Conscience is the dog that can't bite, but will never stop barking - Proverb

One week after the incident at the hospice, Tyler and Josh went back to their normal routine, and everything became perfect again. Tyler kept his close eye on his best friend, and dared not to let anything like what happened at the hospice interfere with their relationship.

On a bright sunny day, Tyler decided to do some chores around the house, like cleaning the living room, and catching up on the laundry. As he went out to his backyard balcony to dust off the rug, he looked over the fence and saw Jenna, who was sun bathing.

She was dressed in a pink bathing suit, and her legs were spread apart. She looked very sexy, and Tyler couldn't take his eyes off her, even though he was normally attracted to men.

Tyler always considered himself as a bisexual, but always had a liking to sexy women.

As he was watching over from above, like Juliet would do for Romeo, an unfamiliar manly voice came from nearby.

"Can't find that in Cheboygan." He said.

Jenna started laughing as the man approached her.

"Jonah!" She said; giggling. "Why don't you help me out here."

He sat down next to her and grabbed the sunscreen.

"Yes, ma'am!"

The two began to make out. Tyler watched and felt a big disturbed. He had no idea that Jenna was dating someone, or was with anyone at all.

Not even someone who was 6'3, when he was only 5'9.

He remembered the day that he met Josh, and he looked 6'1, which was almost as tall as him.

Either way, it really bothered him.

As he was watching, he accidentally dropped one of his favorite plants, and it fell to the ground and shattered. The noise alerted Jenna and her lover, and they quickly looked up and saw the boy looking down to them.

Jenna started waving to him.

"Hey, Tyler! I, um, didn't see you there."

Tyler pretended to be surprised.

"Yeah, I didn't see you either.

"Really?!"

"Yeah, that's so weird that neither of us saw each other."

Jenna realized that Tyler had never met her boyfriend.

"I don't think you've ever met Jonah, have you?"

"No." Tyler replied. "I haven't, until now."

Jenna smiled with delight.

"Well, now you do."

Jonah waved his hand to him.

"Jonah Switzerland, nice to meet you, Tyler!"

The boy waved back.

"Y-Yeah, nice to meet you too."

"We're gonna put some burgers on the grill later, and maybe crack some brews."

Jenna nodded.

"Yeah, you should come!"

Tyler didn't want to refuse.

"That sounds fun."

During the invite, Josh came outside and stood behind his friend; placing his hand on his shoulder.

"Here comes the corny nickname." He told him.

Jonah waved to him again.

"See you then, Ty-guy!"

"Then, here comes the part where he carries her into the house like a Viking on a rape-quest." Josh added.

At that moment, Jonah scooped Jenna into his arms and carried her into the house. She laughed and giggled as he did, then he looked back to Tyler and winked.

The boy watched; heavily disturbed.

Josh looked at him; taking his hand into his own.

"He's gonna wreck that, darling."

The two walked back into the house and went into the kitchen, where Tyler started making a little snack for himself.

As Josh watched him, he could see how frustrated he was about Jenna having a boyfriend, but wanted him to explain it to him.

"Are you gonna tell me what's troubling you, dear?"

"Not really."

"Why not?"

"I just don't wanna talk about it."

"Tyler, I know how you feel about Jenna. Stop pretending this whole Jonah situation doesn't make you sick. I'm surprised you still have an appetite."

"What am I gonna do?" Tyler asked. "She's dating Jonah, and he doesn't seem like a bad guy."

The boy started cleaning up the counter, and Josh continued to rant about the situation.

"Not a bad guy, huh?" The man said. "Have you any idea what it feels like to have someone come into your house and treat you with no respect, and act like they own the place?"

When Tyler finished cleaning, he looked down to his plate and saw that his sandwich was gone, then he looked up to Josh and saw bits of crum and mustard on his lips.

"Did you eat my sandwich?" Tyler asked.

Josh got offended.

"Oh, I get it. Because I'm a dog, right?"

The man sneered.

"I can only imagine what you would say if I was black."

Josh walked away and left the house; leaving the poor boy all alone.

~

Later that day, as Jonah was grilling and Jenna and Josh were chilling, Tyler came over to their backyard with a package of fresh beer.

