PLATONIC🌺⌠J.T⌡

xiv

this chapter is for my wife, faIIingtoo. ilysm, and i hope you feel better soon, baby!!

⚜🌺⚜

"DO Y'HAFTA?"

"Yes, peach."

Tyler let out a whine, burying his face in Josh's shoulder. He sat in the other boy's lap while Josh sat in the driver's seat of his pickup. They were parked outside of a certain redhead's house, a certain redhead Tyler highly despised—Josh would be lying if he said he didn't despise her a little too.

However, even though he despised Debby, Josh was never the type of person to stand someone up, no matter how much of a bitch said person was.

"Please, bear..."

Josh's eyes softened when Tyler pulled his head from his collarbone, his eyelashes wet with a fresh set of tears. Josh stroked his cheek softly, pressing their foreheads together.

"I'm only goin' t'tell her that I'm not stayin', baby. I won't even go inside; be on the doorstep the whole time," Josh soothed, his calloused thumb brushing away a stray tear.

"P-p-promise?"

Josh's eyes widened with worry.

Tyler was shaking.

"What's wrong, baby? Why are y'so scared?"

Tyler looked almost ashamed, blinking back tears as he glanced out of the window, avoiding Josh's eyes.

"Don't wanna lose ya' again."

It was barely a whisper, and Josh almost missed it, but he heard, and it made his chest hurt.

Tyler was afraid Josh was going to leave him again, afraid Debby would weave her way in a snatch him away. He was absolutely terrified Josh wouldn't want him anymore after seeing debby, seeing how much prettier she was.

"Oh, peach..."

Tyler looked up, sniffling softly. Josh could see the fear in his pretty eyes, and he knew exactly what he was thinking.

"Baby, leaving ya' for anyone would be the biggest downgrade I could ever pull off. You're so beautiful inside and out; Debby ain't even worth a spot in your mind."

"A-are y'sure?"

Josh smiled weakly, kissing the brunette's lips gently. Tyler's eyelashes fluttered.

"Positive."

With a lot of coaxing, Tyler reluctantly slid from Josh's lap, his fingers immediately curling around the cuffs of Josh's varsity jacket still draped around his body. He wrapped his small arms around his lithe frame, swallowing nervously.

"M-maybe I should go with you."

"Baby, you and I both know that's a bad idea. I don't want her sayin' nothin' t'you that might hurt ya'. I won't even leave your sight, peach."

Tyler nodded meekly, taking a small shuddering hiccup. Josh exited the vehicle, and with a deep, stabilizing breath he walked around the car to the curb, beginning his way up to Debby's doorstep.