Next Semester

22. best friend

4500 words (lowkey unedited sorry)

Josh had followed through with his promise and called Tyler the day after to check on him...and every day after that. Tyler had decided (with slight nudging from Josh) that he would take a week off from school and allow himself to heal and process what had happened, so their only form of contact was over text or phone. Tyler had also begrudgingly went to a doctor to confirm his injuries and provide a medical excuse to the university for his absence, and that was all Josh needed to get Erik expelled.

As soon as Tyler had proved the university with his medical slip, Josh made a report to the dean that he'd witnessed Erik Clark assault Tyler Joseph on the street and had to step in and get Erik away from Tyler since he had shown no signs of stopping anytime soon. The paperwork was pushed through very quickly due to the severity of the situation, and since this was not Erik's first time being in trouble with the dean's office, the school ultimately decided to expel him.
Josh had to sit in on the meeting with the board while they informed Erik of his sentencing, and Josh had never felt a greater satisfaction than when he watched Erik's face whiten as he was informed he was to collect his things and leave campus effective immediately.

School was lonely without Tyler, though. Not only was he stuck to do his research alone, but he was worried sick about the absent brunet. He knew that Tyler was fine from their constant texting and calling, but after seeing him so beaten and broken, he couldn't help but want to see that Tyler was safe at all times. Being away from him while he healed wasn't ideal, but at least Tyler was resting. Their daily phone calls were typically around lunchtime, and Josh felt his body relax every time Tyler would answer. He'd soften at the reality that Tyler was in his bed, safe and sound, even if Josh wasn't there to protect him at the moment. Little did he know that Tyler was feeling the exact same anxieties that he was.

Tyler's week of rest was coming to an end and he couldn't wait to get back to school to see Josh. The Erik situation had turned him into a jumpy, paranoid mess. He'd wake up in the middle of the night hyperventilating and sweating from the constant nightmares of Erik's hands on him. Jude would help as much as he possibly could, but Tyler knew the only thing that would actually help was Josh. He was too afraid to be alone, so his friends took shifts throughout the day sitting with him to make sure he felt comfortable. He never told them that he wanted Josh to be the one sitting with him while he rested, but he definitely thought it. Hayley would cuddle up to him while they watched movies, Ashley would play him new music that she found, and Jude would read to him until he fell asleep, but none of that could compare to the idea of the man holding him and telling him he was safe the way he did when he found him on the sidewalk that night. He felt guilty about leaning on the man so much, but Josh had been nothing but kind and supportive through all of this, so it was kind of hard not to lean on him. Their daily phone calls helped with that, though. Both men got their fix of each other for the day to hold them over until they saw each other again.

On Tyler's last day of sick-leave, he'd answered his phone excitedly when Josh called,

"Hi, Josh," his smile was apparent in his voice as he eagerly awaited the man's comforting voice.

A soft laugh came through the phone as the man answered, "Hey, Ty. How're you feeling?" Josh always asked him that question, and Tyler secretly wished he'd never heal so that he could hear Josh ask him that for the rest of his life.

"I'm okay," Tyler shrugged. His bruises were yellowed and old and the splits in his face were practically healed, but left pink marks in their wake. He hoped they wouldn't permanently scar, but only time would tell.

"Good," Josh smiled, "Are you ready to come back?"

"Yes," Tyler groaned, earning a chuckle from the older, "It's so boring to just sit here all day. I miss you." The admission caught Tyler off guard, but he didn't regret the words. He really did miss Josh, and he didn't mind if the man knew that or not.