"Hey, Tyler!" The blonde girl said.

Josh eyed his best friend.

"Wait for it."

Jonah drew out his fist to him.

"Yeah, Ty, my man!"

Tyler lightly fist pumped him.

"Hey, Jonah, bud."

"The burgers will be done soon. Have a seat, sweetie."

Tyler saw that Josh was sitting with Jenna, and he didn't want to take his seat.

"Uh, I-I don't mind standing."

"Oh, don't be ridiculous."

Jonah looked over to Josh.

"Hey, Jimmie, down."

Josh looked at him and didn't move.

Jonah ordered him again, but in a tougher tone.

"Go on."

This time, Josh obeyed. He moved over next to Jonah, who started rubbing his chest; fiercely.

"That's it!" He cried. "You love your sweet daddy, Jonah."

"No, I don't." Josh thought.

"Yes, you do."

Jonah gave him another command.

"Now, sit."

Josh looked at him; awkwardly.

"In the dirt?"

"Jimmie, sit!"

The man obeyed. Looking at his sweet friend, he sat on the dirty ground. Jonah was satisfied.

"Ah, that's my boy!"

He slapped him across the head, which both disturbed Tyler and angered Josh, who couldn't say anything to defend himself.

"Wow." The boy said; pretending to be surprised. "I've never seen Jim so well behaved."

"Oh, he's always like that with Jonah." Jenna replied. "I think it's the sound of his voice."

"Yeah, he's got a pack mentality." Jonah said while grilling. "Dogs wanna please their alpha, so they like to know who is in charge."

Josh looked up to Tyler and was not pleased.

As they sat together and ate, Jonah told stories about his life before he ever met Jenna.

"So, you used to live in Cincinnati, and then you moved to Cheboygan?" Tyler asked.

"That's right!" Jonah said.

"And, it's a city in Michigan?"

"That's exactly right!"

"What is your work like?"

Jonah went all in on his story.

"Look, I live and bring Cheboygan Lager sales! So, when I find out this Milwaukee's Brew guy is talking to my clients, here's what I do."

He leaned in close.

"I go into his territory and I take 15 store managers out golfing in one week, and before I know it, my sales are up 40%! Then, about a month later, I see this Milwaukee's Brew guy at a bar. He's looking all drunk and depressed."

"What happened to him?" Tyler asked.

"It turns out, he lost his job."

"Awe." Jenna said.

"So, I bought him a beer." Jonah said. "A Cheboygan Lager!"

Jonah got excited and patted Tyler's back. Jenna didn't like her boyfriend's story.

"Don't you think that was harsh, Jonah?" She asked.

Josh leaned close to Tyler's ear.

"Watch him insert a moronic sports metaphor here."

"When it comes to beverage sales, you either swing for the fences, or you get off the field." Jonah told her.

"Nauseating." The man quietly said.

As the couple continued their little spat, Tyler started questioning Josh's opinion of Jonah.

"I don't understand, Josh. If you hate Jonah so much, why do you do everything he says?"

The man sighed.

"I don't know, Tyler."

He looked at him.

"Why do you everything I say?"

"I don't." Tyler said.

Josh took his burger out of his hand.

"Of course you do, my dear."

As he started taking a bite, Jonah immediately noticed.

"Hey! Jim, don't!"

He slapped him across the face.

"Drop it, now!"

Josh quietly growled at him, then put the burger back on Tyler's plate.

Jonah looked at the boy and gave him an unsatisfying gaze.

"Dogs shouldn't eat from the table, Tyler." He told him. "It makes him think they're our equals."

He looked over to Josh, who was wiping blood from his lips.

"But, that doesn't mean we can't have a little fun."

Jonah stood up from his chair; facing the dog man.

"Does it, Jimmie?"

He slapped him again. Josh wasn't happy.

"You fucking touch me again, and I swear-"

Jonah gave him another slap; drawing more blood.

"What, you gonna fuckin fight me, bitch?!"

"Careful, Jonah, please." Jenna said.

Josh started growling; enraged by his treatment.

"Oh, it is on, motherfucker!"

Jonah laughed.

"Jimmie loves to wrestle!"

Josh raised his fists.

