I changed Josh's age from twenty-four to twenty-seven. You'll find out why later.

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Tyler was confident with himself till he saw the apartment complex in the distance. Just like that, with a snap of two fingers, all the cockiness evaporated from this body leaving Tyler shaking like a wet chicken. He didn't know what Josh knew exactly and that was the most bothering thing. Josh probably had cameras in his house and now he wanted everyone to witness Tyler's crime so he couldn't defend himself. Police were already waiting for the brunet...

Tyler slapped his forehead wanting his ridiculous thoughts to go away. Josh wasn't that petty, was he? Who would e extra enough to do such a  thing? It was just Tyler overthinking the simplest situation. The boy slowed down his pace and tried to calm down. He didn't steal anything, did he? He just climbed through the window, emptied a (probably expensive) bottle of liquor and explored a bit. Tyler rubbed his already aching forehead, he trespassed and that was s crime too. Tyler desperately tried to look for a silver lining in all of that situation but nothing came to his mind. Getting drunk? No, the hangover was a massive bitch. Trying on expensive watches? Nope. That just made Tyler understand how poor he is. He even lost his own watch. It was cheap and plastic but it meant a lot to him because it was the last thing reminding him of how his family was before Chris' gambling issue. The old watch reminded him of simpler times. 

Tyler was getting closer and closer to the apartment and no matter how slowly he went, he couldn't avoid the inevitable. Unless he just turned around and walked home which he could not do at the moment. Home was the last place he wanted to be right now. Tyler dropped his sister off at his aunt and went out himself. He couldn't take advantage of his aunt's hospitality any longer, the brunet didn't want to seem like a burden. The only place Tyler found comfort in was his school but now that he had graduated, he had nowhere else to go. Maybe the youth centre wasn't so bad after all. Charlie talked so highly of it, Tyler wanted to have what the other kids had. The only problem was that Tyler was kind of an asshole and had trouble fitting in. Even now, Tyler couldn't figure out what he said to upset Charlie so much. Those were just words, right? Words didn't hurt anyone... At least Tyler thought that. 

The sound of Tyler's light steps bounced off the narrow walls and came right back. The boy noticed that there was less trash around and more dumpsters. The building still looked like a bomb shelter but there wasn't much that someone could do about it. It's not like he knew someone very rich who cared about this building so much that they would invest in its restoration... The lack of trash on the ground was a pleasant sight.

Tyler felt a lump in his throat as he made his way to the fifth floor but ignored it. Both his leg and foot moved up and down. Not too long after, his tanned face turned red, as he came closer and closer to the end of his destination. Tyler wiped his forehead and thanked God that nature was unpredictable. The weather outside was warm as ever but the cold wind made everything so much better. Tyler glanced out the window to take the last look at the beautiful ashen grey clouds in the sky before stepping into his doom. 

The heavy door opened without making any sound, Tyler wondered why the door, of all things in this building, was the sturdiest thing. It didn't make any sound, Tyler wished it did because walking in silent was a tad awkward. The boy still didn't know what he should say. Should he say good day or good afternoon? What if it was too early to say good day? Should he say good morning? What time is acceptable to still say good morning? Tyler felt his palms heat up. He curled his fingers into a fist and slowly walked to his seat. Everyone stared at him hoping for the boy to say something but Tyler pressed his lips together. If they thought he was an asshole the boy wasn't gonna do anything about it to change it. 

Josh fixed his glasses and cleared his throat. He stared straight at the boy, even from this distance the brunet felt Josh's penetrating gaze. Tyler's cheeks heated up, he averted his gaze wanting the man to do the same. Josh let out a heavy sigh before speaking.

"Good morning, Tyler."

Oh, so it was still morning... Tyler cursed himself for not being able to greet people. It was the simplest thing in the world and yet Tyler couldn't find the right words. A simple hello would've been enough. The anxious boy made a mental note to say hello next time... If there was ever gonna be the next time. 

Josh stared at Tyler some more. The boy still refused to greet him back. 

"That is very rude of you." Josh let out a disappointed sigh

"I..." Tyler croaked in the fakest hoarse voice ever "I have a sore throat."

