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The day was now Friday meaning the school week was complete for everyone. It also meant the varsity football game was being held and the boy’s plan was going into effect.
They were to go over Josh’s house and chill for a couple hours before walking to the school a couple minutes before it started. They didn’t really feel like paying to get into something they weren’t going to watch so arriving early would be important.
After school ended, Tyler and Josh walked together home and raiding Josh’s snack cabinet, depriving his house of chips, cookies and soda.
“Great, now we don’t have to starve while we’re down there.” Tyler joked, stuffing the junk food into his spare bag and closing it.
“Yeah, we’ll just die from our newly developed, you know, obesity and go into cardiac arrest.” Josh taunted back. Tyler hit him playfully on the arm and they both laughed, going up to Josh’s room and saying hello to his mom on the way.
“What do you even plan on doing down there anyways?” Josh asked.
“I don’t know. I just wanted to hang with you outside of here and stuff.” He shrugged. “It’s gonna be cool, don’t worry.”
“No, I know it will be; you’re rad as frick.” Josh complimented.
“Thanks.” Tyler chuckled. “You are too.” The two boys took their seat on the bed and listened to music for the time being before heading out.
“Mom, we’re leaving. We’re gonna walk home when it’s over, okay?” Josh called out to his mom.
“Okay just be safe, boys. I love you, have a good time.” She hugged them both and sent them on their way. She was glad Josh found a friend in Tyler. The last thing she wanted was for her son to go through another year of high school alone.
—
When the two arrived at the school, they immediately made a beeline for the back gate that separated the baseball and softball fields from the football, soccer and tennis ones. They got through and got to walking across the field and made their way towards a local dugout. It was already pretty dark out so Josh took out his flashlight and shined it inside.
“Oh shit, dude, come on!” Josh whisper yelled after seeing what was inside. Josh grabbed Tyler’s hand and ran to the outfield fence. He sat down while Tyler kept laughing.
“What the heck was that, Josh?!” Tyler managed to say between fits of laughter.
“I didn’t want to watch a couple of horny teenagers make out!” He returned. Josh didn’t find any of this funny but he couldn’t help but laugh at Tyler. He just couldn’t stop so Josh grabbed his hand again, pulling him down so he could sit next to him.
Eventually Tyler calmed down and the two friends were sitting there talking about nothing in particular when Tyler’s phone rang. He got up to answer it considering it was his dad and he knew their conversations could get a little heated sometimes; he didn’t want Josh to hear.
Josh was left there sitting on his own, eating Doritos and scrolling through Tumblr. He heard Tyler come back after a while but he didn’t say anything when he sat down. Tyler just rested his head on Josh’s shoulder and turned inwards so his face was buried in Josh’s chest a little.
As a response, Josh hugged Tyler closer but didn’t really know what was going on until he felt his shirt get wet and heard a small sniffle. It was then when Josh realized his friend was crying and he didn’t like it.
“Tyler?” There wasn’t really an answer, just an adjustment on his chest.
“Ty, what’s the matter?” Josh asked again. Tyler muttered a small ‘nothing’ but Josh just sighed.
“Okay, here.” He told the snuggled boy. He moved the snacks out of the way and lied down on the grass, pulling Tyler into his arms. Tyler snuggled close to him quickly and let out a big sigh, trying to hold back the tears. “You know, you can cry. I know you want to.”
“I know.” Tyler said softly.
“What’s the matter, Ty? You can talk to me.” Josh assured him.
“I know that…” Tyler stopped for a moment. “Can we just go to your house, please?” He asked, looking up at Josh with watery eyes.
Josh gave in as soon as Tyler looked up at him. “Of course. Let me just clean up a little and then we’ll go.” He scurried up and got the food, throwing them in the bag messily. He decided to deal with the mess later. Josh felt that Tyler was more important.
“Okay, let’s go.” Tyler walked with Josh to the house and, when they got inside, Tyler immediately went up to Josh’s room. He didn’t bother to say hello to Joan. Joan took notice and asked Josh if his friend was okay.
