skinny boy » joshler

four || tyler

lunchtime again, and this time tyler sits right across from josh. josh has an apple in front of him, and he's picking it at distastefully, but the second tyler sits down he stiffens and drops his food.

"you alright?" tyler asks, setting down his lunch. 

"fine," josh answers immediately, "just—" he pauses, winces, "do you have to sit here?"

tyler blinks back at him. "well, no. i can go sit alone in a bathroom stall, if that's what you want."

instantly josh's face flames red. "that's not what i meant, i just—"

"i get it," tyler cuts him off dismissively and shrugs. "hey, you didn't forget lunch today. unless... is that all you're eating?"

josh digs his nails into the apple and juice soaks the tips of his fingers. he exhales, chest rumbling. "yes. i hope that doesn't bother you."

man, tyler thinks to himself, josh's gonna be a tough nut to crack, huh. "it doesn't," he responds, "it's just a bit odd, is all."

"completely normal," josh argues, "i'm saving my calories for dinner."

"sav—" now it's tyler's turn to slump in his seat, face turning pink. "oh. well, i'm dumb." he's considering taking his lunch to the aforementioned bathroom stall, and he's about to stand up when josh sighs, and his shoulders sag. "uh, you alright?"

"sorry," josh says, "i know people are rude to you— i probably shouldn't add to that."

he looks sort of like a sad puppy when he says that, his eyes downcast and a hunch to his shoulders, so tyler forgives him immediately. "it's fine. i mean, you've got a point. who wants to hang out with me anyway, right?" he forces a laugh and grins at josh to let him know that really, it's fine, i swear.

"you sure?" josh looks worried, but he straightens up, one hand curling around his apple. he takes a tiny bite, adam's apple bobbing as he swallows.

"absolutely," tyler answers, and beams.

// listen to every trick in the book by ice nine kills