~25th March, 2016~

Your POV

"So where are we going?"

"Lilly and Alan's house. It's their anniversary, too," Tom answers as he rummages through his many t-shirts.

I groan. "Didn't you say they're absolute wackos?"

"They're not that bad. They just obsess over bands a bit too much."

"Right. They're band worshipers."

"You know, if you listened to music you would be the exact same."

"I do listen to music!" I argue.

"Besides the Undertale soundtrack."

"I don't just listen to that. I listen to All Star. And My Chemical Romance. And... I think that's it. But I do listen to music."

"You still haven't told me why."

I go silent. The truth is, I rarely listen to music because the only music I truly love I left behind me long ago.

"I'm just not the music type," I shrug, trying my best to sound convincing.

"Even after the seven years we've been together, you're still so mysterious. It's sexy."

I laugh. "Shut up and choose a t-shirt already. I want to get this night over and done with."

"Would I like to know why?" He winks.

"Behave."

~Time skip~

"Hi!" Lilly screeches as she opens the door, pulling me into a bit too much of an enthusiastic hug.

"Uh, hey," I reply, trying to sound as excited as she is. "I think you can let me breathe now," I force a laugh.

"Oh, of course. Silly me. Come in."

I step through the door. The house reminds me of a library with the smell of old books. The muffled music gets clearer with every step I take.

'I'm not okay,

I'm not okay~'

At least she's got good taste, I think to myself.

"Take a seat." Lilly gestures to a large, brown leather couch sitting in the middle of the large living room with dimmed lights.

I feel Tom's large hand grip my shoulder and he begins to push me towards the couch. Lilly and Alan sit in the love seat opposite us, sitting so close not even the tiniest speck of dust could get between them. They hold onto each other's hand, intertwining their fingers. They make Tom and I look like the two awkward friends who usually tag-along as the third wheeler but were brought along on a double date and don't know if they should be doing the same or just ignore the other's existence.

"So..." I begin. "When did you two meet?"

"We met in high school," Alan beams. "We were the only two that never got asked to any of the dances and we'd always end up dancing with each other. Then one day, I realized I wasn't going to be with anyone else, and I found myself falling for Lilly so I asked her to be my girlfriend. Haven't been apart since. Now, after six years of marriage, we never will be."

I force a smile and let out a tiny squeal. "That's so... cute!"

Tom's elbow nudges me in the ribs, making me jump and shoot him a look. He frowns and shakes his head at me. I sigh and roll my eyes.

I don't like cliche. It makes me want to puke every time I hear a cheesy story that sounds as if it's come straight out of a romance film. I don't like romance movies or books, I don't like those speeches in wedding proposals, I don't like that typical teenage love story that has been around for so long that it's not even interesting anymore, I don't like roses and I don't like-

"And to celebrate, we're going to Paris tomorrow morning," Lilly says breathlessly, obviously still unable to believe it.

I try not to cringe. Paris, the city of love. It's disgusting and just as overused as that All By Myself song that Hollywood loves so much and must use in every sad scene. I hate Paris. And it's love and romance that did it.

"That's sweet. I'd love to take Y/N to Paris one day." Tom looks down at me with a grin on his face.

I scoff. "We may be losers, but I don't think our life is that depressing. I mean, why go to Paris? So many people go there and it's just not that special and unique anymore. If anything we should go to the Australian outback, or Africa, or Ohio."

"What about Venice?" Alan chips in.

"That's even worse. I'd rather go to Shrek's swamp. Actually, that's not a bad idea."

Lilly and Alan exchange glances and force a smile, beginning to stumble over their words as they try to agree with me. All the while as I watch in amusement,  I feel Tom's disappointed eyes glued to the back of my head. 

~Time skip~

"...and Patrick, wow. His voice was just so amazing," Lilly drones on about some band her and Alan went to see. Fault Of Boys? I don't know. I just want to go home.

I spent the night downing Alan's whiskey and anxiously watching the hands of the clock tick.

I've been trying to drown out Lilly and Alan's voice by focusing on the music, but halfway through their conversation of a man called Brayden Urine -which is a really weird name- Lilly turned the music down, claiming it was 'a bit too loud'.

Not wanting to listen about this Patrick Pump guy and his incredible voice anymore, I try my hardest to focus on the music, which is nearly impossible.

Suddenly, I hear it. I hear the music. I smile smugly to myself as I block out Lilly's voice.

The smile doesn't last long. I pay close attention to the words. 

"I know where you stand,"

My smile drops instantly.

"Silent in the trees,"

I run over to the speaker, turning up the volume dial.

"And that's where I am,"

"Y/N-"

"Shut up," I snap, cutting Tom off.

"Silent in the trees.

Why wont you speak?

Where I happen to be,

Silent in the trees,

Standing cowardly."

My eyes well up and hot tears threaten to fall. One manages to escape and slide down my cheek as I stare blankly at the speaker, listening to the familiar voice booming from it.

It's Tyler. It's his song.

"Like that song, do you?" I hear Lilly say fro behind me. I turn around to face her. A smile creeps across her face. "It's a good band. Twenty One Pilots. Doesn't the singer have a great voice? His name is-"

"Tyler," I finish. "M-my brother."

Forgetting everything I thought of Lilly before, I jump up and wrap my arms around her.

"Thank you," I whisper and I break into tears.