A/N: Two things lovelies! One, I apologize for the late update. I got sick and generally have just been busy. Also, I was suffering from writer's block and when I had time, I didn't know where I wanted these stories to go!  The second thing goes to those readers with notifications on...I apologize. So I realized the other day that I accidentally published this oneshot before work and never unpublished it. Well I went to write some more later and found it was still published, so apologies for the messy draft and notes if you read this then. Anyways I hope you enjoy and have an amazing day lovelies! XOXO
P.s. The second part I should have finished soon!

Key: Y/N/N~ you're nickname

▂▃▄▅▆▇█▓▒░Your POV░▒▓█▇▆▅▄▃▂
Mark's having another party tonight. Nothing big, just some close friends. Still, it was another night I didn't get to spend any quality time with him. And of course she was going to be there, Amy. Amy is a sweet girl, don't get me wrong, but her and Mark...bonded. For months I have been keeping on the low and subtly hinting towards Mark that I have feelings for him...the more-than-friends feelings. He either hasn't caught on or isn't interested.

I live with him; we're roommates. I live here happily in LA, with the three most comical men I know. Ethan, Tyler, and of course Mark. That's what makes my situation more difficult. It's not like I can just openly express these feelings! 'oh hey Mark. I want to be more than friends...no ok well I'll pack my bags.' That would surely be the case.

****
Good, Mark's home. Maybe I can help set up the stuff for the party and...maybe talk to him. Keep it low profile, but if he seems like he has the same feelings, I'm going to tell him.

"Hey Mark! Have fun shopping? I can help set up...the...party...ohh...hey Amy." My words fell and I lost my previously gained hope. I couldn't even use the time before the party to try to coax Mark to my side. Show him my true feelings. No, now she was here. She was winning something I hardly fought for. Maybe if I only tried harder...stopped taking the baby steps in life and took a leap of fate.

"Hey Y/N/N! Aghh..it was fine. Ran into Amy on the way down, she offered to help. Thought 'what the h*ll', right?" Mark sounded chipper than usual. Obviously it was Amy. Not to point out the elephant in the room, but I was quite bitter and jealous of her right now. I don't typically get jealous, but I most definitely am right now.

"Hi Y/N!" She chirped. 'Yeah, whatever caffeine rush. How about you head home and keep your hands off my man!' That's what I wanted to say...sadly I didn't. Instead I faked a smile and waved politely. I may have also flipped her off, she didn't see this of course. Neither did Mark. I said I was bitter.

I shuffled quietly back to my room. It's not like they'd really notice me missing anyways. When I finally peeled my eyes off the floor, Tyler was standing in the hallway. He was leaning against wall in nothing but his swim trunks and giving me the 'I totally saw that' look. I just smirked and mockingly feigned my innocence. I brushed passed him quickly, avoiding his handsome figure. "You saw nothing Tyler!"

I passed him by and quickly turned. I'm not sure if it was to see his reaction to my statement or get another view of all his assets. What am I saying? This is Tyler! "Uhhuh...sure thing Y/N/N." He smiled and his eye's held a sparkle. I could always tell Tyler's mood by his eyes. My own little secret! "Hey, wanna go swimming? Maybe take your mind off things." He nodded in Mark's direction.

Before I could answer, Ethan came bounding by us both, excitedly. He was definitely kid of the household! "Yeah, Y/N! It'll be fun. Plus I won't be here later, so spend time with me? Please?" Ethan begged and sounded much like a small child. He exaggerated his every word and gave the most adorable puppy eyes. Very hard to refuse the blue boy himself! Seeing as his act was working, Tyler joined in. It was quite a sight to see.

I thought for a moment, but quickly decided it was better than sulking alone. "Fiiiine...boys! I'll be out in a minute!" I now wore the biggest smile. I'm glad to have such good of friends as these goofs. And yes...even the man I deeply cared for. My good friend, Mark. They all brought me so much joy. I truly don't know what I would do if I lost my boys.

