tagged // joshler

(19)

ever since that first phone call, tyler had been calling josh's home phone almost every night. josh knew his parents were getting sick of it, but as long as they didnt talk for too long his parents pretty much let it slide.

with every call josh grew more and more impatient for the day when tyler was going to visit him. he couldn't wait to once again see the small boy's shining smile and get lost in those gorgeous eyes. granted, he saw tyler every night—in his dreams—but it just wasn't the same as the real thing.

the day was thursday, nearly a week after the call. josh was hanging out with ashley, doing homework at their favorite coffee shop.

"ash, what did you get for number three?"

"josh, if you're going to ask me about every single question, you might as well just copy my homework."

josh shrugged and took a sip of his drink; a vanilla chai latte. "i mean, if you insist," he said. ashley rolled her eyes and handed him her homework.

"copying off of me isn't doing you any good, you know," said ashley, who began working on a different assignment. "especially if you end up actually wanting to go to college."

"how many times do i have to tell you? i'm not going to college. even if i wanted to, my grades are so bad that i probably wouldn't get accepted to any schools," josh replied, copying down ashley's answers in his messy handwriting.

"sure, josh," ashley said, not really hearing him. she was too focused on her work.

the two worked in silence for a while, ashley working diligently, josh copying her work, until eventually the sound of ashley's phone ringing broke their focus.

"would you excuse me for a moment? i have to take this," she said, a small smile spreading across her lips. josh cocked an eyebrow, confused, but muttered a quick 'sure' as she scurried out the door.

'who could that be?' josh wondered, but didn't pay too much attention to it. he figured it was just one of her other friends.

but boy, was that far from the truth.

ashley popped her head back in the door and motioned for josh to come toward her. josh was once again confused, but complied nonetheless. "ash, what are you doing?"

"trust me, josh. just wait here." josh watched as she disappeared around the corner. his curiosity was eating away at him, but he followed the instructions ashley had given him and stayed put.

just moments later she returned...

with tyler following close behind her.

"tyler!"

josh ran toward him, unable to contain his excitement. tyler held open his arms, welcoming josh's embrace and the two met with what was probably the biggest hug either of them had ever received.

josh buried his face in tyler's chest, taking in everything. everything about him. his soft cotton tee, the way he smelled, the feeling of tylers arms around him. the two stayed like this for a few minutes, at least, before josh pulled away.

"ty, what are you doing here? i-i thought you weren't coming until this weekend," josh said, grinning from ear to ear.

"i couldn't wait. i wanted to surprise you." tyler ran his fingers through josh's short hair. "i've been talking to ashley all week about this. it was her idea, actually. she knew how much we needed to see each other."

josh looked at ashley and mouthed a quick 'thank you' to her. he owed her big time.

"how long are you staying for? do you have some place to stay?" josh asked.

tyler replied, "yeah, i'm staying at a hotel nearby. i know you have school tomorrow, but maybe after school's out i can pick you up and we can go do something?"

josh smiled. "that sounds lovely, tyler." he laced his fingers through tyler's and lead him back into the coffee shop. "ashley and i were just finishing up some homework. we should be done soon. do you want to grab a coffee while you wait?" josh inquired. tyler nodded and headed toward the counter to order. josh walked back to the table where he and ashley had been sitting earlier.

"ash, i can't even begin to thank you," said josh, who received a smile in return from ashley.

"there's no need, josh," she said. "i know how much you needed this."

josh smiled. his two favorite people were in one room with him, and in this moment, everything was perfect.

✖️✖️✖️

two updates in two days, how crazy and unbelievable is that??

how are you lovely humans doing? im doing alright, im recovering from being sick though so my days have been pretty yucky!!

i love u guys. stay wonderful

milk