choke ↣ joshler ✓

21. Waffles

Tyler felt a hand shaking him awake and he popped an eye open. His dad was leaning above him, a small smile on his face. "Hey," he whispered. "It's ten. I thought I'd wake ya up so ya didn't have ta sleep on the couch."

"Oh," Tyler replied, half asleep. He heard Josh let out a small snore and his eyes widened. He forgot he and Josh has fallen asleep. "Dad—"

"He can stay the night if he wants ta," Chris gestured to a sleeping Josh.

"But we have school tomorrow," Tyler reminded, his voice quiet.

"As long as ya guys get up in time you're fine. I trust ya to make good choices."

Tyler smiled. "Thanks, Dad."

"Of course, bud. It's nice to see ya makin' friends," Chris returned the smile. "I'm goin' ta bed. I gotta get up early ta be at the station by six. Night. Love ya."

"Good night. I love you too."

Tyler waited for his dad to disappear down the hallway and to hear the sound of a door shutting before attempting to wake Josh up. He shook the pink haired lightly. "Josh."

"Hmm...?" he mumbled out, taking his arm and wrapping it around Tyler's waist before pulling him closer.

Tyler blushed and grinned against Josh's chest. "Josh, come on," he tried again. "We're going to my room."

"Do we have ta?" He groaned, burying his head into the couch pillow. Tyler giggled and felt his heart swell.

"Yes, it's comfier."

Josh sighed and sat up, running a hand through his hair. He stood up and grabbed Tyler's hand lazily. "Lead the way 'm half awake."

"Got it," Tyler smiled.

He lead Josh down the hall to his bedroom, shutting the door behind them once they entered. "Nice room," he spoke sleepily.

"Thanks," Tyler responded. It wasn't anything special but he still appreciated the comment. "Do you want some sweatpants or—"

He began but stopped when he heard his bed let out a creak. His face turned bright red when he saw Josh was laying in bed in just his t-shirt and boxers, his jeans discarded into the ground. "Come lay with me," he mumbled, stretching his arms out.

"Let me get some pajamas on, I don't want to sleep in my jeans," he giggled.

Josh didn't reply and Tyler quickly changed out of his clothes (he had put on jeans and a shirt after church because he didn't want to sit around in his dress clothes) and put on sweats before crawling in bed next to his boyfriend.

Boyfriend. He smiled upon thinking about it. He had his first boyfriend. And he was perfect in Tyler's eyes.

Once he was settled in, Josh's arm snaked around him just like before and Tyler sighed contently. "Night, Ty," Josh hummed.

"Night, J," the younger replied, his eyes fluttering shut.

---

Tyler woke up to his alarm blaring through his phone speaker. Josh turned next to him in bed, pulling the blanket up over his head. "Make it stop," he groaned, his voice raspy.

Tyler pressed 'stop' and sat up, rubbing his eyes. He saw the time read seven before he looked over and saw Josh still laying there. "Josh, we gotta get up for school."

"Le's jus' skip," he mumbled under the blanket.

"Josh..." Tyler sighed, feeling wrong. "I've skipped too much. I have a paper due in history today."