Tyler swung his legs over Josh's, enjoying the position that they were in. He stared at the older boy, who was watching the TV peacefully. Tyler picked at his fingernails nervously.

"Hey, Josh?" He mumbled, earning his attention. "Do you remember what you said in the car?"

Josh turned to him. "I was pretty out of it. What'd I say?"

Tyler sat up. "You said- you said that Brendon knocked me out. What did you mean by that?"

Josh's eyes widened. "I said that?"

Tyler nodded. "I've always felt weird around Brendon, but I've never known why. Josh, what aren't you telling me?"

"Shit," Josh sighed bringing his hands up to his hair. "Before I say anything, you have to know that everything was for your own protection, okay?"

Tyler scooted himself closer to Josh and turned off the TV. "Tell me."

"When it was decided that I was gonna be marrying you, Brendon and a couple of others were sent down early to watch you," Josh explained. "He didn't want to, of course. Remember that. He didn't want to do anything that he did." He paused, looking nervously to the door as if Brendon would burst through at any given moment. "Anyway, as you know, you decided to run away. Brendon realised very quickly that you would be killed if you tried that. You were a witness, after all; you had valuable information. Brendon decided that the only way to keep you safe would be to scare you into staying."

Tyler was beginning to tremble. "He was the one that kidnapped me, wasn't he?"

Josh looked down shamefully. "Yeah."

Tyler snuggled himself against Josh's side. "It's okay. I believe that he was trying to protect me. He could have found a less traumatic way to do so, of course, but I forgive him."

Josh kissed the top of Tyler's head. "That's good."

After a moment of silence, Josh spoke again. "He told you about your family, didn't you?"

Tyler nodded and sat up so he was looking into Josh's eyes. "You're not gonna lie to me anymore, right?"

Josh shook his head. "Of course not. I'm sorry I even lied to you to begin with. I should have told you the truth sooner."

Tyler looked down at his hands, hesitating for a moment. "Josh, how is this gonna work?"

Josh furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"How are we gonna work?" Tyler clarified. "I mean, this isn't- this isn't normal. I don't even know why I like you. I'm supposed to hate you, aren't I? You're- we're part of the mafia. We have to pretend to be fucking cousins at school."

Josh seemed hurt, but he didn't say so. "What are you saying?"

Tyler reached for the drawstring of Josh's hoodie, about to play with it, before withdrawing his hand. "I'm drawn to toxic relationships, Josh. Look, I like you, more than you can even imagine, but we can never be a proper couple. That's not healthy."

Josh's eyes were watering. "What are we supposed to do?"

"I don't know," Tyler mumbled, but he did.

Josh wiped his eyes before the tears could fall. "Say it, Tyler."

Tyler flinched at the harsh way Josh had spoken. Josh looked guilty, but he didn't say anything. Tyler's hands shook as he began to fiddle with his fingers. He chewed his lip, trying to think of the best way to say what he wanted to express. He didn't want to break up with Josh. Would that even happen, though? They were never officially together. He wanted to continue whatever he had with Josh, but he knew it wasn't good for either of them. The situation that they were in was fucked up, and there was no way around that. All that they could earn from a relationship was pain.

"You're bleeding," Josh whispered, his voice strained.

Tyler wiped his mouth, ignoring the sting it brought from his split lip. He had reopened the wound without even noticing.

Josh looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn't. He looked at Tyler, his eyes glassy and desperate. Tyler wouldn't meet his stare, no matter how much he wanted to.

"I think I'm gonna spend some time at my house," Tyler whispered, getting up from the couch.

Josh grabbed his arm, his face suddenly serious. "Don't be gone too long. They'll hurt you if you're gone."

Tyler didn't bother asking him to clarify. He nodded solemnly and walked to his room, ignoring the feeling of Josh's gaze following him. He grabbed his bag, but he didn't pack everything into it. He planned on coming back.

When he walked out, Josh was no longer on the couch. Tyler bit lip to stop himself from crying, not minding the metallic taste it brought. He gently closed the door as he left, not wanting Josh to think he was mad. It killed him that he had hurt the older boy, but he knew it was the right thing to do.