𝙏𝙍𝙀𝙀𝙎 || 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗵𝗹𝗲𝗿

15 - Confrontation

Monday, November 1st:

Josh couldn't believe what had happened the day before. He fell asleep thinking about it, and woke up with it still on his mind. He'd almost kissed Tyler. He'd almost completely lost his mind and kissed the other boy.

In Josh's head, Tyler could never feel the same. He was the perfect, straight basketball star. There was no way in Hell he'd ever fall for Josh. At least, that's what Josh thought.

He thought for a moment that Tyler nearly kissed him, too, but he decided he was going insane. He had a few drinks, too, so maybe it was just the alcohol affecting him. Who knows. All he knew is that he felt like he was going nuts.

At school that morning, he could tell a lot of people were recovering from hangovers, some of them seeming nasty. Specifically, he saw Maxx, and the boy had dark bags adorning his eyes, and he looked pale. Above all, he looked to be angry. Due to that, Josh very pointedly avoided him, staying completely out of his sight, getting the feeling that he wasn't going to be very happy if he saw Josh, seeing as he was with Tyler last night.

When he was sitting down to eat lunch, he couldn't help but overhear the commotion going on a few tables away. Most people were turned towards it, the cafeteria going quiet as people listened in on the argument happening.

"I don't understand why the hell you're doing this, Tyler!" a voice shouted.

"Doing what, exactly? Hanging out with my other friend? I'm allowed to have friends besides you, Maxx."

"Not if they're fucking losers."

Nobody knew that he was talking about Josh. Besides Josh, of course. He felt anger course through him, and he was about to get up before he heard Tyler defend him.

"He's not a loser," Tyler said sternly, taking a step towards Maxx. Although the blue-haired boy was bigger than Tyler, the younger boy still seemed to stand taller in his anger. "Frankly, you're a hundred times more of one than he'll ever be. Either you stop saying shit about him, or we're not gonna talk anymore. Ever. Do you understand?"

Maxx nodded slowly, sitting back down at his table, defeated. Tyler, although the conflict had been resolved, still walked away, clearly pissed off. He went right over to where Josh was sitting down and plopped down next to him, putting his head in his hands. Josh felt hundreds of eyes on them.

"Thanks for doing that," Josh spoke softly, putting a hand on the other boy's back, making him look up. Tyler still looked mad.

"I'm so tired of him and his bullshit." Josh raised his eyebrows a bit, surprised that Tyler was swearing. He must have really been riled up. "I'm sorry he said that about you. I don't know what's gotten into him lately and why he's being so jealous, but I just wish it would stop."

"It probably doesn't help that you're over here with me now," Josh pointed out, noticing Maxx staring daggers at them.

"I really don't care. He can suck it up. Why can't he just cope with the fact that I have other friends outside of the team? Why is that so hard?" Tyler questioned, exasperated, throwing his head back into his hands. Josh rubbed small circles into his back with his thumb, thinking fleetingly that he was glad the awkwardness from the day before had been forgotten.

"Because he's an idiot. A jealous idiot, who really doesn't deserve your attention."

Tyler peeked at him through his fingers, sighing. "Yeah, but I've gotta put up with him anyway. With the basketball season coming up and our first practice being on Thursday, I don't really know what I'm gonna do."

Josh thought for a moment. "I guess just be cordial. That's all you can do. I know he likes to pick fights, but try not to give him a reason. Unless he's being a pompous dick. Then you can kick his ass. Verbally."

Tyler laughed a little. "When is he not being a pompous dick?"

"True." Josh laughed too, not being able to help it as he beamed at Tyler. "But he'll be nice. That guy follows you around everywhere like a lovesick puppy. He'll probably just try to forget this ever happened."

Tyler nodded in consideration. "You're probably right," he conceded. "But, Josh?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you mind if I eat with you from now on?"

Josh smiled at him. "Of course not."

Tyler returned his smile, still looking a little upset, but happier now that they'd talked. And that's all Josh wanted: for Tyler to be happy.

"Actually, do you wanna go get something to eat? We can go off-campus if you want, just to get out of here," Josh suggested.

Tyler nodded. "Yeah, that'd be nice. I'm tired of getting stared at."

With that, the two walked out of the cafeteria, eyes following them until they were out of the doors and not visible anymore.

"Ugh, that was terrifying," Tyler grumbled. "I hate being the center of everyone's attention."

"You're literally the star of the beloved basketball team. You basically own this school. You're already the center of attention," Josh pointed out, making Tyler look at him, confused.

"I don't 'own this school.'"

"You basically do. Anybody there would do anything you asked them to, whether that be out of fear or reverence." When Tyler gave him a skeptical look, Josh added, "Seriously! I don't know how you don't see it."

"And what makes you think all this?" Tyler questioned.

"Years of observing."

"Oh, so you've been paying attention to what I've been doing for years, huh?"

Tyler, moments later, seemed to realize that what he said was flirtatious when Josh shot him a questioning look. Josh saw his face turn pink.

Not wanting Tyler to be uncomfortable, Josh just pushed on with the conversation, saying, "It's hard not to, when you're the focal point of the whole entire school."

Tyler rolled his eyes, his blush fading away a little. "I am not the focal point."

"Whatever you say," Josh teased, and Tyler looked at him a moment before breaking out into a smile.

"You're a dork."

"Not more of one than you," Josh shot back, bumping Tyler a little bit on the shoulder, making the other boy laugh.

They lapsed into a comfortable silence as they walked, not quite knowing where they were going, but knowing they'd run into some place with food at some point.

"Thank you, by the way," Tyler said after a while.

"For?" Josh asked.

"For a lot of stuff. Namely, for being my friend. Especially if I'm Mr. Popular, according to you. If everything you said is true, and that's really how people see me, I get why you didn't like me at first."

Josh sucked in a breath, his reply catching in his throat. He didn't quite know how to respond, but eventually looked over at Tyler, who was giving him an almost nervous look. And Josh shot him a comforting smile.

"Becoming friends with you was one of the best decisions I've ever made," Josh told him, making Tyler's face turn pink again at the compliment. "And I shouldn't have been so quick to judge you. There's no need to thank me, Ty."

"Ty?" Tyler questioned, an amused smile popping onto his face. "That's new."

Josh barely realized he said it, and he looked at Tyler apologetically. "Sorry. If you don't like it, I'll stop." He noticed how Tyler tensed whenever Maxx called him that.

"No, no, don't," Tyler quickly said. "I like it."

They smiled at each other again before continuing on, chatting about anything and everything, just enjoying each other's company. Josh was convinced that Tyler was perfect, watching him laugh and smile and they spoke. He was convinced that he'd never find anyone like the other boy. And he treasured every moment they spent together.