Pretend To Be Mind Prt 5

Warning: profanity.

Words 3077

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Tyler roused to mumbling coming from the bathroom. It was so quiet he thought he was imagining it.

"No, dad-" he heard, but it was muffled for the rest. He knew it was y/n. Probably arguing with her father about something. Tyler's eyebrows furrowed once he heard her voice getting louder. Not with anger, but with panic. "No, dad you don't have to! I'm fine here with Tyl-" she was cut off immediately, so she shouted. "dad!"

Tyler sat up, trying to peer into the bathroom. He didn't want to seem like a creep though. It was her phone call. Y/n walked out slouching down in defeat.

"What happened?" Tyler asked quietly.

"We better get ready because my dad is coming up to see us." She sighed, and Tyler eyes went wide.

"What! why?" He panicked, but y/n shook her head.

"He said you called him, and requested him to come up." She glared at him, to which he only shook his head in surprise.

"I did nothing of the sort." Tyler defended, flinging the blanket off his legs and standing up. "And that's impossible! My phone is..." he looked around for a moment.

"Yeah right, you don't even know where it is." Y/n crossed her arms.

"No! I- I left it..." he thought hard for a moment, still feeling a bit sleepy. "I left it on the dining room table."

A hint of realization lit up his eyes. Y/n didn't seem to notice and she scoffed. "Was this your plan all along? To loop me into this shit and then just ruin it?"

Tyler ignored her criticism. "My dad..." he mumbled. His eyebrows were furrowed, deep in thought, and his lips were parted.

"What?" Y/n finally began to listen and understand.

Tyler groaned as he made his way for the door, swinging it open angrily and marching his way down the stairs.

He approached the dining room table, searching for his dad. "Honey sit down and enjoy a meal-" Kelly began but he shook her off.

"Where's dad?" He asked, trying to cover up the stern tone in his voice. Kelly looked at him confusingly, yet knowingly, pointing out back.

Tyler slid the door open, seeing his dad working on a wooden table he'd been working on for a while.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing, huh?" Tyler cursed angrily, stopping in front of him and waving his arms to express his point. "Are you trying to ruin my relationship?"

His dad sighed, taking off his clear glasses to stare at him in the eye. "What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about." He spat. "Now I know you might not like her as much, but I do. Don't get in the way of that."

Chris scoffed, setting down his chisel tool, that he was using to form the table. "I know." He stated. "I know about your little game you two are playing, and it's not funny."

Tyler stood there silently staring into his eyes basically daring him to explain what he knew. "Really? What do you know, huh? Tell me!"

"You guys are faking it. I don't know why but you are, and you are going to tell your mother before she gets too attached." He demanded, but Tyler just shook his head, scoffing.

"How about instead of you nosing around in my fucking business you mind your own." He pointed at him sternly. He didn't ever cuss, not unless if he was really mad. "This is the reason I moved! Because you are too caught up in my life to man your own."

"Don't make your moving away shenanigans about me!" Chris shouted.

"I wouldn't be saying it if it weren't true!" Tyler practically screamed. He pointed aggressively to the house.  "Now, that woman in there is my life. So, you either respect my life, or leave it."

With that Tyler turned around and marched back inside, shutting the sliding door with so much force it shook.

Kelly watched him worriedly, as he strode back up the stairs.

Tyler came in just in time to see y/n stumbling back from the window. She was watching the whole thing.

"Tell your dad we're coming back home and we don't need him to travel here." He commanded in a monotone, roughly thrusting his clothes into a suitcase.

"Tyler..." she whispered softly. The only response she got was another violent shove of clothes into his bag. So she repeated it louder. "Tyler."

Tyler darted his head up. "What?" He growled.

Y/n looked shocked, and looked down, shaking her head. Tyler sighed, and continued to pack, but more slowly.

"Get everything packed. We'll stay at a hotel until we can get a plane ticket. We're leaving." He explained, softer this time.

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"Where are you going?" Kelly worried, but Tyler shook his head refusing to answer at he dragged both his and y/n's suitcase— because she was going too slow for his liking— to the door.

Y/n trailed behind him, sending sympathetic glances to Kelly.

Right when Tyler was about to open the door a choir of 'hello's swarmed the front door. Zack opened the door before Tyler could, and was stepping inside the house, along with his wife Tatum, Maddy and her family.

Zack obviously oblivious to Tyler's annoyance, hugged him. "Hey, man, Merry Christmas!"

Tyler put on a small smile mumbling something along the lines "Merry Christmas, Zack."

Zack then hugged y/n, and then his mom. Maddy doing the same.

Tyler set the bags by the door, while everyone turned to face him. They all shared questionable glances, all of them knew they were staying for 2 extra days.

Y/n watched Tyler roughly struggle to get the bags out of the door, cursing under his breath. She then turned her head to see all of the Josephs, minus Chris and Kelly, watching him do so, confusion evident on all of their faces even little Mia.

She then turned her head to Kelly.

She seemed agitated, as she threw her hands up talking to Chris sternly. Chris just sat their frowning, listening to every word that Kelly spat at him.

