

Josh pulled up his sleeves and showed his arms to Tyler. There were cuts and scars not as faded at Tyler's.

"You're not alone in this! I have a Blurry of my own! I just haven't named him!"

It went silent for a while as the two soaked in everything they just admitted.

Josh continued, "Tyler, this is a messed up battle, but you're not alone. I'm here and I'm going through the same situation... but the thing is, ever since I've met you, I've been better. I've actually wanted to stay alive. I wanted to see what our friendship would bring us and I can't find that out unless you're here too."

Tyler thought about it. It's true. Ever since Josh and him became friends and started creating music together, Blurryface wasn't such a difficult, constant struggle.

"Thank you, Josh. I, I want to stay alive. This friendship has helped me too. I guess it helps to know you're not alone, huh?"

"Yes, it does. It really does."

Josh pulled the present out of his jacket.

"Here."

"What is it?"

"Open it up."

Tyler opened it up to reveal the Ohio journal.

"It's a journal." Tyler said looking at it.

"I saw how your old one was getting pretty beat up, so I got you this new one. I was gonna wait until your birthday, but now seemed like a better time."

"Josh, thank you." 

Tyler then brought Josh into a hug.

"You're not alone, okay?"

"I know now, and you're not alone either."

They broke from the hug and Tyler looked at the journal.

"Turn it around."

Tyler turned the journal around to reveal the three lines. 

|-/

"Why'd you draw that there?"

"I figured since we both liked it and since we probably have our own meanings for it, it'd inspire you when you can't figure out what to write. I was also thinking how maybe it could also be own logo. For the band, you know?"

"That's, that's perfect! Josh, thank you so much."

"Tyler, thank you. For staying alive and for being my best friend."

"Same to you. If we are ever famous for our band one day, I hope we're more famous for our friendship than our music."  

"Me too, bro."

Friendship means a lot when fighting battles. Whether physically or mentally and Josh and Tyler were happy to have such a great person as their best friend to fight those battles by their side.