Start the song. It's Peach Pit by Peach Pit.

To say Tyler liked Ashley and her weird relationship partners would be an understatement. They were awesome. Ashley was hilarious, and her bickering with Josh was too. Debby was adorable as she tried to keep the peace and baby both of her partners. Josh was just...cool? Tyler didn't know how to describe him. He just liked being around him.

At the moment, Josh and Ashley were bickering about whether or not aliens existed. Josh was highly in favour (with Brendon's full support), but Ashley disagreed.

"Oh my god! How can you not believe in aliens?" Josh exclaimed from where he was currently laying with his head in Debby's lap. "The universe is infinite!"

"I'm just saying, if we haven't seen them yet, they probably aren't real," she insisted as her tattoo gun pumped ink into Tyler's skin.

Josh's jaw dropped. "What?" He practically yelled, making Ashley smirk. "There are alien sightings all the time but punk asses like you say they aren't real. Jesus Christ. I can't believe I have to share my girlfriend with you."

Debby giggled. "Be nice," she reminded him.

"Babe, you believe in aliens, right?" He asked her as she played with his hair.

It was cute how tenderly she touched him. Ever since he'd come home, Josh had been absolutely treasured by his girlfriend. Tyler was happy to see that. Josh looked exhausted and a bit worse for wear, but his eyes were bright when he looked at her. Tyler couldn't help wishing someone would look at him like that.

Debby sighed. "Even though I know it means someone's going to wind up sleeping on the couch tonight, yes."

Ashley gasped, removing the tattoo gun from Tyler's skin to look at her girlfriend in shock as Josh cheered. "Deborah Ann Ryan!" She looked to Tyler then. "Can you believe I have to live with these people?"

"At least you're probably never bored," he commented.

She laughed. "You're not wrong." She stretched the skin on his shoulder with her hand again before continuing to ink in the cross he'd been planning since he was sixteen. "Feel free to take Josh home with you though."

"I'm house-trained, but still require meals," Josh informed Tyler and Brendon.

Tyler laughed. "Perfect. We'll take him."

"Anyone who believes in aliens is alright with me," Brendon agreed.

Josh grinned, high-fiving Brendon. "Sick, bro." He looked to Tyler then, and Tyler was momentarily taken aback by just how warm of a brown Josh's eyes were. There were flecks of green in them too though, making Tyler wonder if they were actually hazel. "So are you team punk ass or team believer?"

Tyler felt himself blush slightly just from having Josh's eyes on him. "I'm not sure yet," he replied quietly.

"That's okay," Debby assured him gently. "You're totally allowed to be unsure."

"Yes, you can, but I'll like you more if you say you believe in aliens," Josh informed him.

A smile tugged at Tyler's lips. "Well, in that case, aliens all the way."

Josh grinned, making the corners of his eyes crinkle slightly in the most endearing way. "Wow. We're best friends now. We're blood brothers. We're soul mates. I'd die for you. I suddenly feel very complete."

"Anything for you, buddy," Tyler replied with a grin, and Josh seemed to soak in the attention like an excitable puppy.

Ashley laughed. "Jesus Christ, Joshua. What's next? You wanna finish his tattoo?"

"Hell yeah," Josh said excitedly.

To Tyler's surprise, Ashley held the tattoo gun out to Josh, whose eyes widened with excitement as he climbed off of the couch and walked over to her. She handed it to him before going over and plopping down into Debby's lap.

"Josh used to do this professionally, so don't worry. He's better at it than I am," Ashley told Tyler while Josh washed his hands.

"Used to be?" Tyler asked as Josh pulled on a pair of gloves before sitting down in Ashley's chair.

Josh shrugged. "Life got in the way."

He pulled his long sleeves up to the middle of his forearm before starting on the last square of Tyler's tattoo. Tyler nodded his understanding, fighting back the urge to shiver at how strong Josh's hands felt. It was a stupid thing to get overwhelmed by, but Tyler had been so absorbed in school lately that he hadn't had time to be around guys besides Brendon at all. Now a really attractive one was touching him, and it was kind of a lot.

"So what do the boxes mean?" Josh asked Tyler curiously as he wiped at the ink with cloth before continuing.

