[✓] TYLIVER ONESHOTS. ✩

moment by moment

OLIVER'S POV

Tyler and I had been long distance for about a month. I was in New York City, in an acting school and trying to get my career started, and he was still in Boring, getting through his sophomore year. I won't lie, it has been rough.

Some days I'd miss him so much it hurt. This was one of those days. I looked at my small apartment room walls, decorated with polaroid pictures of us during the summer before I left. We were so happy. My chest felt tight and my eyes got watery. I haven't called him today. I should call him.

I reached for my phone with a shaky hand and dialed his number. My heart fluttered at the thought of hearing his voice. This is my favorite part of the day, just talking with each other.

"Hello?" Tyler answered in a cheery tone, already knowing it was me calling.

"Hey baby." I smiled sadly, happy to hear him, but longing to be face to face.

"Oliver! It feels so good to hear your voice. How was your day?" He asked eagerly.

"It was okay. I got a few callbacks, and my improv class went well. How was yours? How is school going?" I worried about Tyler a lot. I wasn't there to help him through his troubles, and he had a hard time keeping up with all of his classes.

"Pretty much the same as always. Oh, McQuaid started talking to this girl - they might be dating, I'm not sure - I guess that's different," he rambled, his voice cracking.

"Woah really? Good for him," I said, genuinely surprised. McQuaid was one of Tyler's closest friends. I knew he was nice and everything, he was just... kind of awkward and odd. But I guess Tyler was just as weird.

Talking cheerily like this was lifting both of our spirits, so I decided to continue it. "What are your plans for the weekend?" I asked curiously.

"Hmm... I think Kate, Emaline, Luke, McQuaid, his supposed girlfriend, and I are all seeing a movie." Hearing him mention my ex girlfriend's name made me feel uneasy. I knew that group had gotten tight since I left, but we didn't end on good terms. "Oh, and there's a huge English test next week. I think Luke and Mcquaid are gonna help me study for it this weekend."

"How is Emaline? Is she doing okay?" I didn't know how he would react to me asking about my ex, but I was wondering. We never made up, but there was a part of me that still really cared for her. Neither of us really liked each other in that way, so we didn't have any reason to be angry. We were both just stubborn, and I knew she was dating Kate. Tyler let me know during our first long distance phone call.

"Uh..." He was caught off guard. "She's... good. She's going off to college soon. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious," I replied casually.

"Oh, okay. She asks about you. Well, everyone asks you. They miss you," he paused. "Especially me. It's not the same without you, y'know? I wish you were here," he explained sadly. Hearing those words felt like a shot to the heart. I didn't know what to say. I was heavy with guilt.

"I wish I was there too. I'm sorry, Ty. I'm sorry for leaving you. I should have never left. I love you so much," I spilled out all the thoughts I had been trapping in my brain.

"It's okay, Oliver. Really, it's fine. I'm fine. I'm not... angry at you or anything. I love you too. I'm proud of you for following your dreams. Not many people have the guts to do what you're doing." The tears I had been holding in began to stream down my face. Why does he have to be so damn sweet and understanding? "It just gets so hard because... I-I miss you so fucking much," he cried into the phone. I felt like shit. I never wanted to be the one to make him cry like that.

"I miss you too, baby." I tried to calm him down, but I could still hear him whimpering. It was difficult to help him when I was also trying not to sob. "I promise come visit the first chance I get, okay? Now take some deep breaths."

Together we breathed in and out slowly and calmed ourselves down. We would be okay. "We'll take it one day at a time. And if that's not enough, we'll take it moment by moment. Does that sound good? Whenever you miss me, just call. Can you do that for me?" I whispered softly into the telephone.

"Yes... I can do that." We both stayed in a comfortable silence for a while until he cleared his throat. "So, tell me about New York. How is it up there?"

I smiled, knowing he just wanted to hear me talk about the place I loved. "Oh my god, you have no idea. There's so much to tell....."

That's how we would take it, moment by moment.