Sitting in the uncomfortable silence of the hotel room was torture. The soft glow of the lights on the shared bedside table, the classic hotel room smell, and silence. Pure, dead silence. Tyler sat in bed on his phone as Josh was messing around with his luggage. The classic routine of scrolling through social media, liking posts related to that nights concert, was nothing new. It had become a distraction for Tyler. Something to get his mind off of Josh. But every time a picture with the two of them popped up, the anxiety set in all over again. Tyler set his phone down and sat up in the bed. He stood up and paced a few times, thankfully Josh ignored it. Finally, Tyler stood in the middle of the room and took a deep, cleansing breath.
"Josh.." Tyler muttered, a shaky voice calling his friends name. The confession that he'd practiced running through his head like mustangs, his heart racing. He needed to tell him. Tyler had to tell Josh that the song they'd been performing for years on end wasn't what everyone thought it was.
Josh looked up, his eyes focusing on Tyler as his face contorted in that of pure confusion. Tyler never had this tone. Josh's eyebrows furrowed as he looked at Tyler, more concern for Tyler's state than anything. "Yeah, what's up Tyler?"
Tyler sighed, running a hand through his dark, coffee colored hair. He couldn't look Josh in the eyes as he said this. "We've been performing 'Oh Ms Believer' for years now.. I just.." Tyler looked Josh in the eyes, nothing but pure adoration in his own. "I never wrote it about a girl. It was never a girl."
Josh tilted his head, trying to consider Tyler's words. On one hand, Tyler had been lying about the meaning of their beloved song for years. But on the other, Tyler trusted Josh so much with the information he was about to present him. Josh took a step forward in Tyler's direction, leaning in to indicate to Tyler that he had Josh's full and undivided attention.
"It's about you. It's always been about you." Tyler let out. The weight of the universe lifted off of Tyler's shoulders as he said this. He relaxed, his muscles becoming less tense by the second as he carefully studied Josh's face for any form of reaction.
Josh couldn't help the small smile growing on his face. He walked closer, only a few feet away from Tyler now. "It's about me?" He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Josh finally knew what was going on with Tyler, he knew why Tyler had been acting the way he did and most importantly, he knew his feelings were mutual.
Tyler hummed in response "Mhm.. and when you brought it up in the car it was like I realized I was in love with you all over again." He smiled softly at Josh, letting the last wall down. Every drop of anxiety and doubt left his body when Josh smiled. It had always been like this.
"Tyler.." Josh finally closed the gap between them, taking the final step closer to Tyler. "I love you too. I always have." It felt good to finally say it. To finally be able to tell Tyler how he felt was the sweetest release. He reached a hand out to Tyler, motioning for him to take it. As Tyler took his hand, warmth spread on his face. His cheeks and ears were dusted pink. Tyler held Josh's hand, rubbing his knuckles with his thumb. His eyes lingered on their hands before his gaze trailed back up to meet Josh's. "Josh, I was so scared that you wouldn't feel the same. I have genuinely no clue what I would do or where I would even be without you in my life. You've changed everything for the better. I didn't think you'd react this way, I thought you'd hate me or want to quit the band or something.." Josh shook his head, taking in Tyler's words. He was ashamed of himself for causing Tyler so much panic, but he knew it wasn't his fault. "Not in a million years, Tyler. All I want to do is to be with you as long as I can be. And that's what I'll do, if you allow me to."
Tyler looked at Josh, slight confusion painted his face before he realized what Josh had meant. He cleared his throat, squeezing Josh's hand. "Josh, would you let me be your boyfriend? I know this is all so sudden, I'm sorry-"
Josh cut off Tyler's apology with a quick peck to his lips "I'll let you be my boyfriend as long as I get to be yours."
