Connection

Chapter Forty-three

"I am not, Get out!" Tyler growled, grabbing his pillow and throwing it at her.

She dodged it easily, still laughing. "Anyway, I'm off to school. Have fun staying home and dreaming about your Logy Bear!"

"SHUT UP, TAYLOR!" Tyler yelled, clenching his bed sheets as Taylor shut the door behind her, laughing hysterically.

Tyler groaned, grabbing his pillow and smacking it over his face. His cheeks burned with embarrassment, but he couldn't stop the small smirk creeping onto his lips. The dream felt so real—Logan smiling at him, confessing how he felt, and the way Tyler's heart raced when he leaned in.

"Logy Bear," he muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes.

He sat up, running a hand through his messy hair. The room was quiet now, except for the faint sound of the TV from downstairs. Tyler glanced at his phone on the nightstand, hesitating for a moment before picking it up.

Unlocking the screen, he went straight to his messages with Logan. The conversation from last night replayed in his mind. Logan's flustered replies.

He shook his head, throwing his phone back onto the bed. "Get a grip, dude," he muttered to himself. But no matter how much he tried to brush it off, the thought of Logan stayed with him.

Finally, he flopped back down, staring at the ceiling. Tyler groaned again, covering his face with his hands. Despite his embarrassment, he couldn't stop the small smile tugging at his lips. The dream may have been fake, but the feelings? Those were real.
_____

Taylor jogged downstairs, her bag slung over one shoulder as she hurried to the door. Her mom looked up from the table, a cup of coffee in hand, and smiled warmly.

"Que tengas un buen día, mija! No olvides tu lonche," her mom called out.

"Gracias, ma. Te veo después," Taylor replied, waving her off with a smile.

Her mom chuckled, adding, "no te metas en peleas como tú travieso hermano, Tyler."

Taylor rolled her eyes playfully. "Sí, sí, lo intentaré. ¡Adiós!"

She stepped outside, the cold morning breeze brushing against her cheeks. She pulled her coat tighter around her and took a deep breath. Finally, Friday.

At the bus stop, Taylor stood quietly for a moment, the cold seeping through her gloves. The bus arrived a few minutes later, its brakes hissing as it came to a stop. She climbed aboard, the warm interior a welcome relief.

Her eyes scanned the bus and immediately landed on Ben, sitting in his usual spot near the middle. Her heart gave a tiny, traitorous flutter. Ben, with his kind eyes and quiet demeanor, had always been a soft spot for her. They were close, really close, but Taylor couldn't help the lingering crush she harbored.

She slid into the seat beside him, grinning. "Hey, Benny! What are you working on?"

Ben glanced up, gave her a small smile, and held up his notebook. His pen moved quickly across the page, and he turned it toward her: 'Just jotting some thoughts. What's up?'

"You're always writing," Taylor teased, leaning in a little closer. "What's in there, your deep, dark secrets?"

Ben rolled his eyes good-naturedly and wrote back: 'Maybe. You'll never know.'

Taylor laughed, nudging his shoulder playfully. "You're no fun."

As the bus continued on its route, Taylor kept chatting, filling the air between them with lighthearted jokes and random stories. Ben responded in his usual quiet way, jotting quick replies that made her laugh more than once.

When the bus pulled up to Logan's stop, Taylor glanced toward the door. Logan climbed on slowly, his movements careful and deliberate, and she frowned slightly at the sight of his limp. He scanned the seats before noticing them and shuffled over to sit beside Taylor and Ben.

"Hey, Logan," Taylor greeted with a warm smile. "How are you feeling today? You're walking better, but still."

Logan offered a faint smile as he sat down, adjusting his backpack. "I'm okay," he said softly.

Taylor tilted her head, studying him closely. "You sure? You've been through a lot lately."

Logan nodded, his gaze dropping to his lap. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired."

Taylor grinned suddenly, biting back a giggle as a memory popped into her head: Tyler's dream. Oh, she wanted to tell Logan so badly, but she knew that would be crossing a line.

She shook her head, still smiling to herself. "Alright, but if you need anything, you better let us know, okay?"

Logan nodded again, his cheeks faintly pink. Ben, ever observant, noticed the slight blush but said nothing, merely raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

As the bus rumbled on, Logan remained quiet, lost in his thoughts. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop thinking about Tyler. The way Tyler had stood up for him. The words Tyler had said. And most of all, the way Tyler had made him feel—protected, valued, and something more he couldn't quite name.

Logan's heart raced as he replayed Tyler's messages in his head. He tried to push the thoughts away, but they lingered, filling him with a mix of confusion and warmth.

But if I'm being honest, I'd like to be a little more than just a friend.
God, Tyler and his flirty replies were going to be the death of him.