Tyler Is Away

Chapter 3

2004
Sophomore year
College

One year later, and Evan and Tyler were growing further apart. Evan had stopped talking to Tyler as much after the reveal about him and Craig. In fact, he'd been hanging out more with other friends and even met someone. But his feelings for Tyler were still as strong as ever and he didn't know how to get rid of them.
He decided to try to talk to him again, maybe sort things out.

WILDC4T43 has signed in.

WILDC4T43: hey Evan!
Vanoss: Tyler! Hey!
WILDC4T43: How's life? I feel like we haven't talked in a while
Vanoss: it's good. How's yours?
WILDC4T43: eh, it's fine. got any plans this weekend?
Vanoss: I'm just gonna hang out with my friend, Jonathan.
WILDC4T43: that sounds like fun!
WILDC4T43: who's Jonathan?
Vanoss: oh, he's just a friend.
WILDC4T43: oh, I don't think ive heard you talk about him before.
WILDC4T43: how did you two meet?
Vanoss: my friend David introduced us at his dorm last year.

Evan noticed that Tyler was taking a long time to respond. Maybe he shouldn't have brought up Jonathan. But Tyler was with Craig, wasn't he? Why would he care?

WILDC4T43 is typing...
WILDC4T43 is deleting...
WILDC4T43 is typing...

WILDC4T43: so, is he your best friend?
...
Vanoss: I don't know. I'm not sure who I would call my best friend.
WILDC4T43: wow Evan, sounds like things are going really well.
WILDC4T43: that's just so great.

Better change the subject.

Vanoss: so how are you?
WILDC4T43: I'm okay. Well not really. I'm pretty sad.
WILDC4T43: me and Craig broke up last week.

Oh.
Oh.

Vanoss: oh Tyler, I'm so sorry. How are you?
WILDC4T43: I'm okay. It's just been really weird since.
WILDC4T43: me and him had the same group of friends so things are messy.
WILDC4T43: i just feel really alone, you know?
Vanoss: I know man, I'm here for you
WILDC4T43: it just seriously hurts. I feel really abandoned.
Vanoss: why did you break up?
WILDC4T43: guess we just kinda grew apart?
WILDC4T43: I feel like Craig changed a lot over the summer.
WILDC4T43: and things were just different when we got back.
WILDC4T43: oh man, now im starting to cry.

Shit, did I do that?

Vanoss: awe Ty, please don't cry. It's his loss, you're an amazing person.
WILDC4T43: thanks. I'm sorry for being such a mess.
Vanoss: it's okay, Ty, you know I care about you.
WILDC4T43: thank you, it's nice to be able to talk about this.
WILDC4T43: I haven't really had the chance to vent yet.

Evan smiled, typing the next few words that he knew were true.

Vanoss: I know you'd do the same for me.
WILDC4T43 is typing...
WILDC4T43: I want to ask you something but I'm afraid you'll hate me after.
WILDC4T43: promise me you won't hate me?
Vanoss: I could never hate you.
WILDC4T43: remember Craig's party freshmen year?
WILDC4T43: I brought it up all the time when we talked.
WILDC4T43: well.
WILDC4T43: Why didn't you want to go?..
....
Vanoss: I'm sorry, I never really liked high school parties.
WILDC4T43: I just really wanted you to go. I had this whole plan to ditch Marcel.
WILDC4T43: I just always wondered how things would be if you did.
.....
WILDC4T43: I don't know. It's kind of stupid I guess.
Vanoss: i regret not going.
WILDC4T43: hey! I have an idea.
WILDC4T43: maybe I could come visit this weekend.
WILDC4T43: I could really use some time away from this school.
WILDC4T43: and we always said we would visit each other.
WILDC4T43: what do you think?

Holy shit. Holy shit! Maybe I can get somewhere. We're both single now, and maybe I can confess my feelings finally.

Vanoss: Please come visit! I would love  to see you!
WILDC4T43: great! Awe man now I'm really excited!
WILDC4T43: oh, what about your plans with Jonathan?

I mean, yeah. I like Jonathan. But right now my feelings for Tyler are so much stronger, and I'm not even sure if Jonathan likes guys.

...
Vanoss: I'll talk to him about it.
WILDC4T43: okay, I just don't want to mess things up.

You wouldn't be.

WILDC4T43: what do you want to do this weekend?
Vanoss: just hang out in my dorm?
WILDC4T43: sounds good to me, should I bring my alcohol?
Vanoss: yeah, definitely!
WILDC4T43: okay! I'm so excited to finally come and visit.
WILDC4T43: oh shit, I actually have to run.
WILDC4T43: but I'll see you this weekend, okay?
Vanoss: see you soon! =]
WILDC4T43: bye!

WILDC4T43 is away.