"There you are , you little sneaky thing." Rachael says after Tyler enters the dining room at 7 pm after disappearing for the whole day.
" Mom , am not a thing,, dad did you hear that? Mom just called me a thing and you're not saying anything!" He complains to Joe faking that it really hurts him.
"Hun, don't call our handsome boy a thing" Joe says amusingly.
"Honey.. I was just trying to flatter you." Rachael say amused.
"By calling me a thing?!" He still complains sitting down next to his mother.
Tanner watches Tyler amusedly , with his silliness.
He had asked for him since he didn't see him since morning, they told him he's never at home except for some few months, he was told a lot about him , how much of a trouble maker he is , and all that.
He wondered if that was true because ever since he got here , Tyler has been someone different from what he has heard about him . But seeing and hearing him now , it makes sense to him now.
Tanner has never felt comfortable like he feels in this house , seeing how this family is covered with love and peace , it just makes him like it .
Everyone seem to like him and they are starting to be comfortable around him except for one person_Tyler.
Tanner can't help but think that for some reason , Tyler doesn't like him .
As they are seated ready for dinner , Tyler can't stop talking , making jokes about something but the moment his eyes meet Tanner's accidentally , he turns away immediately and even stops talking for a moment.
They eat in a cheerful mood.
*
"Thank you so much for dinner, it was really nice." Tanner says honestly.
" You are welcome" Ms. Alina responds smiling at him.
" So uh.. I think the shower in my bathroom has something loosen , water is dripping , I can't really fix it alone after trying earlier , though it's just a small matter." Tanner says.
"You should have said it instead of struggling on your own, I'll go check on it." Joe says standing but he stops him.
"No, you don't have to. I mean, it's just a small matter maybe Tyler could help me fix it, it's not something to make you go there." He says.
Hearing that Tyler stiffens, then his body tensing up for a second. He looks up from where he's sitting "Tanner, if that matter is really small as you are saying why don't you just fix it on your own? Or just let dad do it, because me..? I won't be of any help there." He disagrees.
Joe , "Tyler ! Are we really doing this again?!" His snaps disapprovingly.
"But dad you know me , I won't be able t.." he starts but Tanner cuts him.
"It's okay , we'll be two of us and we can help each other, we don't have to bother your father for that." Tanner says as he hold Tyler's hand and pull him up.
Tyler's breath catches, a sudden jolt rushing through him like a spark. The warmth of Tanner's hand on his skin sends a flutter to his chest, unbidden and confusing.
His skin tingles where his fingers had been, and before he can think, he pulls away his hand as he stands up .
He couldn't believe his own body's reaction.
He leads the way to Tanner's room, when they get there he open the door and Tanner enters first and then Tyler follows closing the door behind him. He heads straight to the bathroom but Tanner holds his hand stoping him, "wait"
"Why do you keep holding my hand and pulling me , you can just use words , my ears are doing just fine." Tyler pulls away again , having the same reaction.
"Sorry about that."
"No problem , so? What is it? Wait what?" For some reason he is nervous being with him in the same room , alone , close.
He can't even bring himself to look Tanner in the eye.
"Sorry about this too but I might have lied." Tanner says flatly.
"Lied about what?"
"The shower dripping"
"Hah omg! Are you kidding me? It's unbelievable that such a perfect guy can lie." Tyler finds himself saying.
"No one is perfect Tyler"
"Why did you lie?"
" Because I want to talk to you"
" You didn't have to lie to talk to me, you could have just asked me."
" It couldn't wait until tomorrow and I didn't know how to ask you."
" What is it?" Tyler asks forcing confidence around him.
"You don't like me , do you? I can literally see it on you. Look , I just wanted to tell you that if you are worrying about your sister, you shouldn't because I'll make sure she's fine all the time, I really love her and am so serious about her."
Tyler's chest tightens, the words sinking in like a sharp twist. His eyes lift to his for the first time, involuntarily , and their gazes lock. And once again , like the first time they met , their eye contact can't seem to be controllable.
The air shifts, heavy and charged, as if the unspoken has been laid bare. Tanner's breath hitches, his confident demeanor faltering, he wonders why he can't look away, or maybe he is just curious about Tyler's reactions.
Tyler's heart races, a storm of emotions he can't untangle-hurt, longing, confusion-all embracing him.
Neither moves, neither speaks, yet the silence between them is deafening.
Tyler's eyes involuntarily move to Tanner's lips and as if just unfrozen , he looks away , speaking hesitantly. "Am sorry, am sorry I've been an ass to you since yesterday, am sure you're the best choice for her and from now on I'll support that,, Have a goodnight."
He walks out closing the door behind him.
Tanner can't seem to process what just happened, as he is still standing where Tyler left him , he wonders if he just saw Tyler stare at his lips or it's just his imagination. But then he asks himself why he would imagine Tyler staring at his lips.