"YAY!" Ethan yelled and bounded out of sight. He probably went straight for the pool. Tyler and I both laughed at him. He rolled his eyes looked towards me. "Alright beautiful. We'll see you outside. And I gotta make sure he doesn't drown himself." Tyler turned quickly and headed towards Ethan, though he was right. And gosh does Tyler make me blush when he calls me "beautiful". I think he does it intentionally.

****
After the pool and some redding up, the rest of the evening seemed to drag. Ethan had to leave and in the moments leading up to the party, I really wished I could have traded places with Ethan. I helped set up some items and games before the guests arrived, but I wasn't feeling myself.

I tried to put on a smile for the guests, but it was hard. Every time I heard his beautiful laughter resonating through the house, it lifted my spirits, but they quickly were shot down by the feminine laughter that followed suit. Amy's laughter. I did my best and tried to be sociable this evening, but I didn't want to be around anyone. The one person who could change that, was never going to see me as more than a friend. The sooner I accept that, the better.

Tyler noticed my odd behavior. He came over to me several times, trying to better my mood. It worked for a while. He actually had me enjoying myself, but then I had my heart shattered. And nothing was going to make me feel better tonight.

What happened? Well...well Mark and Amy made it official. They were officially a couple and I would never have a chance. When they announced the news, I applauded like everyone else, but I was a broken mess on the inside. After they kissed, I had to leave.

I went to the bathroom and broke down. I love Mark, obviously. He's my best friend and I want him to be happy. I just didn't realize how his happiness would affect me. And right now all I'm feeling is pain. I didn't want to leave this room, but I knew I had to. I had to come up with a viable excuse for my absence before I decided to leave. I'm not feeling well, I'll just need to lay down? Yeah. That should work. I took a few minutes to compose myself and make myself presentable before exiting. And much to my surprise, I found Tyler waiting. He had a worrisome look drawn across his face. And he immediately came to my side as I walked out.

"Oh...hey Tyler. Sorry, bathroom is free now. I'm not feeling well. Stomach flu maybe?" I felt bad for lying to him, but I didn't want to share my true reasons. Those reasons didn't seem like a very good excuse, in my opinion. And to others, I'm sure it wouldn't be any better...I'd just look desperate.

"Cut the sh*t. You and I both know why you were in there." He said sternly and yet looked at me sympathetically. He had his arms crossed and head tiled to the side slightly. His typical stance. His reaction took me by surprise. And wait, he does? God...He doesn't think I'm like a drug addict or something does he?

"Wait, Tyler what are you talking about? I'm not feeling well. That's all, I swear." I mean I really wasn't lying this time. I didn't feel good. I just skipped a few small details!

"Y/N? I know why. Listen, Mark's my best friend. I love him and I wish him the best, but he doesn't deserve you crying over him. If he's too naive to see the most perfect person in the world was standing right before him, then he doesn't deserve to have you. And he definitely doesn't deserve to have you cry for him."

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Instead, I clamped my mouth shut, turned heel and rushed to my bedroom. I didn't want to deal with this...not right now. Besides, he had no right calling me out like that. I heard him calling my name, but I didn't care. I knew if I turned around and looked at those blue eyes of his, my own would become filled with a never ending stream of tears.

I rushed to close my door, but he prevented me. He was strong and easily held it open, despite pushing all my weight against it.

"Y/N? Come on, let me in. I just want to talk. Stop...fighting me!" He then gave the door a small shove and squeezed between the gap. I backed away and gave him a disgusted scoff with tears brimming my eyes and waiting to fall freely. "Y/N, I don't want to upset you. Just...please don't cry. I...I...He doesn't deserve you!" I kept my back towards him and refused to look at him. I was slightly taken aback by his sudden outburst. But maybe he's right. What made me think I'd ever be good enough? "Y/N...I just don't understand why you want to cry over someone who clearly lost such a beautiful opportunity. As much as I love that man, I'm glad he messed up. You know why? Now, I know this might be brash and I may sound crazy, but let me show you that I can treat you better? I can be everything you saw in him and more. I...I will treat you, like the beautiful human being you are. Y/N, will you give me the chance that he will never know?"

