drummer boy (boyxboy)

Chapter Twenty

It'd been a couple of weeks after Jennifer came back and Tyler was happy but Josh couldn't get what he'd been told about Tyler out of his head. He was happy for him, of course, but they'd been dating for a year and a half now, surely he would've been told by now.

"Can we get ice cream? Syke's Bites is opening today and I really want a shake." Tyler said, swinging the arm that was connected to Josh's.

"Yeah, babe." Josh said, halfheartedly. He was too busy thinking of the right time to ask Tyler.

"Is something wrong?" He asked, walking in the front door and sitting down his bag.

"Uh, no, no I'm good." Josh choked, giving a small smile at the end. Tyler was skeptical but nonetheless accepted.

"Okay... Well, um, do you still want to get some ice cream?"

"If you want, yeah." Tyler didn't say anything, just looked at Josh with suspicion. "Let's just go, Ty." Josh finally said, grabbing his wallet and Tyler's hand, speeding out the door.

The couple walked in an annoyingly awkward silence but Tyler chose to ignore it. They quickly got their ice cream and walked home before it got too dark. Though it was early March, the sun was still setting a bit early. By the time they got home it was 7 o'clock and incredibly dark. Joan was in bed already, unable to greet them when they got inside.

When they walked up the stairs and into the room, Josh closed the door and quickly got undressed, into pajamas and into bed.

"Alright, I know something's wrong. How come you don't want to talk to me about it?" Tyler sighed, sitting down on the bed.

"It's nothing..." Josh said quietly.

"We both know that's not true, babe. Please talk to me?" Tyler moved closer to Josh and lied down next to him.

"It's just that," He crossed his legs and slouched down. "Your mom told me something when I spoke to her and it's been on my mind for a long while now."

"Well, what did she tell you? You don't have to be scared to bring it up. I won't bite." Tyler chuckled, trying to put a positive spin on things. Josh smiled at the comment. A lot was on his mind but he couldn't help but smile at how cute Tyler was, no matter how small what he did was.

"If I say it, promise to tell me the full truth?"

"I promise, Josh. Go ahead." Josh nodded.

"Alright... She told me you had a drug problem." Tyler looked at him in shock, staying silent. "So it's true then. You did." Again, Tyler said nothing.

"Tyler, you promised to tell me the truth so, please, follow through."

"I'm sorry... I just, didn't expect that." He sat back against the head board.

"Well can you speak up then please?"

"I- I did in the past. It's over now, of course. I'm better, rehabilitated." He assured.

"I'm not worried so much about that now, Ty. It's obvious you're better but, why didn't you tell me? We've been together for a year now." Josh exclaimed, tears swelling in his eyes.

"Because, Josh. It's not something you just say right out of the blue."

"But a year, Tyler. A year. I don't know about you but that's a long fucking time to me." Josh got up, moving away from his boyfriend.

"I know. I know and I'm sorry. But it's out there now. I'm sorry I didn't tell you and I'm sorry it came from my mom instead of me but you have to believe me when I tell you that I was going to bring it up sooner or later. I just wasn't ready." Tyler stood up after Josh, moving towards him and grabbing his arm.

"No, Tyler-"

"Josh. Listen to me. It was a bad time and it's hard to talk about. Please don't let this ruin us." Tyler pleaded, tightly hugging Josh. Josh didn't hug back for a while and let his cries out.

"I love you, Josh. It's over now and I'm never going back. I'm with you now. I'll tell you anything you want to know but I need you to believe me and trust me, okay?" Josh nodded quickly, hugging Tyler back.

"I love you too, Ty. I do and I'm sorry I freaked out. I didn't mean to. I'm sorry." Josh cried. He was a wreck and Tyler knew it so he led his boyfriend over to the bed, lying him down and cuddling him so he could calm down.

It didn't take long for Josh to settle down and fall asleep in Tyler's arms. Tyler sighed, thinking of the uncomfortable conversation that would inevitably take place the next day. He reached up, turning off the light and sinking down so he could get comfortable just like Josh.

When he moved, Josh let out a small whimper and Tyler laughed. He wondered how he got so lucky to live with a boy like Josh.

"Goodnight, Ty..." Josh whispered, hugging him tightly. "I love you." He said sleepily.

"Goodnight, baby. I love you too."

***

Syke's Bites? really? I'm better than this haha. Okay but here.
This book is just going downhill. It's ending soon but I gotta get the drugs outta the way.

later *