As the months passed, it was safe to say Josh and Tyler had grown very close. Josh was a familiar face in the Joseph household, and Tyler was no stranger to the Dun's. Their parents had gotten closer, respectively. There were plenty of occasions that the two families had gone out together, going on various trips. Mini golfing, dinners, hikes, you name it. But, when it was just Tyler and Josh, things were different. They hung out more, at school and after. Weekends, weekdays, the odd downtime between classes. Tyler and Josh were basically inseparable. They'd become best friends, just as they planned. Tyler had shown Josh the music he worked on, Josh would download it and listen to it when they weren't together. The summer months had grown closer, signaling the ending of school. As summer hit, every day was spent in Josh's car, at the pool, at the park, each other's houses and the mall. The pair bonded over music making, childhood stories, movies, comics, TV shows and anything they could think of.
Moonlight seeped through the windows of Josh's car as they drove down the familiar Columbus streets, music playing and the windows cracked. Tyler had been thinking for a while, his fingers tracing his knee. Josh noticed, looking over "Ty?" He snapped Tyler out of his thoughts. "Yeah? Yeah, what's up?" Tyler turned his gaze to Josh, his face dusted with the familiar pink shade he had when Josh said his name "What's up man?" Josh asked, turning his focus back to driving. Tyler shrugged, "Nothin, just sitting." Josh nodded before pulling into his driveway, he rolled up the windows and unlocked the doors. Tyler got out, following Josh inside "Hey uh.. Nobody's home?" Tyler turned to Josh as they went to his room "Yeah, parents are out tonight." He shrugged "I don't question it, but at least we get the place to ourselves." He nudged Tyler playfully, pushing his buttons. Tyler jokingly sighed "Oh whatever Josh." He sat on a beanbag chair Josh had while Josh sat on his bed, stretching out. "Y'know Ty, I've been thinking."
Tyler sat up, looking at Josh. "Yeah?" He was still relaxed but a bit curious. Josh thought for a second "Eh, maybe another time, we should just chill for now." Tyler groaned, laying back on the beanbag once again. "You confuse me, Josh." He stated. "And you keep me on my toes, Ty." Josh replied, sending a smile Tyler's way. Tyler's cheeks flushed and he closed his eyes, laying his head down. After all the time they'd spent together, what Tyler felt didn't go away as he had planned. If anything, they got worse. His palms got sweaty, hot waves washed over him, his face turned red, it was hard to speak. He had to remind himself every day that there was no use, Tyler wasn't a girl. Josh likes girls. It'd never work. Tyler mumbled, "'m not a girl. there's no point.." under his breath, but unfortunately it wasn't quiet enough. Josh sat up, rolling onto his stomach to look at Tyler "What'd you say?" Tyler tilted his head up, "Nothin' Josh." Josh shook his head "No, what'd you say Tyler? I heard somethin' about you not being a girl or whatever." Tyler groaned, rubbing his temples "Yeah, and?" Josh rolled his eyes, sitting on the edge of his bed. He leaned over, arms resting on the inside of his legs as he looked at Tyler "What's that about?" "Seriously, it's nothing. I'm gonna go home, it's late." Tyler stood, adjusting his hoodie sleeves. He stepped around Josh, heading for the bedroom door.
Josh quickly stood, grabbing Tyler's arm. "Ty. C'mon, talk to me." He looked at Tyler, seriousness taking over his face. "It's not a big deal, something stupid." He nodded, trying to wiggle out of Josh's grasp. "I'm not letting that slide Tyler, you gotta tell me." Tyler stopped moving, also taking on a serious expression. "Josh, you like girls, right?" Josh cocked an eyebrow, nodding "Yeah, I guess so.." "Well there, boom, that answers everything, let me go home now." Josh gently let go of Tyler's arm, letting him go. Tyler quickly left the house, zipping up his hoodie and stuffing his hands into his pockets. It was a dumb idea in the first place, getting close to Josh. And Tyler knew that all of his feelings weren't right. Imagine what his parents would say. What his siblings, classmates, or even the other kids at church.. Church. Oh how Tyler was torn about church, and God and all things related. He shook his head, clearing his thoughts as he got inside, his family had already gone to bed so he snuck in and clicked his bedroom door shut softly. He climbed into bed, laying and looking at his ceiling. What was he thinking? Why couldn't he just like a girl like everyone else did? He thought for a second, scanning his mind for options. He sorted out a few. Josh could just be what Tyler wants in a girl, or maybe Tyler just has anxiety, or.. he sat up, his eyes wide. "I'm in love with him." He whispered.
Fifteen minutes or so passed when Tyler heard a soft knock on his window, he jumped up, a bit scared. He grabbed his ukulele, for self defense or something of the sort and slowly crept closer. Just as he opened the window, bright red hair popped up. Josh climbed through, pushing the window up just a little higher. "Tyler-" Josh began "I want to tell you what I was thinking earlier. It can't wait, I'm sorry." Tyler grumbled, setting his ukulele down. "I'd really like it if you just didn't right now, Josh." Just then, Josh grabbed Tyler by the shoulders "Tyler, stop that. This is important." Tyler shuddered at Josh's touch, nodding "Yeah, okay, but I need to say something too." Josh furrowed his brow in confusion "Oh shit? Go first." Tyler shook his head, "Say it at the same time?" Josh nodded, "3.." "2.." "1.."
"Tyler I don't want to be just 'friends'."
"Josh I think I'm in love with you."
