drown (joshler)

part twenty three

a/n; obviously i didn't take this picture, but this is where the apartment is! it's above a little shop called Everything Elmwood. there's a dry cleaners across the street and a Spot Coffee Shop on the corner, across the street and to the right. enjoy this chapter!

"so," ryan said as they walked up the creaky, narrow staircase to the floor above Fowler's Ice Cream and Chocolates where the spare apartment was. "it's like i said. small, but cozy. there's a full kitchen and a full bath, which is really hard to come by in buffalo, especially moving towards the summer." ryan spoke as if he were an expert in real estate in western new york.

he opened the door to 309 Elmwood Street, and gazed inside at the grey-blue walls and white furniture. he walked in as ryan held the heavy oak door, and looked to his left. modern white stools surrounded a grey marble island and white lamps hung from the ceiling. on the wall to the left, behind the island was a dark oak countertop with a sink, and oak cupboards hung above the counter and sink.

to the right was a small sitting area with a glass coffee table and two white lounge chairs. the two chairs were separated by an empty white bookshelf. a plush white rug covered the right side of the front room.

josh slowly walked through the front room through a short hallway into a large room with almost wall sized windows. he looked to his right into the room where a king sized bed with a white comforter and baby blue pillows stood. two white side tables sat on either side of the bed. to his right was a small white couch and a TV.

josh turned around and looked at ryan, who smiled back.

"you like?" he said, shrugging with his hands open for a response.

"ryan, this apartment," josh said, stepping forward. "it's too nice. i'd feel awful taking this beautiful of an apartment away from you."

"josh," he said walking towards the door. "i like in a three story house on one of the most expensive streets in the western new york area. i don't need this apartment like you do."

"how much is rent?"

ryan looked down. "i have the first two years covered"

josh's eyes widened. "ryan! i don't feel comfortable taking so much money away from you!" he exclaimed. he truly felt awful for doing this.

"josh listen! the landlord, patrick? he owns the shop downstairs and he's literally the nicest person in the world," ryan said, sitting in one of the white stools. "he probably wouldn't care if you payed rent as long as you bought one of his stupid knick knacks. i know the guy personally and told him i'd take care of it so that's what i'm gonna do."

josh sighed and sat in the white stool next to ryan's. "i can't thank you enough."

"your friendship is enough." ryan got up and grabbed his bag at the door. "i'm going to let you get settled. when did you say you're going to be moving here with tyler?"

josh thought for a while. "ideally? next week. i'd like to be here with him by next week but anything could go wrong with him."

"if you want to, you can unpack some of your stuff right now, no ones going to be in here until you and tyler." he pushed the heavy door open and looked back and waved. "see ya."

"see ya."

ryan closed the oak door and josh walked through the small hallway to the bedroom/ tv room. he sat on the bed and clicked on tyler's contact and called him. it rang three times before he answered.

"hello?" tyler said. his voice was raspy and tired.
"hey, ty guy."
"joshua," he said, defeated and out of breath. "i'm glad you called."
josh grew worried. "are you okay?"
"i'm fine," he said. he paused and coughed. "they took me off suicide watch. i might get outta here within a week."
josh tilted his head back and sighed, relieved. "thank god tyler. i'm so, so proud of you."
"thank you, josh."
"tyler," josh breathed. "the apartment... it's amazing. ill be sure to take some pictures before i leave in a couple hours."
"that's great." he paused. "ive missed you."
"i've missed you too, tyler."
"i love you, a lot."
"i love you too." josh heard the heavy door to room 3009 open and talking from the other line.
"gotta go."
"bye tyler. be safe."
"you too." tyler hung up.