Josh, Tyler, and Lina were all sitting at their lunch table the day after Tyler's... sudden mood change.

When Josh had picked him up that morning he noticed he had taken the nail polish off his fingernails and he looked even worse than the day before. He just looked weak.

Tyler has been silent most of the day but Josh didn't know if that was better or worse than him being in a snippy mood.

He didn't really want to find out either

Josh and Lina were in the middle of sharing math answers while Tyler had his head on the table, resting in his arms.

"What'd you get for 12?" Lina asked.

"Eight and four," Josh replied.

"Well shit I got ten and 13," she sighed as she set her pencil down. "Math is stupid anyway. You don't need it to work at Zumiez the rest of your life."

Josh laughed. "No way your mom won't let you not go to college and work at a mall for eternity."

Lina pursed her lips. "Fuck. You're right."

It was silent for a moment and the two glanced at Tyler before looking back at each other. "You alright, babe?" Josh asked softly.

"Yep," he replied shortly, a huff coming from his nose.

He grabbed his phone and Josh watched as he went to unlock it. Except, Tyler paused for a moment as he stared at the numbers. Like he wasn't sure of what his password was. "Uh, Ty? It's 0618."

Tyler blinked and put the password in, watching as it unlocked. "I don't need your help. I'm not an idiot. I know my phone password."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Lina pressed gently.

"Yes!" He snapped, picking his head up and giving them a look. "Why do you keep asking me that?"

Josh gave him a worried look. "You haven't been yourself lately."

"Well maybe this is how I act now," he sneered. However, he paused when he saw Lina's neck. "What are you wearing?"

Lina glanced down. "Clothes...?"

Tyler rolled his eyes. "Around your neck, smart one."

Lina glanced down again. "My cross necklace?"

"When did you get it?" He asked harshly.

"I've always had it, Ty."

"Well why didn't you wear it yesterday?" He demanded.

"Do I get a lawyer for this interrogation? Damn, Ty. I just forgot it at my house. Why you trippin'?"

"Take it off."

Josh's eyes widened at those words. It was common knowledge Lina and her family were fairly religious.

"Excuse me?" Lina looked at him in disbelief.

"Take. It. Off," he ordered, narrowing his eyes at her.

Lina narrowed her eyes back. They both knew she wasn't someone to take other people's shit. Plus, Tyler had never treated her— or anyone for that matter —like this.

"What the fuck is your problem, cabrón? We let you have your pity party yesterday and act all moody and be an asshole to everyone. I'm not in love with you like Joshie Boy over here so I'm sure as hell not gonna let you push me around. Either go change your tampon and knock your shit off or get the fuck away from me. You're being a dick."

Josh didn't say anything as he watched this exchange. He didn't know what to say. This has never happened before. Sure, Lina and Josh argued but she was like the sibling he never had and at the end of the day they loved each other. This? This was not good.

Tyler looked like he wanted to crawl on the table and strangle her. Josh had never seen that look on his boyfriend's face before. It was unsettling.

Tyler's usually beautiful and smiling lip curled up into a snarl. "Fine," he spat, getting up.

He grabbed his bag and was about to walk off when he stumbled, almost passing out.

Josh got up and held onto him, worry shooting through his whole body. "Ty, what's wrong? Have you been eating?"

Tyler shrugged Josh's arms off of him. "Seriously. I'm fine."

Josh wasn't taking this anymore. "No. You're not. You're coming to my house after school and taking a nap or whatever the hell you need to do to stop acting like this."

Tyler opened his mouth and was about reply but didn't say anything. He just shook his head. "Okay..." he sighed tiredly.

Although Josh was scared for Tyler, that last little bit reassured him slightly. It was compliance. And compliance was better than what he's been getting.

---

Josh and Tyler entered the former's house, Josh taking both bags and setting them in the coat room.

He heard Jim bark and let out a laugh. "I'm comin', Jimmy!"

The barking only got louder and more consistent so Josh looked at Tyler and laughed once more before leading him up the stairs.

He saw his bedroom door was open and Jim was laying on the bed, barking more and more.

As soon as Josh and Tyler walked into the room, Jim hopped off the bed and ran over to Tyler. Jim's barking only intensified and he even snarled at Tyler, making advances at him.

Jim had never acted like that, but Tyler's reaction was almost worse.

He rolled his eyes, walked to the bed, and laid down. "Get your dog before I kick him."

Josh blinked. This was coming from the kid who didn't even eat animals.

Jim was about to crawl up there (it looks like rip him apart) so Josh shooed him out of the room and shut the door. "He's never acted like that before..."

"Maybe he's rabid," Tyler yawned. "If he's rabid you could finally put that mutt down."

Josh ignored what he said. "I just... you love Jim... and Jim loves you..."

"Shut up and lay with me."

Josh sighed and crawled into bed next to Tyler. He wrapped his arm around Tyler's waist and went to hold his hand but Tyler acted like he didn't see it and moved it.

It was just a little thing but it broke Josh's heart.

Tyler wasn't awake much longer and soft snores left his mouth. Josh looked down and smiled sadly. This looked like Tyler. His Tyler.

Suddenly, his phone began ringing and Josh quickly grabbed it so it didn't wake Tyler up. He saw Lina was calling and immediately answered it. "Hey."

"Did ya get la perra calmed down?"

Josh frowned. He had picked up some Spanish from Lina over the years. "Don't call him that."

"C'mon J, you gotta admit: he was being a bitch during lunch."

Josh glanced down at the sleeping boy and his heart lurched. "Lina..." he sighed. "I don't know what's wrong with him. I really don't. He's never ever acted like this and it's breaking my heart. I don't know what to do. I just want him to be happy."

Lina sighed as well. "You and me both man but it's not fair to us to let him treat us like shit. You know that."

"I know. But this isn't Tyler. This isn't the real Tyler. He would never do this."

"Well," she clicked her tongue. "Maybe he was right. Maybe this is the new him. Maybe we're just fucked."

Josh glanced down at Tyler and pushed his hair off his forehead. "Maybe."