Start song! it's Pictures of girls by Wallows

I cried near the end of this i hope y'all will see why

somehow this chapter is like nearly 5k words, wtf happened

ALSO i'm getting rid of the roman numerals i was using so from now on it'll match the format of my other books!!

Josh curls up on his couch, a knee to his chin while his other foot rests in Jon's lap. The smell of nail polish is high in the air as Jon swipes a coat of a light pink color across one of his toe nails.

"I've never done this before." Jon says quietly as he stares at the nail he's just painted.

Josh curls his toes, smiling. "You're doing great." And it's not a lie, Jon hasn't smeared any of the pretty varnish on his skin despite his application being shaky.

"Yeah, thanks dude." He grabs Josh's foot and inspects his job before setting it back in his lap. He sighs. "I still don't know why i'm the one doing this, you do have working hands."

"It always turns out better when someone else does it." Josh smiles and inspects his toes, stretching his legs out.

"Still, im sure you could've found someone better then me."

Josh just shrugs and he thinks of Tyler. He's sort of stealing his brand by painting his toes. "Sure, but you live right across from me."

Jon gently pushes Josh's feet out of his lap. "Hey, they're still drying!" Josh frowns and Jon stands up.

He rolls his eyes at Josh's protest. "I'm just getting a red bull, this is exhausting."

"I want one too." Josh grins.

Jon walks into the kitchen and Josh listens as he rummages around through his fridge. It's getting late, evident by the dark sky outside. Josh isn't even really that tired, he's having fun with Jon, his only actual friend besides Tyler and Brendon.

Tyler who hasn't texted him in a week. He hasn't even seen either of them at the bar and it makes him nervous. He misses them and to fill the void of not seeing the two men who've made his life so interesting over the past month, he's spending time with his best friend and having too much sex.

"Jon." Josh says after a moment, watching as Jon is comes back into view with two large cans of red bull, perspiration cooling down the sides.

"Yeah?" He says as he passes Josh his respectful can.

"I kind of like these two guys." Josh says, he smiles. It's nice to admit that he likes them out loud. It's a good reminder too, he doesn't bother mentioning that he hasn't seen them in far too long.

Jon nods, taking a sip of his red bull. "And you want to have sex with them?"

Josh rubs his forehead, his cheeks are pink. "No."

"No?" Josh raises his eyebrows. He knows Josh too well and there's no way he can hide the fact that if Tyler or Brendon initiated anything with him that he'd be dropping his pants in seconds.

"I mean, yes I do.. want that." Josh groans and leans back in the couch. "But I also want to date them." Jon gives him a weird look. "I want to date both of them and do all that stupid romantic shit."

"Okay." Jon hums, moving over to the kitchen and sitting on top of the counter. He swings his legs like a child. "Yeah, so what's the problem?"

"I don't know." Josh sighs, he has no idea. He pops open the tab of his red bull.

"Well if you brought it up, there's something bothering you with it."

"Just-" Josh looks at him. "How do you even date two people?"

"The same way you fuck them." Jon says. Josh knows this part, having more than one partner has become familiar to him. He knows how it goes, who to kiss, when to kiss, where to touch. Equal attention goes to everyone involved and Josh is good at it, he's generous and puts their needs before his. He likes it that way, he likes watching a girl cum from just his tongue, he likes watching a man cry out his name and he likes giving and giving and giving until there is nothing else for him to give.

Josh glares at him, there is nothing for him to say. Jon simply smiles and runs his fingers through his short hair. "You take care of them." He corrects. Josh knows, that's all he does.

"You really aren't helpful." He looks at his toes, looking at Jon right now is difficult. Talking about this is embarrassing.

"Just pursue it the way you would pursue a relationship involving just one person, man, you're making a big deal out of nothing."

Josh blinks and searches for his red bull, taking a long sip once he finds the cab sitting on the floor beside the couch. Jon is right, which isn't really surprising. "It just feels different with the two of them, they're like really cool."