"Bring it on, bitch!" He growled. "I wanna punch your fucking perfect white teeth down your fucking throat until you shit it out your ass!"

Josh tried to attack him, but Jonah caught him and pulled him down to the ground, where they began to wrestle.

Jenna giggled, but Tyler saw what looked like his best friend was being beaten up by a huge guy.

The boy looked to Jenna and pretended to enjoy it.

"Great guy." He said.

"He really is." Jenna replied. "I just wish he wasn't so competitive."

Jonah had him in a headlock, while Josh was trying to break free of him.

Tyler continued to watch, and was heavily disturbed, but he carried on his conversation with Jenna.

"You gotta be competitive to be good at sales, right?"

"Yes, but sometimes, he takes it too far."

"How so?" Tyler asked.

"Well, last Christmas, my dad beat him at wii golf, and he got so angry, he threw the controller out the window. I was so upset, I didn't talk to him for a week."

"Well, nobody's perfect."

"That's true."

Jenna watched them and laughed.

"Jimmie is so crazy about him."

Tyler saw Jonah hanging his best friend upside down by his legs. Josh was screaming and hitting him on the hips.

"I'll bite off your ears and box the fucking holes that remain!"

Jenna smiled; thinking about the man who in Tyler's eyes, was beating her dog bloody.

"He's got a good heart, and he makes me very happy."

Jonah finally backed down, and he released Josh from grasp.

"All right, I think the big fella is all tuckered out."

He sat back down with Jenna, while Josh got to his knees and stared down at the big alpha that swallowed her master.

His face was covered in blood.

"Your death, will be my holiday."

The dog man collapsed from exhaustion.

Tyler rushed to his side.

"Josh! Are you okay?"

Jenna came over and looked over him. She didn't see any of the blood stains and marks that the dog displayed.

"I think he's exhausted."

"Are you sure?" Tyler asked.

"Yeah."

Tyler and Jenna helped him sit up.

"I think a bath will make him feel better."

"I don't need a bath." Josh said.

As Jenna tried to take him, Tyler stopped her.

"Jenna, maybe I should take him. He does better when I bathe him."

"No, it's okay." The girl said. "I think you've done enough for today."

She got Josh to his feet and took him inside.

Tyler watched and felt helpless. He couldn't believe that Jonah had beaten him so badly, but he didn't want to ruin his relationship with Jenna.

So, he brushed it off and went back to his house for the day.

~

Later that night, as the night was calm with no distractions, Tyler got a phone call. He turned on his lamp and answered it.

"Hello?"

"Tyler, darling, it's me!"

"Josh, what's wrong, honey?"

"Back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back orgasms! That's what's wrong!"

Tyler sighed.

"I'm hanging up."

The boy hung up, put his phone back his nightstand and turned off the lamp to back to sleep, but when he shut his eyes, he heard another ringtone, but it didn't come from his phone.

This time, it came from his computer.

He opened it up and saw he was getting a Skype call from Josh.

He reluctantly answered it.

"What is it now, Josh?"

"Tyler, it's me again. We can't let this bastard get his naughty boy on with the love of our life!"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Maybe you need more convincing."

Josh pointed the screen to Jenna and Jonah under the covers; fucking as loud as they could.

Tyler wanted to puke, but acted like it didn't bother him.

"We have to get rid of Jonah!"

"Josh, Jenna is in love. I don't want to ruin their relationship."

"Why not?!" Josh cried.

"Because, it's wrong! Now, stop bothering me!"

"I will not stop bothering you until-"

"Jimmie, quiet!" Jonah cried; throwing his lubricant at him.

"Gotta go!"

Tyler shut off his computer and tried to go back to sleep, but he could hear Jenna and Jonah fucking from his window. The poor boy plugged his ears until he was able to get back to sleep.

And he did.

~

The next day, Josh came over to escape from Jonah's attempts on Jenna. When Tyler saw him covered with blood and marks once again, he allowed him to stay.

However, instead of hanging out with him, Josh took Ned aside and started humping him. Tyler sat on the couch nearby and knitted.

As Josh was trying to hump Ned, he could see visions of Jenna and Jonah, and was struggling to get it on with his stuffed animal friend.

