utterflop and i have decided to dedicate this chapter to gotjoshdun (;
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Dallon is already at the counter, refilling the receipt paper. The man's forehead creasing as he tries to jam the roll into its place. Josh walks past the tall boy, hand gently brushing over his shoulder. The man inhales sharply, his shoulders tensing up from the touch. Josh places down his bag, stuffing the scarf inside promptly. Maybe the bruise on his neck goes unnoticed.

"Mornin'," Josh chirps, wrist his hands around the taller boy's waist

Dallon murmurs a quiet "good morning", his gaze avoiding Josh's. The boy doesn't think it's weird or rude. He hops onto the counter, butt resting on the edge as his legs lightly sway back and forth.

"Dude-" Dallon lifts his head up wanting to scold his friend

"I'm sorry," Josh hops down, taking the paper roll out of Dallon's hands "You're doing it wrong."

"I don't know how to change it," the man complains, rubbing his sore fingers

"It's not rocket science," Josh clicks the receipt paper in place "You just gotta twist and push. That's it."

"It's not that simple," Dallon whines "This thing is so old."

"We'll be getting a new model soon, suck it up," Josh's knuckles graze against Dallon's shoulder in a playful way "Until then, I'll be changing the paper, don't worry."

Dallons soft smile that was gracing his lips slowly drops. He stares Josh into his eyes but can't help his eyes from wandering on and fixating on the boy's neck. Dallon sees the love bite shining through the boy's concealer. It's not that visible but Dallon is observant. He eyes down the boy's bitten down lip and messy bed hair. Something slimy coils under the taller boy's heart and he can't stop something sarcastic roll off his tongue.

"Thanks..." Dallon rolls his eyes "My saviour."

Josh smiles at his friend's remark, not sensing the venom on his tongue. Dallon pushes past Josh, grazing his shoulder against the shorter boys in the process.

"Dallon!" Josh yaps, a giggle erupting from his chest "Careful."

The dark-haired boy doesn't respond, he's slamming a damp rag on top of the counter. Dallon scrubs the already spotless counter vigorously, teeth gritting as he moves his hand. Josh has an empty cup in his hand, pen spinning in his hand slowly as he ponders how many different ways there is to spell the name "Tyler" wrong.

"Hey, Dal?" Josh calls out

"Mhm..." the man responds, not lifting his head a bit

"How else could I misspell the name Tyler?" Josh bites the end of his pen

"I d-" Dallon bites his tongue realizing how harsh he's being

Josh doesn't notice that he keeps rambling happily, unaware of his friend's feelings.

"I spelled it as Taylor the first time and the second one but if I did that for the third time it would get old, ya know?" Josh beams

Dallon's jaw clenches, he wants to respond but if he opens his mouth he might hurt his friend and he doesn't want that. The green slimy snake under his heart is telling him otherwise.

"But if I spelled it with different letters like "Toiler" it wouldn't make sense because, man, who's stupid enough to spell it like that? Right? So I was thinking-"

"Josh, I don't care." Dallon stings, his tone cold and sharp

Josh bites his lip and shuts up. He inhales sharply, the boy's lip trembling for a few seconds before a soft smile lights his face.

"I'm gonna spell it as "Tayler"," Josh murmurs to himself, a soft snicker is heard from Dallon

Josh presses his lips tightly together trying to brush off his friend's behaviour. Dallon is acting weirdly this morning. He just snapped out of nothing, Josh did not know what angered the man so much. The curly-haired boy is calm and collected by nature, he manages to shrug it off even though Dallon's tone hurt his heart, made it tremble painfully for a second.

Dallon wasn't in the mood for talking. Josh didn't bug him. The curly-haired boy thought that his friend was just grumpy because he was tired or climbed out of his bed with the wrong foot but it was something else. The boy was watching how the man is behaving when customers approach him. Josh would glance over to Dallon to see if his friend is as grumpy and rude with everyone as he is with him. To Josh's surprise, Dallon was the sweetest.

Josh was hurt. Dallon was angry at him and he didn't know what for and how to fix it. He would just glance away every time Josh approached him wanting to talk. The boy is very hurt but he decided to fix everything as soon as possible.

