josh heart was racing, beating so hard he thought the neighbors could hear it. god was he nervous. it was 3:30, so max should be there any minute.

he didn't know if he should tell tyler to go ahead and come, or wait till max was there. he just didn't know what to do.

he decided to go ahead and tell tyler to come. tyler hadn't texted him today, not yet at least. he opened tylers snapchat.

j: can you come over. i need to talk to you.

joshs parents were out of town today, and they didn't want josh to have to watch the kids, so they sent abbie to a friends house, as well as ashley, and then jordan to their grandparents. josh was big enough to stay by himself, or if he wanted to go to ryan's or something.

t: okay?
t: is it serious?

j: kind of. idk i'll have to explain it in person. just hurry and get here
j: i'm home alone

t: On my way!

he sighed. he really didn't want to have to explain that he was texting max and why.

josh chilled until tyler was walking in his room, wearing nike joggers and a t-shirt. he had his keys and lanyard in his hand as well as his phone and charger. josh smiled at him.

"what's up?" he said, plugging his charger into the wall and then into his phone. he set his keys down and then sat on the bed across from josh.

"well," he sighed. he avoided eye contact. "i texted uhm, max."

tyler looked up at him when he said that, you could see his facial expression change.

"are you, are you getting back together with him?" he asked softly.

"no no." josh shook his head. tyler let out a breath.

"oh okay good." he nodded. "so what's the big deal? why'd you text him?"

"i told him i was sorry. cause i felt bad for what i did and i wanted him to know i did." josh nodded, he swallowed hard. it was hard for him to talk about it. "and then he said something like it all got out of hand anyways, and i asked him what he meant, and he said he wanted to talk in person, and that you should be there too." josh said. tylers face went white.

"o-oh u-uhm. i-i should probably just-just go then yeah," tyler said, unplugging his phone and standing up.

"what? why? what's going on?" josh said. tyler let out a scared awkward laugh.

"yeah i'm just gonna go, bye i'll text-" tyler went to open the door, but it opened, max standing on the other side of it.

"h-hey," tyler stuttered. max didn't look happy.

"okay what the fuck is going on? is there something i don't know?" josh said, standing up off the bed.

"sit down tyler. why don't you tell him." max said.

"tyler? were you lying to me? with all those things you said to me." josh asked, tears welling up in his eyes.

"no, no baby-sorry, josh. i..." he said. all three of them sat on the bed. max was staring at tyler. he looked mad yes, but he more so looked, sad.

"okay someone tell me what the fuck is going on before i lose my shit." josh said, voice louder. he was terrified.

"me and tyler know each other, okay. we," he paused, swallowing. "we used to be like best friends."

"okay?" josh said. it really seemed like they hated each other. he never would've guessed it.

"fuck it. i'm just gonna say it. i fell in love with you josh. i did," he started. tylers heart broke he didn't know that they ever said the L word. "i didn't want to. i just wanted to take you away from tyler."

josh blinked a few times. you could see the tension in the room.

"w-what? i. i don't. i don't get it."

"what the fuck?" tyler said, now angry.

"i used you. to get back at tyler." max started, ignoring tyler. "that's all my intentions were. i didn't plan to fall in love with you josh. but i did." max said.

max was crying, josh was processing what was happening, and tyler looked like he could kill a new born baby he was so livid.

"why? what happened? why didn't i fucking know any of this?" josh said.

"max i didn't fucking mean it." tyler said through a clenched jaw.

"well you fucking did it tyler! you ruined my whole fucking life!" max yelled. josh flinched. he started crying. he was scared and confused.

"they were bound to find out anyways!" tyler yelled bad. josh cried harder, letting out a little sob. both boys stopped and turned to him.

"don't fucking touch me. either of you." josh jerked away when both of them reached to comfort him. "either tell me what the hell is going on, or get the fuck out of my house." he said. max and tyler both visibly calmed down, worry spreading across their faces.

"i, i-i outed max. i told everyone he was gay. his family found out." tyler said. josh softly nodded. everyone was calmed down a bit. "and his parents didn't take it well."

"is that why i could never come over?" josh asked. max nodded, his own tears falling. "are you okay?" josh asked, sitting up a bit. max broke down.

"no." he said. tyler didn't know what to say.

"what's going on max." josh said.

"they found out i was gay. and they threatened to send me away. my mom hits me sometimes, if she knows i'm texting a boy or something. she calls me worthless and nothing. my dads an alcoholic. he doesn't care about anything. my friends are assholes. they don't care about my feelings. they're the ones who told me to go after you to get back at tyler. they're toxic. im a terrible person. i used you. i'm selfish, i'm going to hell. i'm worthless." max said, choking back his tears.

"the bruises. that one time. you said they were from soccer?" josh softly said.

"my mom. she saw your name in my phone with a heart by it. she used her, uhm" he said, barely above a whisper. he was embarrassed. he couldn't finish his sentence.

"shh shh it's okay. i had no idea max i-i don't know what to say. i'm sorry. i cant believe i caused that. why'd you never just tell me?" josh said. tyler was crying.

"i don't want your pity. i didn't just wanted you to feel bad for me and feel forced to be with me. i wanted to live a life away from that and i could do it with you." he said. they looked up and made eye contact.

"that's not okay max. you're not okay. you need to go to someone." josh said. "this is serious."

"no, no." max said quickly. "it's okay. it's okay."

