Warning for talk of suicide and self harm. Although the suicide was staged it was staged very well so it goes very in detail with what happened. I'll put a marker when it's safe to read again because I know this is a sensitive subject and you can comment if you need a little summary

Tyler and Josh sat in Josh's truck as the latter drove them both to school. It was the Monday after Jenna's funeral and Tyler was still shaken up from not only that but the news of Frank as well.

Tyler's dad had gotten home late last night— a little after midnight —and Tyler had waited up to hear about Frank. He didn't think he could even close his eyes for any longer than a blink without knowing the full story. Granted, he still hadn't slept very well after knowing but it still helped.

His dad had said Frank slit each of his arms up and down and then hung himself. Tyler could never imagine him being suicidal but maybe that's why he bullied people all the time. Maybe he had his own shit going on he couldn't deal with. He did say Tyler should kill himself so he could have been projecting.

It's safe to read!

Tyler sighed and looked out the window. He felt Josh grab his hand but that didn't even bring a smile to his face. He felt himself slipping from reality and he thought he was going to go crazy with all the darkness building up inside of him.

"What's wrong?" Josh asked, rubbing Tyler's hand with his thumb.

"Everything," Tyler admitted. "I mean doesn't it feel weird to you? The guy who bullied you for such a long ass time just drops dead? He only targeted me a handful of times but it's shaking me up."

"Hey was an asshole, Ty. He deserved it. Jus' don' worry about it. I don' want ya stressing out about it."

Tyler ignored the way the first part of what Josh said raised suspicion. He was just being paranoid. "Okay."

"I love ya," Josh reminded.

"Love you too," the brunette replied, slipping his hand out of Josh's in favor of opening his glovebox and pulling out a cigarette. He grabbed the lighter from the cup holder before rolling his window down a little and lighting the cigarette.

The two rode in silence the rest of the way to school and Tyler hoped things got better. For his sanity, he prayed they got better.

---

Things did not get better.

It was November 28th. A Tuesday. Everyone had just gotten back from Thanksgiving break and no one was in a good mood. No one except Brendon.

The four were all sitting at lunch when Brendon sat down, looking excited. He had been in a better mood the past few weeks. Alarmingly better for someone whose boyfriend was arrested earlier that month.

It annoyed Tyler to be honest.

"Hey, guys!" He greeted.

"Why are ya so god damn loud?" Josh groaned from where he sat with his head on his arms.

"'Cause 'm in a good mood."

"And why are you of all people in a good mood?" Tyler asked, making his annoyance obvious.

Brendon looked at him with a tight smile on his face before speaking. "I have a date tonight."

"Ya do?" Ashley asked, surprised. "With who?"

"His name is Ryan," Brendon gushed.

"You sure moved on quick," Tyler commented.

Brendon shot him a look but Josh interrupted by speaking, not even noticing the exchange between the two. "Is he of age this time?" He joked, laughing slightly.

"Nope!" Brendon grinned. "He lives in the town over but comes over here for work. He's like 26 or 27."

Tyler frowned. He couldn't fathom how Brendon could just get over Dallon this quick. It was ridiculous. Tyler couldn't even get over what happened with Dallon. He had tried asking his dad for answers but he said that Dallon was transferred to a jail in Saint Louis and was out of SPD's hands.

Tyler opened his mouth to say something he probably shouldn't but the bell rang, cutting him off. He looked at Josh. "Hey I gotta run to my locker, I'll meet you in drawing."

"Ya sure? I can go with ya..." Josh gave him a confused look.

"I can go by myself," Tyler snapped, getting up and slinging his bag over his shoulder. He turned to walk off but was stopped when he felt something grab his wrist. He turned back around and saw it was just Josh's hand.

"Are ya mad at me?"

"No," he replied honestly, pulling his hand out of Josh's grasp. "I just need a second to myself. I'll see you in a few minutes," he assured, pressing a kiss to Josh's lips. Ever since Frank died things have been easier Tyler in regards to displaying his sexuality in public but harder everywhere else. Much harder.