He had me in awe by his words and at a complete loss for them in my own words. "Wh..what? Tyler...I don't know? I just..." he didn't let me finish. And I'm kind of glad for that. The tears began streaming down my face and I looked further away from him.

"Y/N...?" He stepped closer and slowly turned me around. I refused to look him in the eyes. "Take things slow and if it doesn't work out, I don't care we'll always be friends. We can keep it a secret. We can just take the baby steps for now. What do you say?" He asked tilting up my chin, to look at him, and swiped the tears away.

I looked up at his begging yet determined eyes. He was quite the one to hold true to his intentions and stand his ground. I couldn't refuse those eyes though. They had their normal sparkling blue suppressed by his nearing tears. I never really realized how much I had grown feelings for Tyler over the time I've lived here. We've always been such good friends and I never thought I would be his type. I always had a small crush on Tyler, but suppose I let myself be blinded by Mark.

His eyes frantically darted back and forth over my face, like he was trying to read me. I knew I stayed silent too long. I once again opened my mouth, but my words fell silent. I looked at him, as if he could hand me the words I needed to comfort him with. My mind was in constant fight of yes and no, but I know my answer. My eyes fell to his chest and I took a deep breath, but then I heard him speaking. I felt like I had been stabbed. Well, more like I witnessed myself stabbing him and in turn wedged it in my own heart.

He released his hand from my cheek and stepped back. I instantly felt numb and cold, as his touch was no longer present and his eyes went to the floor. "I understand...I...I thought maybe you could see us as more, but it's clear you'll only see me as a friend. Just so you know that they way you feel about Mark and how you feel towards him tonight....it will never compare to the way I feel about you, because I actually lo..lov...just goodnight Y/N."  He shook his head and turned for the door. I saw a tear had fallen and it shattered my heart. To top it all off, he going to say he loved me?!

"Tyler wait! I...I..." he didn't let me finish. D*mn you words...speak please.

"No Y/N....I don't want an excuse. I understand. Sorry..." he continued for the doorway, but I stopped him. I ran ahead and placed myself between him and the door.

"Shut up and let me talk!" His eyebrow raised and he cocked his head to the side. He shook his head with a small grin and quickly wiped the tear that had fallen. I mumbled a thank you before continuing. "Ty...I'm sorry. Why can't a freaking talk?!" I began pacing the length of my room and the more I spoke, the bigger his smug smile grew. "Ugh...sorry I just don't know how to tell you yes. I never knew you felt that way about me. And before today, I never realized how much I liked you. Trying to find the words to say the way I actually feel is hard. And I mean in a way I knew I liked you because of the feelings I got. Especially when you walked passed shirtless or like today in those swim trunks. And this one tim...OH MY GOD! Tyler did I just say all of that aloud?" My eyes went extremely wide, face flushed fully and internal facepalms for life. He started walking towards me. I knew I said it aloud. D*mmit! Me and my rambling mouth. One nervous habit I hated for sure.

As he approached me, still wearing that smug smile, and started laughing. This dork is laughing at me. My instinct was to bury my face in my hands, but he stopped me. He took my hands from my face and placed them at my sides, then he once again lifted my chin to meet his gaze. When our eyes met, I saw that beautiful sparkle in his blue eyes again. Before I could comprehend what was happening he kissed me. Ohh boy, did he kiss me. My heart started racing and felt as if it were about to explode. I never knew Tyler could do these things. I mean I surely knew he could kiss, but not kiss! He was gentle at first and gradually became more possessive. I kissed him back with the same fever. When we pulled away, we both wore rosy-red cheeks and ear to ear smiles.

"Well if I knew you could kiss like that, I would have tried much harder months ago." I blushed even harder at his statement. He stepped even closer and wrapped his muscular arms around me, pulling me into a hug and placing a kiss on my forehead. "Well...I'm kind of joking there, but I really do regret not confessing sooner. I just knew you wanted him and Mark's my best friend. I...I could never bring myself to do that."

"Tyler? Stop taking about Mark." We both giggled and he nodded his head. "And they say things happen for a reason, so maybe this is fate or destiny." I truly hoped this was. I mean there have been many friendships that turned into more, could Tyler and myself be more?

