<11:50 am, Sunday>

"Okay, so we have four places to go," Tyler said, tilting the map in his hands. "House of Gold is up first. Then Sweet Revenge."

He stuck the map to a pice of cardboard he found on his porch and used thumbtacks to hold it in place. He drew a line with a glittery red pen from Josh's apartment to their first stop. Then, he stuck a red pin in the thin paper.

"So, no more midnight break ins?" Tyler joked.

Josh grinned and shoved Tyler. "Nah, Michelle left senior year, remember? And none of the other people will take my bribes."

"Pity."

Tyler drew a line from the House of Gold to Sweet Revenge, then from there to the Blue Neighborhood.

"Wait, Blue Neighborhood again? How come?"

Josh shrugged. "Ran out of options."

Tyler shook his head and inserted two pins into the map. He could still see the marks from the first time they used like map- all leading to the same place as the last time.

The Hopeless Fountain Cemetery.

A proper name for a place full of the dead, especially when half of those dead were kids. Madison, Ashley, Ryan, the two other kids from their senior year. And, if Tyler didn't act quickly, Josh could end up there too.

"We never made it senior year," Tyler said, thumbing the tip of the pin.

Josh glanced over. "Yeah. Guess we're obligated to do it today, since we couldn't last time. You think you could handle that?"

Tyler hadn't gone to visit Madison's grave since the funeral. He wasn't in his right mind then, and he didn't feel like he was worthy of seeing her.

"I'll live."

"How ironic that is now, huh?"

They made it to House of Gold shortly after it opened, so there weren't many costumers. Only a few straggling parents with sugar crazed kids and a college student using the free WiFi to their advantage.

A girl Tyler recognized but couldn't quite place stood behind the counter. She had short blonde hair cut into a bob and hazel eyes. When the bell above the door rang, she looked up and made direct eye contact with them both.

"Ah, the infamous roadmap boys. Jenna Black told me about you two," she practically purred as she leaned over the counter, staring down the two boys.

Josh flipped his middle finger at her, and she returned the gesture. They both cracked up laughing.

"Nice to see you, Winter."

She winked and held her hand out to Tyler. He shook it. "Winter Anastasia Novak. I used to room with your boy toy during our college days."

"And by room, she means we shared a coed dorm and she tried to get me into heroin before she quit last year," he said.

She grinned in return. "Sounds about right."

"So... I'm guessing you're our intel for today?"

Winter nodded and tossed them two bags of saltwater taffy, along with an extra bag of miscellaneous sweets. "On the house for my favorite pothead and his boyfriend. So, how'd you two meet?"

Josh and Tyler exchange a look.

"We've been best friends since we were kids," Josh spoke first.

"And now? Best friends with benefits?"

Tyler's face flared up and Josh chuckled awkwardly. "Sure. I mean, Tyler's ass is nice."

"Dude," Tyler squeaked.

Winter laughed. "I'm guessing by you're reaction, you two haven't.. you know... slept together."

Tyler felt like imploding, and he started to walk out while Josh was still laughing his ass off beside him. "Oh my god, I'm leaving. Fuck this, I'm disowning you two."

Winter blew them a kiss and waved as they left. "See you two lovebirds soon!"

Once they were in Josh's car, Tyler let out a high pitched scream and Josh wheezed a laugh.

"I am never going anywhere with you again," Tyler squeaked.

"Cmon, Ty, that was hilarious." Josh leaned over and pecked him on the cheek. "I'll make it up to you, promise."

Tyler snorted. "Oh, yeah? How?"

He didn't receive an answer, but Josh's face gave it all away. "Oh. OH."

"If you want to, anyways."

Tyler's face burned even hotter but he smiled. "I think I'll have to take you up on that offer."

Neither of them said another word until Josh hit the highway again. Tyler took the map from his pocket and unfolded it, smoothing it out so it fell flush against the dashboard.

"Okay, Sweet Revenge is next. Jesus, that place is still open after twenty years?"

Josh nodded, smoking once again as they drove towards their first destination. "After the Way family moved to New York last summer, some family friend of theirs took it over for them. The Bennington's, I think? I don't know, I haven't been back there since senior year."

"Yeah, neither have I."

It was a twenty minute drive, with Tyler staring out the window and trying to calculate how many days they had left. Josh was oddly quiet, which wasn't abnormal, but it made Tyler's skin itch with anticipation.

By the time they pull into the parking lot of Sweet Revenge, Tyler was about ready to go back home, but his request to turn around died in his throat when he saw the famished building.

Its retro exterior had faded with age but somehow still glowed with memories like the fluorescent purple sign hanging above the glass doors. Inside, the parlor was teeming with life, almost every booth full with high schoolers.

Josh parked and went around to car to open the door for Tyler, winking and wrapping one arm around his waist. Tyler stuck his tongue out in protest but smiled internally.

They chose a booth squeezed between a family of five and a lesbian couple. Tyler sat on one side and propped up his feet on either side of Josh when he sat down, trapping him with his legs. Josh rolled his eyes and untied one of his shoes.

"So, are we boyfriends?" Josh asked.

Tyler paused. "I don't know, do boyfriends normally give each other blow jobs in the back seats of their car?"

Josh looked around to see if anyone heard and buried his face in his hands. "Oh my god, I cannot believe you just said that out loud." Tyler could see he was smiling underneath his hands.

"Seriously, are we?"

Tyler reached over the table and grabbed one of Josh's hands, locking his fingers in his. He kissed his knuckles, making Josh smile goofily.

"Why not? You like me, I like you. We're going to die soon. I think this is years overdue."