"Josh! C'mon!" Tyler laughed as he jogged towards the monkey bars. It was dark out and the moon was illuminating the park that they decided to go to in the late hours of the night.

"What now?" Josh asked when he caught up to his friend.

"Now," Tyler began climbing the rods. "We lay on top and watch the stars."

He watched his friend climb up after him and lay in the empty spot next to him.

It was silent before Josh spoke up.

"What's your biggest secret?"

Tyler pondered for a moment before answering. "There's this person I like. They're amazing and kind and thoughtful. They're strong and brave. All they want is good in the world."

"Do I know this person?" Josh questioned.

"You might," Tyler turned to face him. Josh did the same so that they were nose to nose.

"Can you give me a hint on who it is?" Tyler's eyes flicked down to Josh's moving lips.

"He has dark, curly hair. He's the best big brother I've ever seen. And he's laying right in front of me," Tyler whispered.

"Kiss me," Josh breathed. Tyler complied and closed the gap between them.

"Tyler..."

"Hmm?" he mumbled into the kiss.

"Tyler."

"Hmm?" he repeated.

"Tyler!"

The brunette instantly sat up, blinking at the harshness of the light. When his eyes adjusted he realized that he wasn't in the park in front of Josh, he was in his bed. Tyler looked up and saw an annoyed Zack with his toothbrush in his hand. "Josh's downstairs waiting for you. He said you were riding to school together."

Tyler looked at his clock and saw it was seven thirty. He was technically supposed to be at school by seven forty-five but it was Ditch Day.

"I'm gonna be late!" Tyler pretended to be distressed, jumping out of his bed.

"Shoulda set an alarm," Zack mumbled before walking out, sticking the toothbrush back in his mouth.

Tyler rolled his eyes and shut the door after his brother, relaxing a bit when he was by himself. He went over to his closet and pulled out clothes, quickly changing into them.

After brushing his teeth, running a small amount of gel in his unruly hair, and tying his shoes, he hurried back into his room to get his bag and jacket.

The brunette grabbed the slightly heavier (he's decided to do some of his homework recently) backpack and was about to grab his jacket when he stopped. Setting his bag back down, he went over to his closet and shuffled through it for a second before he pulled out and put on a windbreaker with triangles on the top. The bottom was black, but hey, it had more color than he usually wears.

He took his pack of cigarettes and his lighter off of his nightstand, shoved them into his pocket, and grabbed his bag, slinging it over his shoulder.

"Tyler!" he heard his mom call.

"Yeah?" he called back, leaving his room and shutting the door behind him.

"Josh's waiting for- oh," she lowered her voice when she saw him coming down the stairs. Tyler smiled gently when he saw Josh sitting on his couch. The dark haired boy returned the gesture and stood up, walking over to his friend.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Mhm," Tyler replied. "See you after school, Mom," he gave her a quick hug before heading over to the door, Josh following behind him.

"Bye, Tyler. Bye, Josh," Kelly waved. "I love you, honey."

Tyler turned around and gave her a quick smile. "Bye," he said sadly before shutting the door behind him.

"Why didn't you say you loved her back?" Josh asked as they walked towards Tyler's car.

"Baby steps," he replied quietly. "I'm taking this all in baby steps."

As usual, he got into the driver's side and Josh slid into the passenger's side. "So... what're we doing today?"

"First, you can put your bag in the back seat, we won't be needing it," Tyler dropped his behind him and motioned for his friend to do the same. "Second, what's your favorite flavor of ice cream?"

---

"Next!"

Tyler and Josh walked up to the counter and were greeted by a short, perky redhead. "Welcome to Buddy's Ice Cream shop, what can I get you?"

"I'll get mint chocolate chip," Tyler told her.

She punched it into the cash register before looking to Josh. "And you?" Tyler saw his face get flustered and he bit his lip a bit.

"He'll have the chocolate chip cookie dough."

"Cone, bowl, pint, or gallon?"

"Cones for both," Tyler answered.

"Toppings?"

"We'll pass."

"Alright, that'll be 4.83," she said as Tyler pulled out a five dollar bill. She placed the paper in the machine and pulled out a dime, a nickel, and two pennies. "Seventeen cents is your change, your ice cream will be ready in a second."

"Thank you," Tyler smiled as him and Josh walked down the counter a bit.

A few moments and some conversation between the two later, they had received their ice cream and were walking to a park a little less than a block away.

"Let's sit on the swings!" Josh exclaimed, already heading towards them. Tyler chuckled and followed him, taking a seat and moving his legs back and forth slightly.

"I feel like I'm like seven again," Tyler said blissfully.

"Ditto," Josh replied. "You wanna know what's messed up?"

"Hm?" Tyler answered, licking a bit of his ice cream.

"Life."

"Ditto," Tyler copied.

"I've been thinking," Josh continued. "And it's like. Why me? Why Patrick? Why you? Why all of those other kids who were hurt or are hurting for whatever reason? It's not fair."

"Nobody ever said life was fair," Tyler replied downbeat.

"What's your biggest secret?"

"What?" Tyler asked, startled and reminded of the dream.

"What's your biggest secret?" Josh repeated.

The brunette looked over to his friend. He noticed the way he lightly swung back and forth, he noticed his dark, curly hair that needed desperately cut. He noticed the laugh lines by his mouth and eyes. He noticed the way his eyes twinkled in the light. He noticed how the morning sun illuminated his most attractive features.

No, Tyler thought. You worked so hard to get rid of those kind of feelings. You like girls, not boys. You can't let that happen.

"You're my best friend," Tyler smiled sadly. "You've helped me in more ways than you know."

"Ditto."