Tyler had told Josh to arrive at his house a little earlier so that he had time to talk to Mr. Iero before school started.

And man was he sure terrified.

"Josh, it's gonna be okay," Tyler tried soothing his boyfriend

"I can't do this, it's selfish and–"

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"Yes, please," Josh nodded.

"Alright," Tyler offered a sad smile. "Let's go."

The two walked into the office and approached Ms. Nestor. "Good morning boys, what can I do for you?" she said with a smile, as always.

"We need to speak to Mr. Iero," Tyler said.

"Pertaining...?"

"Um... a personal matter."

"Oh," Ms. Nestor blinked. "I can't really help you if you don't tell–"

"We need to speak to Mr. Iero," Tyler repeated.

The secretary sighed. "Alright," she picked up her phone and dialed a few numbers. "Frank? There's two boys who need to speak to you," pause. "Josh Dun and Tyler Joseph," pause. "I'll send them back," pause. "Okay," she hung up the phone. "You two can go back."

"Thank you," Josh said before following Tyler to the principal's office.

When they entered Mr. Iero had a tired look on his face. "Josh, if this is about you walking at graduation–" 

"Josh has a reason," Tyler offered for his companion.

"And what is it?"

"My parents made me," Josh told him, biting his lip anxiously.

"Huh?"

"They told me that I'd have to help deal the weed they bought or else they'd send my brother and I back into the foster system. I can't go back in there not matter how bad the situation is now ," Josh sighed.

"Do you see this bump on his face?" Tyler pointed to the barely visible welt on his face. "His mom did that."

"Your mom hit you?" Mr. Iero asked.

"She's hit me more times than that. My dad too. They've hurt Patrick as well. That's why he called here instead of home the other day, they'd would've hurt him for 'causing trouble'," he looked down at his hands. "It's been like that since they took us in."

"Why are you just saying something now?"

"I couldn't loose my best friend," Josh wiped his eyes, but it was useless, the tears kept falling. "And he can't take it in that house anymore, neither can I. I really want to walk at graduation."

"How do I know you're not making this up?" Mr. Iero asked. "I mean I trust you but you need evidence for this kind of thing."

"He came to my house the night he got that welt," Tyler offered. "My mom helped fix him up. Dallon Weekes knows about it as well."

"Then why didn't any of you guys notify us?" their principal looked genuinely concerned. "You just allowed him to stay in a dangerous environment."

"I told them not to," Josh said. "It seemed easier to deal with it then to be put back into the system. Nobody wants a teenager. They just want the little kids."

"When's your birthday, Josh?"

"May twenty first, sir," he replied. "That's when I turn eighteen and can take Patrick with me but then I can't walk at graduation and oh no I really am being selfish–"

Tyler grabbed his hand. Mr. Iero shook his head. "You're not being selfish, Josh. Let me call the police department and we can take care of it together, alright?"

"Can Tyler stay?"

"Absolutely."

"Mr. Iero?" Josh asked as he picked up his phone.

"Yes?"

"Thank you," he felt the tears pool up again.

"Don't thank me," Mr. Iero gave them a sad smile. "I just want to make sure you're safe."

---

"Joshua Dun," Mr. Iero called through the microphone. He smiled and walked up to him, shaking his hand and receiving his diploma. He sat back down quickly so the next person could come up.

He scanned the crowd and saw Tyler's family smiling at him and Kelly taking pictures, making him smile. Except, it faltered when he realized no one was here for him specifically.

Not his real family.

Not his foster parents.

Not his brother.

Josh took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to calm down. It's gonna be alright, he thought. I can get through this.

And he did.

The ceremony seemed to last forever before Mr. Iero finally said the last name in their grade. Once he was finished and presented the class, everyone cheered and threw their caps in the air.

After the commotion died down, Tyler and Josh made their way to somewhere less crowded and were joined by Tyler's family.

"I'm so proud of you both!" Kelly hugged the two.

"Thank you," Josh smiled.

"Thanks Mom," Tyler smiled as well. Josh knew they had talked out the situation with Kelly dating again and they were finally on good terms.

"I'm gonna go get the kids in the car, can you guys be out there in about five minutes?"

"Yeah," Tyler nodded. "Love you!" he hollered as they walked off.

"I love you too, honey!" Kelly called back.

Josh knew that although this wasn't something he could call his own, it was a lot better than staying with his foster family.

After telling the school what happened, they had the police come in and investigate. Luckily, they showed to the house later that night right before Mike was going to hit Patrick for accidentally dropping a plate and breaking it.

It was a whole ordeal but with all the witnesses and evidence, they were obviously found guilty. Especially after finding the suitcases of weed underneath their bed.

They told Josh since he was days away from turning eighteen, that he could just stay with a family fit for caring after him. He decided to stay with Tyler.

Unfortunately, Patrick had to go back into the system. His social worker assured that they'd find a good home for him, but Josh was still apprehensive. That had said the same thing when they placed them with Mike and Alice. He was allowed to go visit him though, which he was extremely grateful for.

"I love you," Tyler said out of the blue.

"I love you too," Josh smiled.

"No, I love you," Tyler repeated. "I love you with all my heart. You consume all my thoughts. You make my heart all warm when you do the cute things you do. God, Josh Dun, you're worse than any type of drug. You have me hooked."

Then Tyler pulled him in and kissed him, not caring who was watching. When they pulled apart, they were both grinning.

"We did it," Tyler had tears in his eyes.

"We did it," Josh agreed, tears starting to form as well. "We actually did it."

"C'mon," Tyler grabbed his hand and they began walking towards the parking lot. "Let's go home."

"You are my home."