Saying Something Stupid Like "I Love You"

Chapter 3: Tired

"Tyler, what do you want?" Taylor asks.

The group waited outside a cafe, Ben and Aiden claiming a seat by the window. "Just get me a macchiato or something," Tyler speaks as he stares at the menu sitting by the cafe door. "And... wanna share a chocolate cheesecake?" He questions, turning to his twin who nods before heading inside.

Taylor wrote everyone's order down on her phone, deciding it was easier for one person to go inside rather all.

The rest sat at the table Ben and Aiden claimed, talking about "the stupid weather", as Tyler called it, taking notice of how it got colder now it was getting closer to October. "Whining won't change the weather, half-wit," Aiden says, "My ears are bleeding." Tyler kicked Aiden's shin from under the table. "Shut up!" He scoffs.

"Ow!" Aiden winces, "Ashlyn! Tyler kicked me, do something!" Aiden continued to cry crocodile tears until Tyler got a text from Taylor saying she needed help bringing their drinks. "Tay needs help," Tyler says as he stands up and then enters the cafe.

Aiden turns to Ashlyn. "So," He starts, "How's life?" Ashlyn arches a brow, "Why are you asking such a weird question?" Aiden shrugs, leaning back in his chair and tucking his hands into the pockets of his sweater. "Oh, I don't know, anything up with Tyler lately?" Aiden snorts. Ashlyn pulls out her phone, ignoring Aiden. Aiden groans, "Ash! Are you seriously just gonna pull out your phone?" Ashlyn looks away from her phone to look at Aiden with a raised brow. Aiden gasps.

"...You're joking, right?" He furrowed his brows, "You seriously haven't noticed Tyler's flir–"

"We're back!"

Taylor and Tyler came back with their drinks and treats. "Latte for Ashlyn and a muffin," Taylor says as she sets down her drink, "Hot chocolate for Aiden..." She continued until everyone got their stuff and Taylor and Tyler could sit down.

The sun began to set and they finished their drinks. They all walked to the park, talking about anything but Savannah for this was their day off according to Aiden. Anytime someone said something about Savannah or related to it, he hushed them and switched the topic. This brought them to the park.

—

Aiden ran for the swing, "I bet I can swing higher than you!" He jumped on the swing seat. "Hah! I bet you're wrong!" Taylor takes the swing by him. Tyler sat on a bench and took out his phone looking for the next bus and its destination.

'When's the next bus...?' Tyler types on his phone. "Ty!" Taylor shouts from the swing, "When's the next bus!?" She asks as if she read his mind. "Give me a second!" He replies, scoffing as Aiden warns him it has already been one second. "8:30! It goes to X Street!" He hears a thud and jolts up. "Taylor!" He gasps as he sees her on the floor, getting up and dusting off woodchips. "Ty! It's past 8:10!" She warns and they all freeze before they begin to run to the bus stop.

...

They all panted as they entered the bus, Aiden ran for the back of the bus and everyone but Ashlyn and Tyler joined them mainly because it ended up being full. Ashlyn and Tyler sat on the two seats closest to the back.

"You want the window seat?" Tyler asks as they approach two empty seats. Ashlyn nods wearily, wiping her eyes and heading for the seat. She yawned, looking out the window as the bus began to move.

"Tired?" Tyler caught Ashlyn's attention who nodded with a tired smile.

"Yeah and then in, like, 4 hours we have to fight for our lives," She huffs and Tyler chuckles lightly. "It's our day off, remember?" Tyler grins, leaning back into his chair, "Just... I don't know, don't think about that."

Tyler groans as he puts his hands into his pockets, he glances at Ashlyn who's beginning to fall asleep, head slightly dropping before she jolts. "Ash," Tyler calls her name, "You can rest your head on my shoulder if–" He cuts his sentence short as her head falls on his shoulder immediately. She mumbled something Tyler couldn't understand. "Hm?"

"You've been less of a jerk..." She sighs, "Thank you..." She shifts in her seat, hands resting in her pocket. Tyler forced his body not to tense up. 'I'm so glad she's sleeping,' Tyler thinks feeling his cheeks heat up.

...

Two stops later, they've reached their stop. Logan had left already a stop ago so it was just the twins, Ashlyn, Aiden, and Ben.

Tyler wakes Ashlyn up. "Time to wake up, sleeping beauty," Tyler softly nudges her, rolling his shoulders slightly. She blinks as she lifts her head. "What? Oh," She wipes her eyes and the bus comes to a stop. The group stood up and left the bus, they were all exhausted.

Taylor ranted to Aiden about a show they'd been talking about on the bus while Ben was napping on the seat with Ashlyn and Tyler sitting beside him.

"Uhm," Ashlyn cleared her throat, "Thanks, by the way." Ashlyn fiddles with her hand, glancing at Tyler. "Hm? Oh, yeah, no problem," He says. He looks at her, remembering the first time he met her.

Yes, Ashlyn has always looked like she was tired but it was more noticeable now with her dark circles due to sleepless nights. While most people despise said dark circles saying it makes a person look ugly, Tyler thought it was a good look on her. 'She's cute,' Tyler smiles softly at her.

She was about to fall asleep once again, her eyes drooping and her head falling. She glanced at Tyler's shoulders before looking him in the eye "Can I...?" She asks softly, her voice almost a whisper. Tyler nods with a smile and she lets her head fall on his shoulder. "Sorry," She breathes out, "This will be... the last time I'll do this..."

Tyler shifts in his seat, getting comfortable. He brings a hand up to softly pat her head, "Don't stress your pretty face about it."

———

I added this in the end notes in ao3 but still wanted to add it here

ashlyn: you know tyler was really nice to me yesterday
taylor: yeah, how?
ashlyn: he called me pretty and let me sleep on his shoulder, i guess he's starting to see me as a friend
taylor: omg ash u poor thing
ashlyn: huh?