If you didn't get a notif for the Lividity update today, know that it's been updated too.

Start the song. It's Creature by It Looks Sad.

It was almost midnight, meaning the Redlands Community College library wouldn't be open much longer, but Tyler was determined to finish his assignment before they closed. He hadn't slept in two days because of this paper, making focusing even harder, but he wasn't going to give up on it. It was due in two days, but he had shit to do tomorrow. He needed to get this finished.

He was lucky enough that Brendon had tagged along, although he'd done so unwillingly. He kept bringing Tyler coffee and proofreading what he had so far whenever Tyler asked. It was nice to have a best friend who was majoring in English. As a business major, Tyler did a lot better with numbers.

At the moment, Brendon was digging through Tyler's backpack for snacks he was absolutely certain Tyler was hiding from him when he'd said he hadn't brought any. They'd be heading back to their trailer in a few minutes anyways, so Tyler didn't know why Brendon was acting like he might never see food again.

Tyler didn't have the luxury of living on campus. It was way too expensive for someone who was paying for their own education out of pocket. He was determined to get out of that trailer park though. He'd lived in it his whole life, and moving a few rows over with his best friend wasn't much better than living with his parents.

"Dude, why do you never bring food?" Brendon grumbled as he dramatically dropped down to sit on the floor next to Tyler.

"Forgot," Tyler mumbled as he continued to type rapidly.

The internet in their trailer was terrible, so Tyler wanted to be here to submit his work. He just had to finish the conclusion, and he still had seven minutes before closing time.

"I swear to God, you're so lucky I'm your friend. No one else would put up with you with your accidental fasting and your stupidly cute little overalls," Brendon told Tyler, making him smirk.

"Oh, shut up. You're the most difficult person I know," Tyler replied good-naturedly, finishing off the last sentence before handing his crappy laptop to Brendon. "But you're very smart, and I appreciate you."

Brendon rolled his eyes, but started reading the essay anyways. "You owe me chicken nuggets on the ride home."

"Done," Tyler agreed with a grin.

He watched with mute anticipation as Brendon made small corrections. Out of habit, he twirled his short hair around his finger as he waited.

Brendon reached out and pushed his arm down carefully. "Cut that shit out. You're making me nervous."

"Is it okay?" Tyler asked hopefully, referring to his essay.

Brendon nodded as he handed the laptop back. "Yeah, man. You're a better writer than you think."

"You're my saviour. Thanks, Bren," Tyler said seriously as he submitted the essay to his professor. "I'm buying you chicken nuggets and ice cream."

His best friend's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Hell yeah," Tyler agreed.

"Hurry then!" Brendon exclaimed, pulling Tyler out of the library so quickly that he was practically running.

Tyler laughed as he laced his fingers with Brendon's so he'd stop gripping his wrist so tightly. This was probably why Tyler constantly got asked about his "boyfriend" despite not having one. He and Brendon were far too comfortable with each other, but that was to be expected of two people who lived together.

"McDonald's?" Brendon asked excitedly as he tugged across campus.

Tyler laughed. "Sure, buddy."

-----

Sometimes Tyler felt like he was babysitting when he was around Brendon. At the moment, Brendon was sitting on the back of the couch-not the seat-while he ate chicken nuggets and watched Spongebob on the tiny television set Brendon's mom had given them. Tyler popped a fry into his mouth as he glanced at his best friend. He really did love having Brendon around. The good outweighed the bad greatly when it came to his best friend.

The things people in high school had made fun of Tyler for, or that he'd spent his whole life being ashamed of, were what Brendon seemed to like most about him. He liked that Tyler owned overalls and always wore colourful socks. He liked that Tyler was shy, but was willing to fight past that if someone needed him to protect them. He liked that Tyler lost himself in his schoolwork, and sometimes needed to be lured out with promises of cookies and dance parties in the kitchen.

Most importantly, Brendon didn't mind that Tyler was gay. He didn't even bat an eye when Tyler had told him, remaining more interested in the TV show they'd been watching. He didn't assure Tyler that he still loved him or cry or anything like his parents had done when he'd told them. He'd just taken the news as if Tyler had told him his eye colour. Brendon never looked at him differently either. Tyler loved that.

Brendon himself wasn't gay, which had surprised Tyler more than his own coming out had surprised Brendon. In fact, Brendon's girlfriend, Sarah, practically lived with them. At the moment, she was at work, but Tyler had no doubt she'd come back here after her shift. He didn't mind. She was nice, and she made Brendon happy.

"Did you see that internet conspiracy theory about krabby patties being made from crabs?" Brendon asked as he dipped a chicken nugget in sweet and sour sauce.

"I didn't," Tyler replied, looking at his best friend, who looked offended by the response.

"Seriously? Dude, you're so unaware of the world around you," Brendon informed him.

