We All Scream

|9|

Josh walks into the forest. He doubts Tyler will be there, but he thinks it's worth trying.

Something has been missing, and Josh finally realized what--or who--it was.

Tyler is waiting under the treehouse tree. Josh stands ten yards behind him, trying to decide whether he should say something or not.

Tyler turns around. Then he stares.

Josh knows he has to speak first.

"I'm sorry," he calls.

"I know." Tyler sounds completely and utterly sad.

"I'm sorry," Josh repeats.

"I know."

After a pause, Josh shouts, "I'm sorry!"

Tyler stands up and yells back, "I know!"

Josh looks down. "I'm sorry," he says quietly. Tyler walks forward.

"I know." Tyler puts his arms gently around Josh. He tilts his head upward to compensate for their height difference. Josh watches Tyler's eyes lose focus as his face comes closer to Josh's.

Both of their eyes slip closed at the same time as their lips press together like cotton candy. Blue cotton candy. After a couple seconds, they separate.

"I'm so sorry," Josh says, starting to cry. He hates it.

Tyler hugs him again. "It's okay."

"It's not."

"I know it's not okay. It's okay."

"The colors don't work," Josh says.

"Whatever."

"What are we supposed to do?"

"Black and white make grey for other people. But we know otherwise," Tyler steps back from the hug. "Know what I mean?"

"Maybe."

"Just because it has to be a certain way for everyone else doesn't mean it's like that for us. We know that black and white makes a whole lot of black and a whole lot of white."

"They don't get it," Josh repeats. The way Tyler explains it, Josh doesn't understand how he didn't realize it before. He and Tyler use the colors differently, so why should they have to follow certain rules of the colors?

"Right." Tyler smiles.

"Well..." Josh doesn't know what to say.

"I know." Somehow, Tyler understands everything while everyone else understands nothing.

Josh smiles too. It seems he only smiles around Tyler. Tyler is the only one who can make him happy.

Tyler stares at him.

"What?"

"You're smiling."

Josh rolls his eyes. "Yes, Tyler."

Tyler's smile widens. "You said my name."

"Jeez. Yes, I did."

Tyler shrugs and turns away.

"What?"

"I'm infatuated." Tyler shrugs again.

"With me?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

Tyler laughs, and any blue or black Josh was feeling before runs away with that sound. Josh starts to tear up again.

"What's wrong?" Tyler looks instantly worried.

"You make everything bad go away," Josh says quietly.

Tyler gives a small smile, love evident in his eyes. "You do too."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

"I really mean it."

"I know-"

"No, let me... let me keep going." Josh takes a deep breath. Tyler wanted to know how he was feeling, so here he is. "I need you. You... you're the only thing I ever want to live for. If you weren't here I'd just fall and never stop."

Now Tyler looks as if he could cry. "Thank you."

Josh hugs him again, this time harder. Josh ignores any pain it causes him. He moves his head to face Tyler's, and kisses him again. Somehow, the blue cotton candy chases all the pain away.

_________________

[insert author's note here]