lemon boy

never left

synopsis: in which cyrus goodman loves tj no matter what

quote: ❛ i knew you were the one
when you walked into my chaos and
never left ❜

          " ITS JUST— my parents are fighting again, ambers been staying at andi's to avoid it, and i don't know, it's just stressful." tj said, putting his face into the palm of his hands. cyrus sat down beside him on the bench, "you could always stay at my place, teej. you're welcome there anytime."

tj lifted his head and met the eyes of cyrus goodman and smiled. "thank you." he whispered.

cyrus stood up, "we can go get your stuff and bring it to my house now, so we won't be bothered with it later."

he ran his hand over his face before standing up, "i don't want you there when they're arguing, underdog. i can go and meet you at yours."

cyrus shook his head, "i don't want you to go alone. not when they're fighting." tj wanted to protest, he wanted to tell him he didn't want him there. for one; he knew cyrus wasn't really used to fighting and he didn't want to make him uncomfortable, two; he was embarrassed. but he couldn't tell cyrus no, he couldn't tell him he didn't want him there, because in all honestly, that would be a lie.

"we have to be quick though, they like to bring me into it." as they walked to his house in silence all cyrus could think was, why would you do that to your kid? especially if your kid was tj kippen.

once they finally arrived tj stopped outside the door, you could hear them from the porch still arguing as they were a few hours ago. he sighed and opened the door, walking in, making sure cyrus got in before closing it behind him.

his parents eyes snapped over to the two, his mom sighed, running her hands through her hair. "where have you been, tj? you didn't even tell us you were leaving." she sounded more worried than mad, which comforted cyrus.

"you had your mother and i worried sick."

"i was with cyrus, i'm just here to get my things and i'm staying at his house tonight." he informed them, and before he could make it to the steps, he was stopped.

"where's amber?" his dad asked.

"well if you payed attention to your children then you'd know she's been with andi for the past week." his mother answered for him, making him sigh.

"i do pay attention to them! don't you dare say i don't pay attention to my children." mr. kippen raised his voice, making cyrus flinch.

"oh if you payed attention to them then you'd know that you're the reason they're never here anymore. all you do is start arguments, they don't want to hear that." her voice raised too.

"i'm not the one who starts the arguments. i-"

"-can you guys please just shut up!" tj yelled, "this is why we aren't ever here, not because one of you are arguing, but because both of you are."

his parents stared at him for a second before he continued, "just stop, please." his voice cracked and cyrus's heart broke. he put his hand on his shoulder, letting him know he was still there.

"i'm sorry, tj. we didn't mean-" he cut them off again.

"-just work it out and let us know when you do." and with that he walked up the stairs, cyrus following closely behind.

he walked into tj's room slowly, as if it were a whole new world and he was seeing it for the first time. tj was rummaging through his closet grabbing clothes. cyrus heard him sniffle, and watched him find a few shirts and throw them onto the ground.

"tj." he spoke softly, making him stop. he stood there, not turning around or moving at all. and that's when cyrus heard it. he heard tj break for the first in his entire time knowing him. he let out a choked sob and slid down the wall onto the floor. within seconds cyrus was by his side, holding him in his arms.

he whispered small nothingness into his ear and let him cry. slowly he caressed the back of his head.

after tj's crying slowed down he still laid in cyrus's lap, "why does the world hate me?"

"what?"

"it's like . . . i don't know, i'm not supposed to be happy or something. my parents are probably getting divorced now because of me, i guess i'm just supposed to be alone, ya' know?"

"tj, you are not alone. i'm here, i'm always going to be here." he sat up.

slowly he looked at cyrus who didn't have a look of pity on his face, but a look of seriousness. "i'm glad you are, underdog."