Just Do It (TannerBraungardtxDylanMitchell)

24: Break The News

Dylan watching Tanner with pursed lips. He would smack him again if he laughed one more time, but it was hard to stifle his laugh. But he tried and shoved a bite of his Taco Bell chalupa into his mouth as Tanner sat with a plate of baked fish and some greens.

"Shut up, Mylan Ditchell."

"I'm sorry, I'm really trying."

"Being organic sucks."

He pouted and kept his eyes off of Dylan's delicious food- a Taco  Bell crunch wrap. Not that he didn't appreciate the lady that cooks for him- because he really did- but going organic was a lot harder than he thought it would be, especially with everyone eating his favorite foods either in front of him.

But he had to admit it was helping. After extensive research and talking to others with the same mutated gene as her son, Kim came to the conclusion that the best thing for him would be to get rid of all the chemicals, preservatives, dyes, and artificiality from his diet. He hasn't had a headache or crippling side pain attack once during the three weeks he had been on the diet.

When Dylan leaned in to kiss him, Tanner shot him a dirty look and pushed his face away. His angry facade faltered when Dylan planted their lips firmly together. He wanted to be mad, so he cursed himself for the butterflies he still felt whenever Dylan kissed him.

"I love you, babe." Dylan smiled cheekily.

"Yeah, whatever."

The older boy wrapped his arms around Tanner's waist from behind, placing kisses across his neck.

"Stop, babe" Tanner laughed, "You're being cliche and gross."

"Oh, I'm hurt."

Tanner punched his shoulder, quite hard, and took off through the house at lightning speed, knowing Dylan refuses to run under any circumstance. He wandered around after him, assuming Tanner made a mad dash to his bedroom. He found him lounging on his elk fur lined bean bag with a smug expression and an Xbox controller in hand. Grinning, Dylan plopped down beside him and grabbed the second controller.

The Black Ops logo flashed on the screen as the game loaded. Tanner snuggled into Dylan's side, forgetting that he was supposed to be mad at him and his Taco Bell. Video games always made it all better.

"Tanner!" Kim's voice rang through the house.

Dylan sighed, figuring their fun was ruined. Tanner simply ignored her. He knew when she didn't get a reply, his mother would come find him.

"Tanner, I've been calling you!" She stood in the doorway. "Have you told him about-"

"Mom! No!" Tanner shouted, wide eyed and hoping Kim would take the hint to stop talking.

"Just do it soon. They need an answer as soon as possible."

The tension was thick once she left and Dylan stared at him, willing an explanation from him. Tanner stared at his hands in his lap. He contemplated the best way to break the news to his amazing, loving boyfriend who he feared the worst reaction from.

"What's wrong, babe? Who needs an answer?"

The blonde shook his head. He wasn't prepared to drop the bomb and thanks to his mother, he had no way of avoiding Dylan's curious eyes. He hugged his arms around his waist as a source of comfort, squirming under the tension.

"Tan-"

"You know I love you, right? More than anything."

"Yeah, I know."

Tanner took a deep breath, laughed nervously, and started slowly, "So, I've been thinking about my anxiety and depression and whenever my side hurts, and I've been taking to my mom and some other doctors to figure out what is the best thing for me."

Dylan prompted him to continue with a nod, even though for whatever reason he felt like crying.

"We decided it's best to continue seeing my therapist regularly. And everyone thinks getting away from this shithole would benefit me a lot."

Dylan refused to believe what he was hearing.

"So I'm moving to California. Me and some guys I've met there are renting a house so I can see my therapist weekly."

The brunette felt his heart drop.

"What?"

"Baby, please understand. This is something I have to do."

Dylan stood on his feet. He was angry. He wanted to throw something, hit something, run away. Tanner sat, head hung, as Dylan silently worked through his emotions because he understood, he really did because he knew Tanner better than anyone. He knew how bad his lows could get and how excruciating the pain could be. He knew how hard it was for Tanner to even get out of bed some mornings. He understood. But we've just figured out how to be happy.

Eventually, Dylan comes to a halt and realizes that he only has one choice. So they sit in silence for several long minutes. Dylan's mind races as he struggles to find a coherent thought. Tanner assumes the worst and he mentally prepares himself for Dylan's reaction.

"I remember in Hawaii you told me that I make you better, but I'm not enough anymore, and fuck, I wish I was."

Tanner's face screws up as he fights the flood of tears. He holds his breath, his heart pounds hard.

"Of course I don't want you to leave, babe, but...you need to."

"I hate that I keep hurting you just because I'm so fucked up."

Dylan tried to make it seem like everything was okay but inside, he was pissed. The world just keeps fucking him over and over. Any sort of happiness in his life can't last for longer than give minutes, it seems.

"You're not fucked, baby. You're okay. We're okay. I love you."

"You're not mad?"

Dylan nearly laughs. "Of course. I'm pissed. But it doesn't matter. What matters is that you're doing what you need to get better."

Tanner itches with nerves, but now that Tanner is reassured everything will be okay, he can have his mom talk to the landlord of the house they were already looking at. He feels kind of relieved now. The guys will be so excited when he tells them it is official. The guilt of leaving his boyfriend is the only thing stopping him.

Then an idea pops into his head.

"Hey, you're eighteen now."

"Yeah?"

"Come with me. To California."