I wrote Tyler referring to "William" as Josh out of habit in the previous chapter but it's all fixy-doodles now

Whoops

"This is it. " Alex stopped his car and turned to Tyler grinning

The boy glanced out the window for a brief second before answering.

"Who's house is this? "

"Mine. " Alex chuckled "Come on, let's go. "

"Okay... " Tyler climbed out of the car

Alex did a weird half jog to his front door and opened it for Tyler. The boy didn't know if the gesture was mocking or kind. He swore he heard Alex whisper "ladies first " under his breath. The boy just shrugged it off and decided to focus on something else like, how big the house was and how stunning Josh looked in the bright light of the crystal chandelier. Josh was wearing a black button-up shirt with a black tie, paired with black jeans. Josh looked a little bit nervous, he rocked back and forth on his heels, a deep wrinkle carved his forehead but as soon as he laid his eyes on Tyler his face lit up with pure joy.

"Hey, Ty! " Josh chuckled and wrapped his arms around Tyler's skinny frame for a short hug

"Uh, hi, William." Tyler murmured, his body stiffened up when he felt Josh's strong arms envelop him into a warm hug. It was hard for him calling the man he knew as Josh the whole time William.

He wanted to hug back, wrap his arms around Josh's waist, squeeze tight and never let go. Instead, Tyler patted Josh's back lightly in a friendly way and pulled away from the embrace. Josh had a puzzled look on his face for a few seconds, he looked hurt that Tyler didn't hug him back but he brushed it off and smiled again.

"Friends call me Will. "

"Okay.  " Tyler murmured and looked down on the floor, he did not know how not to be awkward

"Tyler? " Josh lifted Tyler's head up by placing his index finger under the boy's chin

"Y-yes? " Tyler stuttered feeling his cheeks heat up

Josh's warm mismatched eyes looked into his sparkly ones for a few seconds that felt like eternity. Tyler's heart beat rose and his breath got slightly heavier.

"That means that you can call me Will. " Josh flashed a friendly smile to Tyler before pulling away

Their chests were dangerously close to each other's and Tyler feared that the man could feel his uneven heart beat that was beating harder than any drum.

Josh bit his lip lightly and turned around. He waved Tyler to come before disappearing into the other room.

"Come, Tyler. "

The boy nodded weakly and wanted to follow the man but noticed the expression on Alex's face. His mouth gaped open, the half-smoked cigarette barely hung from his bottom lip. He blinked rapidly and got his confused gaze back at Tyler.

"Whoa...  " he managed to utter out

"Is... Is he always this touchy? " Tyler asked shyly rubbing his upper arm

"No. " Alex extinguished his cigarette in a crystal ash tray "That's why I'm saying whoa. Like, damn.  "

"What? " Tyler bit his lip

Alex waved it off and gently pushed past Tyler smirking. Tyler stood alone in one place for a few seconds and then decided to follow Josh and Alex. He ended up in a hallway with like a thousand doors. Tyler looked around amazed, confused and a little bit scared. He rubbed his forehead trying to decide which door he should go through. He noticed one door being slightly ajar and Tyler decided to check it. Fortunately, he was right, Alex, Josh and some other guys were sitting around a table, some guys were playing football on the huge TV hung on the wall. Tyler stood gripping at the edges of his shirt anxiously not knowing what to do. There were far too many dudes there for him to feel comfortable. Not that he felt uncomfortable in all male company, he felt uncomfortable in any company, whether it was all male or all female.

"Hey. " a blonde man with bunch of tattoos on his arms approached him with his hand ready to shake Tyler's "I'm Jesse. "

"Tyler. " the boy shook the man's hand

"Are you a friend of Alex's? " the blonde asked

"I mean... I guess... " Tyler shrugged "I'm w-with Jo-I'm with Will. "

"Cool. " Jesse nodded "Cool guy. Do you wanna play with us? "

Tyler shook his head and smiled politely.

"I don't really know how to play.  "

"Well, we all suck too so..." Jesse dragged Tyler to the couch

Tyler didn't resist. He was given a controller and a beer and ended up beating everyone. Jesse almost rage quit and Alex had to stop him from chucking the controller at the TV. Tyler chuckled watching Alex and Jesse wrestle for the controller.

"Oh, he did it now. " one guy whispered to Tyler when Jesse ruined Alex's hair

The man swooped his hair back and turned to Jesse with his eyes burning like an angry bull's. After Jesse's failed attempt to hide behind the plant he was dragged out of his hiding place.

"I will mess you up! " Alex shrieked violently ruffling Jesse's bleached blonde hair

It was fun hanging out with the guys even if he didn't know all of their names. The boy forgot why he really came here and after three bottles of beer he felt really funny. Jesse decided that it's time to stop and took away Tyler's beer. The boy frowned but could do nothing about it.

Tyler looked around the room, scanning it with his eyes, desperately searching for familiar faces. He yelped when he felt someones strong arms wrap around his waist. The boy was yanked out of the room into the cool dark hall away from all the noise and chattering. Tyler blinked rapidly trying to identify the shadow in front of him. He didn't need his eyes because he could remember that musk while sleeping.

"I thought you left. " Josh's cal voice made Tyler's insides feel all warm and tingly

"I thought you left. " Tyler scoffed

"You were having such a great time, I didn't want to interrupt. " Josh let out a soft chuckle

Tyler realized how close they were standing to each other and decided to back away a little. Josh took him by surprised when instead of letting him go the man wrapped his arms around Tyler's waist even tighter.

"Why are you always running away from me? " Josh's voice became dark and husky

Tyler could feel the man's warm breath on his lips.

"I'm n-not. " Tyler squirmed

"You are trying to run right now. " Josh's firm chest pressed up against Tyler's "Are you scared of me? "

Tyler shook his head and tried to look away but Josh gripped Tyler's cheeks and forced the boy to look into his eyes.

"Are you scared of me? " Josh repeated his question

"No. " Tyler said coldly

"Then why are you running? " Josh tilted his head to the side slightly "Ever since you first saw me, you've been avoiding me. "

"No, I wasn't. " Tyler scoffed but knew that Josh was telling​ the truth, the boy was too afraid to admit it

"Of you're not afraid of me, tell me why are you trying to avoid me? "

"No reason. " Tyler bit his lip and looked away

"Tyler, we're friends, at least I'm trying to be your friend and friends don't lie to each other like that. " Josh moved even closer "Why are you avoiding me? "

"You really want to know? " Tyler's voice trembled slightly

"I do, Tyler. I really do. " Josh sighed "What are we? Don't tell me that you don't know me because I know damn well that you do just from the way you try to look away whenever you catch me staring. What are we, Tyler? What were we? Friends, enemies, lovers? Answer me, Tyler because I really don't know. "

Josh's voice rose gradually but the man wasn't angry, more like passionate. He stopped to catch his breath and meanwhile Tyler stared into his gleaming eyes.

"Do you want to know? " Tyler said in a low voice "Do you really want to know?"

"Yes. " Josh nodded "I do want to know."

"Well... Then I'll just have to show you. " Tyler whispered softly before grabbing Josh by his tie and smashing his lips against the man's hungrily