Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow. And every second I waste is more than I can take.

JEREMY & TYLER

A few seconds passed. They weren't uncomfortable. They hadn't reached that stage yet. Jeremy bit his lips, launching himself forward before they could. His arms flew around Tyler. He wasn't sure though, which of them was keeping the other from drowning. Jeremy kissed him hard, unable to control his own body. Tyler managed not to stumble back, somehow. He wondered if Jeremy realized he was playing with fire. He groaned and wrapped his arms around Jeremy's back, holding tight as he pulled him closer. Jeremy spun his jaw to the side, panting. They didn't release each other.
"It wasn't a fluke," Jeremy said.
"No," Tyler agreed.
"It still feels good."
"Yes."
"What do we do?" Tyler didn't know what to say.
"What about Grace?" he finally returned. Jeremy snorted before blushing.
"It didn't- it didn't feel like that." Tyler couldn't stop himself from smirking. Jeremy pulled away and Tyler let him go, mourning the loss silently. "You don't have to be so happy about it," Jeremy muttered. Tyler schooled his expression quickly.
"I'm sorry. This is…" He couldn't find a word. "But at least you didn't punch me and tell me to go to hell." Jeremy visibly softened.
"I wouldn't have. Even if I didn't um-" he blushed deeper, "like it." He cleared his throat, running a hand through his hair. "I probably should have seen it coming." Tyler tensed.
"Why?"
"What?" Jeremy questioned, eyes widening.
"Why should you have seen this coming?"
"Well uh- just, I mean- yeah, this morning," he stuttered out. Tyler smiled.
"This morning…" he guided him gently.
"Just, the dream and then the bathroom and then you and then the bathroom again," he mumbled. Tyler stepped closer. He couldn't help it.
"Dream?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Jeremy said, huffing out a breath and crossing his arms.
"Was I in it?" Tyler questioned softly. Jeremy's eyes narrowed.
"You know you were," he challenged. Shock registered briefly on Tyler's face.
"No I didn't."

When Tyler moved closer, Jeremy took a step back.
"I said I don't want to talk about it," Jeremy repeated. Tyler watched him with slight amusement.
"I don't care."
"Lockwood. Back off." Tyler smirked. Like that was going to stop him. Jeremy dodged around him and ran into the sitting room. Tyler let him pass before following.
"You might as well tell me. We're both in the same boat." Jeremy eyed him warily from the center of the room, clearly undecided about where to go. Tyler leaned against the doorframe, hooking a thumb in his pocket. "Come on Jer," he murmured. Jeremy shuddered visibly. Tyler thought back to the morning. "You weren't…?" he trailed off suggestively. When Jeremy didn't answer Tyler's stomach did a small flip. He crossed the room in two steps, hand wrapping around the back of Jeremy's neck and pulling him closer. "Dear God," he let out, "tell me you were." He didn't give Jeremy a chance to answer, crushing his lips on the other boy's. It still wasn't a fluke, burning hot. So much so that Tyler barely heard the front door swinging open. He pulled away as his mother's heel hit the marble floor. They regarded each other silently, each trying to catch their breath. Neither of them moved even as Tyler's mother walked much deeper into the house, passing by without discovering them.
"This is strange right?" Jeremy questioned. Tyler lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "Well shouldn't it feel strange then?"
"Yeah," Tyler let out, "ask me as if I've done this before." Jeremy looked unsatisfied with the answer, probably because he was. This was a whole other level that he'd never expected.
"You didn't…you didn't stop liking Grace because of me did you?"
"Does it really matter?"
"Don't know," Jeremy said, "maybe."
"It was part of it. Most of it," Tyler said haltingly, "yeah."
"I really like that answer," Jeremy whispered. Tyler let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"Then so do I."

Jeremy sank onto the couch, Tyler remained standing, wondering how and when all of this had started. "I'm sorry," he muttered suddenly.
"Sorry?" Jeremy questioned.
"There's just so much going on and you're probably confused as fuck now. So, I'm sorry."
"Can't really argue that." Tyler shook his head.
"I didn't intend for any of this to happen," he tried to explain.
"We can take it slow," Jeremy offered, smiling loosely.
"Take what slow?" Jeremy's smile faltered.
"Yeah. I think I get your point." Jeremy didn't know where to take this, whatever it was, any more than Tyler.
"So…?" Tyler questioned.
"You're the one who started this." Tyler laughed once.
"No I'm not. Grace is the one who started all this."
"Now you lost me," Jeremy admitted.
"I knew, this time around, I wanted it to be different. Much different."
"I think this qualifies," Jeremy muttered dryly.
"You sure?"
"I don't know. Come over here and make me." Tyler's jaw dropped. "Kidding," Jeremy murmured.
"Oh," Tyler let out. He wasn't sure if he was relieved or not. Everything was…mixed up. He'd wanted this and it felt ridiculously good. Still, he was unsure. He'd never really physically thought about it. Him and Jeremy together carried a lot of weight. It wasn't the same as Jeremy seeing Grace. Tyler regrets it then, so fiercely that it steals his breath. He didn't want Jeremy to be hurt or confused, he didn't want to make his life harder. But he was potentially doing all three. "I can drive you back to school," he offered lamely.

Confusion clouded Jeremy's face but he cleared it away. It was perfectly reasonable for Tyler to need time. He did too.
"I'll walk," Jeremy said, "I need to clear my head anyways." He stood and Tyler took an awkward half step forward before jerking to a stop. He flushed with the realization that he wanted to kiss Jeremy goodbye.
"I'll see you," he said, remaining perfectly still. After a moment Jeremy nodded and passed him. He ran a hand through his hair and yanked his hood up on the porch before setting off. He wondered if his life would ever become too much. So much so that he simply overloaded on information. It felt dangerously close as it was. He sort of wanted to be with Tyler, even though he wasn't exactly sure what that entailed. And he still cared for Grace, deeply. It felt as if his life was diverging into two separate paths right in front of him. He had to make a choice soon. Either way, things would never be the same.

A/N: I'm sorry this took so long! Finals mauled my creativity and I'm trying to recover… Long dividing polynomials is not Jyler friendly. Anyways I have one single, blessed week of vacation and I'm hoping to get lots done then.