Jon smiles. "Maybe it's because you actually like these two guys and don't want to date them just because the opportunity has arisen."

"I don't do that." Josh glares at him and then he thinks. He's initiated most of his relationships in the past year and that couldn't mean that he'd settled for the people he'd dated just because he knew they'd say yes. This meant nothing, he dated them because he liked them and that's all.

"Yeah, you do." Jon replies and Josh knows he's right again.

Josh just shakes his head and Jon snorts.

"Fine." Jon says, crossing his fingers together in his lap. "Let's say that you don't do that." He raises an eyebrow. "Maybe it's different because you really, really, desperately want to fuck them so badly that you'll cry if you don't."

Josh gapes. "Dude." Jon is laughing, a hearty laugh that makes Josh stands up, careful not to put too much pressure on his bad leg. "You're not funny. Like at all."

"And I am not that horny and i'm not desperate."

Jon swings his legs and gets off of the counter. "You definitely are, that's why we used to have sex."

Josh grimaces at the memory. Jon isn't wrong. He pulls Oscar into his lap as he passes by. Oscar meows in protest but he still allows it, curling up properly on top of him. "That was once." He pets along Oscars spine.

"Yeah, yeah, anyways." He sighs." Just have sex with them, i'm sure you'll figure shit out afterwards." Jon says, sitting on the couch. Putting his feet up on the coffee table.

"Sex doesn't solve everything." Josh kisses the top of Oscar's head and pets behind his ears like he knows he likes.

"It might solve this." Jon replies, tilting his head at him.

"It won't."

"If it doesn't you owe me like 20$."

"You're actually awful." Josh sighs. "It's such a bad idea."

Jon just smiles.

By the time Jon leaves, Josh is in fact; horny and desperate. Maybe sex will help, even though Josh guesses it most likely won't. Communication is more important then sex when you're going into a new relationship and he knows that.

*

Sunlight wakes Josh up in the morning and he's glad he has the day off, he'd given his shift away because god he was just not in the mood to work. He didn't want to get home late, exhausted, go to bed and do the same thing the very next day. It's not at all amazing.

Oscar and Bear are meowing at his door as he slips on some sweat pants. It makes Josh smile. The moment the door is open they both follow him to the kitchen, small paws patting against the floor.

He's had them for years and they are the clingiest cats he's ever had. He absolutely loves them.

He sits on the couch for a while until his addiction gets the better of him and he ends up in the kitchen making himself coffee. He pops two pieces of bread in the toaster too, it's a small breakfast but it's enough for him. He'll probably have a snack later.

Josh is just about to sit down when he hears his phone get a notification from across the room. With great reluctance he sets his mug and plate down on an end table and scurries over to his phone quickly checking his messages.

His heart is in his throat at the sight of Tyler's text. Apparently they haven't forgotten about him.

Tyler :) - hey josh, want to come over and hang?

It's innocent enough. He stares at it for a moment, of course he wants to go over and hang. And maybe have sex, just because Jon told him so, and Jon might be right. Plus Tyler offered, more than once and so did Brendon.

Compiling an answer takes him longer than he'd like to admit.

Josh- today?

The reply is instant.

Tyler :)- yes today,

Josh can do this, he bites the inside of his cheek as his thumbs work.

Josh- yea, sure

Josh- when??

Tyler- I was thinking for dinner

Josh- what are u making me ??

Tyler- nothing, I only cook for Brendon

Josh - :(

Tyler- ill order pizza if that's good with you

Josh- sounds good 2 me

There's a few minutes of silence before Josh glances at the fresh hair dye bottles standing on his kitchen counter. He's finally ready for a change,  red is boring. Even though he knows he'll most likely just ruin his hair more he'd still bought colour remover, bleach and too many colours. He keeps them in stock just in case.

Josh- also while I'm there do you guys think you could help me dye my hair?

Tyler- seriously?

Josh- yes...