"no it's-"

"it's fine. i don't want to talk about it." he snapped. josh sighed.

"i'm sorry." tyler mumbled out.

"what?" max said. neither of them heard what he said.

"i said i'm sorry." tyler said louder, but still soft. "this is my fault. i ruined your life, all because i just wanted people to know. it wasn't my business. i should've stayed out of it. i'm sorry." he said. max just nodded.

"so y'all were, bestfriends?" josh asked.

"yeah. we played t-ball together when we were little. he moved to worthington in 9th grade and we became closer. i made a mistake. i thought it'd be cool to just out max for him since he was scared to. i didn't know how his family was. we fell off then." tyler said.

"so, you've been living like that since 9th grade?" josh asked. max nodded.

"i'm so fucking sorry." josh said. "come here. it's okay come here." he said, max broke down again. josh leaned against the headboard, max leaning on his chest with his arms wrapped around him.

"i'm sorry." max mumbled. "sorry i made this all sad."

"say sike right now." josh said, max laughed a bit through his tears. tyler smiled also. josh just made everyone happy.

"it's gonna be okay. but it's not unless you get help." josh said, running his hand up and down his back. tyler stared at his own hands.

"it's okay. i'm okay. for now." he nodded.

"i wanna be friends again max." tyler said. max looked up, so did josh.

"what?"

"i miss you. i'm sorry. i know you can never forgive me. and i wouldn't either. i'm a terrible person. same with you josh. but i want to change that i'm trying to change myself for you josh and for you." tyler said.

"why do you want to be friends with me? you have like the best friends ever." max said. he can admit, that he's always been jealous at how good tyler got along with joshs friends.

"i don't think you realize how good of a fucking friend you are bro. you literally cried with me when my cat died and you hated that cat. you used to clean your whole house just so you could hang with me. you were always there for me bro." tyler said. max blushed. "and i can tell from the way josh used to to look at you, you're one hell of a boyfriend." he slightly smiled.

"really?" he chuckled.

"yeah man. again i'm sorry." he said.

"i can't necessarily forgive you right now." max said. "but i wouldn't mind working it out." he nodded.

"i promise i won't out you again." tyler smiled.

"then i think we should be fine." max smiled. he sat up off of josh, and did a little high five fist bump bro handshake thing. josh smiled.

"so. i think we should talk about, ya know." tyler said, looking at josh with a little nervous smile.

"what are you talking about?" josh asked, even though he knew. he was dreading that conversation.

"yeah." max said. "what's gonna happen here."

"i don't think. i don't think i can be in a relationship right now. it's just all been so crazy. i'm obviously not the most stable person," he said, slightly laughing. "uhm," his voice cracked. "i just don't know, right now."

"is it over?" tyler asked.

"i can't really answer that right now. and i'm sorry. i'm confused right now. i just don't know really know." josh said. man was it awkward right about now.

"same answer for me?" max said.

"yeah." he cleared his throat. "yeah. i really don't know what the fuck i'm doing."

"same." tyler agreed.

"i don't want you to change your mind or anything because of the stuff i told you." max said. josh nodded and grabbed his hand to comfort him.

"i guess y'all can re-bond over talking about my ass."
he shrugged, everyone laughing.

"he does have a pretty good ass." tyler nodded to max.

"it is very good ten out of ten would tap again." max agreed. josh giggled and blushed.

"alright. i feel better. anything else we need to talk about?" josh asked.

"i'm sorry again. to you." tyler said to josh.

"i know." he nodded and smiled.

"tyler i'm gonna date you and cheat on you, you're the only one who hasn't been cheated on. it would complete the circle." max said. tyler snorted and josh started laughing.

"sounds like a plan." tyler said.

"max. you're welcome to hang out with us. with brendon and all of us. anytime okay. don't feel like you're not involved. would you like brendon and them to know? they're not gonna judge you or anything. they're probably the most understanding and forgiving people i know. i mean they forgave tyler so i mean i think you kind of have the advantage here." josh said, tyler nodded.

"he's right. they love you." tyler said.

"i don't wanna intrude on anything. it's okay." he said.

"you're not. they'd be happy to have you. you don't have to go all out and smoke with brendon and jump off of roofs naked or anything. we're friends max. we all look out for each other. if you ever feel uncomfortable or unsafe with them you know you can say something, or just tell me. i know it's hard for you to trust people." josh said.

"that sounds nice yeah. if it's not a bother. and they can know, but i wanna tell them. when i'm ready." max said.

"it won't be. and yeah, that's good." josh smiled.

"am i still allowed to hang? or is it like we trade off again. do i have to wait my turn?" tyler asked, josh laughed.

"you're allowed too. i'll add y'all to the group chat. and i promise we don't have any separate group chats, we don't do that." josh giggled.

"thank you." max said.

"of course." josh replied.

"bros again?" tyler asked.

"yeah, bros again." he nodded.

A/N: ARE YALL STILL GONNA SIT HERE AND TELL ME YALL HATE MAX

😗✌🏻 the answer to the last one is five congrats:
@lil_____liv
@annikusi21
@silentbanditos
@-trees
@iampanictreasure

Q&A Q&A Q&A ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS PLEASE

tyler

josh

max

ryan

brendon

dallon

emma

tyler's family(anyone just drop a name)

josh's family

brendon's mom

brendon's lungs

me me me emily hi