i hired a hitman on myself // joshler [✓]

XXXIII

by the time everyone got themselves in order, the night had already been upon us. jenna then too the opportunity to turn the lights off, using only a few vanilla-scented candles to bring some light to the circle and the area around us.

it's funny though, with only 6 people in the group, the circle was surprisingly spread out. there were pillows and blankets to make for a cozier space, and not to mention everyone had their food and drinks.

tyler had sat next to me, brendon and sarah were all bundled up under a blanket together, eating fries and sharing a bottle of whiskey, though brendon was having most of it.                       

dallon was going to sit alone, but to avoid that initial awkwardness, jenna sat next to him. it wasn't all cuddly like brendon and sarah, but she wanted to keep him company.

we were sitting in such a way that tyler and i were across from jenna and dallon, while sarah and brendon were to the far right of us. but there was still a close proximity between us all.

everyone was having their side conversations for a while, until jenna spoke up to everyone, announcing,
"okay okay, guys we should probably get started before everyone gets too drunk."

the group complied with nods and hums of agreement, thus ending their conversations. just then we began to wait for the next instructions from jenna.

"alright so," she took a deep, yet quick breath, "what d'ya guys wanna start off with?" she asked all of us. we took some time to ponder, until brendon chimed in with an idea.

"we should play truth or dare." it was clear that he was a little tipsy, but not entirely drunk yet. his suggestion made jenna chuckle,

"you're such a kid, bren," jenna playfully rolled her eyes as she joked, "but alright, let's do it." she agreed upon the idea and so did everyone else.

"alright i'll start," brendon giggled like a giddy child while sitting up, "tyler! truth or dare?" he looked over at tyler sitting closely next to me. he took a sip of his red bull but when stopped he looked a brendon and cockily answered with a,

"truth."

brendon smirked, "aright then," he took a second to think of something, "do you have the hots for the blue jolly rancher sitting next to you?" now i was convinced he was more than just tipsy.

my eyes widened a bit, but tyler didn't seem to phased by the question. he just grinned, glanced over at me and then turned back to look at brendon,

"the blue ones are my favorite." i couldn't tell if he was being serious or if that was just a cheesy pick up line, but his suggestive tone and smirk was probably suggesting the latter.

his response made brendon drunkily cackle but that was the end of turn, so now it was open for either him or anyone else to go. when tyler leaned back against the pillow fort behind us, we made eye contact again, and he decided to slip a wink in the middle of it.

i could feel my face get a lot warmer, already knowing my cheeks were blushing rosy red. i wasn't lying when i said he we cute, there was no denying that look of his.

i was unintentionally staring at him for what seemed like hours, but was only a minute or so as it was clear time was passing, and it was clear that he knew it, too. my hearing was muffled and my vision was locked within his, all of my attention and focus was on him.

our ever so longing gaze was abruptly halted when i heard jenna call my name, my hearing then became crystal clear. i jerked my head to face her, looking away from tyler.

"josh!" she called out, "you guys alright there?" she joked, now i was blushing harder from being caught. but tyler just seemed so casual and sly about it. i quickly nodded, trying to turn the spotlight away from me.

"they clearlyyyyyy wanna fuck." brendon drunkily slurred, making sarah spit out her drink and jenna was trying to hold back her laughter, but she covered her mouth with both hands. but it was then that tyler spoke up,

"brendon do we need to bring up that one night where you reallyyyy drunk and took a trip around town in nothing but a chiffon skirt--?"

"hEY!" brendon interrupted his story, "that... was a long time agooo!" his speech was slowed, but it wasn't clear whether he was trying to be serious or not, as the alcohol kicking into full gear in his system.

"ohhh yeah i remember that night!" sarah chimed in, "it was the night when you somehow got your drunk-self into a bar, went up on stage when it was karaoke night, and reenacted the scene from titanic with dal--"

she was cut off by dallon abruptly getting up, and storming away from the circle. brendon looked distraught about something, but no one stopped him from walking away.

sarah looked over at jenna, probably for some reassurance as she just looked confused, but all she responded with was a shrug. that's when tyler carefully stood up and stretched,

"well, i guess that was a good of a circle as any," he said before yawning, "we should get some shuteye." no one disagreed with him as everyone else stood up and jenna started blowing out the candles around the place.

brendon and sarah went into their room before anything else was said, while jenna, tyler, and i stayed. that's when tyler sighed,

"y'think he got triggered by the story?" it looked like he was asking us both, but i was pretty sure it was only meant towards jenna. she just shrugged,

"i don't see why he would," she was just as confused as tyler, "did something happen between him and bren?" she wondered, though it was clear none of us knew the answer to it.

"we really don't need this the night before the we're set to finish raz," tyler sounded aggravated, but he also sounds exhausted, both physically and mentally. jenna sighed and nodded,

"i know," she agreed, "but maybe a nights worth of sleep can fix something." she then suggested, tyler was hoping the same. with that, tyler helped jenna clean up the food that was left behind, and i helped by putting the pillows back.

afterwards, jenna decided to head to bed, still hopeful that things will get settled tomorrow. i was ready to head off, too, until tyler stopped me when i was halfway to my room.

"hey josh," he slowly caught up with me, "you got a second?" i drowsily nodded, barely able to keep my eyes open from exhaustion. he smiled, clearly amused by just how tired i was for no reason.

"so uh," he scratched the back of his head, "sorry if i made you feel awkward back there," he apologized, "i was just tryin' to go along with brendon's joke." tyler explained, he was showing sincerity within his tone.

i cracked a smile, "it wasn't awkward," i assured, "i thought it was cute." tyler then smiled, but it looked like something was on his mind. his mouth opened slightly, but nothing came out. he was refraining from saying something.

before i could even think to ask what he wanted to say, he just nodded, "good to hear," he smiled again, "well, i'll let you go to sleep," he yawned again, which was then followed by a yawn escaping my mouth, it made us both chuckle.

"goodnight, joshie." he winked again, walking off to his room, and i was left there with my mind running a marathon over all my thoughts. i had so many unanswered questions after tonight.

why did dallon run off?

does tyler actually have a thing for me?

and, what did he want to tell me?