Tyler- cool, we can definitely help you. Can't say I have much experience with hair dye though

Josh- well I'll be your experience

Tyler- sounds like some really good experience

Josh- is this how u flirt? Cause u kind of... suck

Tyler- no, you suck

Josh- I do :))))

Tyler: come over rn, I have something for you to suck on ;)

Josh- ... if this is what texting you is like, I don't want to know what it's like to text Brendon

Tyler- hey! Texting me is great. Calling me is better,

Josh- I bet it is

Josh- but you know what? Talking to u in person is the best

Tyler- aw thank you joshie

Evaluating what to say next takes a moment and he moves himself onto his couch as he replies.

Josh- hey do you think I could have Brendon's number?

Tyler- ooh good idea!! We should make a group chat

Josh- that is not what I meant.

Josh can't help but laugh, "Oh my god." He's never really been one for texting but he didn't really mind today. Oscar nestles into his lap as his phone rings with new messages.

Unknown number- heyyyy joshhh

Tyler- we can send all our nudes in here

Brendon- josh I am so sorry

Josh- I don't take nudes

Tyler- it's ok, I have enough of them to compensate

Brendon- have I seen them all?

Tyler- nope :)))))))

Brendon- are you in the living room?

Josh- you could idk go check

Brendon- I'm in bed, who gets out of bed before 10am

Tyler- me,

Josh- me

Brendon- Tyler's an awful boyfriend, his side of the bed is going to be replaced with a body pillow

Josh is feeling ballsy, he types.

Josh- I'll replace him

Tyler- uh hell no, there will be no replacing. Josh can be sandwiched between us both because I'll be in bed

Brendon- nah I'll be in the middle and I will spoon him

Josh is mad that he's sort of blushing over a bunch of text messages.

Josh- hypothetically?

Brendon- come over now and find out

Tyler- no, he's coming over later so we can dye his hair and other thingsss

Josh- this gc is going to kill me, I'll see you guys in a few hours.

*

In those few hours Josh learns he's awful at killing time. He's bored, too much anticipation and excitement to see Tyler and Brendon.

He's never liked two people at the same time. He's either had boyfriends or girlfriends, only one at a time. It scares him that he wants both Brendon and Tyler and it scares  him that so far it seems like they both wanted him too. The situation is weird to him, the situation make him anxious and he's not sure why. All he know is he wants to kiss them both breathless.

And he knows rejection isn't something he needs to be worrying about, Tyler and Brendon have made it clear enough that they like him too. He likes that they're both very forward about what they want, it compensates for his lack of effort.

*

Tyler is the one who opens the door when Josh shows up at their place, a bag of dye and bleach in his hand. Tyler smiles at him and he looks really good and it makes Josh wonder how much effort he actually puts in his appearance, he's beautiful that's for sure.

There's no question about it.

Tyler says "Hey." and then he's hugging him on sight, he smells like lavender and paint and Josh smiles as he gets pulled into their apartment only to have Brendon hug him tightly as well. Opposed to Tyler he smells like weed and deodorant.

"You look good." Brendon says with a smile.

Whatever bruising he had is gone now, he hopes he looks good.

"Sounds fake to me but i'll take it." Josh says, stepping further into the apartment. Light shines in brightly from the large window in the living room. The sun is probably just setting.

"Nah you really do look cute, don't worry about it." Tyler smiles and flips Josh's hat around so it's backwards. "I'm gonna go order food, we were gonna do it earlier but we weren't sure when you were gonna get here."

"What kind of pizza do we want? Any requests?" Tyler asks, moving from one foot to the other, swaying. He wants to please, he wants everyone to be happy and it's adorable and Josh wants to kiss him to let him know that he appreciates it. He appreciates him so much.

Josh just shrugs instead of kissing him, it's not the time. "I basically like everything."

"Good to know." Brendon winks and leans into Josh, resting his hand on his waist and pulling him in close, hip to hip. Tyler just rolls his eyes and Josh blushes

"Ok cool.... i'll just order my favourite then." He pulls his phone out of the front pocket of his overalls. He looks at Brendon and points. "And you, you better not be fucking gross." Tyler turns around and starts dialling. Josh just smiles, it's so nice to see them again.

