Tyler x Reader: College AU!

Words: 1,547

Story Description:  It's been two months of your freshman year at college and you find yourself missing home, so a piece of home comes to you.

Warnings:  None!

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"I don't know, Lisa." You sighed, throwing your college backpack onto the floor next to your desk chair as you entered your room. You had just come back from afternoon class. Your roommate Lisa took her earbuds out, looking over at you from her desk, which was directly across the room from yours. "What's up?" She asked, putting her paper on hold to listen to you.

"I miss home. I feel like I'm too far away." Even though you were just complaining, you felt like crying. "It's like everything here is off by one tick. Every Walmart looks almost identical to the one back home, but bam, the produce aisle is on the opposite end of the store. Or Dunkin' down the road, they got the color ombre wrong and it bothers me. It's correct at Dunkin' near my house."

You laid on your bed, pulling your red hoodie off and tossing it to the foot of the bed. "Well that's just a part of going to college, you grow and learn new things. You have new experiences away from your parents." Lisa empathized, her long black hair swaying as she turned to sit backwards in her chair. She had been here for a year before you came, so she understood the struggle.

"I can't afford gas or a two hour drive. I have work and classes and papers to write." You didn't respond to your roommate, instead you threw your hands over your face to cover your eyes. You hated crying in front of people, but Lisa was different. You lived together now and had grown quite comfortable in each other's company.

Groaning, you thought about how expensive gas had gotten. It took a solid forty dollars to fill your tank nearly every week, and your paycheck only left room for so much. You have to buy your necessities like food, (the cafeteria just didn't cut it most of the time) and you allow yourself a treat every so often. Such as a new shirt or an accessory. You thought about saving your treat money for an extra trip back home before Thanksgiving break.

As if on cue, Lisa started talking about break. "Thanksgiving is right around the corner, before you know it we'll all be home for the big holiday break living life like it used to be. But Y/n, it's not going to stay the same forever. Whether you like it or not you're going to have to embrace how things always change." Tough love was Lisa's thing, and man was she good at it.

You moved your arm to cover your eyes, your other hand now placed on your stomach. You enjoyed the feeling of your own breathing moving your palm, but you wished it was Tyler's breathing instead. "I know." You whispered, and before you knew, you had fallen asleep.

~~~

You woke up to somebody shaking your arm, making it fall from your face. When you opened your eyes, everything was blurry from the pressure your forearm had on your eyes this whole time. Oops. You hoped that it didn't have lasting effects. Just another thing about being a college student: you're always anxious. Always worrying about your health and your exams. You can never catch a break.

"Y/n? Can you hear me?" A soft male voice soothed your ears as you blinked hard, squinting and trying to wake up from your nap. "Hmm?" Your tired voice croaked. Once your vision cleared, you realized that Tyler was sitting on the side of your bed, his thumb rubbing your forearm where he shook you awake.

"Tyler?" Your eyes lit up, even though they still felt funny. "Hi beauty." He smiled, a real genuine smile. He was so cute. Sitting up as fast as you could, you hugged your boyfriend close. His hoodie was still cold from being outside. A nostalgic feeling hit you like a truck. "How are you here?" You asked as your nose took in his soothing homely smell. He let out a small laugh, "I drove, silly." He hugged you back just as tight, if not tighter, burying his head into the crook of your neck. Tyler breathed you in just as you breathed him. You were meant to share the same air.

"Okay yeah but why?" You asked, neither of you were letting up on your grip. "Your roommate texted me on Instagram, saying you needed me. So I came." Tyler's muffled voice rang softly next to your ear, this wasn't the first time this happened. Lisa was good at taking care of her friends. Thinking of her, you noticed that she was gone. Like most nights, you figured she was out with her friends.

"Didn't you have work today? That's a lot."

"My shift ended around the time she texted. I'd drive forever to see you, no matter the time or circumstances."

"It's a two hour drive! You didn't have to come all the way out here." By now you had pulled away from the hug, your hands resting around Tyler's shoulders, his hands around your waist. "I did! I wanted to. I've missed you anyway, we haven't actually seen each other in weeks." His hand met your face and wiped away a tear you hadn't registered was there. 

And it was true, facetiming and texting was never enough to fill the Tyler shaped hole in your heart whenever you started to miss him again. Which was every day. 

"I love you so much. Thank you." You leaned into his hand, gazing into his deep brown eyes. "I love you too." Tyler pecked your nose with a kiss. "Oh, and I brought you something." He smiled, pulling away from you as he reached for the bag he brought along. Pulling out a hoodie, he handed it to you. "I know it's your favorite of mine, and plus it'll smell like me for a few dayyyss." He giggled, his voice raising a few octaves like it normally does when he's excited. His falsetto was so smooth, even when he was talking.

You giggled as you took the hoodie and momentarily buried your nose into it. It smelled good. It smelled like Tyler. Like home. "You're not getting it back until winter break." You smiled. "I know. I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about you." He gave you an empathetic look, borderline puppy eyes. "Don't worry about me, I'm fine!" You sniffed, wiping your own tears with the back of your hand.

Tyler pulled out a container of your favorite candy from his bag, neatly put into an aesthetically pleasing glass jar that had a few sticky notes on it. They read different affirmations written from your amazing boyfriend, which only made more tears come when you held the gift in your hands. "What? Oh my gosh Tyler you did not have to do this!" Both of you were smiling so big by this point. "Nonsense, you know that I need to get you presents every time." He chuckled.

"Here," You started, setting the gifts down onto your nightstand before pulling something wrapped in dark blue tissue paper from your drawer. "I was saving it for Christmas but I want to give it to you now."

Taking the gift, Tyler was careful to unwrap it, feeling it's soft texture already. "Awh, Y/n I love it so much!" He smiled bright, his cheeks started to look rosy. Maybe it was the way that the red fabric looked near his skin. "I knew you were talking about getting a red beanie, so I went ahead for you."

Putting it on, he smiled and tilted his head to be silly. "Do you feel bonita?" You asked, making a reference. "I feel bonita." You shared a good laugh, happy to be in each other's presence again. You could practically feel your stress melting away. "You look lovely." You complimented him.

"Oh shoot- what time is it?" You asked, looking to your clock. "It's eight already? Where did the afternoon go?" "You slept it away, I'm afraid." Tyler smiled, wrapping an arm around your shoulders and pulling you closer to kiss your forehead.

"I'm still tired."

"Then let's sleep."

"Tyler, you know that's against the rules for you to stay the night." You shoved his shoulder playfully, making a pouty lip. "I think Lisa said she'll cover for us." Tyler laughed softly. After contemplating it for a second, you decided it would be okay. "Okay love, c'mere." You hugged him and pulled him down onto your bed with you.

The two of you got comfortable under the covers of your twin bed, your head on Tyler's chest and his arm around you securely. You didn't mind the small bed, it was comfortable. The lack of space basically required you to snuggle, and that gave you butterflies. "Goodnight Y/n." He said as he kissed your forehead, then began singing a familiar tune. A tune you were always proud of him for. Tyler's other hand coursed calmly through your hair. Your palm rested on Tyler's stomach. His breathing moved your palm. Everything felt okay again.

"I know where you stand, silent in the trees..." Once again, you were asleep faster than you knew.

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Author's note

I hope you enjoyed! Feel free to leave requests or constructive criticism! Stay street |-/

( I wrote this on my desktop so if the paragraphs are too long for mobile format let me know and I can edit it! )