come back // joshler

15: Josh & Tyler

Tyler was beyond shocked. Josh liked him?

Why didn't he want to ask him out though?

He found his way into the nearest toilet stalls and locked himself in one of them, lifting his legs up against the door as he sat on the toilet seat so that no one would be able to recognize him by his shoes. He reached for his phone in his pocket and went to message Josh.

Tyjo: josh..?

Jishwa: Look, I'm sorry, I really am.

Tyjo: don't be.

Jishwa: I just fucked things up for the second time.

Tyjo: no you didn't.

Jishwa: How so?

Tyjo: meet me at the big auditorium in five, ok?

Jishwa: What're you gonna do, bring a bunch of people to throw rotten bananas and tomatoes at me? No thanks, I'm okay.

Tyjo: no josh. i swear it's nothing bad, please?

Jishwa: Fine.

Tyler fistpumped the air before exiting the toilet stalls quickly, not wanting to be seen leaving them. If you were Tyler Joseph, coming from the school toilets always put a target on your back. Too many people had caught him crying in them for it to go unknown for the whole student body of the school. He sighed and ran down the now-empty hall, turning a few times before arriving at the auditorium doors. He tried to think of something to say, not wanting to stutter while speaking. He heard steps approaching, and soon saw Josh turn to the hallway from behind the corner. He nervously shifted weight on his legs and watched Josh get closer and closer. He could see the stripes of tears still on his cheeks, and he felt guilty.

"Hey", Tyler quietly said as Josh came over to him, avoiding looking at Tyler.

"Hey.."

"So.."

Josh nodded.

Tyler quietly sighed.

"Just say it."

"What do you think I'm gonna say, Josh?"

"That I can just leave your life, and that I'm disgusting."

"Why would I say that?"

"Because it's true."

Tyler shook his head. "No it isn't."

Josh rolled his eyes. "Of course it is."

"Josh.."

"I'm trying to stay here, but you won't say it, and I just want to leave."

"No, don't leave."

"Actually, you know what. I think I'll go", Josh said and started fast-walking down the hall.

"Come back", Tyler called behind Josh, and the boy stopped. "Josh, please. Come back here."

And he did. He walked back to Tyler and looked straight into his eyes. "What?"

"I'd say yes", Tyler replied and smiled carefully. Now it was Josh's turn to be surprised.

"You mean..?"

Tyler nodded, and Josh couldn't move. Tyler said what now?

"So it's me then, huh?", Josh asked and chuckled a bit.

"Yeah, it is", Tyler giggled and smiled widely at Josh, letting his dimples show. "And me?"

"Mhm, of course", Josh smiled back, feeling relieved.

"I can't believe I was your gay awakening", Tyler laughed, and Josh blushed slightly. "Exciting."

"I would've never believed you'd like me", Josh honestly said. Tyler shrugged at the statement. "It seems unreal."

"I always knew you liked me", Tyler simply said, causing Josh to go deep red. Had he been that obvious? "I know what you're thinking, and to answer your question; yeah, it was obvious, Jishwa. All those few-seconds-longer-than-necessary hugs and all the wanting to hold hands kind of gave it out."

"Oops", Josh quietly said, looking down at his feet. Somehow Tyler always managed to make him nervous when the two were alone. Tyler chuckled beside him and suddenly the bell rang again, signalling the kids who had started later that they had a break now.

"It's alright", Tyler assured Josh and smiled at the sight of the boy being shy. "It kind of made me realize that I liked you too."

"Liked..?"

"Yeah, liked", Tyler nodded, and Josh could feel his heart drop. "Now I know better though."

Josh was at a loss of words. What did Tyler mean? Liked? He was so confused, and his legs felt like jelly and his stomach was churning. "W-what..?"

"Hm?"

"W-what d-do you m-mean..?", Josh quietly asked still looking down at his feet. Tyler gently took Josh's chin in his hand and lifted it up to look into his eyes. "W-with l-l-liked..?"

"Well", Tyler started. "Now I know something."

"W-what is i-it?", Josh nervously asked, his heart beating fast. He had no idea what Tyler meant. Had he done something he was angry about? Had Josh's earlier talks caused him to realize he liked Mikey instead? What was going on?

"That instead of liking you", Tyler said and glanced away from Josh before looking back into his eyes. "I love you."