In Love with a Lunatic (joshler)

13. Dear Alcohol

And another one cause I can and because I'm gonna be at work for the rest of the day ✌🏻😗

(*Dear Alcohol -Dax) (*tw/cw: alcohol, drinking/getting drunk)

Wednesday
December 25
Christmas Day

Christmas arrived faster than Tyler expected it to. He's hoping it passes just as quick. It's currently 10:30am, Christmas morning, and he is half a bottle of vodka down already. His parents are still ignoring his calls and texts, and the only family member that has reached out to him is Sheri. She invited him over, but honestly, he just doesn't want to interact with anyone. He bought two bottles of his favorite vodka and plans on getting drunk off of mixed drinks all day while A Christmas Story plays on repeat.

He couldn't help but think back to his last conversation with his mom. Maybe he shouldn't have said what he did, but with how quick everything occurred to him, he didn't know what else to say. He's angry with her, but he isn't sure if he even should be. The harm he did to his body over the years was his own doing. It's not like she forced him to drink. She didn't force him to become an addict, or self-harm, or not eat. Or did she? Tyler doesn't know. The situation is confusing to him. His whole life is confusing to him.

Sipping the blue alcoholic beverage, his head spins as he laughs at Flick flailing his arms with his tongue stuck to the frozen pole. His mind drifts, thinking back on past years and realizes he's never watched this movie by himself. He always had someone with him. This movie isn't the same without his family scattered around the living room with gift wrap littering the floor by the tree waiting to be picked up and thrown away by his father, grumbling quietly to himself. Something else he doesn't have this year: a tree. He's been so caught up with rehearsing and his new relationship to get one. Somehow, his apartment feels more empty, having realized.

With a deep breath, he picks up his phone and goes to his favorited contacts. He feels himself tear up as he clicks on his grandmother's. Putting the phone to his ear, he listens as it goes straight to voicemail. A lone tear falls down his cheek as he listens to the woman's voice before it beeps. He sniffles, "Merry Christmas, Grandma. Miss you."

Clicking end, more tears fall before he finishes the rest of his drink. Maybe he doesn't want to be alone.

He jumps slightly as his phone begins vibrating in his hand. Looking at the screen, he sighs upon seeing Josh's wide grin pop up, his missing incisor on proud display as Tyler presses his tongue against the man's cheek. Wiping his cheeks, he slides the screen to answer the call, "Hello?"

"Merry Christmas, baby."

Tyler smiles softly at the man's voice. He can't believe how hard he fell for Josh and how hard he is crushing on him. Everything about him. His voice, his smile, his stupid jokes, and the way he treats Tyler. He treats him like a person. Which actually does make him different from the rest. He's not used to it.

"Merry Christmas," Tyler whispers, shutting his eyes.

"Do you have plans for today?"

Sighing, Tyler hums, "Um...no. My family isn't really on speaking terms with me right now, so I'm just kinda nesting on the couch."

"You're alone?" Josh asks, his voice packed with sadness and confusion.

"Yeah. But I mean, I-I'm okay. I got A Christmas Story playing and I made some cookies last night, so I've been munching on those all morning," Tyler chuckles.

Josh is quiet for a moment before asking, "Why don't you come over? I'm just leaving my mom's, I'll be home in like 15 minutes."

Tyler glances at the bottle on the coffee table. He can't drive. And Josh can't see him drunk.