Even Tyler took notice, and started picturing himself as the one Josh was humping, if only it were true.

As the visions got worse, the dog man screamed and threw Ned to the floor.

"What's the use?!" He cried.

He turned to his best friend.

"You see what Jonah does to me, Tyler? I'm so emasculated, I can't even raise a fence post for stupid old Ned."

Josh sat next to Tyler on the couch.

"I need your help."

"Josh, what you're asking me to do goes against my conscience. I couldn't live with myself."

"Really? But, Jonah sex-punching Jenna for hours on end, you can live with that?"

"Look, we just have to be patient. Long distance relationships almost never last, and from what Jenna tells me, it sounds like they've got a lot of problems."

"From what Jenna tells you?"

Josh leaned closer.

"So, you guys are like girlfriends now?"

"No." Tyler said.

Josh sighed; crossing his arms.

"This is how it started with Jenna's old college chum. His name was Bobby "Blue Balls" Davis. The only scoring he did was the triple-letter bonus on their nightly scrabble game."

He looked to his best friend, who looked almost defeated.

"You wanna go down like that?"

Before he could answer him, there was a knock at the door. As Tyler went to answer it, Josh continued his rant.

"Tyler, you're running out of time!"

When he answered the door, he saw Jenna and Jonah; all dressed fancy. There was a smile locked on both of their faces.

"Hey, you here to pick up Jim?"

"Actually, I was gonna ask you to keep him a little longer."

Jenna locked her smile on Jonah.

"We're going out to dinner to celebrate!"

"C-Celebrate?"

"I'm coming to Columbus, man!" Jonah said. "I'm moving in with Jenna!"

The two embraced each other and started making out of the front porch.

The poor boy watched and frowned with disgust.

Josh could see it in his eyes.

"Looks like you better start brushing up on your seven letter scrabble words." He told him. "Here's a few for you: sexless, flaccid, dry dick."

Tyler looked back at the man.

"Shall I go on?"

He turned back to the couple, and finally realized that he needed to end their relationship for the sake of Josh and himself.

~

That evening, Tyler and Josh were in the basement trying to find a way to ruin Josh and Jonah's relationship forever. As Tyler looked over some old boxes, Josh was spatting out some ideas.

"All right, here's what I'm thinking, we wait until Jonah is asleep, and then we put his hand in warm water. Then, just when he starts to piss himself, we take a rock and crush his skull!"

Tyler looked at him; mortified.

"That's your plan?"

"Well, how would you kill him?"

Tyler continued to look through the boxes.

"What's the one thing Jenna hates most about Jonah?"

"Vaginal tearing from his huge cock."

Tyler choked up when he heard his friend say that, but he carried on.

"He's a sore loser."

"What would you do?" Josh asked.

"Look, all we have to do is beat him at something and make sure Jenna is there to see him lose his shit."

Josh looked at him; disappointed.

"Tyler, that is the stupidest, most ridiculous-"

He stopped himself and thought about it, then he changed his mind.

"Actually, that's pretty good, except for one thing."

"What is it?" Tyler asked.

"Jonah is a born winner, and you're you."

"That may be true, but there is something I'm really good at."

The boy placed a big box on the table.

"Ah, here we go."

As he started taking the equipment out, Josh noticed the first little box that was taken out.

"What the hell is that?"

"My old chemistry set."

"You did chemistry?" Josh asked.

"It was an elective."

"Oh."

Josh looked through the box and took out a toy oven. He read what it said on the front.

"Little Suzie Baker's Oven"?

The man looked at the boy; weirdly.

"What are you gonna do? Challenge Jonah to a bake-off?"

Tyler giggled.

"That's my sister's."

Josh turned the oven around and showed Tyler's name that was written on the back. The boy ignored him and continued to take out everything, until he finally reached what he was looking for.

He took out a heavy box and held it straight at Josh.

"Behold, the instrument of Jonah's destruction."

The man looked at the heavy box in Tyler's hand.

"What is this?"

"My ping pong paddle from when I was all-state table tennis champion."

"So, chemistry, baking, and ping pong." Josh said. "I guess my only question is, how were you not blow jobbed to death by the entire cheerleading squad?"

