[Book 2 of the DEMA series]
[Sequel to Trench]
As Tyler and Josh begin a new chapter of their lives, secrets begin to unravel and their relationship is tested.
No matter how hard they try to escape their past, somehow some way it comes right back to...
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•••
Tyler burst through the front door, taking everyone off guard. Brendon's stack of cards fell helplessly at the corrupted force. Everyone noticed his bewildered expression. Josh was nowhere to be found. Jenna told him he never left the spare bedroom since the fight. Tyler's narrowed eyes glanced towards Grace.
"Dylan is being convicted for genocide."
The room quiets, Grace straightens as the news finally processes her mind. "What?" She says in a weak breath.
Tyler huffed, carding his hand through his hair as he shook his head unbelievably trying to grasp it himself. "After the debriefing, I did some research," Tyler informed, leaning against the sofa that Finn draped himself on. He chuckled sarcastically. "Should've left him in DEMA."
"Hey don't say that." Billie chipped in. Tyler folded his arms expectantly. "We all don't know each other's past. Well, little to none. So his might be bad, he still saved us."
Tyler clenched his jaw, rolling his eyes. They didn't see what he saw. She doesn't know. He agreed reluctantly. "Right."
He glanced at Jenna and Grace. As the room enveloped into their own conversation, trying to figure out Dylan, Jenna and Grace headed over to him. Jenna excused herself from Evan as she nodded towards the hallway. "He's in the kitchen eating his feelings," Jenna said with pursed lips.
"Poor boy." Grace sympathized as Tyler's chest filled with guilt. "I hope you do this right."
"I'll be in the kitchen." He mumbled before placing his briefcase in Grace's hands. She'll be digging into Dylan's case while Tyler tries to get back Josh.
▪♤▪
Weaving his way through the corridor, he saw the fluorescent light in the kitchen, a shadow moving within it. He entered the kitchen, a stutter in his step as he saw the head of dark blue hair.
Josh sat on the kitchen island, his feet dangling above the ground as he scooped out vanilla ice cream from the tub and into his frowning mouth. His colorful right arm present as he was sideways. Tyler furrowed his brows as he looked down at his feet. He was right there. He needs to say something. Tyler smiled softly, remembering that Josh only ate ice cream when he was sad.
Ironically, he hated ice cream. He thought it was cliché when Tyler brought him on a date to a secluded parlor in a town not far from them. He must really be hurting to eat ice cream. Tyler felt angry at himself realizing that he was the reason for this.
He pressed his thumb nervously against his thigh, trying to think of a conversation while Josh was still oblivious to his presence.
"Dylan's a murderer."
Josh visibly tenses at the sound of his voice, turning towards Tyler like a deer in headlights. He slowly swallowed the ice cream in his throat. Tyler studied Josh's disheveled appearance. Clothes loosely fitted, black sweatpants and - Tyler's redshirt.
Tyler inhaled sharply at the realization. A wave of emotions coming from Joshua, one that stood out to him being; heartbreak.
It's almost been a week and Tyler's surprised he's not over it. In all honesty, if it wasn't for Jenna, he would've still been in his room self-loathing. Joshua was strong, one of the strongest people he knew. It wasn't like him to be like this at all, and Tyler didn't like it. If Jenna could be there to help him out, maybe Tyler could be the one for Josh.
"Yeah," Josh replied back chalantly, scooping more ice cream. "Aren't we all?"
Tyler pulled open a drawer. Picking a silver spoon and closing it before sauntering over to Joshua. His eyes a depressing blue, the color Tyler dreaded to see.
"What was he like before DEMA?" Tyler asked, avoiding the topic that sat as a thick barrier between the two of them. He tentatively scooped out some ice cream, watching Josh eye him suspiciously.
Josh knew Tyler was trying to test the waters. But he didn't say anything. Trying to get him to talk, not exactly in the best of ways. Tyler was never really a talkative person, or one to start conversations in general.
The brunette pursed his lips at his silence. His brows furrowed as Joshua silently hopped off the counter, taking the tub away from Tyler's grasp and walking out into the large expanse of a backyard.
Tyler rolled his eyes at his childishness. He trailed out of the kitchen, noticing Jenna's anxious figure out the corner of his eye. He shrugged at her before pushing past the patio doors.
"Stop following me." Josh sighed out of frustration. Placing his spoon down as he turned to Tyler's looming figure.
"No," Tyler replied stubbornly. The blue haired man rolled his eyes. He turned his back again, most likely eating ice cream. "I don't really want to talk about your friend Dylan right now."
"No kidding."
"I wanted to talk about us."
Tyler hears Josh sigh through his nose, seeing him turn around through the light veil of snow. The grass still fairly dark green under the moonlight. Josh was taken back when he saw Tyler standing right before him. His eyes trailed up from the buttons on the brunette's pressed suit, to the slope of his Adam's apple, to his full lips and hazel eyes. Finally, he says, "I'm listening."
"Good." Tyler glanced around him before holding out his hand for Joshua to take. He glanced down at it hesitantly before grasping his hand with Tyler's.
"It's a long story."
•••
next chapter's gonna have the answers you've been waiting for
