“How are you, Tyler?” Dallon said concerned voice rang in Tyler's ears, all traces of the earlier smile gone. It had been replaced with stone cold monotony, trying his best to hide the emotions he normally and still did have.
“Better.”
“Have you been going out much?” Dr.Weekes asked, yet he knew the answer before Tyler could even answer.
“Yes.” No.
Dallon shook his head, sighing. “Tyler, if you want this to help you have to be cooperative and honest.” He had started to run his temples, and a feeling of guilt rushed through Tyler's chest and he let out a long exhale, sinking into the chair.
“I haven't left until today.” He admitted shamefully, listening to the sad sigh that left his therapists lips.
“That's what I thought. Tyler, first of all I'm going to say we keep weekly session.” Tyler could feel his eyes tearing up at this. “I also suggest that you at least attempt to talk to someone, anyone, even if it's only for a few minutes. Seclusion will make everything worse, maybe even try to join a club. What did you say you did in your free time again?”
“I listen to and make music.” Tyler said, not really listening anymore. It was the same old lecture, same thing he heard every week that he tried, but was always unsuccessful at doing.
“Try using that as an outlet.” Dallon crossed his legs and Tyler tried his best not to roll his eyes. This was literally almost a repeat of last week. “Oh, I know. What about Joshua Dun?”
Tyler's head snapped to the therapist, and his eyebrow raised in a questioning way. “Josh? The man in the waiting room?” He questioned incredulously, not seeing what Dallon could mean by that. He had only talked to Josh for a total of maybe an hour overall.
“Today, when you were talking to him, you smiled. Actually smiled. I haven't seen you do that here yet.” He wasn't wrong. “Talking to me might be a little weird, and repetitive, but I feel that talking to Josh for even a little while might help. He's a great guy.”
“You know him?” Tyler questioned, dodging the rest of what he was saying.
“Yeah, I can't go into details about it, but I'll just say I think you two would get along.” Dallon seemed to inspect Tyler's face for a moment before glancing at the clock. “I don't think you wanna go over the time limit, do you?’ Tyler shook his head.
With a sigh Dr.Weekes got up, moving towards the door and opening it for Tyler. “Well, that was our thirty minutes. Take care of yourself, Tyler. Call me or the assistants if anything comes up.” Tyler wouldn't, but he nodded anyway.
He walked out without another word to the therapist, moving out the door and to the waiting room swiftly and quietly.
When he got out there, Josh was no longer in his seat.
--
The next week went by with the same schedule. Eat, sleep, attempt to take a shower even though the attempts were often denied when he failed to bring up enough energy to even do that.
When the next therapy day came up, it sapped all of the energy from Tyler to even get out of bed to get ready. In the end he only managed to down enough toast to let the pills settle in his stomach without upsetting it and to change into a somewhat clean shirt and pants. Other than that, he didn't do much.
Today he went down the roads with difficulty, his hands shaking on the wheel the entire time. He was so nervous, so jumpy of everything, he was surprised he didn't get into a car crash on the drive there. Even he could tell that he was a mess.
He pulled in and got out of his car, rushing into the building, not willing to stand outside for another second. When he walked in the lady at the counter gave him a sad smile.
“Welcome back, Tyler.” He didn't respond this time. “Let's get you signed in.”
The only thing he replied to were the questions, and when he finished them he headed right into the dull waiting room. His eyes fell upon the pink hair he'd grown to recognize.
Josh looked up when Tyler entered, a smile immediately placing itself on his lips. “Hey, Tyler.”
Tyler gave an awkward sort of wave, sitting into his normal spot as his mind went back to the conversation Dallon had with him the previous session.
“Still got that later session, huh? Or am I just early? I don't really pay much attention to when I get here.” His eyes seemed to spark with liveliness, something Tyler didn't see often. Somewhere a voice in the back of Tyler's mind whispered that Josh had still noticed when Tyler was late, which meant he did pay attention to when Tyler arrived. He could feel his cheeks grow warm.
“You're not early, the sessions are still pushed back half an hour.” Tyler responded, forcing his voice from his throat. There was no reason to be rude to Josh to defy Dallon, no matter how much there was an itch to do so.
Josh let out a fake huff a relief, smiling at the reaction he got from Tyler. “Thank goodness! Being too early would be bad for my reputation of a procrastinator.”
Tyler laughed, shaking his head at the joke. “Wouldn't want to ruin that reputation, would we?”
Josh grinned. “Nope, it's very important.” His eyes wandered to the walls now, a thoughtful look on his face. Tyler watched, not even aware of how creepy that could be interpreted as. He was intrigued by this man, which was different for him. He had lost most interest in humanity a long time ago.
“Why do they use blue for the walls?” Josh asked after a moment, surprising Tyler. Of all things to be said, he questioned the walls.
“I think it's because studies have shown it's a calming color.” Tyler replied, his gaze turning to the chilly blue of the walls.
“I guess some people could find it calming, but blue could also be seen as...sad. Cold. They should have done something warm and welcoming, like orange.”
“Or like your hair…” Tyler said without thinking, watching Josh's eyes flick over to his and he shoved his face into his own hands. “I mean...like, pink. Pink would be good.” He murmured into them, his face feeling like it was on fire.
Josh smiled, watching the man, or boy really, beside him grow flustered. “Yeah, pink would be good. That reminds me, about the music suggestions for the waiting room, I wanted to ask you what-”
Josh was cut off by the sound of the door clicking open and Dr.Weekes’ voice cutting through the air. “I'm ready to see you, Tyler.”
Tyler sent a sad smile Josh's way, but Josh reached out and gently put a hand on Tyler's arm to keep him from leaving just yet. Tyler thought his heart might explode from his chest. “Hold on.” He dug into his pocket, pulling out a pen, extending his hand and looking expectantly at Tyler.
Tyler didn't seem to understand, so Josh grabbed Tyler's hand and and flipped it, writing what appeared to be his number on it. Pulling the pen away and inspecting his handiwork, Josh looked up and Tyler and grinned. “There, that way you can text me the answer later.”
Tyler stuttered out something similar to a thank you and wandered over to the door where his therapist was waiting, a dazed look on his face. Sending one more glance back at the smiling man, Tyler let the door shut behind him as his mind seemed to burst into fireworks.
Joshua Dun had just given him his number.
YOU ARE READING
You're My Judge (joshler)
FanfictionTyler spends time in that waiting room once a week, and every time a man by the name of Joshua Dun sits beside him.