I was still cocooned in his tight embrace, so I slowly slipped out and pulled him towards the edge of the bed. We sat and I turned to face him. "Tyler...I kinda do want to keep this a secret for now. It's not that I don't want people to know, it'll just be easier if we realize that we don't work out. I don't see much how that would be possible, as evident tonight, but..."

He chuckled and pulled me closer to himself, wrapping an arm around me. He kissed my temple and made me once again blush. "Y/N/N...I already told you that's completely fine by me. Don't stress it beautiful." He said looking down at me smiling and then 'booping' my nose. "Soo...is that a yes?"

I snuggled deeper into his embrace and looked up at him. His gaze was already on me and awaiting my response. "Of course." I whispered and then pecked the side of his cheek. I could almost hear his smile grow wider. Then we sat in a beautiful moment of silence. Just wrapped in his arms; a tender embrace. In the silence, I found joy. I could hear the guest's resonating laughter, the fan whirling in my room, our breathing, and his heartbeat. It was something so melodic; his heartbeat. The silence was then broken by a deep yet gentle voice.

"Ok beautiful, I need to get up. I'll be right back." I feigned a pout, and we both giggled as I set up and allowed him to stand. My eyebrows furrowed as I wondered where he was going. "Hey...I'll be right back. You're sick remember? Well, as the great friend I am, I will tend to you and miss out on the party." He smiled and made quotations with his hands to emphasis "friends" and "sick".

"No no! Tyler, you go enjoy yourself. I'm really not in the party mood, but you were having fun. I'll be fine!" I assured him.

"I'd much rather spend time with you. Besides, the party is winding down. I won't miss much. Want anything?"

**about an hour or so later**

"That's seriously my favorite movie! How do you not like it?!" I was in shock as to how Tyler didn't like my favorite show of all time!

"Y/N/N, It's not that I don't like it. I just thought it was...ok. Not something I could honestly watch all the time though!" He responded.

I rolled my eyes at him and then heard a faint knock at my bedroom door. The door opened slightly as Amy poked her head through. Oh boy.

"Hey Y/N! I heard you weren't feeling well earlier..." she took a moment to look between Tyler and myself, which we were sitting closer than usual, before she continued. "Umm..I just wanted to say hope you feel better before I left, but umm...looks like you are." She wore a huge grin and motioned playfully in our direction.

My eyes shot wide as I realized she figured us out, but before I could answer she spoke in a hushed voice. "It's ok, it's ok! Your secrets safe with me! I think you two are adorable though. I hope it goes well between you!"

"As well as you Amy! I heard the announcement this evening! Best wishes to you both." Tyler spoke before I could. I was feeling guilty. I never gave Amy much of a chance for conversation and friendship before now, and she's such a sweet girl.

"Yeah Amy! Congrats as well. Also Amy...Thank you....and...and I'm sorry." My words fell and Tyler rubbed my shoulder reassuringly. Amy stepped forward and stooped in front of us, making her eye-level with us.

"Y/N...What are you apologizing for? You've done nothing?" She asked sympathetically.

"Exactly...I have done nothing! I have done nothing to try being your friend. Or see that you are indeed a good person for Mark. Nor have I tried to be nice to you." Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. I was never mean to Amy, outspokenly. "I may have never said anything cruel to you or anyone else, but I was very judging and bitter towards you. I regret it, but I feel guilty. I'm sorry Amy."

Amy instantly pulled me in a hug and reassured me that she was fine. We spoke for a bit, the three of us. She found it hilarious that I frequently called her "caffeine-rush" , so much so that she wanted that to be her contact in my phone. We even spoke in unison at one point, saying the exact same thing. Basically Tyler made a stupid comment and we instantly had the same comment. I have a feeling we're going to be great friends from now on.

Amy left and it was just Tyler, Mark and myself in the house. Chica was also wondering about somewhere and Ethan wouldn't be home until tomorrow.

"So seems you two will be getting along fine now? Hmm?" Tyler asked, while laying flat on his back in my bed.