Josh gave him a worried look but Tyler brushed it off as he walked towards his locker. He saw Ashley head off towards the English hallway and Josh and Brendon towards their art class.

He approached his locker and twisted his combination in before opening it and staring into it blankly. He didn't have to go to his locker. He really did just need a minute to himself.

Tyler acted like he was busy and suddenly the bell rang, signaling class was starting. The 15 year old sighed and let out a groan. There was no use hurrying to class. He was already late.

He was about to shut his locker when it slammed closed in front of him. He looked over and saw Gerard standing next to him, a smirk on his face. "Hey, Tyler."

"What do you want, asshole?" Tyler sighed, not in the mood to put up with bullshit.

Gerard slammed him against the locker and pinned him against it, just like Frank used to do to Josh all the time. "Watch your fuckin' mouth."

"Or what? You'll beat the shit outta me?" Tyler scoffed. "Go ahead. I have nothin' to lose," he let out a dry chuckle.

"Where's Josh?"

"Class. So if you wanna beat the shit outta me no one's gonna stop you."

Gerard frowned and stepped back. Tyler was surprised. He expected to have a first pummeling his eye right about now. "Fuckin' fag," he spit on Tyler's shoe. "I don' wanna touch ya. Who knows what I'll get?"

"Probably aids it's very popular amongst my culture," Tyler deadpanned.

The next thing, however, didn't surprise Tyler. Gerard brought his fist to Tyler's stomach and landed a blow so hard it knocked the wind out of him. He let out a gasp and fell back against the locker.

Gerard bent down and got in his face. "That's what ya get for runnin' your mouth," he sneered, kicking the locker before walking off.

Tyler glared as the other left before pulling himself up and grabbing his bag from the floor that slipped from his shoulders. He felt like he couldn't breath and the last thing he wanted to do was go sit in class. He was about to call Josh to see if the pink haired wanted to join him but stopped when he realized he still needed time alone.

Tyler reopened his locker and grabbed his coat before he began making his way towards the closest exit and walked out, not bothering to look behind him. He continued walking without a specific location in mind. Eventually, he realized he was headed towards the park and kept going since he didn't find an issue with that. It was cold but he didn't mind. It was better than being at school.

He reached his location and sat on one of the swings he's been on multiple times. Opening his bag, he grabbed out the lighter he's had since Josh gave it to him the first time and a new pack of cigarettes Josh had just gotten him the other day.

He lit a cigarette and held it to his lips as he let his mind wander to how things have been the past couple weeks. He hasn't done most of his homework, he's been attended all his class maybe two or three out of five days a week, and he's been smoking a lot more. He was up to seven or eight cigarettes a day which meant Josh had to find him more more often.

The best part of it all was that his father was home even less than before and didn't even notice anything Tyler did. He was so busy he didn't even mention when Tyler left his cigarettes out on his nightstand one night.

Debbie and Greg moved out of Scarlettesville right before Thanksgiving. It was too hard for them to stay here after Jenna's death so they moved down to Florida to be around one of their sons that had moved out a couple years prior. Along with that, obviously, came with Debbie quitting her job and according to Tyler's father she one of the very few competent officers at the station so he had to pick up what she left behind which was why he was gone more often.

Tyler sighed loudly as exhaled smoke. He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and pulled it out to see he had a text from Josh.

Josh
Where are you

Tyler
Don't worry about it. I needed to get some air. I don't know if I'll be back

He didn't wait for Josh to respond before putting his phone back and taking another drag of his cigarette.

Tyler didn't know how his life ended up the way it did but he knew things weren't the same. He didn't care though. He was too numb anymore. The darkness that had just begun to fill his body has completely enveloped him.

And Tyler didn't know how much longer he had before he couldn't make it out anymore.