"Hey, Dallon?" Josh calls out timidly when he has the chance

Dallon's not busy but he pretends that he is. The boy's fingers grasp the mop, Josh sighs softly.

"I'm busy." the taller boy grumbles already dunking soap into the bucket

Josh walks up to him, his hand grips his friend's wrist in a soft clasp forcing Dallon to let go of the broom.

"Look at me," Josh's voice is still soft, yet he sounds demanding

The taller boy rolls his eyes and finally, for the first time in five hours Dallon looks Josh in the eyes willingly, not just on accident. Josh studies Dallon's face trying to figure out what the hell was wrong. He didn't do anything to hurt the boy so why was he avoiding Josh at all cost?

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Josh's grip tightens and he drags his friend further away from the counter so that the customers wouldn't have a chance to eavesdrop. Josh shakes his head ins disbelief.

"I don't believe you." Josh holds Dallon's wrists firmly "You've been avoiding me the whole day."

"I'm tired-" Dallon tries to excuse himself

"I'm tired too, Dallon." Josh scoffs "But I don't act like a complete dick."

"I said..." Dallon snaps his hand out of Josh's grip "I'm tired."

"Dallon, please, I-" Josh feels a mix of emotions rush violently  throughout his body

"Why are you so concerned with me?" Dallon's arms flail in the air "I'm fine. Go text Tyler, or something. I don't know."

Josh's teeth abuse his bottom lip, the boy sighs once again. It's tough but he tries as hard as he can.

"I'm concerned with you because you're my friend and-" Josh's head shake in confusion "Wait, what does Tyler have to do with any of this?"

Dallon inhales through his gritted teeth. His movements strained with frustration as he tries not to look Josh in his eyes. The taller boy's expression stiffens once again, there's that same slimy feeling in his heart. He can't take the venom building up, he has to spew it out.

"Because Tyler is apparently the only thing you're talking about right now!" Dallon's words sting again.

Josh is confused, he doesn't understand yet.
"I mentioned him one time-" the boy blinks away his small tears

Dallon snickers, already turning away from his teary-eyed friend. His own heart trembles but the venom is already spreading inside of him, taking over his heart. Dallon feels a scorching hot feeling pressure his chest, like a heartburn but it's much more toxic, almost like poison.

"Yet." Dallon snickers, he's not usually like this "Soon you'll forget that I even exist."

"Dallon, what do you mean, you're my best friend-" Josh is at the verge of crying, it hurts to see how much Dallon doesn't care, or at least pretends not to care

"Which you don't even call anymore," the taller boy folds his hands over his chest "Some friend you are."

"Dallon, I'm sorry if you're mad about the movie night," Josh smacks his forehead suddenly remembering about the forgotten plans with Dallon "But yesterday it was raining so much, even Tyler-"

Josh stops mid-sentence, Dallon is glancing at him sideways, a mocking smile on his lips.

"Tyler what?" Dallon questions "Finish your sentence."

"T-Tyler couldn't go home because of th-the storm." Josh stammers, his voice shaky

"Oh, so he's living with you now?" Dallon's face shifts to red

"It was just one night..." Josh sniffles "It was storming."

"Oh, some night it was," Dallon points at Josh's neck "Hope you had fun."

Josh feels a cold shiver at the nape of his neck. Seeing his friend act like that hurts so much. Dallon is angry because Josh forgot the movie night or perhaps it's something different. Something stronger behind his eyes.

"Why d-do you even care?" the shorter boy replies

Dallon just sighs, biting his lip several times until it almost bleeds. He's torn between his feelings. The dark-haired boy cares about Josh so much and would never ever do anything to hurt him and yet, at the same time he wants to spew his venom to sting his heart and make him bleed as he did.

"I just don't like you hanging out with random dudes," Dallon tries to be calm and collected, he fails and ends up sounding sarcastic

"Ty is not just some random dude, he's-" Josh pauses, seeing how Dallon's eyes shift when he hears that Josh had already given Tyler a nickname

"Did you see how he looks at you?" Dallon doesn't even know what he's saying anymore " As if he owns you."

