Trigger warning for mention of drugs. Just expect this whole book to have wild ass times in it; Josh murders people if you haven't caught on this is probably the least of your worries.

Josh sighed in exhaustion as he walked through the door, shutting it quietly behind him. After dropping Ashley off at home all he wanted to do was go to bed and not have to worry about anything. It was one in the morning after all.

Sadly, his plans were foiled when he saw his mom passed out on the couch. His eyes floated to the familiar lines of white dust on the coffee table and his heart dropped.

"She passed out aroun' twelve," a voice said suddenly making him jump.

He turned around and saw his sister, Ashley. "Hey, Ash."

She simply raised the water glass her hands up to her lips and took a sip. "Jordan got scared sleepin' in ya guys' room alone so he crawled inta bed with Abbie."

"She come home high?" Josh whispered, looking at his mother. He knew she wouldn't wake up even if he yelled but the whisper was mostly in disbelief.

"I don' know. I was sleepin'. I just woke up when Jordan came in cryin' and that was about an hour ago. Haven't been able to sleep since."

"Where's Dad?"

Ashley shrugged, taking another drink of the water. She swallowed before lowering the cup back down. "Beats me. Probably out fuckin' some college aged chick."

"Did Jordan end up fallin' ta sleep?"

"Uh huh," Ashley nodded. "Cried for a solid ten minutes 'til Abbie kicked him in the shins an' tol' him ta man up," she chuckled.

Josh just gave her a sad smile. "Don' worry about Mom," he said.

She rolled her eyes. "I never do. She put herself in these kinds'a situations."

"Pretty much," Josh pat her shoulder and made his way up the stairs.

"Josh?"

"Yeah?" He turned around to see a distressed look on Ashley's face.

"Night. I love ya."

"Love ya too."

---

Josh sighed as he sat down next to Brendon at their table in the art room. "Where the hell were ya during lunch?" He asked, setting his bag down in the empty seat next to him.

"Givin' Dal head in his classroom," he replied nonchalantly.

"Christ," Josh groaned. "You didn' have ta tell me that much."

"Did anyway," Brendon shrugged.

Moments before the bell was about to ring, a familiar boy walked through the door. Confusion seeped through Josh, wondering why Tyler was in his art class today but not yesterday. Sure the grades were all mixed together in elective classes but he was curious as to why he was present his second day, and not first.

Josh watched as Tyler scanned the room anxiously. His eyes landed on the senior and Josh smiled, waving him over. He had taken a liking to the kid the day before.

"Who's that?" Brendon asked as Tyler made his way over. Josh moved his backpack to the floor so the younger could take the empty seat.

"Tyler."

"Okay well who the hell is Tyler?"

"That's Tyler," he pointed to the mentioned as he sat down. "He's new."

"Hi," Tyler said sheepishly, looking at Brendon with nervous eyes.

"Uh... hey," Brendon nodded, turning forward.

"Don't be a dick," Josh hit his arm and Brendon scowled as he rubbed the limb. "Didn't know ya were in this class," he turned to Tyler.

"I transferred this morning. I was in panting yesterday but I'm not too good at painting."

"Good timin'. We're startin' a new project today," Josh paused. "And don't sweat it. Bren 'an I are shit at all a this. We're also dumbasses that decided ta get our art credit done as upperclassmen so it's even more embarrassin'," he chuckled slightly, making Tyler visibly relax more. "You'll be fine."

The bell rang and the three's chatter ceased as their teacher began class and started explaining their project. They were to pick an animal and then ad some shit called zentangle to it that Josh had no clue how to do. 

After she gave them their instructions and supplies, she went back to her desk to do God knows what and leaving the students to be.

"So..." Brendon began. "Where ya from Tyler?"

"I was born in Alabama but I moved here from Louisiana."

"Why the hell ain't you talkin' like you're missin' teeth and brain cells like us?" He asked, a small chuckle leaving his lips.

Tyler didn't reply at first, instead focusing on the rabbit he was drawing. Josh looked down at the wolf he was attempting to draw. The first thing he noticed was that it was already ten times better. The second was that wolves eat rabbits. Huh. Funny.

"I've lived in 12 different states so I guess I didn't really pick up on a dialect. I moved out of Alabama when I was seven and I never had an accent while living there," he shrugged, erasing a bit of the ear.

"Holy shit! 12 states?" Brendon looked at him with wide eyes.

"Mhm. Alabama, Texas, Louisana, California, Nevada, Maine, Florida, Oregon, Wisconsin, Michigan, Oklahoma, and now Missouri."

"How old are you?"

"Fifteen."

"He's a sophomore," Josh added.

Brendon was about to say something when he saw Tyler squint his eyes closed, almost in anticipation. "Uh... ya okay?"

He opened his eyes. "I expected you to spit on me for being a sophomore."

"Nah," Josh grinned. "Only freshmen."

"Really?"

Josh laughed and shook his head. "No. Brendon's a junior cause he's a dumbass 'nd flunked freshman year. Our friend Ashley's a senior with me though. You'll have ta keep Brendon company next year when we're gone."

"Next year?" Tyler asked.

"Hell yeah dude," Brendon interjected. "You're stuck with us now. I doubt ya have anyone else ta be stuck with."

Tyler was quiet for a moment before a wide smile made its way on his face. "You wanna be friends with me?"

"Yeah, man," Josh smiled and nudged his shoulder. "Who else is goin' end up in the nurse with me after gettin' the shit beat outta them?"

"You both got the shit best outta you?" Brendon raised an eyebrow. "On the same day? Maybe it was meant for you two ta be best friends."

Josh looked at Tyler and smile. "Yeah. Maybe it was."