"Joshua, honey, come here," Tyler said, his arms open.

Josh shook his head, sniffling and wiping his eyes so he wouldn't look like he had been crying.

"Please, Joshie. Just let me comfort you," Tyler pleaded.

"I'm fine."

"Obviously not! You're crying!"

"I'm fine, Tyler!" Josh yelled.

This was the hard part of being in a relationship with Josh.

He never, ever let Tyler be the one holding him. He never let Tyler comfort him or do anything to provide Josh with a sense of security. And Tyler hated being yelled at, especially by Josh. So it was even harder to deal with him when he got like this.

Tyler immediately flinched at the loud boom of Josh's voice, immediately shrinking back.

"It would just be nice if you let us have a normal relationship instead of being so worried about seeming tough," Tyler sniffled before grabbing his wallet and keys and going to his car, driving just to be alone.

Josh sighed. This happened every time. He'd yell at Tyler, Tyler would cry and tell him how he really felt, Josh would get him back and do better for a few weeks but would soon be back to how he was. It was an on-going cycle.

He grabbed his phone and called Tyler, chewing on his nails as the phone rang.

"H-hello?" Tyler said quietly.

"Ty, baby, I'm sorry I yelled at you. Come back home so I can hold you."

"I-I don't want to," tyler said. "T-this happens every time. Y-you say things like that j-just so I'll come back b-but once I do, y-you don't change. Y-you keep putting h-how you seem over our relationship. A-and I don't want to be in a relationship with someone l-like that. I-it makes me feel u-unimportant."

Josh's eyes widened. Tyler was actually serious. He'd hurt him this time.

"I-I'm sorry, baby. I-I don't mean to make you feel unimportant. Y-you're the most important person in my life."

"N-no I'm not. Y-you are. Y-you're the most important person in your life."

"Tyler... that's not true at all."

"I-it is, though. Y-you never change after this kind of thing happens."

"I just... I just..."

"I just wanna take a break," Tyler said. "B-because true love is not being able to live without someone, but every day you act like you can live without me."

"Ty-"

Tyler hung up.

Josh sighed, tugging on his hair frustratedly. He knew he should've broken up with Tyler first, but he quickly stopped himself. That kind of thinking was exactly what had gotten him into this situation. Putting his pride before Tyler.

He had to think. Did he really, truly love Tyler?

He did. He really did love Tyler. But the way he had been treating him didn't say the same. He decided he'd clean up his act, as hard as it was for him, and be with the boy he loved.

Except, once he finally did, it was a year later.

Tyler had a new boyfriend. One who loved him just as much as he did. One who cared about him with all his heart and never put himself first.

Josh tried to be friends with Tyler, and Tyler had agreed, but after he had found out Josh stood him up multiple times because of who he was, he cut off all contact with him.

Every day, Josh called and left him a voicemail. First they were of him apologizing, then begging for Tyler to take them back, but over time, they turned into Josh just updating Tyler on his life.

Like when he started going to therapy, when he got a dog, when he went to his niece's pre-school graduation and she wouldn't stop asking where 'her TyTy was'

"I-I'm sorry I ever hurt you, Tyler," Josh said. "I-I'm sorry I ever did anything but love you. I'm just so glad you've found someone who can and will treat you right. I still love you a-and I think about you all day every day. I know you probably don't even listen to things anymore. You probably blocked my number, honestly. B-but still. I-I love you a-and if you ever need anything, I'm always just a call away."

But little did Josh know, Tyler listened to every single voicemail. He liked hearing Josh's updates. Because he still loved him, just not romantically. He was happy to hear Josh was getting better.

The love never stopped for either of the boys. Tyler had just found someone who was better for him while Josh stayed single.

It was the best thing they could have done not only for themselves, but for each other as well.