Connection

Tyler's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as he sped away from Logan's house. The words Logan had spoken echoed in his mind, over and over again. "I want Ashlyn ..  to stay." It was clear to him now—He knew Logan had a deeper connection with her. It wasn't that Tyler didn't know it before, but hearing Logan's voice break as he made that choice .. it cut deeper than he expected.

Tyler tried to shake it off, but the sting of rejection stayed with him. He had wanted Logan to pick him, to choose their bond over anything else, but that wasn't what had happened. And Tyler had to face the truth. He had to accept it. He could feel his chest tighten with each passing mile. He wanted to scream, to lash out, but he couldn't. He just... drove.

When he finally pulled into his driveway and parked the car, the house felt suffocating. Without even thinking, he slammed the door behind him as he stormed inside, his heart pounding. His mom greeted him from the kitchen, her voice full of warmth, but Tyler barely heard it.

"Hola, hijo, Que haces aquí tan temprano?" she asked in Spanish, but Tyler didn't acknowledge her.

He couldn't bring himself to respond. The last thing he needed right now was a conversation. He didn't want to explain, didn't want to talk. So, without saying a word, he headed straight up the stairs. The sound of his footsteps echoed as he rushed down the hall and into his room, slamming the door behind him.

The room felt isolating, but that's what he wanted. Alone, with his thoughts. Alone, so he didn't have to face what he was feeling.

Tyler locked the door behind him, his mind swirling with emotions. He knew he was being dramatic, that he would get over it soon, that it wasn't the end of the world. But, even so... it still hurt. The kind of hurt that made it hard to breathe, hard to focus. The kind of hurt that came with unspoken words and silent choices.

Tyler let out a deep breath, sinking onto his bed. He stared at the ceiling, trying to clear his mind. But deep down, he knew it would take time to move past this. It wasn't something that could be fixed overnight.

Tyler knew he was being dramatic. His friendship with Logan had only just started a few days ago, while Logan and Ashlyn had been close for a few weeks now. It wasn't that long, but still long enough for Logan to trust her in ways he clearly didn't trust Tyler yet. Even though Tyler knew this, it didn't make the rejection sting any less.

The buzzing of his phone pulled him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the screen—Ashlyn. He hesitated for a moment, unsure if he wanted to hear whatever she had to say, but with a sigh, he answered.

The line was quiet at first. Then, Ashlyn's voice came through, soft but firm. "Look, Tyler," she started, her tone calmer than he'd expected. "I get your upset, and I know you care about Logan."

Tyler stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.

"I get it," Ashlyn said. "You want to help him. You want him to trust you, and maybe he will one day. But right now .. he needs space. He's still figuring things out. I've been his friend for a while now—not forever, but long enough to know when he's shutting down. And right now, that's exactly what he's doing."

Tyler frowned, gripping the phone tighter. "He's shutting down because something's wrong," he said, his voice edged with frustration. "Those bruises on him—Ashlyn, you can't tell me they're from nothing. Someone hurt him."

There was a pause, and Tyler could hear Ashlyn take a slow breath. "He fell," she said, though her voice lacked conviction. "It was an accident. He's clumsy sometimes, and—"

"Ashlyn," Tyler interrupted, his voice flat. "You don't even believe that. So why are you lying for him?"

She was silent for a moment before finally speaking. "It's not my story to tell, Tyler," she admitted. "If he wants you to know, he'll tell you himself. But you have to let him do it on his own terms."

Tyler sighed, leaning back against his bedroom wall. "I'm just supposed to sit back and do nothing while he's clearly hurting?" he asked, frustration creeping into his voice.

"No," Ashlyn replied firmly. "You're supposed to be there for him when he needs you. That doesn't mean forcing him to talk or pushing him for answers. It means being patient. That's how you help him, Tyler."

Tyler pressed his lips into a thin line, the weight of her words settling on him. "Fine," he muttered, though he still felt conflicted. "I'll wait. But if someone hurt him, Ashlyn, I need to know. I can't just ignore it."

"I know," she said softly. "And if he ever decides to tell you, I'm sure he'll appreciate you being there. But for now, let it be."

Tyler sighed again, reluctantly nodding to himself. "Alright. I'll try. But I don't like this."

"None of us do," Ashlyn replied quietly. "Just .. give him time, Tyler."

The call ended shortly after, leaving Tyler alone with his thoughts once more. He stared at his phone, a mix of frustration and guilt swirling in his chest. Maybe Ashlyn was right—Logan needed someone who would wait for him, someone who wouldn't push too hard. Tyler just hoped he could be that person when the time came.

He was about to turn off his phone when a notification lit up the screen, A text from Ashlyn.

Carrot Top:
If I ever find out, or know who's hurting him, you'll be the first I tell. Promise.

Tyler stared at the message for a moment, a small flicker of relief settling in his chest. Despite their earlier argument, it seemed Ashlyn wasn't completely shutting him out. He still didn't fully trust her explanation, but at least she'd acknowledged his concerns.

He typed a short reply.

You:
Alright. Thanks, Ashlyn.

With that, he locked his phone and set it down on his bedside table. The ache in his chest hadn't completely faded, but for now, it was enough to know he wasn't the only one who cared about Logan.