Tyler did feel a bit insecure about Josh's comment, but he chose not to let it get in the way with what he was gonna do to save Josh from an abusive man like Jonah Switzerland.

~

The next day, Tyler set up the ping pong table and started practicing.

Around noon, Josh ran into his backyard; excited about what was to come.

"The beagle has landed!"

Suddenly, Jonah called for him.

"Jim! Where are you?!"

Josh got frightened.

"Shit, hide me!"

As the man attempted to hide behind Tyler, Jonah opened the gate door and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Sorry, Ty."

Tyler nodded.

"It's okay, Jonah."

"I tried to get him in the house, and he ran over here."

The big man went over to Josh's side and hit him on the back.

"You, crazy mutt!"

Tyler noticed that Jonah was dressed in a suit and tie, like he was about to go to the concert.

"Going somewhere?" The boy asked.

"Oh, just some play downtown." Jonah replied. "Jenna's almost ready."

Before he could leave, he noticed the ping pong table set up.

"You're a ping pong guy, huh?"

"Yeah, I dabble."

"I used to play myself."

"Used to?" Tyler asked.

"Yeah, I kind of promised Jenna I'd lay off competitive sports for a while." Jonah replied. "Sometimes, I get a little too intense."

"Well, that's cool. You don't seem like the ping pong type anyway."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you're a big guy." Tyler said. "Usually, ping pong players are quicker."

Jonah gave him an awkward look, and Josh smiled through it all.

"I'm pretty quick, man."

Tyler grinned, thinking he got him.

"I guess I'll have to take your word for it."

As the boy went back to practicing, Jonah couldn't back down.

"You know what? What the hell! One game won't kill me!"

"Really?" Tyler asked.

"Yeah!" Jonah cried. "Let's set this up!"

The big man took off his jacket and started preparing. Josh went over and took Tyler's face into his hands.

"Well done, my dear. Now, don't screw this up."

"Don't worry, I got this."

After setting up the table, the two started playing, while Josh stood in the middle and observed.

During the first round, Tyler scored, and Jonah wasn't thrilled.

"Dammit!"

"Oh, I got lucky."

Jonah glared at him.

"Yeah, you did."

Josh started screaming.

"Give him a body bag! Yeah!-"

"Jimmie, shut up!" Jonah yelled.

He threw the ball back to him.

"Tyler, you serve."

Before they started the next round, Jenna came through the gate. She was dressed in a pink dress.

She was surprised to find Jonah.

"There you are!"

When Josh saw her, he was filled with excitement. He looked over to the boy and whispered to him.

"Right on cue!"

As Tyler and Jonah continued the game, Jenna looked at her boyfriend and wasn't pleased.

"Jonah, what are you doing?"

"The show doesn't start till 3, babe." He said as he was playing. "We'll be quick."

"But, we had a deal."

"Come on, it's just a friendly little game. Right, Tyler?"

"Totally, bro."

Distracted by the comment, Jonah instantly scored.

"Hell, yeah! Get some! I should've warned you!"

"Of, what?" Tyler asked.

"Back at the break room of Cheboygan Lager, I was 192-0!"

Tyler and Josh looked at each other, and they both knew this was going to be an intense game.

A half hour later, the second to last round was played, and Jonah won once again.

"Oh yeah!" He cried. "43-43, tied again!"

"Fucking hell!" Josh cried; disappointed.

Jenna looked to her boyfriend.

"Come on, Jonah, we're a half hour late. Can't we just say the next point wins?"

"Those aren't the rules, Jenna."

"I think that's a good idea." Tyler said.

Jonah didn't like the idea, but he agreed.

"Fine, whatever. It's your table, and your rules."

He got into position.

"Next point wins."

Before they started the last round, Josh got in Tyler's face.

"I thought you said you were good!"

"I am!" The poor boy cried.

"I've seen more aggressive ball playing in an airport men's room!"

He pulled his face close to him.

"Get your fucking head in the game!"

After 15 minutes of trying to defeat him, Jonah scored once again and won the game.

"YES!" He cried.

Josh fell to his knees.

"NO!"

Jonah got in Tyler's face.