“What’s the matter with Tyler?” She asked her son who just finished taking his bag off.
“I don’t know. I think it was his parents or something.” Josh sighed.
“Well what happened?”
“I don’t know that either. We were just sitting there then he left to go take a phone call from his dad and he came back crying a little so I held him and lied down but he asked if we could come here so, here we are.” Josh quickly explained. He wanted to get back to his hurting best friend.
“Alright. Just make sure that boy is okay. I can tell you care.” She chuckled. Her son could be so transparent sometimes.
“Yeah, yeah.” Josh concluded, racing up the stairs to his room only to find Tyler lying on his bed, asleep. He was clutching one pillow in his arms like he was holding someone. Josh just sighed, knowing he wasn’t going to get any answers tonight, and got into the bed with him. He moved Tyler so he was sleeping in his embrace rather than that pillow.
“I hope you’re okay, Ty. I care a lot about you, believe it or not.” Josh whispered to the sleeping boy. Without thinking he kissed the top of his head and pulled back in disbelief.
“What the fuck are you doing, Josh?! He’s only your friend not your boyfriend or something. Don’t do that. Stop.” Josh mentally scolded himself. Tyler moved a little and Josh froze. He was hoping he didn’t feel the peck and that he wouldn’t remember it in the morning. With the false hope, Josh tried sleeping. It wasn’t until 2 in the morning when he finally went to bed though.
—
In the morning, Tyler was the first to be up. He was sitting at the edge of the bed, twiddling his thumbs and keeping his head down. He didn’t like that he just ruined his time with Josh last night by letting his feelings get in the way. He wished his dad never called. The things he said and called him through the phone ruined his whole night and he couldn’t help but cry again, just at the thought.
Tyler let out a quiet sob but Josh awoke right as it happened. Tyler quickly wiped his eyes to free himself of tears but it didn’t work as planned and more came out.
“Tyler? Tyler, please don’t cry again.” Josh hurried over to Tyler’s side to hold him from behind, placing him on his lap just a little. “Seeing you cry hurts…” Josh told himself. He didn’t want to mess up again like last night.
“I’m sorry, Josh. I don’t mean to.” Tyler sobbed into his hands. Josh pulled down Tyler’s hands and made him look at him.
“You don’t have to be sorry… Just tell me what happened?” Josh asked politely. He didn’t want to see him cry again so he hugged Tyler a bit longer.
“M-my dad. He kept saying bad things to me. They were about me, about us, and I didn’t like them. I couldn’t handle it.” Tyler went on. He was a mess now in Josh’s hold but Josh didn’t give up.
“What did he say?” Josh asked.
“He said…” Tyler stopped, taking a deep breath and coughing. “He said I was a fag and that you made me gay and that, if I wanted to be gay with you then, I should just move out and go some place else where he doesn’t have to see me ever again.”
Josh was left speechless. He didn’t know how to respond to that anyways. What was he to say? Josh knew he and Tyler’s father got off on the wrong foot at first but he thought he’d be okay once he and Tyler got close. He couldn’t imagine being the main reason his dad said all those things to him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen. I never intended for your dad to do anything of the sort and I definitely didn’t mean for him to call you that disgusting word. Don’t listen to him, okay? He’s wrong. He’s insanely wrong.” Josh comforted Tyler.
“No!” Tyler yelled out. “That’s the problem. He’s right. I do like you. You’re cool and smart and funny and relaxed and understanding and there for me and, I feel like, you’re my best friend and I like you, god damn it!” Tyler got up from Josh’s lap, running towards the door. Josh ran after him.
“Wait, Tyler! Just hold on!” He yelled. They were now at the front door and, just when Tyler went to open it, Josh slammed it shut.
“Look,-” Tyler was cut off by the impact of Josh’s lips on his.
***
dun dun dun
pun intended. I am letting everyone on my volleyball team in gym down because i suck wayyyy too bad. Someone help me.
noice cliffhanger, yeah? I figured out the ending.. v excited 🙂
fair winds *
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