Valentine (troyler AU)

Chapter Thirty-Three

*Smut warning... kind of?* it's like not really.. just heavy making out/touching. im not gonna warn you again cause you'll know!

Tyler’s pov

I sighed, sliding down the bathroom door to sit on the floor. The shower was still running, and it’d been almost an hour. Troye was likely sitting on the floor of the shower, the water cascading down his back. It would no doubt be set to the highest temperature, the burning hot water pelting him like bullets. I knew that when he finally got out of the shower his body would be bright red, his blood boiled right to the surface.

He was certainly trying to wash off the grime of Joshua’s touch, and the very thought made me want to cry. The fact that Joshua had the nerve to lay a single finger on Troye filled me with fury. I could’ve jammed my two fingers into his eyes, and the only reason I didn’t was because I was trying to get Troye out of that movie theater as fast as possible. The second he’d collapsed on me in tears was the moment I had to beg myself not to cry. Just seeing the person that I love so much in pain made my heart tremble with sorrow.

It was true that I really did love Troye, although mostly in a friend way. Still, it was hard to ignore the truth of my moms words and the feelings that I felt for Troye loitering in the back of my mind. I also couldn't deny the small amount of jealousy I felt when Troye agreed to going out with Joshua.

I remembered following Troye, having been plagued by the idea that he was in danger the whole day. It’d upset me when he cancelled our plans to instead go to the movies with Joshua, knowing that he was going to force himself to hang out with that scum. I’d come over despite knowing that our plans had been cancelled, knowing that it’d be easier to follow them from his house. The second that the second honk had sounded I’d rushed out of the room and down the stairs, snatching my keys off the table and watching from the window. Once they’d left I’d jumped into my car and followed them, my eyes squinted and my body straight back against the chair, as if in a car chase. In reality we were both driving about twenty miles an hour, but it hadn’t seemed like it at the time. And if Troye had recognized my car following them, he certainly hadn’t said anything. I’d even followed them into the theater, although neither of them noticed.

At first I hadn’t noticed, when Joshua had reached over and started touching Troye. It’d looked like a weird extension of Troye’s arm, so I'd paid it no mine. Although after a few seconds Troye made a sound similar to a whimper, and instantly I knew. My mind had filled with rage, and I had to resist jumping from my seat and over the ones in front of me. I’d imagined my hands wrapping around that thick throat of his, choking the life out of him. Even as I’d thought that I’d hopped out of my chair and raced down the aisle, until I was in line with Troye. His eyes had been squinted shut, as if in pain. Joshua’s hand had been on his lap, and Troye’s hands had been by his side, his nails digging into his palm, hard enough to make him bleed.

I’d reached over Troye, yanking Joshua’s hand off of him. Joshua had given me an offended look, which resembled the face of a douche bag. I’d had to stop myself from punching him and breaking his nose right then, instead helping Troye up and out of the theater. I’d driven him back to his house and asked him if he wanted me to stay, hoping he’d say yes. Instead of any real response, he’d given a distracted shrug and disappeared into the bathroom. A moment later the shower had turned on, and it hadn’t turned off yet. I sighed, hating that Troye was in there and in pain, probably feeling horrible for something that wasn’t even his fault. I just wanted to hug and comfort him, wrapping my arms around him and never letting go.

I blinked as I heard a sound from the bathroom, one that differed from the sound of running water. I strained my ears, listening for the sound again. A couple seconds later the sound repeated itself, and my heart constricted, realizing what it was. That was the sound of Troye sobbing, broken sniffles following each heave of tears.