"YEAH! CHEBOYGAN LAGER, BITCH! "THAT'S HOW WE FUCKING DO! THAT'S HOW WE FUCKING DO!"

The big man flipped the tables and shouted as loud as he could.

"YEAH! YEAH!"

When he calmed down, he looked to his girlfriend.

"All right, babe, let's go see that play!"

Jenna, seeing the kind of person her boyfriend was being, was filled with anger.

"I'm not going to the play with you! In fact, I'm not going anywhere with you ever again!"

Jenna ran out of Tyler's backyard, and Jonah chased after her.

"Wait, Jenna!"

Once he was gone, Josh got excited.

They had done it.

"That, was, awesome!"

The dog man pulled Tyler into his arms.

"You did it, darling!"

Tyler felt terrible.

"I've never seen Jenna so upset."

"You don't think that pains me too?" Josh said. "Unfortunately, that's the price we pay for true love, Tyler."

He smiled and pecked the boy's cheek.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go tear a new asshole in the back of Ned's neck."

Josh went back inside; with a smile locked on his face.

Tyler stared down at the table, then threw his racket on the ground and walked away.

He felt awful for what he done, and wished he could fix it, but there was nothing he could do.

~

A few hours later, while Tyler and Josh were cuddling on the couch together, there was a knock at the door. When Tyler went to answer it, it was Jonah.

"Hi, Tyler."

"Do you wanna come in?" The boy asked.

"Uh, no thanks." Jonah replied. "I'm actually just waiting for a cab to the airport."

"Really, why?"

Jonah sighed.

"Jenna broke up with me."

Tyler gasped.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, my, I'm so sorry."

Jonah leaned closer; almost coming into the house.

"Tyler, I-I just wanted to come over and apologize. I'm really embarrassed with what I've done."

"Well, we both got a little heated there."

"It's like, I know what I'm doing is wrong, and I just can't help myself. Like with that Milwaukee's Brew guy. I didn't actually buy him a Cheboygan Lager, I bought myself one, and then I spit it in his face and told him to lick my balls."

Jonah started tearing up.

"What's wrong with me?"

"Something." The boy said.

"Yeah. Now, it cost me the most important thing in my life."

Jonah looked at him.

"I wish I was more like you. You seem so control."

"I-I try." Tyler said.

As the cab parked in Jenna's driveway, Jonah held out his hand.

"Anyway, take care, sweetie."

Tyler shook his hand.

"You too."

After he left, Tyler turned around and saw Josh; smiling from ear to ear.

"That, was, hilarious!"

The dog man laughed so hard.

"Did you see how destroyed he was?" Tyler asked.

"Um, yeah!" Josh cried.

Tyler sighed.

"I feel horrible."

"Nah, it's just your conscience being a gaylord!"

Josh pulled the poor boy into his arms.

"He's gone, Tyler! The tyrant is exiled!"

"Josh, he was on the wagon and we threw him under the bus. We need to fix this."

"The only things that need fixing are your tangled transportation metaphors. We got what we wanted!"

"No, you got what you wanted!" Tyler cried; letting go of Josh's grasp.

The boy was pissed.

"You always do this! You manipulate me, and you don't listen, and you push, and push, and push, until I finally give in and do something that I know is wrong!"

"I don't like your tone, Tyler."

"Why? Does it remind you of someone?"

Josh shook his head repeatedly; denying everything.

"You may not have liked Jonah, but at least you respected him!"

"Blah, blah, blah!" The man said. "Now, shut the fuck up, and go make yourself a sandwich! I'm hungry! And this time, don't put so much-"

Tyler slapped him across the face, like Jonah did with him.

Josh was shocked.

"Did you just-"

Tyler slapped him again.

"You can't just-"

Tyler slapped once again, this time drawing blood.

Josh knew right then and there, Tyler's wasn't to be played with.

He nodded.

"All right, Tyler. Point taken. I guess you're in charge now."

Tyler was shocked at the fact he hit his best friend, but he felt empowered.

"Yeah, I guess I am."

"So, what would you have me to do?"

"I want you to help me undo the mess we made."

Josh didn't want to put Jenna back with Jonah, but because his best friend had the power, he couldn't refuse.