Tyler rolled his eyes. "Says the guy who legitimately believes that the government is being run by lizard people."

"Ty! I showed you the proof. There is proof. That's not even a conspiracy theory anymore. It's fact," Brendon insisted.

Tyler laughed. "You think so?"

"Oh, I know so," Brendon assured him.

"I trust your opinion," Tyler decided, making Brendon grin proudly before taking a bite of a chicken nugget.

"You should," he said, making particles of chicken nugget spray out of his mouth as he spoke.

"You're disgusting," Tyler laughed out before putting another fry in his mouth. He waited until he'd chewed it up and swallowed it to add, "But I still love you."

"I hate you less than I hate everyone else," Brendon reassured Tyler, making him laugh.

"You're such a tool," Tyler chuckled out as he tossed his empty fry container at the trash can in the kitchen, making it on the first try.

Brendon sat forward to high five him before looking back at the television. "Yeah, but you love me."

"True," Tyler agreed.

"Did I tell you I found someone who can give you that lame ass tattoo you're always talking about?" Brendon asked, switching topics just as quickly as always.

This new topic caught Tyler's attention though. "You did?"

Brendon nodded, still watching the television. "Yeah. She said it's a super easy one, so it shouldn't cost you much. Oh, and that she can do it tomorrow."

Tyler practically launched himself across the room and into Brendon's lap, hugging him tightly.
"You're my best friend in the whole world and I love you so much and I'm so glad that you exist and I-" Tyler rambled off excitedly, making Brendon roll his eyes with mock annoyance.

"Oh hush." Brendon patted Tyler's head before popping a whole chicken nugget into his mouth. "Don't make this a bigger deal than it is. It's not even an actual tattoo parlour. It's just a chick I know who does them out of her trailer. I thought that fit pretty well with your stupidly complex meaning shit and-"

Tyler was smiling so wide that his cheeks actually hurt. "No! That's perfect. Oh my god. I can't believe this is actually happening! Tomorrow?"

"Yep. Your classes for the day are over by six, right?" Brendon asked as he eased Tyler out of his lap and onto the couch cushions at his feet.

Tyler nodded excitedly. "Yeah. Five-fifteen."

Brendon smiled. "Cool. Are you gonna want me to go with you?"

It was a dumb question, but Brendon was only asking it so that Tyler wouldn't have to ask him to come. That would make Tyler feel like he was inconveniencing his best friend, so he'd avoid it and wind up never showing up to get his tattoo done. Brendon knew him though. He knew how to make sure that Tyler was comfortable in new places.

Still, Tyler blushed with embarrassment. "I mean, if you aren't busy...."

"Tomorrow's my day off from work and I finish classes at four. I don't have any other plans, so it'd be kind of rude for you to make me sit around here being bored," Brendon fibbed smoothly, making Tyler grin.

"Well, then by all means, you're absolutely invited," Tyler assured him through a smile.

Brendon laughed. "Thank God. Hey, man, you should get some sleep. Big day tomorrow."

Tyler rolled his eyes, but climbed off of the couch anyways. "Trying to get rid of me before Sarah gets home is so typical of you, Brendon."

Brendon smirked. "I just want to make sure my son is fast asleep before the adults start to play."

"You're disgusting. Goodnight, Brendon," Tyler said amusedly as he headed to his bedroom. "Thanks for the tattoo appointment though! And the essay help!"

Brendon saluted him. "Always here to help my son flourish in life."

Tyler flipped him off as he walked into his room, hearing Brendon bellow out a laugh as he shut the door behind himself. He was smiling widely as he looked around his tiny bedroom. Tomorrow was the day. He'd been planning this tattoo for so long, and it was so important to him. It wasn't his first tattoo, nor was it his first tattoo with meaning, but it was one that he had wanted for as long as he could remember.

Even as Tyler stripped out of his overalls and climbed into bed, he couldn't stop smiling. He'd lived in this trailer park his whole life. He'd never even left El Reno, Oklahoma, but this was his chance. He wasn't going to be stuck here for the rest of his life like everyone else he knew. He was going to make his life mean something.

Nothing could distract Tyler right now from getting his degree and getting the hell out of here. He'd had high goals since he was a kid, and he wasn't going to let those goals slip away. He was going to get a college degree. He was going to get out of Oklahoma. He was going to have a career that he loved. Most importantly, he wasn't going to be tricked into complacency when the last thing he wanted was to settle down here.

This tattoo was a celebration of all of that. It was a reminder that he wasn't done putting in that hard work yet. It was a promise to himself that he wouldn't back out of. Once it was permanently inked into his skin, Tyler would be contracted into this. He wouldn't ever forget where he'd come from, but he sure as hell wasn't going to stay here. Unlike everyone else in this town, he wasn't comfortable with existential indifference. He wanted more for himself.