Josh blinked, looking at the four in the room who were looking back at him warily.

"You guys look like you've just seen a ghost. Wrong dead phenomenon," Josh joked, cracking a smile. He noticed how perfect his fangs fit and how natural it felt to smile like that even though they were a new addition.

Rylee, Jordan, and Jenna all let out a small laugh but Tyler just crawled on the bed and wrapped his arms around Josh. It was similar to the way Jenna had two days prior, but this was more intimate. "Please say you don't hate me."

"I don't hate you," Josh replied, hugging back and pressing a kiss to his shoulder. He could perfectly smell Tyler's natural scent and he knew that if his heart was still beating, it would be beating rapidly.

Hugging Tyler now felt like a whole new experience. It felt like he was hugging his soulmate and that everything was right in the world. Pure bliss came over him. He understood what they had meant about that feeling. Josh knew it would intensify.

Tyler pulled back and looked at Josh nervously. Josh's chest filled with happiness at the sight of him- more so than before. "How are you feeling?"

Josh thought for moment. "Really good, actually."

"Give it a second," Jenna replied.

"Give what a sec- oh," Josh began but then felt this sudden overwhelming thirst and hunger. It felt like he hadn't consumed anything for weeks.

Jenna shifted and tucked her hands in her pockets. "You have to consume fresh human blood within the first 24 hours of turning or you die. Like for real. Just like... to let you know."

Josh looked back at Tyler. "You didn't tell me that!"

Tyler gave him a sheepish smile. "Oops."

"I thought I'd at least have a week to prepare-"

Tyler cut him off. "I'm sorry," he looked anxious. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have done it. Now you're regretting it and you're gonna hate me and I'm gonna lose you and-"

"Tyler," Josh laughed out. "Hey, I'm not mad. I don't regret anything," he grabbed Tyler's hand, feeling his calloused skin even more so than before. "It's just... a little more sudden than I thought."

"But hey," Rylee piped up. "As soon as you do it, your eyes fade back to normal and you'll be able to retract your fangs."

"My eyes are bright red?" He asked.

Jenna handed him a compact mirror and he opened it, gasping at his reflection.

It was him but... it wasn't. He wasn't used to his new appearance. He opened his mouth and became fascinated with his new change.

"Alright, Vanity," Jordan snatched the mirror and gave it to Jenna. "We gotta talk about something."

Josh rolled his eyes at the nickname. "What?"

"Dude, what the fuck are we gonna tell Mom and Dad?"

It was silent for a moment.

"Do we have to tell them anything?" Josh looked at his little brother.

"We will at some point. They're gonna notice something unless they die before we turn 30."

"Don't joke about that."

"I'm not joking. They're gonna notice we're not getting any older in a decade."

Jenna spoke up. "My parents know. It was hard to tell them but my mom found out and I had to explain it to them. I'm not saying to call them right now and tell them but if the opportunity presents itself it might be best to tell them."

"My parents don't know though and they haven't suspected anything," Tyler added. "So just play things by ear."

The two Dun brothers nodded and it was silent again.

"It's nearing-" Rylee checked her phone. "-11. So we might want to leave soon if we're gonna teach Josh what to do."

"You'll feed with Ty and I, right? Mainly animals?" Jenna asked out of politeness but Josh could tell that's what she already figured.

Josh didn't reply at first. "I don't know."

"What?" She looked at him in disbelief.

"I haven't fed before I don't know what I'll like more. It might be better to feed from people less often or I'll feel bad and feed from animals more often. I don't know yet."

He could tell Jenna wanted to say more but she just nodded and sighed. "Okay."

Tyler just squeezed his hand in support. "You supported me and I'll support you. I know you did this for us and I'm not gonna let anything get between that."

Josh smiled and rested his head on Tyler's shoulder. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Jenna let out a huff. "I really need a boyfriend."

---

It was nearing one in the morning when Josh, Tyler, and Jordan got back to the Dun residence. Rylee and Jenna went back home and Tyler surprisingly got permission to stay the night again.

Josh and Tyler were laying in the former's bed and talking. "Are you gonna go to school?"

Josh had his fangs out and was inspecting them with his tongue, still amazed by the transformation. He doesn't think it was the best thing ever but he didn't hate it. He was intrigued.

"Do you think I should?"

"No," Tyler shook his head. "Not right away. Maybe give it another day or so while you get used to everything."

"I'll just text my mom and tell her I got what Jordan had. Technically, I did," he laughed.

Tyler, however, didn't laugh.

"What's wrong?" Josh asked, looking at Tyler.

"I don't want you to regret this."

"Tyler," Josh took his hand and let their fingers melt together. "For the last time, I chose this. I wanted to do this for us. Plus, even if it wasn't for us, it still adds some protection to all the other secret and fucked up shit that happens in this town. I'm not mad. I don't regret anything. You'll just have to help me adjust."

Tyler kissed Josh for the first time since he turned him and Josh's whole body felt like it was going to explode with happiness. It was the feelings he had felt before but increased tenfold. It was magical.

"Mmm," Josh hummed when they momentarily broke the kiss. "I can get used to that. Hey, since neither of us technically need to breathe does that mean we can just make out all night?"

Tyler laughed. "I hate you."

Josh shook his head with a smile. "No you don't."

"Yeah, you're right," Tyler nudged his boyfriend. "I'm glad we're doing this. There's no one else I'd rather spend my life with than you. Even though we're in high school, you now understand that feeling I get and you know why I feel that way."

"Yeah, I do," Josh sighed happily. "And for the record..."

"Yeah?"

"There's no one else I'd rather spend my life with either."