It All Started At Midnight

//Twenty Øne//

Not really edited, please comment any mistakes if you come across them.

Tyler struggled the next few weeks, after the incident where he revealed his angel identity to Josh, it's taken him a while to regain his strength. He had to miss school for a few days and catching up didn't help the stress that made him go fly in the first place.

Josh has been extremely supportive however, everyday at school he'd stop by Tyler's locker at the end of the day and they'd walk home together. Tyler thought it was because Josh was feeling protective of the angel after what happened. That was partly true but the main reason was because the pink-haired beauty was avoiding his ex, still scared of him. The boys both kept their stresses to themselves.
While Tyler was being overwhelmed with school and stuff back home, Josh was having constant nightmares and panic attacks. They both never talked about it though.

Today was different though. Josh was walking with Issa to his locker getting ready to go home.

"So I noticed you and mystery boy have been getting close." Issa smirked, his voice suggesting something was going on between them.

"Oh uh yeah, he's actually really cool once you get under the toughness." Josh admitted shyly, checking his makeup with the tiny mirror in his locker.

"Oh reaaaalllyyy?" His friend asked.

"Trust me, we're just friends." Josh laughed, closing his locker and putting his book bag on.

"I mean how could you resist him though, especially now that you're a single hoe." Issa winked, Josh blushing slightly at the thought of Tyler and him.

"Oooh bitch you're getting red!" He laughed, clapping his hands together.

"Whatever." Josh replied.

"I'll see you tomorrow Issa, I gotta start walking home." He walked off, waving to Issa. On his way to Tyler's locker, he noticed a familiar face walking towards him and Josh instantly felt panic in his bones. He started walking quickly trying to avoid him at all costs. As he approached Tyler's locker he realizes that the angel wasn't there yet. Freaking out he rushed to the boy's bathroom to hide, breathing heavily.

"Josh." He heard, the boy tensed up completely, refusing to turn around to see who the voice belonged to. He stayed silent.

"Josh please at least look at me." His ex begged. Josh stood dead still, like a opossum playing dead hoping the prey would walk away.

"Fine, at least listen." Eric sighed, trying to figure out what to say.

"I-I can't get over you baby. Everyday I regret the choices I made that caused our breakup. Please, don't let these years we've had go down the drain." He spoke. Josh kept his head down and back faced towards me, his eyes tearing up.

"No, Eric. Please just leave me alone." His weary voice finally said, his throat choking up with tears.

"Josh please! I need you!" He raised his voice. Josh was gripping the sink fearfully, gasping slightly at the sudden loudness of his ex.

"Josh?" He heard a different much gentler voice speak. This time he turned around to see Tyler, looking at him. When they met each other's gaze, Tyler instantly jumped into protective mode.

"We're talking here so if you could leave that'd be great." Eric said to the angel aggressively.

Tyler simply ignored him and stood in front of Josh, facing the dude.

"We have to go, so if you could leave, that'd be great." The angel spoke assertively. He rested his hand on Josh's, asking for permission to hold it so he could walk him out. The smaller boy instantly responded by gripping his hand. The two walked out the bathroom together. Eric stood there in shock, eyes filling with rage.

Tyler and Josh walked out the school building as fast they could, the angel still too weak to run for long. The two hid in the park they once saw each other in incase Eric was following them. The two sat behind the plastic rock wall of the playground, Josh instantly wrapping his arms around Tyler. The angel has gotten used to the affection Josh liked to show so he instantly hugged him back, trying to give the best comfort he deserves.

"You're alright flower boy, he's not gonna find you." Tyler spoke softly. The human in his arms managed to unravel the fondness Tyler rarely shows, something that no one has done since he first started dating Jenna.

"I-I'm sorry Tyler.." he whispered softly.

"Sorry about what, Josh?" Tyler asked, rubbing Josh's back.

"I'm such a burden to everyone... can't even confront my damn ex." He sniffles, Tyler could feel the wetness from the new tears of the smaller boy on his chest.

"Hey bub, you're not a burden to anyone. It doesn't make you weak if you can't talk to Eric, you're still healing." Josh simply shrugged. The angel then lifted Josh's head by his chin so the two could make eye contact.

"I will repeat this once again, you are not a burden to anyone, you're emotions are valid." Josh could feel his face burning up at the closeness. His eyes instantly glancing at the angel's lips.

"R-really?" He squeaked out. Tyler just nodded and wiped the tears from his porcelain skin.  The smaller boy simply smiled a bit.

"Did my makeup stain your shirt?" His voice spoke after a moment of the two just making eye contact. Tyler just giggled. He was happy that Josh sounded better.

"Don't worry about it flower boy, you're face still looks great." Josh blushed even more. Now it was Tyler's turn to glance at the smaller boy's rose petal lips. Then he felt his arms giving out from holding him.

Before the two could get any closer, Tyler cleared his throat and gently lifted Josh off him slightly, (the hug eventually lead to Josh practically being on Tyler) causing the petite boy to frown.

"Sorry flower boy, my arms were getting really tired.." he sighed, mentally cursing at his body for taking so long to recover from the incident that was almost a month ago. Josh's frown deepened, but this time, with worry.

"Tyler, have you talked to Kelly as to why you're still feeling weak..?" Josh asked with concern laced in his voice.

"All she can think of is that the jewelry was stronger than it looked so it took most of my energy..that takes a while to recover from." The angel shrugged, a sigh following afterwards.

"Well maybe also cause of the fact you're always stressed, it isn't good on the body." Josh said, crossing his arms.

"Do I make it that obvious?" Tyler laughed quietly.

"Yes you do, Ty. But you never say why you're so stressed." Josh argued, not taking the situation humorous.

Tyler sat there shocked at the sudden change in his friends voice. It was now serious. Almost like he was begging to know why. He stared the angel down, expecting an answer. Tyler knew Josh would keep asking if he shrugged it off. The stare eventually hit a time bomb in the angel.

"Just...everything! School is getting to be so much, work is piling up for me, I never understand half of it and it keeps multiplying, and stuff at home is stressing me out too, it just keeps adding more onto my shoulders!" Tyler exclaimed in defeat.

"Hey, you know I can help you with school work." The smaller boy said, his voice back to calm.

"I hate asking for help..." Tyler admitted.

"I want to help you Ty, I'm done watching my best friend slowly lose it. It hurts." His voice broke near the end. Tyler just numbered an 'alright', blushing a bit from being called his best friend. Josh smiled in victory. The angel smiled back, looking at the cotton-candy haired boy next to him.

"But what's got you stressing at home...?" Josh asked, furrowing his brows in confusion. The angel sighed once again, his face painting a look of hurt and uncertainty. He didn't reply right away, leaving the atmosphere shift to a feeling of somber for what was to come from his lips. Josh just stared at him worriedly. Maybe he shouldn't have asked.

The angel looked down, stayed like that for a few painful minutes. He finally decided to speak.

"Jenna has been escaping the house at midnight and I don't know why.." And for the first time in their friendship, Josh saw a tear roll down Tyler's cheek.