Just Do It (TannerBraungardtxDylanMitchell)

18 : Everything About You

Dylan woke up one hot summer morning, his body heavy from too much sleep, mind even heavier, and decided he needed to start living his life. He needed to learn to be independent. His mother finally caved and transferred him to Rhombus Academy for his senior year of high school. Taking courses online was one step he needed to take towards happiness and independence.

The second step was learning to live without Tanner, be a whole person from him. They couldn't be inseparable anymore.

He went to the gym everyday, just to get out of the house. He actually put effort into his schoolwork and helped out around the house. He did it all to distract himself from the reality of loneliness and immune himself to the feeling of Tanner not by his side. Sometimes it hurt like hell. Then he reminded himself that Tanner was nearly two thousand miles away and more than likely, he wasn't holding back. So neither should Dylan.

He still slept too much yet not enough, ate a terribly unbalanced diet, and played too many video games. That would never change. But he was doing better. He was making his life his.

Three weeks had passed since Tanner left and it felt like a lifetime. Dylan was changing and Tanner was creating a new, better life. They weren't ever going to be the same kids they were before and they both decided in their minds that that was probably a good thing.

All they really wanted though was to be together.

Dylan sat cross legged on his bed, awaiting the FaceTime call. They hadn't talked in nearly a week (They both were too busy) and he was excited to see Tanner's beautiful face. He looked forward to just talking to him.

Then the notification popped up and he felt so nervous his stomach knotted up. Before he could second guess our doubt himself, he clicked he icon.

"Baby!" Tanner yelled, smiling wide.

"Babe! Holy, shit, I missed you."

Tanner laughed and he was so beautiful. His skin had darkened to a shade slightly darker than fair, his hair was freshly dyed a light blonde on top, and his eyes were brighter and bluer than ever. He looked good. Happy. His eyebrows were no longer knitted with anxiety, his smile was carefree in a way it never had been. It was obvious by the way he carried himself He had discovered a newfound confidence within himself.

Dylan was almost worried about how much he had changed.

But they talked like old friends, flirty and teasing as always.  There wasn't the pressure of their relationship for once and it was nice. Tanner rambled on and on about the daily shenanigans he had been up to that were crazier than anything they had ever done. The people he had met and became friends with were of an abundance Dylan never would have imagined. It was nice to know he was happy and fitting in, but a part of Dylan- deep down in his subconscious where all of his shame was stashed away- wanted to hear was that  California absolutely fucking sucked.

He would never admit that aloud though.

"So, anyway, what have you been up to?"

Dylan shrugged. "Pretty much just school. Me and Quentin don't know what to do without you. So we do school and work out a lot."

"Ohh, gettin' them gains, baby?"

Dylan rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure."

Tanner's voice cracked as he laughed. "Haha, you're blushing. What a cutie."

"Shut up." Dylan hid his face in the sleeve of his hoodie.

"Oh my god, I've missed you."

Tanner calmed down from his bout of excitement and watched with a great fondness as Dylan tried to stop blushing. Tanner thought he looked so good with pink cheeks and his awkward smile. He loved the effect he had on the brunette. It made him love him even more.

"Fuck. You are so goddamn beautiful." He was in awe.

Maybe it was the long distance or the spell of no communication that made it all different now. Whatever it was, it felt good. They were more than head over heels for each other. It was more than being crazy in love. In that moment, neither of them could comprehend the utter happiness they felt. Neither of them could put it into words.

So they didn't try. They sat there, cheeks tinted and smiles that said everything that needed to be said.

It was bliss.

"You know, I meant it when I said I miss you."

"What do you mean?"

"Like... Of course I miss kissing you and cuddling with you and other stuff...But I miss your smile and your laugh, your lame sense of humor and just everything about you."

"You're so cheesy."

"Yeah, whatever."

"I love it, though."

"Well, I gotta got. Quentin is texting me. We're going to the gym."

"Okay, have fun. Bye."

"Bye."

They ended the call too soon and all Dylan could do way lay on his bed, overcome with a great sense of giddiness in the best way. He couldn't believe what he felt.

But, as was inevitable, he shook off the feeling, got up, and moved on with his life.

He had to.