You Were The Only One | Tyrus

15; Thank You

**HOMOPHOBIA WARNING**

~TJ's POV~

After the doctors checked on Cyrus, we could all breathe easier. They said that there was no severe head trauma, except that he has a concussion. His ribs would need time to heal along with his fingers. However, he was expected to fully recover.

The next few days were me going to the hospital after school and laying next to him in his hospital bed as we watched terrible TV programs. I told him awful jokes and he told me about dinosaurs. It was so simple, yet a piece of me disliked it because of where he was. Seeing him in that bed hurt my heart. Thankfully, he was being let out tomorrow.

"I can't believe they're finally letting me out of this place!" Cyrus dramatized.

"For real. Considering Reed got out the next day." I replied.

"You know, I think my mom is seeing Reed's dad. If you know what I mean." Cyrus suggested and I choked on my water.

"W-what!? That's a bold assumption Cyrus!" I was flabbergasted.

"Well, she did say she was going out to dinner with him the other day." Cyrus shrugged and picked up his phone.

"That would definitely be interesting. You and Reed being brothers." I laughed.

"Let's not jump to conclusions now. The date could've been awful." Cyrus pointed out. "Though I wouldn't mind it. Reed and his dad are great."

I nodded, smiling softly to myself. If Cyrus has said that in middle school, I would've been so surprised, but now it's different. I've missed a lot.

"Teej?" Cyrus's voice broke me from my thoughts.

"Yeah Cy?" I answered, drawing circles on his hand with my thumb.

"I know you have to leave soon, but will you lay with me until I fall asleep?" He flashed his adorable puppy eyes, and my heart melted like chocolate on the hottest day of summer.

"I thought you'd never ask." I smiled and climbed into the bed with him. He lightly snuggled against me which sent my stomach into an entire gymnastics routine.

"Thank you TJ." He mumbled into my chest.

"No, thank you Cy." I said softly.

After a few minutes, he was fast asleep. I didn't worry about waking him when I got up for two reasons. One, Cyrus is a very deep sleeper. Two, he'd just ask me to lay back down with him which is a win for me too. However, I did have to leave because Marty's parents had a "big announcement" tonight at dinner that I didn't want to miss.

I left the hospital with my backpack on. It had become routine for me to do my homework with Cyrus in the hospital. I was thankful that he was there too because math was a lot easier with his help. Dyscalculia was still a problem when it came to my education, but Grant was much more accommodating for it.

As I rounded the corner, I saw a familiar figure in the distance, smoking a cigarette. When I got closer, I began to see that the figure with future lung cancer between his fingers was none other than Lester. I upped my guard because Reed had told me that he's caused trouble for Cyrus and everyone LGBTQ+ at Grant.

I attempted to be the bigger person and walk by him without a word, but he had other plans.

"TJ, or should I say T-gay, Kippen. Long time no see, buddy." A smirk creeped onto his face along with the cynical tone in his voice.

"I'm not your buddy." I said, a small pit anger beginning to well. Just being in the presence of someone homophobic made my blood boil. I still made an attempt to walk away.