"He-" Josh swallows thickly "He does."

"What?!" Dallon snaps completely making Josh jump slightly

The boy tips his head down to hide the redness of his face.

"We're dating."

"Since-" Dallon feels tears creeping into his eyes but he cannot show that he's upset, oh no "Since when?"

"Yesterday... ish." Josh shrugs

Dallon's face is red from anger, he feels a flame ignite in his temples and it won't go away. The pain twitches his veins and all Dallon can see is red. It's mixing with a string of blue that makes his heart throb in his chest painfully.

"You don't even know him!"

"I do." Josh's eyes already glossy, a little bit more and they'll spill 

Dallon doesn't hide his anger anymore, he kicks the bucket away, slamming the broom back into the closet. Josh is pressed up against the wall, scared for his own safety. Dallon never gets angry but today he was a completely different person.

"You do, huh?" his voice is so loud that the customers probably hear everything at this point "Really? You know him so damn well, don't you?"

"Dallon, please-" Josh is cut off

"Tell me more about this Tyler then," Dallon continues "I'm sure you two are so close, in fact, you don't even need me anymore."

"That's not-" Josh cannot speak up since his friend keeps on rambling and cutting him off every time

"I've known you for so long and you go ahead and betray me like that?"

"Dallon, it's not like we can't be friends anymore..."

"Yes it's like that," the tall boy is at the verge of tears as well, only he's keeping it in better than the boy in front of him

"What are you trying to say?" Josh yells, he cannot be quiet anymore

"I'm trying to say that he's not worthy of you!"

"And who decides that for me?" Josh is screaming, tears rolling down his pale cheeks "You?"

"I am your friend-"

"So is Tyler!" Josh's hands push against Dallon's chest angrily "And you cannot decide who's worthy to be my friend or not because it's my life and you can't control it."

"I care about you, okay?" Dallon's fingers thread through his own hair nervously

"That's not how a caring friend would react!" Josh pushes Dallon

"It is, I just-"

"Why are you so concerned with my personal life?!" The boy can't yell any louder "Why are you so angry that-"

"Because I love you!" Dallon doesn't let the boy finish his sentence, he already knows what the boy is gonna say so he saves himself some heartbreak

Josh's eyes widen, he backs away slowly, hands falling to his sides hopelessly. Dallon exhales a short breath through his nose and wipes his eyes.

"I love you..." Dallon repeats, the dam in his eyes breaking as the tears spill freely

"I thought you'd be happy for me," Josh says in a shaky voice

"How can I be?"

Josh backs away shaking his head. He pushes past the boy and walks to the break room. Dallon follows after forgetting the customers that are probably waiting for their orders.

"It hurts to see you like this, Dal," the curly-haired boy lets out a sigh

"It hurts me more to see you with him." the man replies, finally sitting down on the couch next to the boy after a few hesitant attempts "E-every time I picture my future it's with you."

Dallon pauses, emotions shifting behind his eyes. He can't look at Josh, it would hurt too much so the man chooses to stare at the floor instead.

"But now I don't see anything," Dallon sniffles "And it's all his fault."

The man suddenly stands up and grabs his coat. Josh follows after.

"Where are you going?" he questions

"Away," Dallon says coldly

"Don't do anything stupid," Josh clings onto the man

"I'm not you," The tall boy glares

"Excuse me?" Josh lets go of the man immediately "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I can't even look at you right now."

"It's not like I betrayed you!" Josh snaps, anger suddenly rising in bubbles "I didn't even know you liked me!"

"Too fucking bad that you're that dumb, isn't it?" Dallon sneers, breaking Josh's heart into pieces

Josh doesn't respond to that. He watches the man collect his coat and walk out the door. He stands there sniffling and hurt. The boy's heart pounding painfully in his chest. What did he do? Dallon's emotions got ahold of him and it wasn't his fault but The curly-haired boy was still angry.

The tall boy showed up only when the working hours were over to collect his stuff. He didn't say a word to Josh. The only interaction from him was a cold, empty gaze.