Fresh Start (Tyrus) || Andi Mack

Four // TJ

"Hey, how was school?" my dad asks me as I get inside and set down my backpack.

"Fine," I state, as I grab a hoodie and pull it over my head. "I'm gonna go for a walk, okay?"

"Alright, be back for dinner and don't get into trouble."

"I know, I know. Bye."

I put my earbuds in and head out the door. I have a wide variety of genres and artists that I listen to including Taylor Swift, but right now specifically I'm listening to a playlist I made called 'LGBT Anthems'.

I decide to go to the park. As I'm walking, I think about the boy I helped in the cafeteria today. He looked so sweet and innocent and adorable and I just can't think straight. Oh no, I think. I have a crush on him, don't I? Not this again!

I put my face in my hands and mentally scold myself for how I acted earlier. I've really got to get myself together.

When I arrive at the park, I see a kid swinging slowly in the distance. As I get closer, I see that it's the boy from the cafeteria. Remember, stay calm. Don't say anything stupid, I tell myself.

I take one earbud out and approach him, just as 'You Need To Calm Down' by Taylor Swift comes on.

"Hey," I say, grabbing onto the pole of the swing set.

He turns around and stutters, "u-um hi."

"Chocolate chocolate chip muffin, right?" I ask.

He nods. "Scary cafeteria guy," he says while pointing at me.

That kind of hurt. "Actually, TJ."

"I'm Cyrus."

"Do you come here a lot?"

You've got to quit it with the pick-up lines! I loudly think to myself.

"Yeah, kinda. Usually when I feel bad or worried about something," he tells me.

"Does it help?" I ask him.

"It helps me."

"Cool. Let me try." I sit down on the swing next to him, finally focusing in on the song again.

"So what are you listening to?" he asks, and points at the earbud in my ear.

My eyes practically pop out of my head as I frantically pull the earbud out and hide it in my hoodie pocket.

You idiot, I think. Why did you put on that playlist?

"Uh, nothing. It's not important," I insist, and start to swing really high.

"This is so fun! Come on, swing higher!" I tell him.

"No thanks. I don't swing higher than this. It's safer this way," he declines.

"Oh, come on, it'll be fun!"

I jump off the swing and go behind him, starting to push him higher.

"Ahh!" he screams as he gets higher and higher on the swing. "Ahhh!!"

"Underdog!" I yell, and run under the swing.

"That was exhilarating! But no more please," he says.

"Aw. Okay, fine," I fake pout.

"So, you gonna tell me what you were listening to now, or?" he asks, turning to face me.

"Um..." I start. I decide to just tell him the artist name, even though that might still be embarrassing for a boy. (A/N that's not my opinion it's just a common stereotype) It's a lot better than telling him the song title, though.

"Yes?" he encourages me to continue.

"Taylor Swift," I mumble quietly under my breath.

"I couldn't hear you, TJ."

"Taylor Swift!" I mumble again.

"TJ...I'm not gonna make fun of you. It's fine, everyone has different music taste."

"It's Taylor Swift," I state bluntly.

"Oh, cool. I like her music. What song?"

I internally panic again, he can't know that I was listening to that song, then he'll know I'm gay.

Still panicking, I blurt out a random song title of hers, "Uh-uh, Don't Blame Me!"

Immediately he forms a smirk on his face and says, "that's a pretty relationship-based song. Does somebody have a crush?"

"What, no! It's just a cool sounding song, ya know?" I try to cover it up.

"Oh, alright," he drops it, as I get on the swing again.

"So what about you? That girl that was with you in the cafeteria, is she your girlfriend?" I decide to ask, feeling the need to know for sure.

He sort of fake chokes and then for some reason starts laughing.

"No, most definitely not. She's just been my best friend for a long time, so she's very protective of me. I've never liked her like that and she doesn't either," he informs me.

"How do you know for sure she doesn't like you?" I inquire.

"She's ace and aromantic so she doesn't like anyone that way."

"Oh. Is she okay with you telling me that?"

"Oh, yeah don't worry she's very open about it. She doesn't feel the need for aroaces to 'come out' per-say as people don't usually care to much if you don't like anyone."

"That's a good way to look at it."

"Yeah," he says.

"I should get going," I tell him. "I have to be back by 5."

"Yeah, me too." He stands up and steadies the swing.

"Hey, do you want to um, exchange numbers? Maybe you could come over some time and play video games or something," I ask, trying to suggest things that sound like a regular friendship hang, so he doesn't think I'm flirting.

"Yeah, sure. Why not?" he says, and takes out his phone.

We type in each other's numbers and I set his contact as 'Muffin' and then realize there's no muffin emoji to put after his name. Oh well. Good enough.

•••

Later that night, as I'm changing into my pyjamas, I notice something on my ankle, shining in the light. I stop to look closer and see it. My soulmate mark. And it says...

Scary Cafeteria Guy.

Woah.