"It's not the boxes that matter. It's what's inside of the boxes," Tyler explained. "When I was little, my church had the same four boxes on either side of the pastor's pulpit. There's a cross inside."

"Well, I'll be damned." Josh was smiling. "What made you decide to get this kind of cross then? Is it something special, or just something you liked?"

Brendon sighed. "Tyler doesn't do anything just because he likes it. Everything has to have a paragraph-long explanation behind it. He doesn't even blow his nose without considering the metaphysical state of his existence."

Tyler blushed deeply from embarrassment. He knew Brendon liked that about him, but he also tended to tease Tyler about it. Josh smiled though.

"I like that," he commented. Tyler calmed instantly. "What's the story behind your tattoo then?"

Explaining it felt really personal, so Tyler only looked at Josh as he spoke. He didn't look at Debby or Ashley, or even Brendon, who already knew. Josh seemed like someone who'd listen without judging though, and Tyler felt safe in that.

"Um, so this is my first year at college. I had to take a couple years off and work nonstop so I could afford to go. I'm still going to be drowning in student loans by next semester, but I know it's something I need to do. I've lived here my whole life, and I'm ready to move on to something different and make something of my life. The tattoo is a little memory from home to take with me when I leave El Reno. It's kind of a reward too for actually pursuing what I want to do. I've seen a lot of people give up on their dreams here, and I don't want to do that. I can't."

By he time he finished talking, Josh was smiling sadly. "That's badass. I like it. You ain't wrong though. Most people don't get out of here. I think you're one of the people who could though. The rest of us are probably doomed, but you'll make it," he assured Tyler.

Hearing that confirmation from a stranger was surreal, especially when Debby and Ashley instantly voiced agreements and encouragements. Tyler's dad had laughed when he told him he wanted to go to college, thinking he was joking. His mom had cried because there was no way they'd ever be able to afford that for him. Tyler had been pouring everything he had into this dream, though, and the encouragement meant more to him than words could express.

"Thanks," Tyler said quietly.

Josh smiled at him warmly. "My little sister's going to college out in Tulsa. She married some rich guy who's paying her tuition at the University of Tulsa."

"Yeah, I looked into the sugar daddy thing, but I wasn't prepared to give him sugar," Tyler replied, making everyone laugh. He smiled.

"Yeah, well, can't help you there. Find a quadriplegic maybe. Their dicks don't work, right?" Josh asked, looking to Debby for an answer.

She laughed. "Why would I know that?"

"You're supposed to be the smart one," Josh replied, and Ashley nodded.

"Yeah, princess. You're the one who has a big girl job," she contributed.

Debby laughed. "Tyler, you can take Josh and Ashley if you want."

"Why would I want to live with Ashley if I didn't have to?" Josh asked with a smirk. "Besides, Tyler and I are connected now. We have to have time alone to build that bond. We can't have an angry lesbian following us around everywhere. You're stuck with her, baby girl."

"Brendon lives with me, so he can keep her and I'll keep you," Tyler decided.

"Deal," Josh agreed.

"No can do. She doesn't believe in aliens," Brendon replied.

"You're stuck with me," Ashley told Debby. "I'm insufferable."

Debby laughed before kissing Ashley softly. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

"Can we just keep Tyler instead?" Josh asked the girls as he turned off the tattoo gun and set it down. He handed Tyler the little handheld mirror sitting atop the table so he could look at the finished product.

The rest of the banter in the room fell on deaf ears as Tyler looked at the reflection of his tattoo in the mirror. It was perfect. It was exactly what he'd been doodling in his notebooks since he was in high school. It overwhelmed him a little just how perfect it was.

"Good?" Josh asked him.

"Perfect," Tyler replied quietly.

Tyler remained in silent awe as Josh wrapped the tattoo for him. He'd gotten his reward for making it this far, and now he couldn't go back. He'd inked in his promise to see this dream through. He was going to make it out of El Reno. He had to.

"Thank you," Tyler said quietly, looking at Ashley and then Josh.

Those captivating brown eyes met Tyler's when Josh smiled at him, and he was overwhelmed for another reason entirely. He wasn't allowed to have a crush on a guy who technically had two girlfriends already. He especially couldn't risk falling in love with someone from this trailer park. Tyler knew himself too well. Love was his ultimate weakness. If he fell in love with someone here, he'd do anything to keep them, and that could potentially include giving up on his dreams.

