Chapter Twelve: Tyler // we're gonna be here a long time

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Chapter Twelve: Third Person POV.

Tyler:

"Hey, wanna come by the University today?"

They were on Josh's bed, Tyler helping him concentrate and study when Josh sprung the question to his soon-to-be brother, scaring him a bit.

Tyler knew that it was a casual invite, just two boys, but he couldn't help but think of it as something of a big deal. Like Josh was asking him on a date.

He cursed his subconscious for thinking so deeply. Biting his lip and sitting up, he asked, "Uh, why?"

Josh immediately turned crimson red and looked away from his position on the floor, next to the bed, "I mean, you don't have to come. I'm not forcing you or anything. I just thought since it was a Saturday and my mom and your dad are at work and I'm going to the Uni's library, maybe you'd like to tag along" he coughed again, "But of course, if you'd like to hang out with some friends or paint or do something else, that's fine"

Tyler smiled softly, "I'd love to come, Jishwa." his eyes shining.

Josh breathed out a sigh of relief and went back to reading. It was by 2PM o'clock that they left the house, locking the door behind them. The walk to the University was filled with jokes and laughs and Josh was just about to lead Tyler to the library when they bumped into Josh's Anatomy professor, Mr Levine.

"Joshua, just the man I've been looking for" Mr Levine smiled and clasped his hands together.

"Mr Levine?" Josh asked in confusion.

"Listen, can you come to the class, I need to talk to you about something and - oh, who's your friend?" the professor asked. Tyler noticed the man's glazing red hair and blue eyes. He was of average height and looked quite young.

"This is Tyler, sir. What's the matter? We were headed to the library" he disclosed.

"Oh, the library, just the perfect place. Charlie's there already" the man said.

"Charlie?" Josh asked in confusion and resentment.

"Yeah, the new kid you're tutoring"

"Excuse me?"

"Joshua, I know it's just a solid one week and five days to the exam but my nephew Charlie has been falling behind and I promised to get him a tutor and since you're in the tutoring club, you're one of our best students, you're in his class and he says you two are friends, I thought you'd be best."

Tyler stayed silent and focused on Josh and Mr Levine so as to be distracted by his surroundings. The place was too noisy and Tyler knew something bad would happen if he focused on the noise.

Josh laughed mockingly, "No no no, you won't understand, sir. We aren't friends. I've got my exams to study for and I'm just halfway. It's too close to the exam and this is unfair. You can't just spring this up on me, I've got a life too"

Mr Levine's eyes showed sympathy, "I understand, Joshua. I understand your plight which is why I've told all you lecturers about what you've been doing and they decided to cut down on your questions in contrast to everyone else's. This wouldn't have been your responsibility if you hadn't signed up for the tutoring team. Just please help him, Josh. He can't repeat, his father would have his neck. He's on seat number 19." and Mr Levine walked away leaving Josh stunned and angry.

And then his eyes widened as if he just realised something, "Tyler, please don't freak-out"

Tyler was completely confused, "Why would I freak out?" he asked and Josh took a deep breath.

"Okay, let me explain. This Charlie guy I have to tutor, well he likes me, a lot and he pesters me so much to go on a date with him and give him my number but I don't want to and I don't like him. So some weeks ago, he'd pestered me with spit balls and I kind of just wanted to learn so I blurted out I had a boyfriend"Josh spoke slowly.

And in an much as Tyler felt a weird feeling in his gut when Josh said Charlie liked him and he had a boyfriend, he had to ask, "How does that have to do with me?"

"I said the boy friend was you"

Josh looked guilty and was scratching at his neck, and not holding eye contact with Tyler. And Tyler knew he should have felt weird because why would Josh say something like that when they were brothers? But they weren't brothers yet and Tyler was flattered that his name was the first to come to Josh's lips.

"So basically. . ." Tyler trailed off with a smile, wanting to hear Josh say it.

"I, I want you to pretend to be my boyfriend whenever we're near Charlie for the next one week and five days" Josh spoke in a dangerously low voice that sent shivers down Tyler's spine.

"What're we waiting for then?" if there was one thing Tyler was near Josh, it was comfortable and if his soon-to-be brother wanted this little favour from him, he would be happy to oblige.

I'm helping him, he reminded himself. Even when deep down inside him he knew that was a lie.

They found Charlie just where professor Levine said he'd be. He smiled once he spotted Josh but his smile immediately fell once he spotted Tyler.

"Who's this?" he asked through gritted teeth.

Josh smiled and was about to answer when Tyler leaned in pecked him on the cheek, answering for him, "I'm Tyler, his boyfriend" Tyler smiled innocently, not missing the shocked flustered look on Josh face.

"You won't be for long" Charlie deadpanned.

"You won't be alive for long if you don't stop harassing my boyfriend, Cinnamon" Tyler threatened.

"It's Charlie" Charlie corrected.

"My apologies, Chalupa" Tyler said with an innocent smile.

"You know what? Screw you. You're not gonna stop me from being tutored" Charlie smirked.

"Oh, of course I won't. Go on, Josh."he smiled at his pretend boyfriend and then glared at Charlie with an attitude.

"We're gonna be here a long time"

Charlie stared at Tyler with his mouth hanging open, "You're not supposed to be here. You're not even a student"

Tyler shrugged, "I don't see anyone having a problem with that, Lester."

Charlie scrunched up his nose at the name, "How did you know that was my middle name?" he asked and Tyler smirked.

"Wild guess"

"Okay, Charlie, let's get started. What area are you struggling with?" Josh asked, borrowing a pen from the table and taking his note he'd come with.

"I don't know, the brain?" Charlie shrugged, "And pretty much every other thing."

"Alright, how about we start with the brain? Take your note out" when Charlie obliged, Josh continued, "So there are three parts of the brain, The Hind Brain, The Mid Brain and The Fore Brain"

"The forebrain consists of The cerebrum, thalamus and hypothalamus which is part of the limbic system. The midbrain consists of the tegmentum. The hindbrain is made of the cerebellum, pons and medulla." and for the next two hours, Josh droned on about biology before it was time to leave.

"Bye Josh, and tiger" Charlie said with sass.

"Of course, Craig. It was nice meeting a dumbass".Tyler waved with a smug smile before he left with Josh leaving Charlie stunned.

And he couldn't help but pat himself on the back for a job well-done.

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Loved Tyler in this chapter. x

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