Just Do It (TannerBraungardtxDylanMitchell)

19: Fourteen Days & Doubt

Dylan still couldn't believe it. That phone call...He regretted answering it. Two more weeks?

"What are you talking about?" He had questioned.

"Dude, don't freak out. We just have some loose ends to time up. Okay, babe? I'll be home before you know it."

Dylan stared at the FaceTime call with a blank expression. Tanner's pout was guilty and Dylan had felt bad. "Fine, whatever."

Tanner had bit his tongue to hold back the words that wanted to come out. "I don't wanna fight. Please don't be mad."

Dylan wanted to be supportive. "I'm not mad." But he just wasn't.

"I'm sorry, Dyl. Just keep waiting for me, yeah?"

"Yeah."

Three days later, his phone still lay on the ground where Dylan had chucked it after that call.

Two fucking weeks.

He replayed that conversation in his head, trying to figure out where it all went wrong. He hadn't cried about it yet, but every time he thought about how he should have been more supportive, the tears welled up and he felt like a crybaby.

He contemplated if life in California was really so grand that they could wait fourteen more freaking days to come home. Did Tanner even want to come home?

Luckily, before Dylan could dive off the deep end into insanity, a hesitant knock at his bedroom door echoed throughout his room and pulled him back to reality.

"Come in."

"Hey, kiddo, I'm heading out-" She paused when she saw her distraught son, "Dylan what's wrong?"

He looked at her and shame suddenly filled him. His mom wrapped her arms around his shoulders as the sobs built up. Dylan cried for two reasons. One: There were still eleven days until Tanner came home. Two: He just realized that all these months, his mother had been in the dark about everything in Dylan's life and yes, she was a shitty mom most of the time, but she didn't deserve that.

"Dylan, what's wrong?"

"Don't be mad."

She nodded, smiling sadly at her poor son.

"Tanner isn't coming home yet...and I miss him."

"Is that all?"

He took a deep breath, hoping he wouldn't choke on his words. "We...we've been dating for a couple of months and I love him and just want him back. I'm sorry, mom."

She looked taken aback, then she frowned and Dylan feared the worst.

"Sorry for what? I'm surprised obviously, and disappointed  you didn't tell me earlier, but I'm happy for you kid. And I'm sorry you're struggling."

Dylan was so happy he couldn't even be weirded out by how nice and motherly she was being. It felt so good to let it out. The weight of the world was lifted off his shoulders. And it felt nice to spend some time with his mom. He couldn't remember the last time she had focused on him and was one-on-one with him.

"It'll be okay. Long distance sucks, but you'll be okay."

Dylan laughed hopelessly. Sucks didn't even begin to cover it. He mumbled a halfhearted thanks, mom and she kissed his forehead before heading to work.

Dylan took a deep, refreshing breath and let it out as a shudder while wiping the moisture from his eyes. He picked up his gym bag and cleared his mind. Today had to be different. He had to move on. He had spent two days and three sleepless nights thinking and thinking and worrying. He knew he couldn't do that anymore.