"Hey, man. I'm just glad I got to tattoo somebody again. I miss that shit. You better fucking promise me you aren't gonna give up on that dream of yours. Somebody in this town has gotta turn into something other than a burnout. I hope it's you," Josh told Tyler seriously.

Tyler smiled slightly and held his pinky out to Josh. "I promise."

Josh grinned as he linked their pinkies. "Good. If you make it out of this place, I'll tattoo you any time you want for free."

"That's one hell of a deal," Tyler said cheerfully.

The other man laughed. "Yeah, and I mean it."

"Thanks, Josh," Tyler replied.

Josh smiled at Tyler as he stood back up, dropping his gloves in the trash. He plopped back down next to Debby, who instantly tangled her fingers with his. He brought the back of her hand up to his lips and kissed it softly, making her smile at him adoringly.

"Well, we better get going then," Brendon decided. "We've got classes in the morning. Thanks for hooking us up though, Ashley. You're the best."

She smiled at him. "Anytime, bro."

Tyler almost didn't want to leave. He liked these people. They were kind and genuine. He especially liked Josh, who was probably the nicest person he'd ever met.

"Thanks again. Seriously. It's perfect," Tyler told them.

Ashley smiled. "Come back anytime, okay?"

He nodded, smiling shyly.

"I can't believe we're about to be separated. How will I survive without you?" Josh asked Tyler dramatically.

Tyler laughed before replying with, "If I don't wake up in the morning, it's because my heart couldn't handle being so far away from you."

Josh placed his hand over his heart, feigning holding back tears. "I don't know how I'll ever recover from this heartbreak."

Just to really sell the drama of the moment, Tyler climbed into Josh's lap and hugged him tightly. Brendon and the girls laughed as Josh hugged Tyler back with equal force. Josh actually gave really good hugs. He rubbed Tyler's back softly, rocking him just a bit.

"You have to promise you won't forget our love even when you're rich and successful," Josh told him.

Tyler smiled, nodding against Josh's shoulder. "I could never forget you, Josh. I promise that when I'm rich and successful, I'll provide you with financial stability."

"Aw," Josh cooed. "Guys, Tyler's gonna be my sugar daddy."

"I thought I was your sugar daddy," Debby said with a smirk.

Josh held Tyler tighter. "But, Debs, he agreed to believe in aliens for me. We're practically soulmates."

"That's fair," Debby agreed.

Tyler laughed as he climbed out of Josh's lap. "You guys are the best. Seriously though, thank you so much. Have a good night."

A chorus of goodbyes followed him as he and Brendon headed for the door. Tyler laughed when Josh called out, "Bye, Daddy. Love you," just as they were stepping outside.

"Bye, baby," Tyler replied with a grin. "Love you too."

The door closed behind them with a slight thud as they walked across the grass to Tyler's car. The stars were bright in the sky, and the moon was nearly full, casting a soft bluish light across the trailer park. Tyler smiled as he climbed into the driver's seat of his car. Brendon climbed into the passenger seat and closed the door before looking at Tyler seriously.

"Do not develop a crush on that guy," he told him.

Tyler rolled his eyes as he started the car. "I'm not," he fibbed.

"Tyler, do not develop a crush on him. It'll hold you back. You know that. You can't let boys distract you from getting your degree. This is important to you," Brendon reminded him.

Tyler sighed. "Brendon, he has a girlfriend. Chill out."

"Still," Brendon insisted. "Don't get sucked back in. You'll be trailer trash forever if you let a boy suck you back in."

The cheerful mood from before was gone as Tyler nodded solemnly. "I know. I won't let myself get a crush on him. I promise."

"Good," Brendon replied.

Tyler hesitated before saying, "He had really pretty eyes though."

Brendon groaned. "Tyler," he warned.

"I'm not developing a crush. I swear. I won't."

Tyler wasn't so sure if that was true, but it didn't really matter anyways. He'd probably never see Josh again as it was. He spent all of his time at the college. Their paths weren't likely to cross after tonight. If they did though, it would be pretty damn hard to keep himself from deciding that it was fate. He hoped, for both of their sake, he never saw Josh again.