// No Triggers This Chapter //

Tyler had to stay in hospital for a few more days before he was able to be released. They had to monitor his vitals and he had to be put under suicide watch since his overdose was intentional. He was old enough to sign his own paperwork, which he was grateful for because his parents - had they even known he was here - wouldn't have signed him out. They would have let him rot there once they knew what he was there for.

After changing his clothes and gathering the few things that were on his person - his phone, a lighter, and about $15 in small bills and change - he sat in the lobby and waited on Josh to pick him up. As he scrolled mindlessly through his social media feeds, he happened to look up just in time to see a mop of brown hair and bright blue eyes talking to a woman with beautifully sculpted cheeks and stunning grey eyes. He recognized the man to be Dallon - Josh's friend who was with him at the cafe - and the woman he was talking to was Tyler's nurse the last night of his stay. He watched the two of them talk for a few moments before they shared a gentle kiss and Dallon was walking toward the exit.

Tyler hopped up from his seat and walked over to the man quickly. "Hi," he pushed out softly. "Hey, you're Dallon, right?"

Blue eyes were peering back at him the moment his name was mentioned. He was exceptionally good looking up close, and now maybe Tyler didn't feel so stupid for thinking he was with Josh. Beauty attracts beauty, and all that. "Yeah," the taller man answered slowly. "You're Tyler. We met the other day, briefly."

Tyler nodded, now lost on how to continue the conversation. "Um," he stuttered, "I just. Thank you for being Josh's friend through.. all of this. I know it wasn't easy for him."

Dallon scoffed. "That's an understatement, dude," he said softly, his condescending tone being disguised expertly.

The shorter of the two sighed, running a hand through his hair as he nodded. "I know that I fucked up," he said quietly, "but you have to know that I love Josh. And he says that you're now one of his best friends, and I don't want there to be any animosity between the two of us."

Dallon narrowed his eyes. "You're speaking as if we're going to be seeing each other more often."

Tyler's stomach sank gently. "Has.." He paused, licking his dry lips nervously. "Has Josh not mentioned that I'm coming home?"

Dallon quirked an eyebrow, turning to face Tyler completely and crossing his arms over his chest. "No," he deadpanned, "he hasn't. And, pardon me for being so crude, but you've got some fucking nerve making shit like that up."

"I'm not!" Tyler felt his chest tightening as he spoke to the smaller man - he, himself, feeling smaller and smaller. "I promise! He's on his way here to pick me up right now!"

Dallon pushed his tongue to the side of his cheek, bouncing on his heels gently as he sighed heavily. "Fuck's sake," he breathed out before grabbing Tyler's arm and pulling him outside. "Explain."

Tyler then launched into the story of how Josh came to see him, yelled at him - rightfully - and how they talked about what they had done to each other and apologized before Josh asked him to come home. "Look," he continued, "I know you don't like me - and I don't blame you - but I promise that I would never insert myself into Josh's life if he still didn't want me there. You bore witness to that! As soon as he told me to stay out of his life, I left."

"And yet somehow you're back," Dallon added bitterly.

Tyler threw up his arms, exasperated, and he turned to look at the parking lot just as he saw Josh's car pulling in. "Look," he pointed to where the younger man was parking, "he's here now! Ask him yourself!"

Dallon turned to look at Josh getting out of his car and he sighed to himself. As said man looked up from his phone, finally seeing the two men, he stopped short. "Hey Ty," he said softly. "And Dal. What are you doing here?"

Dallon and Tyler shared a look before the taller male spoke. "Breezy's a nurse here," he said softly. "I was bringing her lunch when I ran into Tyler."

Josh nodded. "Well," he started, "that's convenient, I suppose."

Dallon sent one more piercing look to the smaller brunette before turning back to Josh. "Josh, can I talk to you for a second?"

"Uh, sure."

Dallon looked towards Tyler, who was just looking between the two of them before he added, "Alone?"

Tyler made a small "oh" sound before raising his hands gently and walking over to where Josh's car sat in the parking lot. Once out of his earshot, Dallon leaned a bit closer to Josh before asking "What the hell's going on here?"

Josh sighed before shaking his head gently. "Dal, I love him," he admitted desperately. "I know that we weren't.. I know we weren't good. But I'm better now! You've seen me! And I feel like ..." Josh paused, looking over to the man leaning against the passenger door of his car. "I feel like he can be better, too."

Dallon watched the way Josh looked at Tyler. There was a certain fondness yet also desperation hidden behind his tired eyes; something that Dallon had never seen before. It was also something that he envied in a way. A few more beats passed by before he was sighing defeatedly, reaching out to put a hand on Josh's bicep. "If you think this is okay," he started, "if you think that this is something the both of you can handle, then who am I to try to talk you out of it? I just want you to be careful, Josh. I don't want you getting hurt again."

