clementine // joshler

42

josh's point of view

i hate visiting my parents.

even at christmas dinner, they can't find anything better to talk about but how happy they are that i'm no longer with debby and asking when i'll be ready to settle down.

i finish eating and sneak off to the living room as soon as the subject changes, taking a spot on the couch while the kids eat around the coffee table and watch the polar express.

i pull my phone out of my pocket to text tyler. it makes me sad to think about him sitting alone at home on christmas.

josh: hey ty

tyler: hey j ! how's it going?

josh: eh. i don't really wanna be here anymore. how's it going over there?

tyler: im alright, just laying around. im excited to see you later :)

josh: i'm excited to see you too, sweetheart

we text for awhile and i wait until after everyone's opened their presents to leave. the drive isn't too awfully long, which i'm grateful for.

i don't bother stopping at my apartment first when i get back. i go straight to tyler's door and knock twice.

he answers after a few seconds, wearing pajama pants with little christmas trees and a t-shirt that's at least two sizes too big on him.

he smiles wide when he sees me and hugs me tight. "merry christmas, j," he says, pulling away after a moment.

"merry christmas, tyler." i kiss his forehead. "ready to come over?"

"yep. let me just grab the present i got for you. i, um... i didn't bother packing a bag since i'm next door, but i am bringing my toothbrush and toothpaste." he blushes a little, venturing back into his apartment, to his room. he returns with his toothbrush, toothpaste, and a present wrapped in glittery paper and adorned with a bright green bow.

we take the few steps over to my apartment and tyler sets the gift on the coffee table.

"i can take your toothbrush to the bathroom if you want. i have to grab your gift from my room anyways," i offer.

he nods and hands it to me, his cheeks still pink.

when i come back, we exchange gifts sitting on my couch. tyler got me a vinyl of the album the band we saw toured for. it was one of the first times we really hung out and it was a lot of fun to have that experience with him, which makes it extra special.

we decide to make cookies after opening the gifts, christmas music playing as he mixes the ingredients.

"i never liked gingerbread," i say, leaning against my counter.

"that's completely valid. it's not good," he agrees. "this is almost done though. do you want to add the chocolate chips?"

"of course. the best part." i step back over to measure the small pieces of chocolate and dump them into the bowl.

i watch as he carefully folds them into the dough. he's got a certain focus on it that i find adorable.

i help him split the dough into small, round pieces after that and place them on the baking sheet. we put them in the oven and then wash our hands in the sink, standing close together in order to share the water.

after drying off, i pull him close to me to dance, swaying to the music that still plays quietly in the background.

he's smiling at me, giggling with always-pink cheeks when i twirl him in a circle.