"T-That's gonna take some thought."

He put his hands together.

"Um, if it's alright with you, my dear, would you mind if I go and comfort Jenna, while I ruminate on the subject?"

Tyler lightly nodded.

"Y-Yeah."

"A-Am I excused?"

The boy gave a softer nod.

"Y-Yes, b-but, please come back."

Josh nodded back.

"I will."

The man grinned, gave Tyler a little kiss on the cheek, then left.

Once he was gone, the poor boy fell to his knees and wept; feeling guilty for striking his best friend.

~

The next day, Tyler decided to call Jenna and check on her, but she didn't pick up the phone, so he left a message.

"Hi, Jenna. It's Tyler. Look, I'd really like to talk about what happened with Jonah."

As he was talking on the phone, he noticed something on the table.

"Give me a call back when you get a chance."

After putting the phone down, he went over to the kitchen and saw a piece of brownie, with a little note from Jenna.

"Hey Tyler, sorry about yesterday. We'll talk soon. XO, Jenna."

Smiling at the note, Tyler sat down and started eating the brownie, which tasted just like the brownies his sister used to make for him, but this was way better.

A few minutes after finishing the brownie, Tyler got a phone call.

"Hello?"

"Hello, darling."

It was from Josh, and he didn't sound like himself.

The boy was concerned.

"Josh, what's going on?"

"I'm just calling to see if you'd followed your conscience. Any luck getting Jenna and Jonah back together?"

"I'm working on it."

"Oh, good. I'm very happy for you, but it's too bad you won't be around to see it."

Tyler chuckled; thinking Josh was just playing with him.

"What are you talking about?"

"Did you enjoy your brownie, Tyler?"

The boy looked at the empty plate and began to panic.

"W-What, h-how did you-"

"I made it for you. I hope you like my secret ingredient."

The boy started shaking.

"What did you put in it?"

"Oh, nothing, really. Just a powerful neurotoxin that is coursing through your blood stream as we speak."

Tyler felt his heart beginning to churn. He was heavily afraid of what Josh was telling him.

"W-What?! Josh, what the fuck did you do to me?!"

"Did you think I'd give up my alpha status without a fight? I wonder what your outlook is, Tyler."

The dog man began to chuckle.

"All signs point to death!"

Tyler wanted to scream, but he couldn't let Josh get away with what he was trying to do.

He stood up from the table.

"Where are you?!"

The dog man laughed eviler than ever.

"I'll never tell!"

Tyler didn't think Josh would fool him. He down to the basement, just like he'd always do. Josh continued to laugh with destruction.

"And, if you think you'll find me, you've vastly underestimated the depth of my brilliantly-"

Josh saw Tyler standing at the entrance of the basement.

"Oh, hey, Tyler."

When the boy saw him with what looked like a homemade "Breaking Bad" lab, he became afraid and suspicious.

"What's this about poison?" He asked.

Josh stood up; his devilish smile locked on his face.

"I didn't manipulate you into getting rid of Jonah just to let your conscience screw it up. I had to poison you."

Tyler did not think his best friend was capable of doing something like that.

"I don't believe you. You're my best friend. I don't believe you would do that to me."

Josh smiled with delight.

"That's the neurotoxin eating away the part of your brain that allows you to believe things."

The man approached the poor boy; taking his face into his grasp.

"Are you feeling weak? Is your heart racing? Is your mouth getting dry?"

He pulled him closer to him; almost to where they were about to kiss.

"You think you're more powerful than me, don't you, my dear, Tyler?"

The boy reached out and stroked his face, but Josh pulled away.

"Well, I have news for you!"

He grabbed the newspaper that was used by Jonah. Tyler went to get it.

"Give me that!-"

"Never!" Josh cried.

The two began to fight. The boy screamed and growled to get it back, but the two landed on the lab, causing it to explode.

Chemical steam engulfed the basement, which caused them to gag. Tyler, though he wanted to finish what he started, picked Josh up and dragged him out from the basement through the cellar door.

The two lay on the ground together, as the rest of the chemicals escaped the basement.

As they gagged, Tyler looked over to Josh and grabbed his hand.

"A-Are you all right?"

