No Matter What (Twenty One Pilots)

Chapter 31

It had been two weeks. Two weeks of Josh and Debby being a couple. Two weeks of trying to teach Tyler tricks. Two weeks of giving up on teaching Tyler and just giving him the treats anyway. Two weeks of hanging out, or actually going on dates, as Josh kept having to remind himself, at the park, record shop, or someone's house. Two weeks of stealing kisses whenever they could. Two weeks of immense happiness.

Two weeks that Josh wouldn't trade for anything.

Josh and Debby were sitting in their usual spot under their favorite tree in the park. Tyler was running around doing God knows what. Josh only hoped that he wasn't getting into trouble. Tyler had grown so much since Josh had gotten him around a month and a half ago. He was almost fully grown and somewhere around six months old. His ears weren't too big and floppy anymore and his paws finally fit him. In a way, Josh was sad to see his puppy all grown up. Sure, Tyler was still young and they would have years of being together to come, but Josh liked being able to hold that little ball of fuzz he had gotten when he turned 17. That was kind of hard to do now.

"It's August," Debby said, pulling Josh out of his thoughts.

"Yeah. It has been, for like, a day or two," Josh replied.

"No like, it's August. We have to go back to school soon, Josh."

"Oh," Josh whispered. His heart sunk in his chest. He didn't want to go back. He wasn't ready. He was finally happy and he didn't want to have to go back to the place where everything fell apart.

"You're not ready to go back, are you," Debby commented when she saw the look on Josh's face; a mix of immense sadness and fear. "You're scared."

Josh sighed. "Yeah. Just a little."

Debby shifted around so that she was facing Josh. She brushed away some of his fading blue hair out of his face and leaned in to peck his lips.

"Don't be, okay? I'll be there with you this time," she smiled. Josh smiled back and leaned in to kiss her forehead. "You won't be alone. I won't let them mess with you. I'll kick their asses."

"Thanks, Debby," Josh laughed. "What would I do without you?"

"Probably act out scenes from Shakespeare plays with Tyler."

Josh's cheeks flushed pink.

"Oh my God, you totally already did that, didn't you!" Debby exclaimed. Josh ducked his head and he continued to blush. "Oh my God, you dork!"

"Hey! You're the one who's dating me!" Josh shot back with a grin.

"That is true," Debby laughed along with Josh. Tyler ran up to them, kissing both of their faces, wondering what was going on, until they eventually calmed down.

"Hey, I think that game you wanted to get should be back in stock at that videogame store we always go to. Wanna check it out?" Josh spoke up when the laughter had stopped.

"Oh, yeah! I almost forgot!" Debby said as she stood up, pulling Josh along with her.

The three of them walked down the sidewalk; Debby with her hand held tightly in Josh's, and Tyler trailing behind, panting happily at the two people he loved the most. Well, besides Josh's neighbor, Jenna, who would feed him hot dogs through a hole in the back yard fence every time Josh wasn't looking.

That little girl was awesome.