I'm No Good Without You (Tyler Joseph x Reader)

The next morning, Tyler went to Josh's house and took him somewhere, and I went to Taylor's to take her to the mall. We got on our bikes and headed off to the mall. Once we arrived we, naturally, made our way towards Hot Topic. "So, Taylor," I decided not to waste any time, "when are you going to tell Josh you like him?"

She looked surprised. "W-what do you mean?" Taylor tried to act like she had no idea what I was talking about.

"Oh, come on. It's no secret that you and Josh like each other. You should just tell him." I nudged her shoulder.

"No, what if he doesn't like me back? I don't want to make a fool of myself." She blushed and started fidgeting with her phone.

"He does like you back though! It's so obvious! The way he ran up to you yesterday and just scooped you into his arms, he wouldn't have done that if he didn't like you." She waved the comment aside.

"No, that doesn't mean anything. Let's just go in the damn store." She tried to get me to go in Hot Topic, but I wouldn't budge until she agreed to tell Josh she liked him.

"Not until you say you will tell. You have to promise that you will."

"But what if I just don't like him, huh? You ever think of that?" She tried defending herself but I knew her too well.

"Oh, shut the hell up. You know you do."

"Whatever, I'm still not telling him." She went into the store. As I was thinking of ways to get her to budge, I saw Tyler, across the mall, walking with Josh. Of COURSE we came to the same place. I decided to use the little hiccup to my advantage. I discretely got Tyler's attention, and his eyes widened. We really should've planned this better. He held up one finger to signal for me to wait. Then he began talking to Josh again. It looked like they were arguing about something. Eventually, Josh threw his arms up in defeat. Tyler then gave me a thumbs-up. I pulled Taylor out of Hot Topic.

"Oh look who it is." I gestured at Josh and Tyler. "Now either you are telling him or I won't give you this $50 to spend." I held out the 50 dollar bill I had for her to buy whatever with.

"How did you get $50?" She looked amazed at the large amount of money.

"I have my ways." My ways were taking it from Rayna's purse, then paying her back when I could. Don't give me that look, it was for a good cause. "You have 3 seconds to get over there or lose this. One. Tw-"

"Okay! I'll go!" I knew money would convince her. She snatched the money out of my hand and stomped over to the boys. I quickly followed. "Hey, Josh. I was waiting for a better time to tell you this, but fuck it. I really, really like you." Her face turned a shade of red one might think impossible for human skin.

Josh's eyes widened, and his Jaw dropped. "Well, in that case, would you like to go to homecoming with me?"

"I would love to." How casual their exchange was baffled Tyler and I. I turned to face Tyler.

"Well I would call this a success. Would you?"

"Indeed I would."

Taylor and Josh both looked confused. "Did you douche-waffles set this up?" Taylor insulted and asked us.

"We refuse to answer any questions without our lawyers present!" Tyler grabbed my hand and pulled me into the, as always, cramped Hot Topic. Taylor and Josh followed us in. Taylor was drawn to this Panic! at the Disco hoodie.

"I need it!" She quickly checked the price tag, frowned and turned away. "Damn. Next time, I suppose." She grabbed a few shirts, bracelets, and pins and seemed pleased with her purchase. As she happily strolled out the doorway, Josh walked over to the hoodie. He put it on the counter and handed the lady at the register three 20's and a 1. The lady made a face, as if she picked up on just how cute the gesture was. Josh took the hoodie, sneaked up behind Taylor, and put the hood on her head.

"Ah!" She was surprised at first, but soon realized what had just happened. She pulled the hoodie off her head, examined it, and hugged Josh tightly. "You really didn't have to get it. I was just going to grab some money from home then come get it."

"I know I didn't have to. I wanted to treat you." He helped her put the hoodie on and left the mall with his arm around her shoulder.

"What the hell. She came here with me." I faked being disappointed. Tyler hugged me from the side.

"Hey, at least you got me."

I jokingly rolled my eyes. "Oh, Tyler. You are so full of yourself."

"Whatever. You know you love me." The word love shocked me . Love wasn't something we had really talked about. Sure, you hear couples saying they love each other all the time, but Tyler and I were weird. Besides, we were technically only dating for a day. Tyler had to have caught on to my surprise, for he abruptly apologized, "I'm sorry, I-uh, I didn't mean it like that, I just meant..."

"It's okay, I know what you meant." We rode our bikes home in an awkward silence. I was grateful Tyler and Josh had rode their bikes here as well, if not either Tyler or I would be forced to walk or ride the pegs. Tyler went home and I continued to my house. "Mom, dad, Rayna. I'm home." I made sure everyone knew I had safely returned. I walked in and saw my mom in the kitchen drinking straight out of a wine bottle. This occurrence was strange because my mom had completely stopped drinking when she was pregnant with Rayna. She didn't want for it to interfere with her being a mother. Deciding not to comment on the anomalous event, I went downstairs.

There was a knock at my door, interrupting the music I was listening to. I pushed pause and opened the door. Before me I saw my dad. "Hey, Munchkin. I just needed to talk to you about school."

"What about school?" I figured it was about my grades, hence my confusion. I seldom had anything less than a B.

"Well, you know your principal, Mr. Joseph, is trying to get the school reopened as soon as the police allow him to." I nodded in understanding. "I just received an email that said students are encouraged to return tomorrow. Now, I was just wondering, given the circumstances, do you think you'd be up to going back tomorrow? If not it's okay, we can wait a little longer."

"No, I can go back tomorrow. Don't see any point in waiting." My dad smiled bleakly.

"You're so strong, Munchkin." He closed the door and returned upstairs.

"Yea, yea. That's what you all keep saying." I continued my music until another knock came to my door. I, yet again, stood up to open it. My mom walked in, her hair a mess, and her face with no makeup. Not a usual sighting.

"Your brother's funeral is next Saturday." Her tone made it obvious she was drunk. "I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding something black to wear." She left my room, hiccuping.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Yello, Noodles! This chapter's quality may be a bit lacking, but it was rushed by someone, not naming names. *points at TayleeMcDonald* It was also a bit shorter than usual. I'm su sorry! BAIIII