Eat a Bag Of Dicks! (Joshler) [✓]

26) the strange behavior

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"you're acting strange," debby observes.

tyler looks up from the scrabble board he was staring absentmindedly, a content smile on his face, "hm?" he hums curiously.

"that," debby points, "that's strange, and you just did that, and you keep doing things like that; you're acting strange,"

"playing scrabble is strange? you're also playing scrabble, and we play it often, so i suppose we're both strange, then," he giggles.

debby makes a little whine/hum, "see! that giggle, and your smile, and you just stare at the wall and sigh, and i wasn't trained for this, god damn it!" she pouts.

tyler's smile turns sheepish, "oh, have i been doing that?" he bites his lip.

debby nods, "heck yeah, you have. all the time. it makes me feel like i'm left out of some really cool inside joke," she whines, frowning at the choice of letters she has, before just deciding to push them aside and give tyler her full attention.

he shakes his head at himself, "sorry, sorry. i'm just-just thinking about-"

"josh..?" she sing-songs, a teasing smile playing at her lips.

tyler scoffs, his cheeks burning as he decides what he's going to say.

he can either lie to debby and get teased, or tell the truth and get teased.

the teasing is inevitable, so he might as well go down being honest.

"okay, yes, but-"

"ha! i knew it! dude, you're so lovesick, i-"

"woah, woah, woah, woah, woah," tyler stops her.

"love? i-i barely know him! how can you love someone you barely know? just-- love? i- no, i can't-" he cuts himself off to groan into his hand.

tyler admits, yes, he really, really, really, really likes josh. so much. i'd write like a billion more really's if i had the patience. he likes josh so much!

but he's just not ready to admit that he's possibly on his way to loving him. they aren't even dating yet, plus, tyler knows josh'll run for the hills when he realizes how high maintenance tyler will be if they get into a committed relationship.

debby sympathizes, rubbing his back, "hun, i know you're not exactly ready, and maybe even a little scared, but i feel like it will really help if you admit it. out loud,"

tyler tastes a copper in his mouth and grimaces.

he sighs, "but saying it out loud makes it feel so real," he whispers.

he shakes his head, going to stand up, "i just want to go to bed-"

debby pulls him back down, "no, you can not shut down every time you have to talk about your feelings,"

he scoffs, "i do not-"

debby scoffs louder, "you don't? really?" she starts counting on her fingers, "when your turtle died-"

"we had a very strong emotional connection!"

"when you watched the minions movie-"

"they were cute in despicable me, i didn't expect to be disappointed!"

"when your mom sent you away-"

disbelief crosses tyler's face. "no," he scoffs, "you don't get to talk about that!"

debby winces, knowing she's gone too far, but decides to keep going, "it's true, though! any small type of negative emotion you feel causes you to shut down! and you need to stop!"

tyler goes to yell again, but just sits down and sighs, "what else am i supposed to do?" he croaks.

debby sighs and sits with him, "talk. it will help, and if it doesn't, you know we all will find a way to help,"

tyler grips her hand, "we? you mean you and dr. stevenson," he scoffs.

debby is quiet for a moment, "and josh," she mumbles.

tyler looks at her incredulously.

"when you tell him, we both know he'll be accepting,"

tyler sighs and shakes his head, "whatever, let's just-- finish scrabble,"

debby smirks down at the board, "or, hey, how about you count up your words and we can just do a puzzle or something,"

tyler nods and looks down at the board as well,

swings, cats, cheesecake, yellow, boyfriend...

he groans and slams his head on the table.

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what do you call an author too lazy to look for a dick joke for this chapter?

me.

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