But I'm Petrified

2

The boys both crept out of bed and quietly pulled on some jeans and tops, thank heavens it was the summer and not collage.

They both strolled downstairs towards Tyler's kitchen where his parents were. It was normal for Josh to spend the night, their parents just thought they were best friends.

Josh smiled at Mr and Mrs Joseph, and sat down in front of a bowl Tyler had put there. Tyler turned round to face Josh, and stopped, laughing, as he noticed his secret boyfriend eating his own cereal.

Josh looked up mid slurp and smirked, watching as Tyler fetched himself another bowl and poured more cereal into it. When Tyler sat down, he glared accusingly but kindly and Josh, who smiled sweetly.

'I couldn't resist sorry.' Josh smirked as Tyler laughed and Mr and Mrs Joseph joined in.

Once breakfast was over, Tyler picked up the bowls and plates on the table before carrying them to the dishwasher. Josh noticed that Tyler's parents had left the room and heard footsteps on the stairs, so he got up and strolled over towards the younger boy.

Tyler felt a pair of warm, strong arms wrap round his waist, and a head rest on his shoulder.

'Are you sure you're ok?' Josh questioned softly, pecking Tyler on the cheek. Tyler sighed, and started to turn around to hug Josh.

A noise made them jump and they broke apart and started to awkwardly place the dishes in the dishwasher. Tyler's parents marched in, and Mr Joseph laughed.

'You look like you've seen a ghost!' He joked, before kissing his wife on the lips and heading out the door. Mrs Joseph rummaged through her bag as she tripped over to Tyler and gave him a light kiss on the cheek.

Tyler and Josh watched as she also left the house, before they resumed their position. Tyler leaned into Josh and they stood there for a while, not saying anything. After about 5 minutes, Josh heard a snuffle from the other boy.

Tyler's usually clear but puzzlingly broken voice broke the silence, 'I love you..' Josh smiled when he heard this, and pulled him closer.

'I love you too, Ty.'

The next few days was a mixture of Tyler and Josh meeting at parks and shops, and Tyler getting restless nights.

'Ty, please, get some sleep!' Josh spoke, while Tyler was drinking his weight in coffee. The boy just shrugged his shoulders and finished his drink.

Josh travelled home with Tyler that night, as they were spending the night together at Tyler's. In the car, they were unusually silent, unspoken words hovered in the air.

They felt the engine switch off, and noticed they were home. Tyler opened his car door, and stepped inside, Josh doing the same. Tyler's parents were out, but they said they'd be back by dinner.

Throwing his bags down in Tyler's room, Josh came over and hugged the sleepless boy, holding him in his arms. Tyler began to sway, and he felt his eyes sting. He buried his face into Josh's chest and felt all his worries and fears go away.

That night, Tyler was leaning on Josh as they watched Harry Potter, sharing a Ben and Jerry's tub of chocolate brownie ice cream. They finished the film, and Josh wrapped his arms round Tyler again, and he felt the boy whimper before hugging back. Josh leaned forward and kissed Tyler's dry lips, before throwing the duvet over them and falling asleep.

That night was the first night in ages that Tyler slept for over an hour, he slept for over 9 hours.