Tyler didn't leave the house. Mostly because he couldn't drive with a ukulele in his hand. He didn't want to make his friend uncomfortable. Instead he laid in bed, with his love on his chest as he stroked the ukulele gently. He didn't care where Josh was. He didn't care about anything else. Only his love. One day he would perform in front of millions of screaming fans with his love. One day they will rule the world.
Josh cried and cried for hours, until the tears couldn't come anymore. He cried until his face burned and body ached from staying curled on the floor. Tentatively, with one hand on his face, Josh stood with other hand on Tyler's piano bench for support. He was shaking. He wanted to cry, but he couldn't anymore. All he felt was his overpowering love for Tyler. He wanted to kiss his soft, innocent lips. He wanted to hold onto him. He wanted to make him better.
Josh, shaking, left the practice room and entered the hall, where he looked for any sign that Tyler was still in the house. He wouldn't leave because of his stupid ukulele. Josh straightened his clothes, fixed his hair, took a deep breathe and opened the door to Tyler's room.
"Hey Ty?" Josh asked carefully, pressing lightly on his door. He saw his holding his ukulele over his chest while tears streamed silently down his face. His head turned to the commotion, and his eyes met Josh's.
"Hey, Jish," he said quietly. Josh's mocha eyes held pity and compassion, with an underlying sense of heartbreak. As Josh came closer, Tyler sat up taller and held the ukulele tighter.
Josh sat on the end of his bed and put a hand on Tyler's foot. "I know you're going through... something. But I need you to stay strong. Take a nap. You haven't slept in days."
"I thought you wouldn't notice," said Tyler indifferently. "You're too busy with others, partying, drinking! Don't think I wouldn't notice! I care about you! You don't care about me..."
Josh's eyes widened at this. "Care? I care about you more than anything, Tyler. That's why I bought you the ukulele in the first place." Then he shifted in the bed. "You should get some sleep," he repeated. Tyler nodded sadly, his eyes glistening. He seemed more rational and easier to talk to now. "Good night, Ty. I hope to god hat you sleep well."
Tyler looked into Josh's mocha eyes, which were full of compassion. "I will," he whispered. Then Josh left, leaving the poor sad boy to fall asleep for the first time in a long time.
Later that night, when Tyler was sound asleep, Josh pushed open the door again. He snuck into Tyler's dark bedroom, walking only on the tips of his toes. He reached over Tyler and swiped the ukulele. Damn Tyler was gonna be mad... but Josh knew it was the right thing. With a wicked grin and a swift bound, he left the room with Tyler's love.
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next chapter things get real 😉
