SMITTEN🌹⌠J.T⌡

xiv

senior year is here to kick me to the curb y'all and i bombed my math test today but here you go.

EDIT: uh i graduated oops? sorry it's been so long, that was my original beginning note hnnng

⚜️🌹⚜️

TYLER HATED WHEN Joshua smoked.

His teeth always looked yellower, his skin paler, his scent sour with smoke. He'd disappear every hour or so and come back with the smell of death clinging to his clothes. Then he had the nerve to look confused when Tyler shot him a dirty look! Like he didn't know he was literally killing himself!

And it frustrated him to no end how Joshua just didn't care. Look, Tyler was a rational person. He knew that addiction wasn't something that just goes away, but Joshua wasn't even making an effort. It's like he was just being self destructive on purpose, and Tyler did not appreciate the nauseating lurch in his stomach at that thought.

So he did the only rational thing.

He meddled.

He was rational, logical, and... okay, well, maybe a little emotionally invested in the little game he'd gotten caught up in with Joshua. He wasn't just going to sit there and watch Joshua die; that kind of defeats the purpose of bonding with someone.

"Who the fuck stole my cigs?!" Joshua yelled after returning from the bathroom.

So, yeah, Tyler meddled.

Someone not so subtly glanced over at Tyler who was nonchalantly reading, as he does every morning. Only this morning, he was hiding a package of cigarettes in his backpack.

"Tyler," Josh growled, stomping over. Tyler merely cast him a glance before turning his page.

"Can I help you?"

"Gimme back my cigs," Josh sighed, rubbing at his eyes. "I'm not in the mood to deal with this right now."

"Hmm, I'll think about it," Tyler answered, not looking up.

He was very clearly not thinking about it.

"Tyler-"

The bell rang, interrupting what Tyler was sure would have been a very empty threat. He snapped his book shut rather dramatically and cast a fake smile in Joshua's direction.

"Sorry, I really can't be late to class. You know how it is." Tyler drawled, standing from his seat and slinging his backpack over his shoulder. Joshua was blocking his path, so he tried to push past.

Joshua didn't move.

"Listen here, you little brat, I told you I'm not in the fucking mood. Give. Me. My. Cigarettes," Josh hissed, his voice like ice. Tyler tried to ignore the shiver of fear that raced up his spine, and let out a nonchalant sigh, putting his bag back on the desk to unzip it. He grabbed the package and held it out for Joshua to take.

"No need to be so hostile. Though, nicotine withdraw causes aggression, so I guess I'd better get used to it," Tyler huffed, before looking to the side, not wanting to see Joshua's face when he realized-

"These aren't my cigs," Josh said slowly, clenching his jaw. He stared at Tyler's hand and its contents like they were personally offending.

"It's nicotine gum," Tyler muttered matter-of-factly. "If you're going to break school rules, it's better for it to be a rule about gum than one that kills you." He then promptly shoved the package of gum to Joshua's chest. "Now get out of my way; I have class."

Joshua looked a mix between shocked and irritated, but Tyler considered his offering a success when Joshua at least took the effort to raise his hand and take hold of the package. Though he wasn't necessarily sure what his reaction might be after he processed the situation, so as soon as Joshua's hand on the package replaced his own, Tyler was out the door and on his way to English class.