Shy//JOSHLER

Age 20 (part 3)

"Who was calling you so violently last night?" Troye asked as he painted his nails a bright yellow. He and Josh were in their dorm, Troye had ended up sleeping in and missing his classes and Josh didnt have any classes that day. "It was my mom, she was just worried about me since I haven't called in a while." Josh lied, he didn't want to talk to his boyfriend about Tyler. He didn't want to even think about Tyler. He had thought that, that part of his life was over and having him just call out of nowhere was not helping him at all.

"So, she just calls you up at midnight? I'm not sure that's really normal but whatever." Troye shrugged, he was confused but he didn't want to push it. He trusted Josh, if he said that was his mom, then it was.Josh's phone dinged and he jumped. The noise startled him and Troye broke out in a deep laughter. "You're so cute, baby." Josh rolled his eyes, his cheeks turning red.

It didn't matter how many times Troye called him that, he still blushed. "It's Mel, she wants to know if we want to get together for lunch, she's bringing Ash as well." Josh recapped the message.Troye got up shaking his hands and walking around to try to get his nails to dry faster.

"I'm going to say yes, you agree?" Josh asked and Troye nodded.

**

The four friends sat at an Italian restaurant. They had all met at the college campus cafe and instantly clicked. They were like the four weirdo amigos."Mel, you're taking such big bites out of your salad slow down, Jesus." Ashleu suggested and Melanie pretended not to hear and just kept eating as she normally did.

"You know Melanie never listens to other people's advice she just does what she does." Troye tried to stand up for her.Ashley frowned. "Eating that quickly isn't good for one's body!" 

"Preach, mom!" Josh suddenly yelled as he put his hands up as if he was praising Jesus. Everyone at the table broke out in laughter while strangers looked at them with strange looks.Josh felt happy, he had finally found his people, he thought. The call that he reached from Tyler shook his heart and mind a little. Could he really dismiss his old friend like that? Tyler had helped him through so much it would be almost sinister to just drop him.

"Hey, I'm going to the bathroom I'll be right back." Josh told his friends, they all nodded. Josh entered the men's bathroom and called the number that had called him last night.

"Hey, do you want to meet up somewhere tomorrow, to talk?"

**

"I didn't think you would actually come."

Josh sighed. Tyler looked so tired, his eyes were red, his face was puffy and he looked different. "You seem happy." Tyler's arm reached out and touched Josh's cheeks and for some strange reason Josh let him. "I've seen your posts online, of Tate, Melanie, and Ashley, they seem nice." Tyler tried to act like he was happy for his friend or were they even friends, he didn't even know. More like strangers at this point. Josh wasn't acting extremely shy, his body language was different and he looked more confident.

Tyler was bummed out, he couldn't get Josh to do that but Tate could."His name is Troye not Tate. I called you to meet up because I want to know what you want from me. You called me that night and I know you were drunk but people tell the truth when they're drunk." I would know Josh wanted to end his little rant with but he decided to keep it to himself.

"Look, I made a mistake, when you came out to me, I made a mistake," Tyler felt a lump in his throat and he knew he was going to cry. "I'm so sorry and I'll do anything to be your anything again. Those years we spent together meant a lot to me, you mean a lot to me. I thought about you everyday we were apart. I don't know I just messed things up, I was just scared of being gay and again I'm sorry." Tears unconsciously were streaming down his face. He felt happiness because Josh was giving him an opportunity to redeem himself.

"Okay, we're friends, but that's it, my life is in a good place right now and nothing is going to ruin it." Josh stood up and waited for Tyler to stand up as well. They hugged each other very awkwardly and very quickly and then parted ways. 

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this story reached 17k views and i'm almost at 450 (so thank you and if you haven't followed then please do it means a lot! thank you!) 

also most of my chapters are short because that's how i like to make my stories and i don't like SUPER dramatic stories where stuff is happening 24/7 so no there will not be crazy drama in this story. I like chill stories. 

ily! i'm in an writing mood so i might update again soon so keep an eye out.