"Yeah..I'm really glad too. She seems like a nice girl. I was just being stubborn before." I spoke whilst looking over my shoulder and back down at my phone.

He chuckled a bit before speaking. "That's what happens when you're jealous Y/N/N?!" I quickly cut him off.

"I was not jealous! I was...I was just not happy seeing him with someone else. I was his friend and liked him longer, in my eyes he was mine first. She just made feel irritated, that's all!"

"In other words...jealous." Tyler being his typical self was ready to fight this to the death. Unlucky for him, so was I. "Ok...let's look it up Y/N?! Give me your phone?" He sat up from my bed and tried reaching for my phone.

"No...!" I quickly stood up and ran to the other side of my room. We had a short game of cat and mouse, until he tackled me onto the bed and began tickling me. "Tyler...TYLER..St..stop haha!" I wrestled him back and got him on his side. He buckled and collapsed on top of  me. Then time seemed to slow for a moment. He was leaning closer and our faces were mere Inches apart. I felt my breath hitch and my heart began racing again.

"You know..." he whispered in a low, almost seductive, voice. And so close to me. "You should let me prove you wrong..." My eyebrows furrowed in confusion and before I could react Tyler ripped my phone from my hand and jumped of me and the bed.

"Tyler! That's so unfair! Give it back!" I said jumping up and reaching for my phone. He rose it high above my head. I jumped up and down to no avail.

"Ok Google, define jealous." He spoke Into the phone's speaker.

Simultaneously the Google voice generator and Mark spoke. They both had roughly the same definition. Though Mark made a robotic voice and entered my room walking like a robot. I was quite impressed that Mark new the definition so accurately.

"Mark! Oh my goodness! How in the world did you know the definition almost word for word?" I asked in awe. Tyler on the other hand, was laughing hysterically and was practically rolling on the floor.

Again, Mark began speaking in a robotic voice. "Well I am Googleplier after all!" We all bellowed in laughter. It was obvious now the Mark was slightly tipsy. He never drinks much, therefore when he does, he easily becomes delirious and comical. "So why are you jealous?"

Tyler and I both spoke, but gave two very different responses. Earning ourselves an "uhhuh-whatever-you-say" look. Thankfully Mark dropped it and told us goodnight. Both Tyler and myself sighed in relief and laughed.

"Ok, dork. That was close. Now give me my phone." I said and playfully snatched my phone from his hands.

"Oh...before I forget Y/N/N! Boom! The definition was correct. You. Are. Jealous." He pointed his finger at me and smirked. Not so fast mister.

"Umm...correction. Was! I was jealous. And also Ty...I'll remember that. Let me..."ar-chive" that in the membrane!" I smirked and raised an eyebrow. I waited for him to realize what I had done. He looked up with a glare and I couldn't help but laugh. "What's the matter Ty? Cat got your tongue? Ok ok dork. I'm done, but you know better than to challenge me. I rise and conquer!"

He shook his head and began laughing. "Ok ok, you got me." He raised his arms in surrender. "God, I love you. I hate and love you right now!"

"Uh huh...goodnight Ty. I love you too." I whispered that last part and quickly pecked his cheek.

"Goodnight beautiful. Also, despite all this goofiness, I want to thank you. You don't know how much you mean to me. I honestly don't know how I could fall any harder for you, but people say you never stop falling further and deeper in love when you truly care for them. I love you Y/N." He leaned down kissing the top of my head and wrapped me in a tight embrace. He hugged me as though he would never see me again. He made my heart ache in ways I've never experienced before. And though it ached, it was a good heart ache. It meant he cared...and so did I.

He slowly turned and went to his room. I shut off my lights and climbed into my bed. I wished he was still kiting next to me, though I knew soon enough I'd be back in his loving arms. I smiled and dreamt of us, as we slowly took the baby steps through our growing relationship and watched it bloom.

"I love you Tyler. Sweet Dreams." I whispered gently into the silence and darkness of the night. Though it seemed as if the room became warmer as u spoke the words. And I felt at peace as I heard him deeply sigh in relaxation, in his room down the hall.

To be continued!