glory days ↣ joshler ✓

30. Campfire

"C-a-m-p-f- Hey what the hell, Ashley? I was working on my flow."

"Josh you've sang the campfire song song twelve times since we've been here and it's our last day. I'm gonna lose my fucking mind," the mentioned explained after getting called out for throwing a marshmallow at Josh's face.

"Wait has it really been twelve?"

"Thirteen," Tyler spoke up. "I've counted."

"Oops sorry," Josh grinned sheepishly.

The six friends were sitting around the fire Tyler had made and were roasting marshmallows. It was a little before ten at night and it was their last night there so the wanted to spend some time together just relaxing. The night before everyone was exhausted so they went to bed at around eight but they slept in earlier that morning so they were prepared for the night.

"S'okay," Tyler assured, popping his marshmallow off his stick and eating it  Nobody wanted to use branches or anything because they had no idea where they had been.

"Hey, can I say something?" Josh spoke up.

"Go ahead," Sarah nodded.

"I just wanted to say thank you for coming and going camping with Tyler and I. It was really nice to hang out one last time together because I doubt we'll have many more days this summer since you guys have to prepare for school and stuff. I know Tyler was the one getting all sentimental at the beginning of summer but that hoe had his turn and now it's my turn to be sappy. I love you guys," he smiled.

"We love you too, J," Jenna replied. "Thank you for inviting us on your trip. And thank you to Tyler for putting this on his list."

"To Tyler," Josh raised his empty stick in the air over the fire.

"To Tyler," everyone else except Tyler copied, making the brunette blush.

"Stop," he whined. "You guys are gonna make me cry. I'm gonna miss you so much. All of you. Even Ashley no matter how much I hate her."

"Aw love you too, Tyler," she laughed out but Josh could tell she was about to cry as well.

"I'm so scared," Tyler said suddenly. Josh looked over and noticed tears in his eyes. "I'm so terrified to go to Princeton. I feel like everyone there is going to be a snobby asshole and I'm gonna get bummed out and hate my time there. I'm gonna miss you guys so fucking much," his lip quivered and he had to bite it to make it stop moving. "I've spent ninety five percent of my summer with Josh and like seventy five percent of it with the rest of you guys. I don't think I can handle this on my own. I want to study psychology so bad and I know it's one of the best school to do it at but I've gotta do this shit for eight years. I won't make it."

Josh set his stick down and pulled Tyler's out of his hand before embracing him tightly. "Tyler, do you remember why you even wanted to become a therapist?"

"Because I want to change lives. I want to help people."

"And I know you can do it. Don't say you can't handle it. I know you can. I believe in you and I'll be there every step of the way even if it is through a FaceTime call. I love you."

"I love you too," Tyler sniffled against his shoulder. He pulled back and wiped his eyes. "I'm sorry guys."

"Hey don't be sorry," Hayley told him. "You've had an intense summer with coming out and getting ready to move states away and just dealing with shit. We love you so much Tyler. It's okay to be overwhelmed."

Josh almost freaked out on Hayley for outing Tyler in front of Sarah but Tyler shot him a sad smile. "It's okay. I told her a few weeks ago."

"Good," Josh nodded. "I know it wasn't intentional but I didn't want Hayley to out you. That's something you gotta do."

"Thanks, J. I appreciate you," he told Josh just like he always did. Josh watched the way the fire illuminated his face, exaggerating all his best features. He thought about how much he loved Tyler with his whole heart and how much he wanted to protect him.

"I appreciate you too, Tyler," he replied in a voice that was barely above a whisper. They locked eyes and stared into each other's for a moment before Josh looked down and cleared his throat. "I'm tired."

"Me too," Sarah replied.

"Me three," Ashley laughed out even though the mood was damper.

"I think we've made the unanimous decision to just go to bed," Jenna pointed out and everyone murmured their agreements. "I'll put the fire out. You guys can head to bed."

"Thanks, Jenna," Josh watched Tyler kiss her cheek and even though it was friendly, he couldn't help but have a weird feeling in his in chest. "C'mon, Josh. 'M sleepy."

The two walked over to the tent they were sharing, the four person one being shared by the girls. Josh unzipped the front, letting Tyler get in first before following and zipping it back up. They had gotten their pajamas on before they started the fire.

The two each had their own sleeping bags but they had set them up next to each other to create a big one since they slept next to each other anyway. Tyler laid on the left and Josh on the right, their heads instantly hitting the comfortable pillows. "I'm so exhausted," Tyler chuckled. "Goodnight, Josh."

"Goodnight, Ty," Josh replied. Tyler turned on his left side and was out like a light, barely detectable snores filling the space seconds later.

Josh looked up at the fabric over him, thinking about what Tyler has said just a few minutes prior. He was right. They've spent most of the summer together and in a few weeks Tyler would just be... gone.

Sadness surged through his heart as his mind drifted to the trip they had taken a few days ago. He remembered they way Nico would always be around Tyler, stares and touches lingering. He thought about how much he hated it every time it happened. He thought about how much he wanted to be doing that with Tyler. He thought about the jealousy that had flooded his body any time Nico would even stare at Tyler. He thought about how envious he got over Tyler kissing Jenna on the cheek— even if it was platonic.

Suddenly, Tyler rolled over and laid his head on Josh's chest, still fast asleep. Josh noted how his own heart had fluttered and picked up speed at the action. Despite them being covered, the moonlight shone through bits of the tent and made Tyler's face glow. Josh's eyes traveled down every feature from the hair on his head all the way down to his lips and chin. Small breaths made their way through Tyler's plump pink lips. The two had laid like this before but it was different now. Josh was truly realizing just how breathtaking Tyler was.

He was just now realizing he liked Tyler.