Stand By You (Troyler AU)

(un)Happiest Birthday pt. 1

2093 words oh my

-few days later-

Tyler let out a long yawn as he sat at the counter of the diner waiting for Troye to come in for his shift. Tyler was smiling widely waiting for Troye to come, knowing that he would have something planned for Tyler's birthday today. Tyler had never been one for birthdays but the idea of having a friend to spend the time with made him feel differently. Tyler had been trying more and more to feel better about himself and feel more confident in his actions. He thought Troye noticed, Tyler was coming to terms with his own feelings. Tyler was realizing that maybe he wasn't powerless, maybe relationship partners don't aways hurt him, and maybe friends don't always leave.

"Hey Tyler, surprised to see you here today" Connor said moving swiftly behind the counter. Tyler raised a eyebrow, of course he would be here, he always met Troye here on Saturdays for his shift. It had become their usual 'thing', diner, Troye's apartment for the day, Tyler's house for the night and then Tyler brought Troye back home in the morning. "What do you mean?" Tyler said questioning Connor

"I didn't think you would come in if Troye wasn't here, he called out this morning something about plans with a friend I don't know" Connor said wiping the counter as he walked away from Tyler.

Troye wasn't coming in? and he didn't tell Tyler? What friend? Tyler slumped his shoulders, Troye forgot about him. Either that or Troye was leaving him out....on his birthday. Surly Troye didn't forget about his birthday. Right? He was just being Troye, making a joke, he didn't forget. He couldn't have. Tyler walked out of the diner and into his car buckling his seat belt before and starting the car.

To Troyeboy: Hey...everything okay you weren't at work Tyler text to Troye before pulling the car out of the parking lot and heading back to his house.

——

Tyler sat staring at the ceiling unsure of what to do, this was the first Saturday that he'd been alone since he met Troye. Tyler rolled onto his stomach and looked at his desktop computer on his desk that he never used. He looked over the sickie notes posted to the rim of the screen. Reading the words written in black sharpie 'Even if we can't find heaven, I'll walk through hell with you' Tyler frowned reading the words that Troye wrote. Those words were a lie, Troye didn't stand by him, it was Tyler's birthday and he hadn't heard from him all day. Not one word.

It was because Troye hated him, the only reason he talked to Tyler in the first place was because he had pity for him. Tyler could feel the warm pecking of tears in his eye. Troye didn't remember his birthday and he ditched him for another friend. 'Good' Tyler thought. Troye deserved a better friend, someone whole and healthy. Someone who could love him more fully and take care of him. Tyler could love him with ever cell in his body but he couldn't take care of himself, how could he take care of Troye. Tyler's stomach began to swim with nausea.

Tyler walked over to the couch and laid on the soft surface taking deep breaths trying not to think about what he actually wanted to do in this moment. He didn't want to, he wanted to let the tender bruise of his habits heal, but Troye was the one to talk away his demons and he wasn't here. He left. He didn't care. He walked away, because thats what friends do. They leave.

Tyler could feel is stomach churning more and more as he laid face down in the couch pillows, which smelt faintly of Troye. Minty but also kinda chocolaty mixed with one other scent that Tyler couldn't exactly put a finger on. The smell made it worse. So, so much worse. He was crumbling, slowly and surly Tyler was falling apart without Troye by his side. Tyler shook with a sob into the cushions of the couch, when did he become this. This person who couldn't hold himself together without the help of another person. He couldn't hold himself together without Troye.