He smiles wider when he notices Brendon staring at the bag in his hands "Oh shit, are we actually dyeing you hair for you?" Brendon asks in amazement, his glasses are pushed up into his hair, his myopia not as bad as Josh had once thought.

Josh shrugs and hands him the bag. "Yeah I uh- I don't have a lot of hair but I tend to fail pretty hard when I do this myself." He takes off his hat. "I always miss the back."

"Don't worry man, we will take care of you." Brendon is rummaging through the bag and he pulls out the bright pink hair dye first. He raises an eyebrow and then looks back at the dye. "This is gonna be hot."

"We should do a tiny strand in Tyler's hair." Brendon grins, waves the dye around like its a wand.

"Would he want to?"

Brendon shrugs. "Who knows? It'll be fun either way."

Josh rolls his eyes and listens to Tyler ordering the pizza in the living room, he think he hears meat lovers. "Are you gonna write about it?"

"Who knows?" Brendon says.

"You know, I do question if you actually write anything at all." Josh doesn't mean to sound rude but Brendon seems completely unbothered.

Because he just smiles. "I do, i'll show you sometime in the near future. If you'd like."

"Honestly that would be really cool."

"Sweet, you know Josh this whole night is going to be fucking amazing, we have so much planned-" Brendon cuts himself off and puts the dye back into the bag. It's awkward and weird and Josh doesn't know what to do. Brendon doesn't care, he pats Josh's shoulder, his fingers lingering. "I'm gonna go put this in the bathroom."

Josh furrows his eyebrows as Brendon walks away, he's odd and Josh was going to ask what he was going to say but he just sighs, there's no point.

He slides off his shoes and takes soft steps over to the living room, stretching his arms above his head as the scene in front of him comes into view.

Tyler is sitting on the couch with a small canvas sitting on his lap and a palette covered with paint on the couch cushions. It's surprising that the couch isn't completely covered in paint, there are barely any stains and Josh is impressed. For a messy artist, Tyler seems to keep the furniture clean. His clothes and the floor are a different story.

By the window near an easel there's what seems to be a puddle of dried blue paint on the floor. Josh thinks it adds character to the house and he can't remember a time where he's seen Tyler wearing something free of a paint stain. Maybe that's what happens when you're an artist, Josh wouldn't know.

Tyler doesn't notice him until he speaks and when he does he's quiet and unsure. It's hard to feel comfortable around a couple that is so comfortable with each other that boundaries don't even seem to exist. "Pizza ordered?"

Tyler looks up at him and smiles, like he'd been expecting him. Josh feels his cheeks heat up and he wants to hide, it's much more embarrassing to be blushing as an adult than it was when he was a teenager.

"Yeah dude." He moves the palette of paint over and into the coffee table. "Come sit with me, I want your opinion on this painting."

"Really? Are you sure? I know nothing about art." Josh removes his baseball cap.

Tyler waves him over. "Who cares, you don't need to be an artist to have an opinion. Get over here."

The reassurance and confirmation is all he needs before his feet move on their own accord, he's eager to see what's Tyler's been working on.

It's always interesting to see artists at work and Tyler won't be an exception. Josh sits at a good distance away from him, it's comfortable but Tyler just grins at him and scoots closer until their knees are fucking touching. He knows what he's doing and is completely shameless about it.

Josh hates him and Josh likes him again when he places a wet looking canvas in his lap.

He's expecting to see genitalia, maybe a nice cock or some woman's breasts. Probably outlined with soft colours and gentle brush strokes. Either or he would've been impressed and maybe he'd even buy one of them because who doesn't want a painting of a penis on their wall?

Surprisingly, Tyler hasn't painted another one of his hookups. There's no naked women or men, no stranger. He painted Josh and Josh's heart stops the moment he sees it.