Josh looked over to him; stunned by what he just did.

"Y-You saved me."

"Y-Yes, I did."

"Why did you save me?"

"It was the right thing to do. I-I just didn't want anything to happen to you."

Josh looked up to the sky; smiling.

"After everything I did to you, I will never understand humans."

He started laughing.

"This is the reason why we will ultimately defeat you."

Tyler pulled Josh close to him; their eyes looking into one another.

"Josh, focus. What did you poison me with?"

The dog man took a deep breath.

"Theobromine."

When Tyler heard that, he once again became frightened.

"Oh, my God."

"You've heard of it?" Josh asked.

"No, but it sounds terrible."

Seeing the fear within the boy's eyes, Josh pulled him into his arms again.

"Come here, darling."

Tyler closed his eyes and rested in the arms of his best friend; trying to forget everything that had happened.

Later on, the two got in the car to go to the doctor to get checked out.

As they drove, Tyler was still trying to contemplate everything that had happened.

"I can't believe you poisoned me."

"And, I can't believe you bopped me in the face with your hand." Josh replied. "Your hand, Tyler!"

"I never wanted to dominate you. I just didn't want to be dominated by you."

"Is that so?"

Tyler started coughing; feeling the poison begin to take effect.

"Josh, if I make it through this, I'm gonna start listening to my gut more, and you're just gonna have to accept that."

"I understand, dear."

The dog man chuckled.

"Hell, maybe you're onto something with all this conscience stuff. I'm starting to think I should stop doing that thing to your mouth guard."

"What thing? What did you do??-"

Josh took his hand.

"Shh. Calm down, darling."

He kissed his hand, which quickly calmed the boy.

Tyler wanted to kiss him back, but he wanted to wait till after the examination was done.

When they arrived, Tyler had blood work done, after the test was complete, the doctor came into the room with the results.

"Well, it looks like you're okay, Mr. Joseph. Your blood test showed zero toxicity."

"But, I ingested a large quantity of theobromine."

The doctor chuckled.

"So did I, when I had a Hershey's bar."

"W-What do you mean?"

"Theobromine is a chemical found in chocolate."

Tyler was confused.

"So, it's not poisonous."

"Only if you're a dog."

After the doctor left the room, Tyler looked over to Josh; shocked.

"Chocolate??"

The dog man panicked.

"A-Ask him about the raisins! I put raisins in there too!"

Tyler looked away; embarrassed.

But, he was relieved to be okay.

~

Later that evening, after having dinner and washing the dishes, Tyler and Josh retired to the basement for the day.

As Josh went down and sat on the couch, Tyler received a call from Jenna, telling him that she and Jonah got back together.

After he got off the phone with her, Tyler went to sit down next to Josh on the couch.

"Well, it's official. Jenna forgave Jonah."

Tyler sighed.

"They're back together."

Josh looked to him.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Tyler. I'm sorry for both of us."

The dog man put his arm around him.

"If it's any consolation, I promise not to try to kill you again."

Tyler turned to him and smiled.

"I appreciate that."

Josh smiled back; touching his cheek.

As the boy reached for his bottle of bear, the dog man stopped him.

"I wouldn't drink that if I were you."

Tyler looked at him, and immediately realized Josh had done something to it. He glared at him.

Josh stood up from his seat.

"I'll get you a fresh beer. Just pour that one out."

A minute later, Josh sat down next to him and handed Tyler his fresh beer. As he did, he noticed he looked sad.

"What's wrong, darling?"

Tyler looked to him.

"I'm still thinking about Jenna."

Josh frowned.

"Oh, my love."

He took him into his arms and kissed him on the forehead.

"I know what will cheer you up."

"What?" Tyler asked.

Josh turned his head to his other side.

"Ned, come here."

He pulled the stuffed animal close to him.

"I want you to meet my best friend, Tyler."

The boy waved his hand to him.

"H-Hi, Ned."

By the rest of the night, Tyler and Josh had fallen asleep together on the couch; cuddling together. They dreamed of their strange but powerful friendship, that they knew would always last forever.

Despite the troubles that Josh gave him as a human dog, Tyler loved him with everything in him, and he was always gonna be there for him.

No matter what happens to them.