Under The Covers {joshler}

junior year - part twelve

Emma smiled and pulled her hair up into a loose bun as she leant over the table, pulling together all the poster paints so she could begin colouring in the poster they'd spent the past twenty minutes designing. Josh watched, staring at her small shoulders and thinking about how small and soft her skin was, it made him think about Tyler's for some reason. He got lost in comparing how Tyler's tanned skin was somehow softer, yet rougher at the same time. Josh blushed when he remembered what Tyler looked like topless, and he tried really hard to push away the way Tyler's fingers and lips felt on Josh's own skin.

Emma blushed, seemingly noticing Josh staring. He shook his head and apologised quietly. She shrugged it off and peaked her tongue out as she concentrated.

Josh chuckled. Causing her to give him a look. "What?" She smiled, rubbing her forehead and somehow getting yellow paint on her skin.

"You looked like Abigail- my sister- she sticks her tongue out like that. Should probably wipe your forehead." Josh laughed as he went to the kitchen, returning with a wet cloth.

Emma blushed again, brushing their hands when she took the cloth. She tried wiping the wrong side so Josh took pity and wiped her head for her. She stared at him intently before Josh cleared his throat awkwardly and began pulling his laptop into his lap to type up some more stuff.

Emma didn't leave for another two hours, swearing when she realised her mom had text her asking why she wasn't home.

"We made loads of progress at least." She smiled as she grabbed her bag. "I had a great time too so win win." She joked and Josh smiled.

"Yeah, I guess I'll see you tomorrow at school?" He said politely as she nodded. She stared at him on the doorstep for a minute, blushing before saying bye and walking to her car.

When she was gone, Josh sighed and immediately went to freshen up.

He knocked on his parent's bedroom door, knowing they'd been hiding out in there because of Josh's guest.

"Emma left, but I'm just gonna go to see Tyler before visiting hours end."

"Okay, come straight home then please." His mother replied and Josh nodded before running out the house and to his car.

...

Ashley settled down beside Tyler, careful of the wires attached to him. "When are they letting you out." She asked as Hayley perched at the end of the bed cross-legged and handing out burritos from the taco bell bag in her lap.

"Tomorrow morning, they said I have to stay for 24 hours to make sure I don't get an infection." Tyler shrugged, thanking Hayley as she handed him some food.

Ashley checked her phone as she ate while Hayley filled Tyler in on what he'd missed at school. Hint: not much.

"D-did you see Josh? Is he okay?" Tyler asked nervously.

"Yeah, he didn't sleep much 'cos he was waiting all night to see you." Hayley assured, placing her hand on his leg.

"I don't think he'll be visiting today." Ashley said as she held out her phone for Hayley to see. Hayley scrunched her nose in disgust.

"What is it?" Tyler asked, Ashley gave him a sad smile before replaying the snapchat story that showed Josh with Emma. It was only a simple video of the room to show Josh sat right beside her before panning to the poster she was working on with the caption "Study buddies". Ashley scoffed.

"She's so shady, you know she's supposedly best friends with Debby. She's the one who started the rumour about Jenna too." Ashley spat before instantly stopping, eyes wide.

"She was behind that?" Tyler said looking between both girls.

"You and your big mouth." Hayley said as Ashley buried her face.

"I'm sorry, I thought you knew." She said into her palms.

There was an awkward silence, filled with beeping monitors and shuffling wrappers as they finished their food.

"Josh doesn't like her, you know that, right?" Hayley piped up, when she noticed Tyler chewing on his lip and staring into space.

"Hm?" Tyler looked up at her and suddenly felt self-conscious under her warm gaze.

"I know what it's like to be in love with Josh." Hayley said and Tyler stared in shock, eyes flicking between both girls. Ashley shrugged.

"We both know what it's like to be in love with a guy who loves someone else." Ashley added, Tyler was confused before he remembered their conversation on the porch the night he and Josh had first slept together.

"Hayley, I'm so sorry." Tyler said, fiddling with one of the wires attached to his arm.

Hayley shook her head and squeezed his leg. "You have nothing to apologise for." She assured.

"But I-I took him from you." Tyler said sadly and Ashley put an arm around him in comfort.

"Josh loves you and I'm happy as long as he's happy." She smiled but Tyler only frowned.

"I hardly made him happy." Tyler said and Ashley smacked his arm.

"Don't you dare say that, Josh was his best self that summer when you were together. He freaked out and that's on him, not you."

"And Josh knows that." Hayley added.

Tyler sighed. "Why is being in love so complicated? Like why do I feel like I've been through two wars just to feel miserable all the time?" He rubbed his face and Ashley hugged him, pushing out her bottom lip in a sad pout.

"If it was easy it wouldn't be worth it." Hayley shrugged before lying across his lap to join in the hug.

The smiled fondly at the soppy moment they seemed to be having. "Josh will come around Ty." Ashley promised.

"And if he doesn't we'll put hair removal cream in his shampoo." Hayley joked, causing Tyler to laugh. Ashley gasped when she remembered a funny story about the time they shaved off only one of Brendon's eyebrows when he passed out at Colin's house. This lead them to tell Tyler as many funny and embarrassing stories they could about Josh, Brendon and Colin. Until he was crying with laughter, and complaining because he was pulling on his stitches.

"We're telling everyone at school it's your appendix by the way." Hayley said as she began eating one of the handful of chocolate bars Ashley had raided the vending machine for.

Tyler smiled. "That's actually kinda genius."

"Jenna came up with it of course, that girl's a miracle I swear." Ashley smiled offering Tyler a Reese's which he took as he hummed with agreement at her statement.

Before anyone could speak up, Josh arrived in the doorway, a little out of breath. All three sets of eyes landed on him simultaneously and he gulped.

"Ty you're okay!" Josh said rushing over to hug him. Tyler smiled into his shoulder. Ashley got up and sat in the chair beside the bed to give them some privacy.

"I'm so sorry Josh I didn't mean to-"

Josh shushed him, holding him close for a bit longer, making sure he knew he was safe, just happy to be able to hold him and know that he was okay.

They were broken apart by a cough. Both boys blushed looking around to see a nurse stood in the doorway.

"I'm afraid visiting hours are over now. I'll give you a minute to say goodbye." She said sadly.

Hayley pressed a kiss to Tyler's cheek while Ashley squeezed his arm. "See you at school."

Josh hung back until they were gone before holding Tyler's hand.

He pressed a long kiss to Tyler's forehead before turning to leave, he saw the nurse hovering and he blushed.

"Josh?" Tyler called out and Josh turned to him. "What you said before, the last thing you said to me did..." Tyler trailed off shyly.

"I meant every word." Josh promised before he was letting the nurse guide him out of the room.

Tyler smiled to himself like a middle school girl with a crush.