sober//joshler

PLATONIC

3 jackets, one stolen from Jenna. Countless shirts and pants, underwear, thick socks, boots and gloves, also stolen from Jenna. Everything Tyler could need for traipsing off to Maine at Christmastime. He checked the list he'd made, then checked again, then checked again, just for safekeeping. At this point, he tossed it in the trashcan. Knowing him, if he didn't stop soon, he'd be checking his bag until it was time to leave.

He was just zipping everything shut when there was a small knock on the door. Tyler looked up from his packing and smiled as Jenna crept in, two mugs of something steaming gently in her hands.

"Hi," she said softly, passing him his mug. He smiled gratefully and perched on the edge of the spare bed, watching his best friend as she settled under her covers.

"You all packed up?" she asked, nodding at Tyler's suitcase.

He half-nodded, half-shrugged. "Hopefully. I think there's a convenience store up in the mountains in case I forgot something."

Jenna nodded, sipping her drink. Tyler mimicked her motions, sighing to himself as the warm taste of hit chocolate flooded his mouth.

"Thanks," he grinned, setting his mug down and climbing under his covers. "Your mom makes the best hot chocolate on the planet."

Jenna laughed quietly, but her eyes were shining with worry. She set her mug down with a heavy thunk and shot Tyler an unhappy glance.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't come," she muttered, guilt running through her voice. "It's awful, I know, and it's not an excuse-"

Tyler waved a hand. "It'll be olay. I'll survive."

Jenna didn't look convinced. "If there's anything you need, anything goes wrong, anything, call me, okay?"

Tyler grinned at her. "You know I would."

He took another sip of his drink and spoke again.

"Besides, it's not your fault. You had other plans. Have fun, relax. Don't worry about me."

She shot him a dubious look.

"Seriously." Tyler smirked back. "I'm not that helpless."

"You forgot to put your socks in your bag," she sniffed.

Tyler laughed, then groaned, smiling to himself when he heard Jenna join in.

"Remind me to pack them tomorrow?"

Jenna rolled her eyes but nodded all the same.

There was another long silence, both of them settling down into their beds. The dull yellow glow from the lamp sent glaring shadows around the room. Coupled with the warm feeling in his stomach and the gentle sounds of bis best friend's breath,Tyler felt his eyes droop shut slowly.

"How's Josh?"

Instantly Tyler's eyes snapped open. In the past week he'd been with Jenna, Josh's behaviour had grown stranger and stranger. Midway through the week he had almost sat down next to them at lunch and he had continuously complimented Tyler's sketchbook whenever they met at their locker. As much as Tyler hated to admit it, even when Jenna grilled him throughout their walk home together, every single time Josh so much as looked at him in his new friendly way, much less talked to him, Tyler felt his heart somersault and his cheeks redden.

It was stupid, of course, to assume that Josh's change in attitude was based off anything truly personal. Maybe he just felt bad for Tyler, bad about Jay's death. Or maybe he was just tired of the awkwardness and the bitterness and the fighting.

There had been nothing to suggest that Josh's actions were amicable, romantic out the window.

But it didn't stop Tyler from thinking about it for hours on end.

"Good, I guess," he finally responded. "It's not like we're best friends again, it's just....I dunno, less uncomfortable."

Jenna nodded slightly. "You're hoping it's more," she murmured, more of a statement than a question.

Tyler picked at his nail for a moment before shrugging.

"Of course i am," he said into the dull light. "You know me, Jen. You know how I'm like with that piece of shit."

Jenna looked.upset again, ans Tyler couldn't help but feel a stab of guilt at concerning her with his issues yet again.

"I think my type is boys who are no good for me," he offered jokingly, relief flooding through him when Jenna smiled faintly.

Her amusement was short lived.

"You'll be careful? If anyone, not just Josh, does something bad to you, you'll tell me, right?"

"Okay, mom," Tyler grinned.

Jenna's face remained solemn. "I'm serious, Tyler."

"Alright," Tyler nodded back, the smile gonw from his face. "I'll be careful, I promise."

Jenna smiled, reaching over to turn off the light. Her hand hovered over the switch for a moment.

"I love you, you know that?"

Tyler frowned, taken aback. Surely Jenna knew his preferences were otherwise? If was kind of hard to miss with him.

"I'm- Jenna, you know-"

"Idiot," she snorted affectionately. "I mean platonically."

"Oh!" Tyler's face flushed slightly in the dull light. He smiled over at his best friend. "I love you too, Jen."

"Platonically?"

"Always."

//god only knows what this is I need to sleep. Hope you all had a good day!//