clementine // joshler

40

tyler's point of view

monday went by slowly without josh, but the rest of the week flies by fairly quickly.

now, sydney and emily are at my apartment and we're all getting ready for the dance. there's music playing and we all sing along together, talking and laughing as emily straightens her hair and sydney does her makeup. i finished getting ready first obviously, since i didn't have to worry about doing my own hair or makeup.

i feel nervous, but i don't have a real reason to. i try to push it down and smile while we take a few pictures before we go.

our dates meet us in the parking lot of the school and we walk in together. i try to keep an open mind for theo's sake. it wouldn't be the worst thing to be friends with him. but for now, i feel extremely awkward.

we find a table for sydney and emily to leave their purses on and to give us a meeting point before they go off to dance with their dates. they try to pull me along but i shake my head. this leaves theo and i alone.

"you, um... you look great," he says. "thanks for coming with me."

"thank you. so do you," i return. "and thanks for inviting me."

we talk for awhile, enjoying the music and making pleasant conversation while sydney and emily stop in periodically to talk to me.

in one of the brief paused in conversation, i take a moment to look around and spot josh standing next to another teacher at the punch table. he looks incredible, which isn't surprising.

i look away, back to theo, but my phone buzzes in my pocket before i can start another conversation.

j: hey over there

j: you look beautiful, tyler.

i feel my cheeks burn and i hope theo can't see it under the dim lighting.

tyler: i could say the same to you

j: this is hardly different from what i wear to school every day..?

tyler: i know.

i look up just in time to see josh shake his head, small smile on his face.

j: i need to put my phone up now. i just wanted to tell you that you look nice. have fun tonight, ty.

i put my phone back into my pocket and smile wider when i see sydney and emily coming back over.

"tyler, i love this song. you have to come dance with us now. pleeeasee?" sydney grabs my arm, already pulling me out of my chair.

"alright, alright, fine." i stand and go with them to the middle of the room to dance, surrounded by people as a song i vaguely recognize as being by sydney's favorite singer.

we dance for awhile and i have a lot more fun than i thought i would. then, a slow song comes on, the last slow song of the night.

sydney winks at me and glances toward josh. "go make him jealous, ty-guy," she speaks quietly enough that only emily and i can hear.

"good luck, t." emily gives me a thumbs up before they both turn back around to find their dates again.

i walk back to the table where theo sits. he stands when he sees me, small smile on his face.

"ready for that dance?" i return the small smile, feeling much less awkward now.

sydney and emily always make me feel better and even if this were to go terribly, i'd still have good memories to take away.