Then every single sound that was around; the slight whispers of the joseph kids, the sound of Tyler groaning and pulling the bags over the door way, and the sound of Kelly's shouts and Chris's soft explanations. She had enough of it.

Enough.

Enough.

"Enough!" Y/n shouted, making everyone turn to look at her with startled faces. Even Tyler, who was now out of breath. "I have something to say." She took a deep breath.

She saw from the corner of her eye Tyler drop their bags and stumble his way over to her. "Y/n..." he mumbled subtly.

She ignored him. "Do you want to know the truth?" She looked at Chris with a determined facial expression. He crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows.

"Y/n, you don't have to do this... we can leave right now-" Tyler murmured quietly.

"No! You know what? I'm done lying to your family because they deserve to know the truth." Y/n looked at Tyler sternly, to which his only reply was a pale face and wide eyes. His brown eyes were pleading her not to.

"What's the truth?" Maddy stepped in, her eyebrows furrowed.

Y/n took a deep breath, and Tyler slouched in defeat, knowing there was no reasoning with her. "The truth is..." she looked down and grasped the end of her skirt. "We're not actually dating."

A chorus of 'what's and 'huh's were erupted in the room. Chris was the only one silent.

Y/n looked over at Kelly. "The reason you're son wasn't at thanksgiving was because I didn't let him go. He works for me, and he takes pictures of me. I'm a model, which I'm sure you all have known, and..." she trailed off, looking over at Tyler who was only watching, frozen in place as if he was caught cheating. "I convinced my dad to make you come to our thanksgiving."

That was a total surprise for Tyler. He just thought her dad decided on that. Why would she do that?

She cleared her throat looking down. "I did it because..." she sighed. "I feel like you care about me more than my family does. They see me as a model, so if I had you there I thought it would've been easier. Which it actually was. Thanksgiving was fun." Y/n bit down on her lip and looked at Kelly again. "So it's my fault that he wasn't there, alright? And it's my fault that I'm here being his fake girlfriend." She then turned to everyone. "I'm really sorry. All of you. I'm going home before I make any more trouble."

Y/n headed for the door, grabbing her suitcase and making her way to the car.

Tyler was still frozen like a statue, looking at the floor as if it was a foreign object.

Y/n shut the driver's side door behind her, starting the car and driving out of the parking lot. She wanted to be alone. She had to leave and go home before she ruined Tyler and his family's relationship.

"Is that true?" Zack broke the silence, jumping Tyler out of his daze. He looked up, blinking. "If it is, then you both fooled me." He chuckled.

"Yeah, I thought you guys were together." Maddy sighed.

Tyler stayed completely silent, looking around the room as if he didn't recognize it. Chris sighed, stepping up and placing a hand on his shoulder.

"It's over, son." He passed him and went out the back door.

Tyler sighed, throwing his jacket that he had in his hand on the floor. He ran his hands through his hair.

Kelly came up to him a frown on her face, and a defeated look in her eye. "You love her don't you?"

Tyler looked up at his mom, surprised that she knew. Tyler felt his throat close, so he only nodded, looking down and playing with his shirt's hem.

"Then what are you still doing here? She's going to leave soon, and you won't get to tell her how you feel. This is the best opportunity that you have." Kelly encouraged, nudging him to the door.

"No, mom. I screwed up." He turned to face her again.

"No, you didn't. It was one silly thing that only brought you closer. It's destiny!" She cheered, opening the door and helping him put his jacket on.

"Your father and I will drive you to the airport. We still have time to catch her."

Tyler smiled, finally giving into her wishes. "Okay, lets go."

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Tyler entered the airport, frantically glancing around for y/n's easily identifiable body. He was used to searching for her so this seemed like deja vu.

A bunch of body's ran into his as he twisted past them, dodging as much as he could.

It reminded him of that day y/n was practically running from him to get to the limo before him. His arms full of papers, and his heart racing quickly with adrenaline. He remembered the fear racing through his veins because of the fact he might get left an hour away from the agency.

That same fear struck Tyler's heart as he heard the speakers speak loud and clear: "Board terminal 5."

That was the terminal back to Los Angeles. She would be on that plane.

He began to run, forcing himself through the crowd of people. That is until he ran into a security guard blocking his way.

"Sir, your ticket please."

"No, I need- I just...  I need to talk to someone." He pleaded, looking behind the man's shoulder and back to his face. The strict man didn't even blink.

Tyler slouched down in defeat, cursing under his breath. He turned around and made his way out of the building.

The crowds were still racing around him to get to their terminals, but Tyler didn't notice.

There had to have been more than 50 thousand people in that building, but that didn't make Tyler feel any less alone.

He felt someone grab his wrist, to which he looked up, becoming face to face with his father. Tyler scowled. He had never been so mad at a single person before.

"Son, what are you doing? Where is she?" He asked.

"She's gone." He said in a monotone.

"Then get a ticket! Let's go." Kelly added, but Tyler shook his head.

