Chapter Text
The shiva was concluding and Cyrus was having a day of closure. First with accepting the death of his bubbe and then with finally coming out to Jonah. The ease with which he was able to tell Jonah combined with how accepting he was gave him an adrenaline rush that made him want to sing it to the world. He wasn’t sure if it was the right time to tell Tj as every time he considered it he got this mix of emotions deep in his stomach. Weird.
Right as he began to think about Tj he walked into the room. The room seemed to brighten as he walked in carrying a loaf of bread? Cyrus stopped his conversation with Andi and Buffy to stand and fix his shirt and greet his guest.
“You came.”
“Of course I came.”
Their eyes met and time stopped as Tj smiled softly. Their moment was ended when Buffy and Andi exchanged a confused glance that melted into realization and then smugness. Tj tore his eyes off of Cyrus and seemed to realize there were other people in the room and not just Cyrus. They blushed and looked away. Andi Buffy began talking, but Cyrus noticed his smile was still there as well as Tj standing a little closer than he was before.
***
Andi sat on her bed texting Buffy excitedly about how happy she was that Marty was back. Their conversation shifted to how much Tj had changed since they had met just a few months ago.
Buffy: My aunt told me that he was just being mean to me bc he liked me 🙄
Andi: Really?!
Andi: That makes no sense
Buffy: I know
Buffy: I was like, well if true, that’s a really dumb approach!
Andi: seriously
Buffy: Anywhoo, I think she was completely wrong because I’ve noticed something...
Buffy: He’s really nice to Cyrus
Buffy: Know what I mean?
Andi: I do! :)
Buffy: Hmmmm...
Andi: Hmmmm, indeed...
Buffy: 😉😉😉
As their conversation changed yet again, Buffy continued thinking about Tj and decided to try to help,,, move things along.
***
The next morning Tj and Cyrus were standing in the cafeteria line to get breakfast before class. It had become a routine for Tj to make sure Cyrus got his chocolate chocolate chip muffin ever since the first day they met. Buffy and Andi walked up to them as Cyrus seemed to be going on about a movie he had watched the night before. It seemed like Tj was too focused on Cyrus to notice when the girls walked up to them.
“Hey guys!” Buffy walked up to them and Tj seemed to snap out of his Cyrus induced trance for a moment.
“Oh good, now I can pee! Hold my spot in line? Thanks Buffy!” Cyrus yelled as he quickly made his way to the bathroom.
Tj let out a little sigh as his eyes followed Cyrus until he was out of sight. At this Buffy rolled her eyes and glanced at Andi who was thinking the same thing.
“Wait what? Did you say something?” Tj tried to take back his tough boi persona as he noticed the interaction.
“No we were just talking about... the new person that Cyrus has a crush on.” Andi said as Buffy tried to hold back a laugh at the face Tj made. He didn’t seem to noticed as he was too occupied with trying to hide the emotions displayed on his face.
“What?” He choked out after several seconds. “Oh yeah cool that’s cool does she go to our school?” He crossed his arms and tried to look nonchalant as he stumbled with his words.
“Actually he hasn’t told us anything.” Buffy replied. “We just can tell by the way he acts that there is someone he...” Andi tried to finish but Cyrus was back from the bathroom.
“Someone that who what?” Cyrus asked and Tj just shook his head.
“It’s nothing underdog, I’ll tell you later.”
Andi and Buffy walked away as Cyrus once again put this spell over Tj that rendered him totally whipped.
***
Andi and Buffy were talking in the Cafeteria during lunch waiting for Cyrus to make his way from history on the other side of the school when Tj slid onto the bench next to them.
“So do uh... do ya know anything about the girl Cyrus likes yet?” Tj tried to seem casual but his face seemed anxious.
“No Tj, he still hasn’t said anything. Why don’t you ask Cyrus if you really want to know?”
“Ask me what?” Cyrus sat down as Tj began to ask.
“Sodoyoulikeanyonerightnow?” Tj stared intently at Cyrus waiting for a reply.
“What? Why? I don’t know? No?” He squeaked as a blush fell on his face.
“Oh please Cyrus.” Andi started as Buffy smacked her arm.
“Unless you two know something I don’t, I don’t want to talk about this. Why do you ask Tj?”
“Oh uhhh I don’t know just wondering I guess?” Tj returned Cyrus’ blush and scratched the back of his head.
“Do...do you like anyone Tj?” Now Tj’s face burned up and he opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. Cyrus felt his mood shift completely and disappointment washed over him. “It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me who it is.” Cyrus wasn’t sure why he was so upset over this. Of course Tj liked someone. He was a popular straight sports boy. He probably had a crush on a girl in one of his classes. “I’m sure she likes you back Teej!” Cyrus replied trying to sound happier than he felt. Tj just shook his head and changed the subject as Buffy and Andi whispered something to each other that he couldn’t quite make out.
The rest of the day Cyrus felt weird. He felt sad but he couldn’t figure out why. And every time he saw Tj his stomach hurt and it seemed like his heart was beating faster... Oh no. Cyrus knew what this was.
Cyrus: Meet me at the spoon after school?
Buffy: okay!
Andi: sounds good
Cyrus carried on the rest of his day avoiding Tj and rehearsing his speech to his best friends.
***
“Hey Cy!” The girls sat down in the booth Cyrus was occupying.
“Hey guys, so I have something to say and I don’t think you’re going to like it.” Cyrus began, “so I know you guys haven’t always gotten along with Tj but he’s really sweet now and he’s really trying to be better...” Andi and Buffy looked at him nodding waiting for him to continue, “so I think I might have started to have feelings for him and I know that I have not chance because there’s no chance that he likes boys and even if he did he’s the captain of the basketball team and he’s tall and cute and he has a crush on some girl at school already...” Cyrus was interrupted with Andi and Buffy laughing.
“Cyrus! Do you even see the way that he looks at you?”
“Or the fact that he changed his entire life around and left all of his old friends just so he could keep being friends with you?”
Cyrus felt tears in his eyes, “this isn’t funny guys! He’s one of my best friends and now he’s going to think I’m weird!” He said a little too loudly because at that moment Tj walked in. He smiled at Cyrus until he noticed the hurt all over his face and in his voice. He rushed over and sat down next to Cyrus.
“What’s wrong Cyrus? Did someone say something mean to you?” Tj quickly became angry and he looked to Buffy, “Who made him cry?” As smoke seemed to pour from his ears.
“Calm down Romeo, he’s fine. Just a little upset because...” Buffy glared at Andi, “well it’s his business.”
Cyrus wiped his eyes and put on a fake smile, “It’s nothing I was just overreacting. It turns out I do like someone but they like someone else anyway.”
Tj tensed for a second but then wrapped his arms around the smaller boy, “Cyrus, whoever you like is an idiot. You are the best person I know and anyone who can’t see that doesn’t deserve you.” He pulled away smiled at Cyrus with a sad look in his eyes glancing down at his lips that were just inches from his. Cyrus’ eyes got wide as Andi cleared her throat and Tj snapped his arms back to his sides. “Just uhh text me later underdog?” He gathered his things and took one last glance before leaving with a red face.
***