Just Do It (TannerBraungardtxDylanMitchell)

15: A Party & A Fight

Tanner spent long hours contemplating what he would say to Dylan if he ever saw him again. It had been a week since the IHOP fiasco and Dylan had gone off the grid.

When one day passed, Tanner figured he just needed some time to think. Two days and he started to lose his patience. By day three or four, Tanner was angry all over again about the whole thing. Seven days and he was sad they spent their last week apart. He could bring himself to cry or do much of anything except lay in bed. He couldn't even care about his family's worrying anymore.

So he thought about yelling at Dylan. Yelling about how humiliated he was in that restaurant, or hurt by his disappearing act. Yelling just to get out all the frustration that had built up inside him that knotted his stomach.

Tanner felt played. Stupid.

Fuck you, Dylan Mitchell! He would begin with that. We both know you love me too! Dylan would stutter, trying to counter. How dare you try to deny it!

He would be satisfied with that.

"Tanner, honey, you're grandparents are here." Kim cautiously stood in the doorway.

"Okay. I'll be up."

He forgot about the stupid little going away party his mom insisted on throwing.

"Have you heard from him yet?"

"No, mom! I probably never will."

Tanner broke down the other day when she asked why Dylan hadn't been around. He  did he busy ghosted and he cried and it felt liberating, for about five minutes.

"I'm sorry, honey. He'll come around."

She walked out and Tanner held back a sob, checking his phone notifications once more. Still no from him. Tanner took a deep breath to pull himself together. He needed to act like he was happy for the sake of his mother. She didn't deserve the worry lines he gave her.

It got better. Being around grandparents, cousins, etcetera got his mind off of the situation. He almost had fun, too. Jumping on the trampolines with his cousin Logan brought him back to the good old days of his childhood.

He was actually smiling for once when he saw Dylan and landed flat on his ass on the mat. All the euphoria was ripped away in an instant. Just halfway across the yard he stood, caught up in being questioned by grandma Braungardt. Tanner couldn't decide if he was too close or too far away.

Then he started walking over. Tanner's heart sped up and his chest grew tight. Dylan, looking apprehensive yet fine as ever, took his time, but inevitably was standing a few inches away. He looked at the ground, hands in his pockets.

"Hey."

All of a sudden, Tanner was sobbing and clinging to Dylan with all four limb. Dylan held him as tight as he could while whispering apologies and words of comfort. Guilt bubbled in his chest.

"Baby, please stop crying. Everyone is staring."

Tanner pushed Dylan away. "Good! Now you know how I felt that day you fucking left me!"

"I'm sorry, Tanner. God, I'm so fucking sorry, but I didn't know what to do, okay? I was scared."

"Scared of what? The truth?"

Sighing, Dylan raked his fingers through his hair and thought about his next few words carefully. "Yes? Look, I know it was shitty, and I'll explain. Can we just go inside?"

Tanner glanced around at the staring eyes, becoming self conscious. Without a word, he hopped off the trampoline and headed towards the house. Dylan followed with his head down. Some of the tension dispersed once the bedroom door closed behind them.