tyler didn't bother to pay attention the rest of the class, too caught up on the fact that he ruined his chance for a good reputation. once the bell sounded he was out of his seat and rushing towards the doorway, not bothering to stop for josh as he called out for him.

his next class was ceramics, which he was more than grateful for. he had always enjoyed art classes and he used them as a chance to escape for a bit.

he entered the classroom and sat at an empty table, picking away at the dried clay on the tabletop. he was startled a bit when someone pulled out the stool next to his own and seated themselves at the table, but as he peered up a bit he immediately recognized the pale skin and mediocre tattoos.

"has anyone ever told you that some of your tattoos suck?" tyler asked, fingers reaching out to trace the messily scrawled alien on josh's middle finger.

"most of them were done at home with a sewing needle and some india ink, so yeah, i've been told," josh chuckled. "i also did quite a few of them when i was drunk, if that counts for anything."

"i can tell," tyler teased, giggling as josh rolled his eyes. "i've always wanted some tattoos but i never knew where to go, do you think you could help me with that?"

"i thought my tattoos suck." josh smirked and tyler playfully shoved his shoulder.

"you also have some nice ones. like this mountain with the moon and everything. oh, or the hands doing the pinky promise. i like those ones a lot."

"well, i did those sober so that explains a lot. but yeah, i can pull some strings for you."

tyler nodded and quieted down as the teacher entered the room, going over the instructions with tyler before leaving him to begin sculpting his mug.

"so what lunch do you have?" josh spoke up, watching as tyler's eyebrows furrowed in thought.

"i have no fucking clue." he shrugged. "all i know is that i have english with ms. diamandis."

"damn, i have english with mr. gaskarth. at least we have first lunch together. you can sit at my table if you want."

tyler graciously accepted the offer, not wanting to go through the trouble of finding someone else to sit with.

the rest of ceramics class passed quickly, josh and tyler getting to know each other better. they learned that they had a lot in common despite not looking like it. by having a lot in common, they really meant they both enjoyed music and disliked people.

josh eagerly led tyler to the lunch table that his friends sat at, the brunette feeling vulnerable under the intimidating gaze of all the people in the lunch room. he knew they were looking at him, talking about him, but josh didn't seem to notice as he pulled tyler onto the bench with him.

"hey guys, this is tyler," josh greeted, smiling brightly as tyler gave a timid wave. his friends all stared at him, trying to ignore the elephant in the room.

"it's cystic fibrosis," tyler spoke up, earning a few 'ah's and simple head nods. "and no, it's not contagious."

it was silent for a few moments, the awkward type, a boy sitting across from them sticking his hand out for tyler to shake. he had on bulky glasses and his dark hair was neatly slicked back, his appearance sticking out amongst the dyed hair and piercings that surround him.

"i'm brendon." he introduced himself, giving tyler a genuine grin.

"it's nice to meet you all," tyler said, waiting for the eyes to divert their attention from his tubes, but they never seemed to do that.

"so are you like the girl from the fault in our stars or some shit?" a girl with short blue hair asked, and tyler could tell she didn't mean it in an offensive way.

"no, she had cancer. i have cystic fibrosis. it's a genetic disease that makes my lungs and airways clog with mucus which leads to infections and stuff. there's a lot more to it but that's the short explanation."

the table fell quiet and tyler already knew what their next words would be.

"don't say sorry."

brendon cleared his throat, wanting to change the subject. "why'd you transfer here?"

"my mom got a promotion and it meant that we had to move, so here we are," tyler spoke, watching as brendon and josh were the only two who seemed to really be listening.

"you'll love it here, i'll make sure of it." josh took a big bite from his cookie, crumbs falling out of his mouth as he attempted to eat it without making a mess.

"god josh, can't take you anywhere," brendon joked, leaning over to wipe the crumbs from the table.

tyler smiled to himself as he watched the dynamics between josh and brendon, sensing their feelings towards one another were more than 'just friends'.

maybe it was the way they each had bright pink cheeks when receiving attention from each other, or the way they acted similar to that of an old married couple, but whatever it was left tyler with the impression that brendon and josh were deeply in 'puppy love' with each other, but they had no clue.

•••

this chapter is kind of messy but oh well i enjoyed writing it

also if you couldn't already tell i'm gonna have them have tattoos that they don't have in real life bc why the heck not
-carina