STRANGERS » JOSHLER

f i f t e e n

dedicated to StolenMyAirCatcher bc she's such a sweetheart and i absolutely love yesterday, today and tomorrow. i love you v v much x

*~*

"Ashley asked me out!" 

As soon as the words escape the two toned woman's mouth, Josh jumps out of his head, engulfing her in a bone-crushing hug. She wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging back as tightly. 

"Oh my god, Mel, I am so freaking happy for you." Josh smiles widely, looking down at her. The petite woman looks up and grins. 

"I know right." She breathes out, before letting out yet another squeal. "Oh my fucking god, Josh. It's finally happening. I can't believe it." She buries her head into his chest and he chuckles.

His eyes fall on Tyler sitting in his seat, and he frowns when he notices his furrowed eyebrows as his fingers tap the screen. But he can't ponder on it for too long as Melanie's pulling her towards her room already, the brunette forgotten.

"Josh, you've got to help me pick something out." Her voice is laced with excitement and he quietly chuckles at it, before he flashes a confused look. 

"Wait, when is it?" Josh asks once Melanie lets go of his wrist, only to walk to her closet and start throwing out clothing. 

"Today! In an hour to be exact." Josh's eyes widen a fraction, but she doesn't notice, "What should I do with my hair? It's sunny, I think a simple -" Melanie stops abruptly,  lowering her hand that clutched the baby blue dress she was about to throw to the other side of the room. 

Josh's eyes dart around umcomfortably. A part of him doesn't want her to leave, but a bigger part of him doesn't want to hold her back. Afterall, she really liked Ashley.

"I.. um, I'll ask her to post pone it or something. Yeah." Melabie mutters, flashing a weak smile and Josh shakes his head vigorously. It is clear she is only saying that because she has to, not because she wants to.

"No, no. You gotta go, Mel." Josh stands up from where he sat on her bed and is in front of her in a few long strides.

"But, Josh, you said -"

"Forget what I said. You've wanted to go out with her for so long and I don't want to be the reason you don't go when you could have." Melanie still doesn't look satisfied, so Josh adds, "Besides, I think me and Tyler need to talk a bit too."

His stomach fills with dread when he realizes that he, in fact, does have to talk to Tyler about where they stand.

"Um, alright, I guess." Melanie says and Josh weakly smiles. Melanie's lips curl into a grin, "So what do I wear?"

Josh smirks at this, "Oh, I'm sure she'd love it if you don't." The rooms fills with his loud laugh, which doesn't stop, even when a pillow hits him square in the face.

*~*

"So this was how you guys reacted when I asked him out too, huh?" Tyler asks with a small smile when Josh and Melanie enter the living room.

Melanie's eyes widen as if she just realized he was there the whole time, "Oh god, Tyler, I am so sorry I -"

"No, it's okay, really." Tyler silences her apologies, "Do you want us to drop you or ..?"

"Oh, Ashley's gonna be picking me up in a few." Melanie says and as if on cue, they hear a honk from outside. Melanie's face visibly brightens and she walks to the door, Josh following.

"You call me if you need anything, alright?" Melanie says for the millionth time, standing at the door and Josh rolls his eyes.

"I will, I will." He looks at Ashley in her car and grins, waving. "She's waiting. Now, go." He playfully pushes her out, making her gasp.

"Josh!" She scolds, before smirking, "Don't break the bed if you do the do."
Josh's jaw hangs open as she walks away to her date. He smirks when he notices Melanie staring at Ashley as they drive off.

Josh shakes his head. It wasn't going to be him doing it.

Then he remembers the brunette in the living room and sighs before closing the door and walking inside with small steps.

His eyebrows raise when he sees the empty living room. "Tyler?" He calls out and the man's muffled voice comes from his room.

He walks to his room to see Tyler in the same suit he wore in their date night. Tyler turns around when he hears Josh, his fingers fixing the tie.

"You're leaving?" Josh tries his best not to let his disappointment show. He doesn't even know why he has been having mixed feelings about Tyler. Like, one second he's craving his touch the next second he doesn't want to see him.

"Not really. We're going out." Tyler says and that confuses Josh even more.

"What?" Josh asks.

"We're going out, if you're up for it that is." Tyler curses when his fingers fumble while fixing the tie. Josh steps closer to him and places his hands on his, pulling them away from the black accessory.

"Where to?" Josh mumbles, fingers fixing his tie, well trying to because he's just so bad with ties.

"I can't tell you that." Tyler mutters before laughing, "Josh, you're messing it up even more."

Josh grumbles before pulling the tie off. "Well, you're not going to work so I don't think you need this."

"A suit without a tie?" Tyler makes a face and Josh shrugs.

"You can always wear my clothes."

"But you're so tiny." Tyler puts extra emphasis on the last word making Josh turn away. 

"I'm not tiny." He grumbles, squeaking when Tyler wraps his arms around him from behind. He feels his cheeks heating up when Tyler buries his face in his shoulder. "T-Tyler?"

"Yeah?" His voice is right next to his ear, all deep and sexy and it makes Josh frustrated because all he wants to do is turn around and press their lips together, but he can't.

"Where are we going?" He asks instead, and turns around when Tyler pulls away.

There is a grin on his face, the one that shows off his crooked teeth that Josh absolutely adores.

"We're going out for a ride."

*~*

so you can tell where this is going.

drop things you want to see happen x

- a