"Didn't you hear what I said? The plane left. The only way I could get there is if I had my own plane." Tyler sighed.

Chris' eyes lit up and a smile took his face. "I think I know someone. I'll make a call."

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"Where to, little fella?" The man asked. He talked in a western sort of accent but he didn't look western at all. And the western accent sounded fake to Tyler.

"California." He deadpanned.

"Ha, okay, but where?" The man took off his shades to look at Tyler.

"Oh, Los Angeles." Tyler chuckled softly, and the man smiled.

"Alrighty." He started the helicopter's engine, making it loud all around them. "I'm Josh. Josh Dun." He yelled over the engine, sticking out his hand to shake. He seemed to have lost his western accent while yelling.

Tyler nodded, shaking his hand. "Tyler."

Josh set off, lifting up off the earth. He began to chuckle softly. "I'm joking with you I'm not actually western."

Tyler nodded, feeling the corners of his mouth tilt up.

"So, Tyler..." Josh looked over, taking off his sunglasses.

Tyler lifted his eyebrows, urging him to continue.

"you in a band?"

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Y/n sat herself down in her small office, now feeling empty inside. The office used to be her home, but now that she's been away for so long it seemed off.

She looked at the chair in the corner, slightly smiling at the memory of Tyler sitting there drinking his 'morning red bull'. He called it his coffee.

Her smile vanished. She hoped he wasn't mad at her for revealing their secret. No matter how mad he might be, she wasn't sorry. That was the right thing to do, and it ruined her to see the family break up like that all because of her. She just hoped Tyler would forgive her.

She looked down at some papers spread on her desk.

What did the papers have on them? She didn't know. It was her job to know, but she didn't.

Tyler literally did everything for her. She just talked to the magazine people. And she was rarely even nice to them. Tyler usually had to help her with that too. Always rephrasing her words in a nicer way towards the workers.

She sighed, propping her forehead onto her hand, still looking down at the papers. "I'm sorry." She whispered to herself. She never thought she'd get a reply.

"Its not your fault."

Y/n lifted her head to see a very exhausted looking Tyler.

"I don't care what you say, it was my fault that you were apart of this."

Y/n was about to protest but he interrupted her.

"Don't talk." He commanded. "I didn't come all this way just to hear you talk." He stepped closer, and y/n stood up to where the were almost eye level. (Tyler being a bit taller than she) "it was my fault. And you know what? I don't regret it. I wouldn't have it any other way, because if I hadn't lied to my parents about this, I wouldn't be here right now confessing how I feel."

Y/n's brows furrowed, and it felt like her chest closed. How he feels?

"How-"

"I said don't talk." He said sternly. He took deep breath, looking dead in her eyes as if she would disappear if he looked away. "You're annoying. You're picky. And you're just plain rude. And I don't know why I'm feeling this way, but somehow you are the best thing that has ever happened to me."

Y/n wasn't sure if she should take it as a compliment or an insult.

"Now, you might've been faking what we had, but I wasn't." He shook his head, looking down at his shoes and then back at her eyes.

Y/n stared at him for along time, as he stared back. It was silent for at least a minute.

"Are you going to say anything?" Tyler asked.

"You said not to talk!" She whined, and Tyler chuckled looking down. Y/n took a deep breath. "I wasn't faking it either. You mean so much to me that it makes me scared."

Tyler smiled like a child, it made y/n sad for what's to come. "We can't be together." She blurted, and his smile vanished, and worry took his features.

"Why?"

Y/n's eyes filled with tears and she looked down playing with the hem of her skirt. "I just can't, ty. I can't love someone. It's just impossible for me."

Tyler took a step closer. "Well, you were doing just fine earlier." He argued.

Y/n let out a dry laugh. "You don't want me." She croaked.

"I want you." He insisted, now close enough to lift her chin to face him. She shook her head and he nodded his head. "Yes." He dragged out, a small smile now taking his face.

She nudged his hand away from her chin, pressing her forehead to his chest. "I can't be loved." She whispered. "I'll ruin it."

Tyler took a deep breath, making y/n's head lift with his chest. He tilted her chin up again, his face mere inches from hers, their noses almost touching.

"I love you." he mumbled, softly. "Isn't that enough?" He asked, gently.

Y/n did answer, staring at him, and then down to his lips. He smiled softly, and leaned in tilting his head just enough to kiss her.

It was better than the first. Definitely less awkward now that people weren't watching and that they actually liked each other.

Tyler wrapped his arms around her waist, and y/n's around his neck. It felt soft and sweet.

It tasted warm and minty.

The receptionist watched from her desk. She smiled softly.

"Who knew that the photographer, who hated his boss's guts, and the snotty model, who despised everyone she met, would get together?" She asked herself. "I knew!" She sang, raising her hand excitedly. She chuckled.

The phone rang.

"Dunder Mifflin this is Pam."

ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ

puǝ ǝɥʇ

ᵗʰᵉ ᵉⁿᵈ

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It's over. It's finally over.

I don't know anything about airports or planes and what not.