Great, now he'll have to speak like a fifty-year-old man for the rest of the day to convince everyone that he really did have a sore throat. He even let out a light cough to emphasize how sick he was. 

Josh flashed Tyler an empathetic smile and nodded, Tyler's plan was working. Tyler smiled to himself, impressed with his acting skills. The boy looked around, he immediately noticed that Jared and Charlie were missing. There were some new kids sitting in the front but Tyler didn't really care about them. Gerard glanced back at Tyler, daggers shooting out of his eyes. Tyler scoffed, if he had some beef with him, he better throw it out. The boy wasn't in the mood to argue or exchange angry glances. 

Tyler scratched his head thinking maybe Charlie didn't come because she knew that Tyler was gonna be there. The boy must've upset her really bad. Josh opened his book and started reading some dumb shit from the bible. Tyler groaned out of frustration, did Josh really come to his house to invite him to the youth centre so he could read the bible? Tyler felt like he was ripped off. Ripped off of his precious time. He could've been wasting his time in another place. 

The brunet was about to get up when two petite hands gripped his shoulders making Tyler's soul leave his body. The boy let out a high pitched scream and jumped in his seat. Everyone looked back at him, Josh raised an eyebrow. Tyler just chuckled nervously and tried to laugh it off. He turned around to see a bunch of red hair in his face. 

"Um..." Tyler blinked rapidly confused. Charlie of all the people? 

The girl smiled and sat right next to the boy.

"Hi." she chirped and placed her feet on the seat right in front of her

"Hi?" Tyler squinted his eyes

"Hey, listen, about that other day..." The girl tugged a loose strand of hair behind her ear 

"Sorry about the other day." Tyler murmured

"You don't really mean it." the girl smiled "But that's okay because I was an asshole once."

"Okay." Tyler was still confused 

"I was hoping that if we placed our differences aside we could be friends because I think you're pretty cool." the girl nudged the boy playfully "And don't think that I'm flirting with you because I don't even like guys."

"M-me too." Tyler chuckled "I- I mean I don't like... You-I mean...."

Charlie let out a muffled chuckle, Tyler felt his brain explode from the embarrassment. The girl let out a  sigh and patted Tyler's shoulder.

"It's okay. I know what you mean." Charlie quickly lifted her feet off the chair when Josh glanced at her sideways "Josh told me that he has something important going on today. I guess that very important thing was you."

"Yeah..." Tyler smiled weakly. That son of a bitch. He told Tyler the exact same thing. It worked out but Tyler still felt tricked and betrayed. He was over there drooling over the man thinking that he was low-key flirting with him. 

Tyler decided not to tell Charlie because she was pretty rad and making her upset again would've been a real dick move. The boy had enough enemies already.

"So-" Charlie spoke after  a long pause "Since we're basically best friends you have to tell me everything."

"Everything?"

"Yeah, like what music do you like." Charlie smiled sweetly "Also who is your crush and stuff."

Tyler felt his cheeks heat up again, he didn't have a crush, what was this crazy girl talking about? How did she know? Tyler glanced at Josh nervously for a brief second and turned to face Charlie again.

"N-no one." Tyler scoffed "I don't have time for feelings." 

Charlie squinted her eyes and stared at Tyler's face. The boy's nervous glance wandered off again and he was staring at his youth counsellor again. Charlies eyes widened, a cunning smirk graced her lips.

"It's him, isn't it?" Charlie whispered

"What?" Tyler exhaled sharply "No way, he's too old."

"So it is him!" Charlie squealed, Tyler nudged her to shut up because everyone was looking at them 

"Shut up." Tyler hissed

"I knew it." the girl giggled "I knew it."

"You don't know shit." Tyler said defensively "It's like crushing on your teacher, it's weird." 

"Buddy, I didn't even have to say his name and you got all flustered and shit. Charlie smiled in a sinister way "

Tyler opened his mouth to say something that would've embarrassed him even more but luckily, Josh's stern voice caught his attention. 

"This is really important so you have to listen." Josh cleared his throat and looked around the room

Tyler felt Josh's eyes land on him, the brunet shifted in his seat. Josh continued staring at Tyler subtly like the man was about to spill some major tea about him. 

"Today we are going to talk about consent."