The flower shop boy |JOSHLER|

6

• Josh's POV •

Josh feels terrible about that little incident with Jacob. Tyler seems to be upset, Josh hadn't planned it to go like this. "Your argument just brought back some old memories." Tyler says and looks at josh, smiling at him sadly. "Oh.. I'm so sorry.." josh says apologetically. "It's okay, it's not your fault." Tyler says and smiles at josh a bit more. Josh nods, but can't help but feel bad about the whole incident.

They get to Taco Bell and order their lunches. "It's been a while since I've been here." Tyler says. "Oh?" Josh looks at Tyler. "Yeah they have changed it a lot." Tyler continues. "Well I wouldn't know, I've never been here, I just recently moved here, like two weeks ago." Josh says lightly chuckling.

• Tyler's POV •

So that's why he hadn't seen Josh's face before. "I was wondering why I couldn't recognize you." Tyler says. "How do you like it here in Columbus?" Tyler continues. "Definitely better than my old place, I lived on a farm with my parents because the closest shop was an hour away from our house. So it's nice to have everything close by." Josh says.

"A farm? That sounds fun." Tyler says. "Eh it was fun until I turned 17, that's when stuff there just didn't do it for me. So I started working for my neighbor and saving up money to move out." Josh explains. Tyler nods.

They get their food and they start eating. They're both too busy eating because their lunch break is only an hour long and it takes 15 minutes to walk from Taco Bell to their shops.

Tyler and josh eventually finish eating and they start walking back. "Man I really missed Taco Bell." Tyler says. "Yeah i love tacos." Josh says chuckling.

Some may think that this could be the start of something romantic. But Tyler knows better than to keep his hopes up. Tomorrow is June 1st. It's the beginning of pride month, as much as tyler would like to go to all the pride parades, he can't. He's going to hang a few flags around his shop to show his support for others.

".. so I'll see you then?" Josh says, making tyler snap into reality. "Huh?" Tyler asks confusedly. "Weren't you listening? You said you'd join me to the movies to watch this new horror film on Friday." Josh explains. "Oh.. uhm yeah.. I'll see you then... sorry.. I wasn't really paying attention.." Tyler says embarrassed.

Josh nods and walks over the road to his tattoo shop. Why did Tyler agree? He hates scary movies. He's going to make a fool out of himself.

The day goes by slowly. Tyler is about to close up for the day but he sees josh running towards his shop. "Tyler! Wait!" Josh says and reaches Tyler. "A customer wants a floral tattoo and I was wondering if I could maybe come and draw some flowers from your shop tomorrow?" Josh says. "Sure, I'll be here from 7am to 3pm." Tyler says. "Oh thank god you're a life saver!" Josh says. "His flowers are pure shit, why don't you just go look at some on google?" It's Lawrence.

"First of all these are the best looking flowers I've ever seen. Tyler does an excellent job at keeping these flowers alive. Second of all the real thing is far more better than a picture." Josh explains. Tyler looks at him, he can't help but feel protected by josh.

"I appreciate your opinion lawrence, do you have any ideas on how I could improve?" Tyler asks with a fake smile plastered onto his face. "Maybe i do, but even if I did I wouldn't tell you." Lawrence says. "That's fair, have a nice evening lawrence." Tyler says calmly.

Lawrence leaves angrily, tyler knows it's better to not give him the satisfaction by showing his emotions.

• Josh's POV •

"You amaze me tyler, I'd be torn to shreds if he was being mean like that to me, how do you do that? How does it not bother you?"

"Well i just assume that something in his life is really bad and since he knows me so well he knows he can take it out on me, even if that's not the case, that's what I tell myself" tyler smiles at josh, josh nods, although josh can't help but feel as if something is off. "Have a great evening josh! I have to go now, i need to feed my plants and I'm also sleepy" tyler explains. "Oh okay, yeah stay safe and have a nice evening too!" Josh says and tyler nods.

Tyler starts walking away, and josh unfortunately lives the other way so he can't walk home with tyler. Josh waits till tyler is no longer visible before he starts to head home.

• Tyler's POV •

Tyler gets home and hangs his jacket on the clothes rack. He sighs and walks over to his watering can, filling it up with water and watering his plants. "My pretty flowers.." tyler whispers quietly and goes to put the watering can away.

Tyler looks into his fridge, usually he eats right as he gets home, but today is one of his bad days, so he doesn't feel like eating. He shuts the fridge door and walks over to his bed, flopping onto it, laying and looking at the ceiling with the glow-in-the-dark stars.

He can feel tears starting to form in his eyes. Tyler's phone lights up and he looks at it, it's a message from josh.

Hey tyler are you feeling okay? You didn't seem like yourself today, and I'm worried about you, it's probably nothing but if it is then you can always tell me, I'm here for you.

-Josh

That message made tyler feel like he was cared for, it was just what he needed. Knowing there is someone in this world who cares about him, makes him feel a bit happier. He messages josh back:

Ill be okay, I've just felt a bit tired today, but don't worry, I'll be just fine. This message is just what I needed to hear.

Tyler looks at his plants. "I'm important to josh..." He says quietly and smiles a bit. Tyler ends up falling asleep with a small smile on his face, knowing that there is one man who actually does care about him.