Josh nodded, understanding Dallon's concern. "I know," he replied. "I just really believe things are going to be different this time. And if I'm wrong? Then that's that. I'm wrong, we leave each other alone, and I never go through this again. I promise."

The taller male didn't seem convinced, but nodded anyway. "I trust your judgement," he said, "even if it seems skewed sometimes. I have your back, Josh. Don't forget that."

Josh nodded, giving his friend a soft 'thank you' before they shared a gentle embrace. Once they pulled away, Josh motioned to where his car was parked. "Did you drive? I can give you a lift."

"I took the bus actually, thanks," Dallon grinned, walking with Josh to his car. "I'll hang out with you guys for a little bit, if that's okay with you. I figure you may need the extra help telling Brendon that Tyler is coming back to the house."

Josh paled slightly before attempting to cover up his uneasy state with a forced chuckle. "Yeah," he said. "Yeah, I hadn't even thought about that."

The smaller man gave Josh a look, stopping him with a hand on his arm before he spoke. "Josh, I was joking," he said softly. "You haven't told him?"

Josh bit his lip, glancing toward Tyler - who was still scrolling on his phone - and shook his head gently. "I've been so wrapped up in how I felt about him coming back that I just.." He shook his head again, looking at Dallon with pleading eyes. "Oh, god, he's going to be so pissed!"

Dallon put his hands on Josh's shoulders, steadying him. "Hey, Josh, breathe," he said gently. "It's okay. I'll be right there with you, and so will Tyler. He wants you to be happy and once he sees that this will make you happy, he'll relent. Just breathe."

Josh nodded, but he still seemed a little uneasy. After how he treated the both of them during the withdrawals, how he disregarded Brendon during all of his and Tyler's previous relationship, and how unbelievably toxic they were for each other, yet he was going to bring him back home?

This was not going to be pretty.

———

Pulling up to the house, Josh felt the biggest knot form in his stomach. The more he thought about the situation, the more he tried to think of who could have his back if Brendon lost his shit over this. Ashley might, but, then again, she's big in believing "no negative energy in the house," so maybe not so much. Ryan might stick up for him - he did seem the most concerned about Tyler's overdose; however, that didn't necessarily mean he wanted him back in the house he stayed in.

Would they even believe that Tyler is trying to get better?

"Josh," Tyler said gently, "I don't have to come back right now. You can take a few days to talk to them and then I can come back."

Josh shook his head, determination peeking out through his nervousness. "No," he replied. "No, we have to get this done now, or we never will. I want you back in my life, and I'll take the consequences that come with that."

Tyler nodded, sparing a glance in the back seat to Dallon, who was looking worriedly at Josh as they got out of the car. He watched the younger man hesitate for a few moments before they were all walking up the sidewalk to the front door. Josh took a deep breath before pushing open the door and walking slowly into the kitchen.

The first person his eyes landed on was Ashley, who was chopping up fruit and packing it into a blender. "Hey, Josh, Dallon! I was just about to make some smoothies for everyone if you want—" Her voice immediately stopped as her eyes landed on the chocolate eyed brunette who walked into the room behind Dallon. "Tyler," she started softly. "Hi."

Tyler nodded his head in Ashley's direction. "Hey, Ash," he said, nerves beginning to creep up. "How are you?"

"I'm good," she said with a soft smile. "You look better."

Tyler smiled back, a blush coming to his cheeks. "I am better."

Ashley then directed her attention to Josh. "Does Brendon—?"

Josh shook his head gently, cutting off her question.

She nodded back, sighing gently. "He's in his room," she said softly. "Good luck."

Josh nodded, thanking her quietly before heading down the hall to Brendon's room.

He paused outside of the door, taking a deep breath before raising his knuckles and knocking gently, feeling himself pale as he heard Ryan's voice say to come inside.

As he pushed the door open, he watched Ryan and Brendon's faces light up upon his entry. "Hey, Josh," Brendon said happily. "How are you buddy?"

"I'm good, Bren," he said with a soft chuckle. "I uh, I actually wanted to talk to you about something."

Brendon sat up completely, looking at Josh nervously. "What's going on?"

Tyler watched from behind his love as he started to freeze. He could hear Brendon's concerned voice trying to talk to him. Without another thought, he stepped into the room behind Josh, watching as the three men in the room paused to look at him. "Hi, Bren," he started, "Ry. Nice to see you guys."

He could feel the air being sucked out of the room as Brendon's face went from confused to shocked to angry in a matter of moments.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"