"I understand you must be going through a real hard time right now, just call me back if you're down to hang out, okay? Bye." Tyler paused for a minute to take in all the recent events that's happened; he murdered his boyfriend and ditched the body in a lake, there's posters all over Columbus saying he's missing, Tyler can't watch the news anymore because it's always an update on how Chris is still "missing" and it fills his body to the brim with guilt and dread, it would make him taste metal and it would linger in his mouth. Every time Chris appeared on TV, his mother would switch the channel over to some old game show reruns.
Mark left a bunch of voicemails since it was announced that Chris disappeared, he was constantly checking up on Tyler by coming over and trying to talk, but Tyler always shut him out, he felt like he'd admit to murdering Chris out of guilt.
"Hey Tyler," Mark answers "what a surprise!"
"Hey Mark, sorry it's been a while, I think I'll be good to hang out tonight."
"That's great! Are you one-hundred percent sure?"
"I hope so, maybe just a quiet night in?"
"Oh yeah, sure, how does Mario Kart sound?"
"Sounds great, I'll come over around six-ish?"
"Great! See ya later!"
Tyler regretted making that call instantly, he didn't want to see anyone or do anything, since killing his boyfriend he just wanted to lock himself away, he considered handing himself in and confessing to everything, but something in him stopped him and told him to drag it out longer and longer.
-
It's 5:37pm and Tyler is still in bed, the sunset is poking a beam of orange through the curtains, his eyes follow swirls of dust that spins in the orange light, that's the only trace of light in his room.
Knock knock.
Tyler sits up as his brother, Zack, slightly opens the door "Hey Ty, dinner's ready." Tyler shuffles out of bed "I'm not that hungry, I'm going to Mark's soon so we'll probably order a pizza or something." Tyler hunts his dresser for jeans. "You're going to Mark's? That's great man, you're finally occupying yourself, Mom was getting kinda worried." He pats Tyler's back then leaves, closing the door behind him. He turns to the mirror and takes a deep breath "You'll be okay, everything will be okay."
He makes his way downstairs and sees his family sitting around the dinner table, he overhears his little sister, Maddy, talking about how good she's doing at basketball recently and the whole family cheering and encouraging her. He appears at the doorway "Hi." He says softly, the family turn and look at him, his mother smiles "Have fun at Mark's sweetie." And his dad just smiles softly. For a couple seconds it feels like time was frozen and his family are just staring at him and he spots blood dripping from the ceiling, he looks up and there's nothing, looking back at the table there's nothing. "Are you okay?" Zack asks. Tyler felt his whole body tense as he looks panicked at the table.
"Bye." He turns without looking at his family and leaves.
-
"Hey man, how are you feeling?" Mark pulls him in for a hug as he opens the door, Tyler shrugs "Been better." They both walk into the kitchen "Beer?" Mark pulls out a pack from the fridge. Tyler has never had alcohol before; he never saw the point in getting drunk. Thinking into it more he knows people sometimes when they're sad or tired of a situation, maybe it won't be so bad?
"Drink."
"Yeah, thanks." He snaps the lid and takes a sip. "You've never had beer before have you?" Mark laughs "No, how can you tell?" "Your face just gave it away as soon as you had a sip, I've never seen someone so repulsed by beer." At this point Mark is in hysterics, Tyler just downs his drink. "Can I have another one?" Tyler crinkles the can.
