"Oh ok," Tyler said with a nod.
There had to be something more to the boy he just didn't know what. He wasn't going to force him to tell him anything he was just curious.
"Josh!" A voice sounded from the counter and the red haired boy stood up walking to get the food.
The same blond girl stood there smiling.
She handed him the food slipping Josh a paper with numbers sprawled on it.
"Mind handing this to your distracting Ly attractive friend over there?" she said with a wink and a small laugh before disappearing to the register.
'Oh that's nice' Josh thought.
Josh went back to the table and set down the food.
"Uh...the blond chick wanted me to give you this...said you were hot or something," Josh murmured before handing him the slip of paper.
"Oh..." Tyler said taking it with a sigh.
"Not all that interested..."
"Don't swing that way..." Tyler added under his breath. Josh heard him and looked up from his food.
"wait...what?"
"I'm...uh...gay actually" Tyler said with a nervous laugh. Josh kind of stared in awe not just for the fact that he was dating Jenna but that he out of the blue just came out to him.
"Oh...then why are you dating Jenna?" Josh asked curiously.
"Reputation...if they find out I'm gay God knows what the hell would happen," he sighs. "Also my parents are super religious."
Josh bit his lip letting the silence fall over them.
"Sorry," he managed to say.
Tyler shook his head. "Don't worry about it, it's not your problem...it's such a stupid reason I know," Tyler cursed at himself.
Josh agreed with that but he didn't want to tell Tyler that though. It would be rude. The reputation shouldn't cost you your happiness.
"I mean it's shitty to be stuck in that situation," Josh says and Tyler nods
"I just feel very selfish or something along those lines because all I care about is a damn reputation that doesn't matter in the long run yet it matters so much no matter how stupid it actually is." Tyler sighs. "I would rather be fake and closeted than actually date a guy and enjoy something real in my life," he says.
"Don't get all worked up about it...you'll find someone that will break you out of that mind set..the one who will make you want to be openly gay. A person where your so damn proud you wanna drag him around just to say 'hey look it's my fucking boyfriend step off bitch'. Once you find that person you won't let them slip away because of reputation. Nothing will over between you and that one guy because they have more meaning than all of those things," Josh explains.
Tyler gives a small laugh. "You are right. Something like that happen to you before?"
"Nope. Not once. I've only been in one relationship and it ended in flames.." Josh stopped himself there and sighed.
"No it's ok dude...it's good advice. You'll find someone eventually...some sooner than you expect."
Josh nods.
"Well...uh...this whole lunch thing was nice...see you tomorrow bro," Josh said as he stood. Tyler did the same.
"Yeah," Tyler says in agreement. He walks up to Josh and gives him a hug.
Josh lets a puzzled expression lay on his face as he hugged Tyler.
Tyler pulls away giving a small smile.
"You've been through hell, I can see it in your eyes. I just hope one day you can tell me the story, I'd love to know, share stories, experiences, anything. Just want to know you better you seem really chill."
What the hell kind of statement was that. Josh's mind was confused, but he gave a nod nonetheless.
Nobody ever wanted to know him. It was surprising.
The two boys part ways as they left the cafe, off in two different directions.
Tyler thought the boy was dark, mysterious but knew there was more to him.
Josh liked how Tyler opened up a bit to him. Josh wished he could do the same but knew he couldn't.
He wouldn't.
Not now.
Not ever.
