clementine // joshler

24

tyler's point of view

as soon as my door is locked, i drop my homework onto the coffee table and plop onto the couch. i grab a pillow with shaking hands and bury my face in it to let out a sound somewhere between a squeal and a laugh. my heart beats fast and loud in my chest as i lie back on the couch to stare at the ceiling, my smile so wide that my cheeks hurt.

i let myself welcome the feeling, allowing it to cover me in its soft and sticky sweetness so i know it has no plans of going away anytime soon.

it's absolutely insane to me that sydney's plan seems to be working. it just feels like fate that we're neighbors now and maybe i  somehow do have a chance after all.

as soon as i catch my breath, i pick up my phone to call a group facetime.

sydney and emily both answer quickly and sydney immediately starts in.

"how was it, bitch?! tell us everything!"

"it was good, actually. i think it went really well," i admit, still unable to hide my smile.

"i cannot believe you went through with it," emily says, incredulous smile matching mine.

"ahh! look at you! you look so happy, ty. give me the details! what happened?" sydney giggles, almost just as excited as i am.

"i just asked him to help me with my stats homework and he did. but then he was like, 'so, are you good? are you sure there's no other reason you came in the middle of the night?' which kind of made me panic, but i was like 'nooo, i just have to work tomorrow and sunday,' which isn't a lie!"

"and then?" emily prods.

"it was actually really sweet. he was asking how i took care of myself because i work so much. he was being so nice, you guys. he asked me what i liked to do and i told him about my keyboard. he said i should play him something some time," i dish, feeling my blush return.

"oh my god," is all emily says.

"see! ease yourself in. test the waters, one toe at a time, babe. i think the payoff could be worth it. i mean, i've never seen you this happy in general, but i've also never seen you just... like someone. i'm a genius," sydney says.

"this is true. look at your red cheeks! you're so precious."

"stopppp." i roll my eyes, but they know i'm kidding. i sigh. "okay. well, i just wanted to update you guys, but really i have like one more assignment to do and then i'm going to bed."

"night, ty!"

"goodnight, my little slut!"

"sydney, you can't just say that."

"well, emily, i can, and i did."

"oh my god."

-

the next night, one of my least favorite coworkers is scheduled to work with me for a couple hours before jenna gets there to take his place for the rest of the nightshift.

we stay relatively slow until it's time for the shift change. when i see jenna clocking in, i exhale.

"finally. god, i am so happy to see you."

she laughs and ties on her apron. "that bad?"

"you know how he is. he never does anything without complaining about it and i know he wants to call me the f-slur so bad."

"fair enough."

i consider telling her about what happened with mr. dun... or josh. i decide against it and have to put on a straight face when one of the waitresses approaches me.