The Forest Fic (Alternate Ending)

Alternate Ending

Josh's lighter is lying by Tyler's shoe, and he slowly picks it up, flicks it on. The flame glows in the darkness, and Tyler watches himself press the flame to the wall.

He holds it there, watching the wood grow darker as it chars. For a while nothing else happens, but Tyler suddenly sees the wood catch fire. He flicks the lighter off and watches, transfixed, as the flame grows larger and larger, climbing up to the ceiling.

Tyler lies on his back and watches as fire slowly engulfs the roof. The tree house is starting to fill with smoke.

Something inside him is pulling, insisting that he has to get out, get out before he suffocates or burns. He ignores it. He doesn't care anymore.

Tyler falls asleep as everything around him burns.

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"Tyler!"

He is awaken by the sound of his name. He opens his eyes and sees nothing but smoke and flames.

It's all in my head.

"Tyler!" he hears it again. This time he recognizes that voice, that sweet, sweet voice. He quickly sits up and looks around for the source, but the smoke has gotten so thick that he can't see a single thing.

He starts feeling lightheaded from the lack of oxygen. His limbs feel heavy. He can barely move. He starts to feel weaker and weaker. 

Tyler felt himself being picked up, engulfed by strong arms, holding him close.

"I've got you."

He felt himself being moved and cool air now surrounding his body. He inhales fast and deeply, oxygen clearing out his smoke filled lungs. He clings to the person carrying him, scared of what might happen when he lets go.

He feels himself being shifted and his feet meet the ground, still clinging to the person who saved him. He buries his face into their chest.

"Tyler, look at me..."

He shakes his head.

"Please... look at me. I'm here, okay? I'm real, just look at me."

A hand softly lifts his chin. He slowly opens his eyes, meeting his. Those eyes, those mocha brown eyes.

He inhales sharply.

"Josh" he whispers, the blue-black feeling fading. 

"I'm so sorry I wasn't here. I'm so fucking sorry." Josh looks at the ground and starts to cry.

Tyler's eyes soften. His reaches up and grabs Josh's face,forcing him to look at him.

"Hey, hey, hey. Shhh. It's okay. You're here now, that's all that matters." Tyler shows a small smile.

"I'm not leaving again, ever. I promise. I... I love you, Tyler." Josh says grabbing Tyler's hands.

"I love you too, Josh." Tyler whispers, his small smile turning into a large one.

He wraps his arms around the blue haired boy in front of him staring at those beautiful C major lips, inching closer until they meet his.

Interlocked with each other's lips, everything turns pink-orange.

Their kiss is interrupted by the sound of his mother's voice.

"Tyler, sweetie!" she yells running towards him, his siblings close behind her.

She wraps him in her arms, crying. "I saw the smoke. I was so worried. Honey, don't ever scare me like that again!"

"I'm sorry." he whispers into her shoulder, hugging her back tightly.

After a moment, they pull away. Her eye's fell on the blue haired boy behind Tyler.

"Is that..."

"Josh." Tyler interrupted her.

Her face full of confusion, she struggles to find words.

Tyler walks over to him, wrapping his arm around his side.He looks back at his mother.

"Say something, please." He stares at her worried.

"I... I thought... Dr. Paulson said... Oh my god" she continues to stare at him.

Tyler takes Josh's hand and walks over to his mom.

"I told you mama, I told you he was real." Tyler says looking her in the eyes.

She tries to choke back the tears forming in her eyes.

"Oh sweetheart, I'm so so sorry. I should've believed you. I should've known you were telling the truth. I should've trusted you. Oh honey.." she whimpers as the tears start to spill over.

"It's okay mom, now you know. Everything I said was true." he smiles at her, still holding Josh's hand.

She walks over to Josh, wrapping him in a hug. 

"I'm sorry I didn't think you were real. I'm so happy that you are. Tyler needed someone like you. Thank you so much for being here for my boy. For making him feel safe." she pulls away smiling at him.

"I needed him just as much as he needed me." Josh smiles at Tyler, grabbing his hand again.

She looks at the two boys, smiling at the sight of them. Her boy is happy, and that's all that mattered.

"Right, I'm going to go call an ambulance to come and make sure you're okay. You boys come with me" she says turning away and heading to their house.

"We will be there in a second mom." Tyler shouts to her.

He turns and looks back at Josh.

"Now everyone knows. Now we can be together. Now we can be happy." he smiles at Josh.

Josh smiles and wraps Tyler in a hug. Tyler rests his head oh Josh's chest.

They watch the tree house as it's destroyed by the flames. It's gone now, and so is Tyler's worry.

He is no longer T-E-R-R-I-F-I-E-D.

Nothing is blue-black anymore.

Everything will be pink-orange from here on out.