"Holy shit." Josh smiles and stares at Tyler with wide eyes before looking back at the painting in shock. Tyler fucking painted him. "Y-you, wow, fuck, I don't even kn- This is so cool." Josh can't even taken his eyes off of it, can't get words out, it looks so much like him that he's speechless.

He's not smiling in the painting, he's just there without a shirt on. That's okay though, Tyler didn't forget his binder, he'd painted a sunset over it, dark purples blending in with soft oranges.

Josh could cry. No one has ever put this much effort into him.

Josh does cry, his eyes start to water, he wipes at them with the palms of his hands and sets the piece of art in his lap. "Fuck."

"Oh, did you show him?" Josh vaguely hears Brendon's voice but he doesn't see, he's staring at the painting of him. Tyler ignores Brendon and touches Josh's back, a gentle stroke. It's meant to soothe him and it does.

Tyler's grin falls for a moment when his face is close to Josh's and he can see his red teary eyes. "Josh, are you crying?"

Josh looks at him and he can't stop the tears that roll down his cheeks. "I- This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me in a long time." He's overwhelmed with emotions and he cries and cries and cries. They aren't sobs, but there are tears and sniffling noses and wet cheeks.

Tyler's smile is back and Josh thinks he's about to start crying too but he doesn't, he gently moves the painting out of Josh's lap before replacing it with himself.

Josh doesn't protest, he welcomes Tyler's person and lets Tyler sit in his lap, wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug. His movements are slow and careful, this is new, this is the most they've touched and Josh holds him and he cries. "You're so important to me Josh, do you understand that?" Tyler whispers, delicately pushing one of his stray curls behind his ear.

His head rests against the solid weight of Tyler's chest as he nods. Although it's just the two of them, Brendon still joins in for the moment.

He whispers. "You're important to me too Josh." and It's important that it's said, Josh needs him too and he feels calmer at the feeling of Brendon pressing against him. Brendon touching him, Brendon being there and close.

Brendon's arms wrap around the two of them and he rests his forehead against Josh's, Tyler's chin rests near Josh's shoulder. They're all quiet, Tyler rubs his back and Brendon strokes through his hair.

"What're we doing?" Josh whispers under his breath, it's questioning, he's not confused but he needs confirmation. Tyler's heartbeat is constant against his ear, it calms him more then it should and Brendon shifts against him and squeezes them both tighter.

"I'm going to kiss him." Brendon says, a declaration, he whispers this into Josh's ear, his breath tickles and Josh is warm, too hot. "And you're going to watch and if you get uncomfortable you're going to tell us to stop." Josh already knows he won't tell them to stop. He nods and Brendon pulls away, the weight against his left side gone and the weight in his lap lighter as Tyler gets on his knees to better kiss Brendon. 

"Josh, this is okay right?" Tyler's fingers squeeze his thigh. Josh nods.

"Yeah?" Brendon whispers, he's looking at Josh, his thumb is on Tyler's jaw, Josh nods again, he wants this, he wants to see them. The lighting is a single lamp and it's just enough to see them both perfectly. Josh encourages them, he touches Tyler's shoulder. "Yes." He whispers. "Yes,"

Tyler presses a hand to his thigh and licks his lips and Josh, he's red in the face when Brendon finally presses his lips to Tyler's, it's not gentle and Tyler gasps into his mouth the moment Brendon moves closer, knee to Josh's thigh, one hand on his shoulder for balance, the other strong and tight on Tyler's neck. Brendon licks into Tyler's mouth and holds him and kisses him hard and breathless. They're over his lap, pulling and tugging and kissing hard and fast and Josh is just a presence until he isn't.

He is a viewer until he isn't.

And Josh is no longer a viewer when Tyler pulls away from Brendon, lips red, cheeks pink and looks at him with a silent question. Josh looks to Brendon first, his smile is lazy. "Do it."

And Josh nods and although nervous, pulls Tyler in by the straps of his overalls, Tyler giggles as their lips press together in a smooth motion and Josh whimpers into his mouth, his back arches. It's good, so fucking good, everything's he's hoped for, Tyler's lips are soft, his mouth is hot and Tyler resumes his position in his lap, he straddles his lower body with little to no movement and pushes him back into the couch with his body weight as his hands comb through his hair.

