Happy Halloween! I know I've been spam updating but I haven't been motivated to write in forever and I'll be too busy to update this weekend so I hope this isn't too bothersome!

About a week later, Josh and Tyler were sitting when Jenna sat down with an exhausted sigh.

"You good?" Tyler asked.

Jenna sent him a small smile. "Homecoming week is kicking my ass," she sighed. "It's only Monday and I've already had the assembly this morning—"

"Which you did great at, by the way," Josh interjected.

"Thanks," Jenna beamed. "But on top of that I have the parade, the closing assembly, the football game on Friday, and I haven't even had time to get a dress!" She stressed.

"Do you have a date?" Tyler asked.

"Not yet," she hummed, pulling her lunch box out and grabbing a container of grapes. "I think Brendon's gonna ask me."

"Who's Brendon?" Josh questioned curiously.

"This asshole on the football team," Tyler rolled his eyes. "He stares up Jenna's skirt whenever she's above his eye level," he turned to her. "Why the hell would you go with him? You know he's a sleaze."

"Exactly," she popped a grape into her mouth. "That's why I'm gonna say yes. It'll be funny to mess with him."

"So we have two types of people," Josh stated, making Jenna laugh.

She looked over at him. "What about you, Josh? I know you've only been here like two weeks but have you seen any cute girls you might like?"

Josh's face turned a subtle shade of red. "Oh I uh..." he trailed off. "I'm uh... no not really."

Jenna seemed to realize what he was trying to say. Her eyes widened. "Oh, shit. My bad. I shouldn't have assumed you liked girls. I'm sorry," she apologized.

"You guys don't care...?" Josh asked nervously. That would be a great way to end his first friendship in Hartgate.

It was silent for a moment before Tyler started cackling. He was wheezing so hard Josh thought he was going to start coughing.

His eyes widened and he didn't know if he should intervene. 

Things with Tyler over the past week haven't been as bad. He was being more friendly but only talked to him if he was with Jenna or the two boys were in math. Josh's was definitely closer with Jenna. He was alright with that though. At least Tyler wasn't being an asshole anymore.

Suddenly, Tyler let out a small breath. Josh looked over and saw Jenna smiling. "What?"

"Oh, man..." Tyler wiped under his eye like there had been a tear there. "Funny."

"What's so funny?" Josh repeated exasperatedly.

"I'm also not into women," he told Josh.

"Oh!" Josh replied.

"You two should go to homecoming together!" Jenna gasped happily.

They both looked at her, nervous looks on their faces.

"Not as a couple!" She assured. "As friends. That way Josh can attend his first Hartgate homecoming and Tyler won't wallow in his misery all night."

Tyler crossed his arms and pouted. "I don't wallow in my misery."

Jenna and Josh shared a look and both snickered.

"Stop laughing!"

"Your mood changes are worse than my brother's psycho ex girlfriend who tried to key my mom's car and then professed her undying love for him," Josh snorted.

"Jordan really knows how to pick 'em," Jenna laughed.

"I don't have mood changes!"

Josh saw Jenna shoot him a knowing look and he straightened up and sighed.

"Fine," he grumbled. "But what if I'm... in a good mood... that night..." he spoke, almost like he was trying to hint something to Jenna.

Confused, Josh gave her a look. She shook her head and waved him off.

"You guys should still go. I love homecoming."

"Weren't you just complaining about how exhausted homecoming week is?" Josh asked.

Jenna shook her head. "I still love homecoming week. It's fun despite how much I have to do. Plus the theme this year is Roaring 20's and gold is so my color."

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom real quick," Tyler stood up from the table before walking off.

"C'mon Josh," Jenna pleaded once he was gone. "Please?"

"I don't know..." Josh trailed off. "I don't want to force Tyler to go if he doesn't want to just because I need a friend."

Jenna looked sad at Josh before clearing her throat. "Well I think Tyler needs a friend more than you do."

"What do you mean?"

"Like I said. He went through a lot over the summer. I feel like you moving here was good timing for him. For us. I mean he doesn't ever warm up to anyone that quick and he had to make a lot of friends fast when he joined basketball. He went from being practically a nobody to one of the most talked about people here. So if he's willing to give you a chance— not that he shouldn't —maybe you're just what he needed."

Josh smiled slightly at that. "Okay."

Tyler came back just then and sat back down next to Josh. "Were you talking about me?"

"Only a little," Jenna teased.

Josh turned to him. "Do you wanna go? Y'know, as friends?"

Tyler stared at him for a moment, thinking. "Sure," he smiled. "As friends."

"Yay! Friends!" Jenna clapped happily.

"Are we doing anything together beforehand? The three of us?" Tyler asked her.

Jenna shrugged. "Brendon might wanna do something if he does ask me. Maybe... dinner...?" She smirked towards Tyler.

He just rolled his eyes and looked at Josh. "You wanna order pizza?"

"Oh, always."

"Wait Josh!" Jenna gasped. "If you're coming to the dance you have to come to the game too!"

"I'm not a sports person..."

"No one who goes is. Most of the people are there just to socialize. But you should come. You can support me."

"Okay," Josh smiled. He never had friends he would have supported before. He usually wasn't that close to anyone.

"Great!"

---

Josh sat next to Tyler on the bleachers as the marching band played.

As soon as they finished the announcers commenced the cheerleaders routine and Josh has never seen them perform before but he had to admit, they were pretty good.

"Jenna's amazing," Josh spoke his thoughts aloud.

"Right!" Tyler agreed. "I'm really proud of her."

Shortly after, the cheerleaders finished their routine and went back to the sidelines. The game continued and Josh noticed they were winning.

"Is our team good?" He asked Tyler.

"Good enough," he shrugged. "We're pretty average. Like we probably won't go to state but we're not terrible."

Josh nodded. Suddenly, the wind picked up and he shivered. He was only in a sweatshirt since the weather in Ohio around this time wasn't too bad.

"You good?" Tyler asked.

"Yeah," Josh crossed his arms over his chest. "I just didn't think it'd be this cold."

Tyler let out a laugh. "It's Colorado. It gets cold in August. We'll probably get snow this week."

Josh just shivered more, not being able to respond.

"Do you want my jacket?" Tyler offered.

Josh looked at him like he'd grown two heads. "Dude, you'll freeze."

"Nah," he shrugged his jacket off. "I'm used to it."

Tyler only had a long sleeved shirt on underneath and Josh felt bad. "I can't—"

Tyler thrusted it towards him. "C'mon Josh. I insist."

Josh went to grab it and when he did, his and Tyler's fingers brushed against each other. Josh almost gasped at how cold they were. Like colder than his own.

But at the same time it felt almost like a spark went through his hand as he touched Tyler's. It felt special.

Josh blushed slightly and looked over to see Tyler blushing too. He slipped the jacket on. It smelled exactly like Tyler. "Thanks," he cleared his throat.

"Don't mention it," Tyler replied awkwardly.

The two continued to watch the game in silence but Josh couldn't help but think about one thing...

Would this change anything for him and Tyler?