The Much Needed Road Trip

_4_

It had been a few days that Tyler had talked to Josh. Tyler wanted to keep hanging out with him but his parents grew frustrated at the lack of attention he gave Jenna and practically banned him from seeing the boy.

Josh thought Tyler was out and around with Jenna the whole time, so he didn't bother Tyler.
Josh was dealing with some issues at home as well.
His dad always came home drunk and angry, leaving Josh to protect his sister and brothers, even his own mother needed protection. Josh's mom tried talking to him that night.

"He's a fucking dumbass!"

"Don't talk about your son that way you alcoholic bastard!"

"Don't Tell me what to do!"

Josh heard a bit of yelling before hearing the loud sound of his dad's hand hit his mother's face.

Josh snapped and ran from his room, where the rest of the kids were, and tackled his dad down.

"YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE! DONT YOU EVER HIT MY MOTHER AGAIN!" He screamed and put in a few punches. Guilt rushed through him as he got off the man. The man he just beat up. The man that helped raise a baby into an adult.

"Josh...go to your room with the rest..." Josh's mom ordered softly, holding her red cheek.

__________Joseph household__________

"Why can't I hang out with Josh?" Tyler asked for the hundredth time.

"Sweety, you need to pay more attention to Jenna than Josh. It's not healthy to leave your girlfriend for a boy. We've been over this, before you say it, you're not gay. You've never been gay." Tyler's mom said in annoyance.

"mom yes I am! I'm gay. I like guys and even if I was straight, Jenna wouldn't be my first choice." Tyler responded and sat down on the living room couch.

"Son, it's just not right for a man and a man to be together." Tyler's dad added to his mom's argument.

"And who said so? Huh? The Bible? That things been edited more than anything in the world." Tyler shouted getting a surprised and concerned look from his parents.

"Go upstairs now! Don't come out until you apologize!" The two yelled.

Tyler got up and stomped upstairs into his room. He grabbed his phone and texted Josh.
Hey Josh. Wanna hang out?
...
Yeah. Meet up at the park?
...
Of course. See ya there.

Tyler was finally able to see Josh, without his parents knowing, which was gonna be a problem.
Tyler didn't care, he opened his window and carefully managed to climb down and started to walk to the park that was halfway to Josh's house. 

The two boys would always meet up there after school even after highschool.

Tyler sat there on a swing for a few minutes before Josh showed up.

"Hey Josh!" Tyler waved as he jumped off the swing.

"Hey Ty. What's up?" Josh responded and gave him a side hug.

Tyler shrugged and sighed. "Nothin much really." He lied, he didn't tell Josh he was gay cause well Josh was the one he was gay for.
Tyler wanted to tell him but he just couldn't.
"How about you? How're things at home?" He asked receiving a sigh and a sad face from Josh.

"Not so good. I don't really wanna talk about it though."

"That's cool, no worries. Um so do you wanna go on the swings with me?"

"Yeah, sounds sick."

The two got on every little park thing. Slides, monkey bars, seesaws, and swings. Tyler and Josh ended the day by sitting at a park bench, exhausted from going all over the place.

Tyler had so much fun with Josh, he had to tell him how he felt. He couldn't keep it in any longer. Josh was going to know how Tyler felt.

"Hey um Josh? I uh wanted to tell you something...for a real long time."

"Yeah? What's up Ty? I'm all ears."

"Well I uh... Um I wanted to tell you that uh... I.. that I'm gay and.. and I love you."

Josh's smile faded and a serious look come from him. Tyler wanted to crawl in a hole and die. He felt awful, it was off his chest but he still felt terrible.

"Listen, Tyler, I... Im straight. You know that. I'm really flattered but, I can't say I feel the same way, because I don't."

Tyler's heart shattered at hearing this. Josh Dun, the man Tyler's loved forever, just rejected him. Tyler wasn't too surprised but he was still extremely shocked.
  
"I'm sorry Tyler I-

"I'm gonna go home. I.. I'll ... Yeah I'm gonna go home. Bye Josh."

"Tyler wait. Please cmo-"

"Don't. I told you, I'm going home. Bye Josh."

With that, Tyler got up off the bench and walked himself back home, leaving Josh to feel bad and alone.

Tyler locked himself in his room that afternoon and didn't leave the room at all. It was like that for weeks. Josh was starting to worry and sent a few texts and even called sometimes.

Hey Ty. You okay?

Tyler answer me please.

Ty I'm sorry

Please text me back

Tyler.

TYLER

VOICEMAIL FROM: JOSH

Uh hey, um it's me Josh uh, if you could give me a call that would be great. Um yeah. Just call me.

Uh Tyler? I'm getting just really worried now. But if you can, call me. Or text me. Or just talk to me.

Tyler please? Please answer me?

Tyler read and listened to Josh's messages over and over everyday, yet, he still didn't talk to him. He simply, repeated the voicemails and reread the texts. Tyler's tears would fall down his cheeks Everytime he heard Josh's voice. The same voice that had broken his heart.

On a Sunday night, Josh decided to go and check on Tyler. His parents were hesitant but let him inside anyway.

Josh practically ran up to Tyler's door and nearly breaking it down. What he saw, hurt him deeply.

Tyler laid there on his bed looking exhausted​. Tyler had cried himself to sleep that night. His nightstand was covered with a mix of different items.
Pieces of paper, bottles and glasses of water, pens, and two razor blades.

Josh quickly went up to the sleeping brunette and slowly and carefully, moved his arms around. Luckily, there were no slits.

Josh started to tear up as he walked over and sat at the edge of Tyler's bed. "Tyler I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I.. I didn't know I would... I didn't want to.."

Josh couldn't stop apologizing. He laid down on Tyler's bed right next to the already sleeping boy. The pink haired boy played around with Tyler's hair.

Josh said a final "I'm sorry" before falling asleep, while holding onto the sleeping brunette.

(Sorry for not being active like at all by the way. So yeah.)