Brendon is on him too, his hand finds his and he squeezes and his lips find his jaw, they travel along skin and soft stubble and then his cheek and his forehead like they've touched him before, like they belong. As far as Josh's concerned they do. Tyler holds his jaw as they kiss and Brendon moves to Tyler, his hands wander up and down his body, they squeeze at his waist and then his ass and Tyler squeaks into Josh's mouth.

Josh laughs, quiet, timid. It's natural and as a form of end, Tyler kisses the corner of his mouth and then his chin and Josh doesn't have time to ask questions before Tyler moves off of his lap and Brendon replaces him.

It happens fast, Brendon grabs his shoulders and leans in with heat and passion and Josh whines, pressing back against him with the same force. He kisses differently, rough, hard and Josh allows it and lays him down on the couch, Brendon's legs wrapping around his waist as he lowers them down, his arms on either side of his head.

A hand is in his hair, not Brendon's but Tyler's and it guides him with every kiss, Brendon licks his tongue and Tyler guides his lips to Brendon's mouth and then pulls, tugs, his head down to his neck. Josh's hands rest on his shoulders and his mouth kisses where it's led.

"Josh." Tyler whispers, his face is pink, his neck the exact same color, he's kneeling beside the couch.

"Mhm?" Josh presses a final peck to Brendon's neck and allows Brendon to wrap his arms around his waist and hold him once more.

Brendon leans up, uses his elbows as leverage. He glares at Tyler. "You got to kiss him for like twice as long, you dick."

Tyler rolls his eyes and kisses Josh again, it's awkward, Josh is on top of Brendon, body completely vertical to his. Still Josh welcomes it, his body moulding to Tyler's as Tyler begins to climb on top of him. "Shit, we need to stop." He gasps and Josh kisses his neck, lips a gentle suction.

"Do we?" Josh asks, he thinks of Jon, he can't lose that 20$. Still his hands grasp Tyler's hips as Brendon sits up and pulls himself out from underneath him to sit behind him instead.

Brendon brings Josh in to kiss him once he's free from under him. "Don't need to stop anything."

"I-I, I think we should." Tyler says firmly, standing up, his legs wobble. Josh frowns, Tyler does too. "It's not that we don't want you, just. We should save this for later okay?"

Brendon wraps his arms around Josh's waist. "Fine, but i'm still going to cuddle him." He whispers, his neck shines with kisses.

"Yeah." Tyler grins and sits back down, crossing his legs. "For sure."

Josh leans into Brendon's touch and stretches his legs out until his toe touches Tyler's knee. "Do I, not get a say in this?" Tyler pokes Josh's foot. "I wanna say something."

"Say what you need to." Brendon yawns.

"Okay well. I, that was good. Definitely want to do that again." He smiles, timid as he speaks, he's flushed pink and Tyler hasn't looked away from him.

"Definitely still like you guys as much as I did before, probably even more but are we uh-dating? Because I don't think i'm okay with being just another one of your hookups."

Tyler frowns and crawls forward, sitting on his thigh. "Josh, we don't want anymore one night stands yeah? Just you."

it's overwhelming and Josh's brain hurts as he tries to process the information. "Really? You're sure about this?" He runs a hand through his hair as Brendon starts kissing down his neck again, it's distracting. Tyler smirks and nods. "So you-you want me to be apart of this?" Josh sighs in content.

"Dude, I think the answer is obvious." Brendon murmurs against his neck.

*

I CRIED WHILE I
WROTE THIS AND I DONT KNOW WHY, IM JUST, SO EMOTIONAL AND I WAS PETTING MY BUNNY AND SHE WAS ADORABLE AND I WAS LISTENING TO BABY BY NICOLE AND ITS SO GOOD AND IM In SUCH A GOOD MOOD.

i have literally never been so excited about a chapter , i like thoroughly enjoyed writing this