It didn't take long for Tyler's dad to fall asleep.

He finally passed out into a deep sleep at 10:30, giving Tyler just a little less time with Josh. It didn't matter though. Any amount of time would be fine. Or at least enough time to talk to his boyfriend and smoke a cigarette.

Once he did fall asleep, Tyler slipped on his coat (since it was freezing out now) and shoes before slipping out through his window. He knew how to get to Josh's from his house due to all the times Josh had given him a ride. They didn't live more than a few blocks from each other. Maybe a fifteen minute walk.

About that time later Tyler was walking up to Josh's door. He was shaking so hard from the cold that he thought he was going to pass out. Despite that, he continued and knocked three times on Josh's door. His breath created clouds of smoke while he waited. He hoped he wasn't waking anyone up or interrupting anything.

A few moments later the door opened but Josh hadn't been the one to answer it. A boy that looked like Josh but was shorter and had dark hair was standing there. Tyler recognized him as Jordan, Josh's brother. "Hi," he greeted, his teeth chattering. "Is Josh here?"

"Hey, come in," Jordan pulled him in the house and shut the door. "It ain't much warmer in here but it's somethin'. Josh's upstairs. I can go get 'im?" Tyler just nodded, unable to speak as he tried warming up. "Did ya walk here?" Tyler nodded once more. "Holy shit. No wonder you're freezin'," he paused. "Tyler, right?"

"Yeah," he finally spoke. "I'm Josh's b— friend," he stopped himself.

Jordan laughed softly. "I know ya guys are datin'. I've caught ya two makin' out," Tyler blushed upon hearing those words. "It's fine," he assured. "I don' care. No one in this house really does anymore but we don' care about a lot of things," he cracked a smile. "I'll go get 'im."

"Thank you," Tyler found himself smiling ever so slightly. Jordan disappeared up the stairs and Tyler heard him tell Josh he was there. A few moments later Jordan was replaced by Josh. The pink haired hurried down the stairs and pulled Tyler in for a hug.

"Why the hell did ya walk here? It's fuckin' freezin' out," Josh told him as he rubbed Tyler's back lightly.

Tyler breathed in his scent as his boyfriend's body warmed him up. "Can we go upstairs?" Tyler asked quietly.

Josh pulled back and looked at Tyler worriedly. "Yeah," he turned towards the stairs. "Jordan!" He yelled.

"'M alrea'y evacuating," Jordan mumbled as he came back down the stairs and walked past the couple, situating himself.

Tyler laughed at his words and Josh smiled before grabbing Tyler's hand and bringing up to his shared room with Jordan. Once the door was closed Josh sat on his bed and pulled Tyler onto his lap, wrapping his arms  around the younger. "What happened?"

That's when Tyler lost it.

Bursting into tears, Josh just held him while he sobbed for a few minutes. He didn't remember much just that Josh soothed him and rubbed his back comfortably while he kept his face buried against Josh's chest.

Once Tyler decided he could form coherent sentences he pulled away, wiping his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Don' be," Josh replied, pressing a kiss to Tyler's forehead. That only made more tears slip down. "Can ya talk ta me now?" He asked softly.

"My dad found out I've been smoking and he said that all the stuff I've been fucking up lately was because of you. Which is not true," Tyler sniffled.

Josh frowned. "How did he even find out?"

Tyler felt himself getting angry. He had trusted Jenna enough to tell her and she betrayed him. She betrayed his trust. "Jenna! I told her about skipping church– because I trusted her —and she's a fucking bitch and told her parents and they told my dad! She said she thought you were a bad influence," he scoffed. "You're literally only the fucking thing that makes me happy. Sorry not everyone can be a Bible obsessed asshole like her!"

"So it was Jenna's fault?" Josh asked. Tyler looked over and saw him clenching his jaw. At least he was upset about this too.

"Yes!" Tyler huffed. "And you wanna know the best part? I had to sneak out because my dad took my phone and laptop and said I wasn't allowed to hang around you or Ashley or Brendon anymore! That's why I walked here! It's all her fucking fault!"

He put his head in his hands and loudly let out a frustrated groan but he knew all Josh could hear was a muffled version of it. "How long are ya grounded for?"

"Probably until I move out," Tyler picked his head up and looked at Josh directly in the eye. "I don't know what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna go crazy without my cigarettes. I'm addicted to them, Josh. I'm gonna go even crazier without you."

"Well," Josh moved his hand against Tyler's so their fingers intertwined. "We can always see each other at school. He won't know there. 'Nd ya can smoke before 'nd after school like always. Ya can always sneak out 'nd come here if ya need ta," he took a deep breath. "I love ya, Tyler. I do. No asshole father or psychotic church girl will keep us apart, okay?"

The anger in Tyler's chest quickly disappeared and was replaced by happiness. "You love me?" He asked, his voice soft.

"Yeah," Josh smiled. "'Nd I'll take care of the shit ya need me ta. Whether it's cigarettes or love or anything else. I'll protect ya until I can' anymore."

Tyler pulled Josh by the front of his shirt and passionately kissed him with all he had. Josh really was his miracle. He helping him become a better person. He was helping Tyler find the real him.

Once they pulled apart, they rested their forehead together and panted softly. "I love you too," Tyler grinned. Josh pressed one more gentle kiss to his lips as their foreheads rested together. "Fuck Jenna. She can't ruin shit."

Josh laughed. "God damn I love ya so much."

Tyler rested his head against Josh's chest. "You know you're the best thing that's ever happened to me, right?"

"Yeah," he heard Josh say. "'Cause the same goes to ya," he added, kissing Tyler's forehead.

He smiled so hard he thought his face was going to split. If loving Josh caused him to go crazy he wouldn't want to go crazy for anyone else.