*Tyler's POV*

The next morning I was up before the sun was, trying to choose an outfit. By the time Connor joined me I was a total wreck, sitting in the middle of a pile of clothes with a hideous outfit on. Connor laughed and sat on the bed beside me and the clothing heap.

"Are you okay?" 

"Does it look like I am? I have nothing to wear!" I yell, sinking down until I was barely visible above the clothes. Connor picks up an article of clothing and dangles it above my head.

"What about this?"

"That?" I hiss, snatching it from him. Okay, so it wasn't disgustingly ugly, but it wasn't exactly picture worthy either.

"Fine, I'll wear it. But if I look like a fruit it's your fault."

"You are a fruit though?" Connor chuckles, leaving the room as unannounced as he'd entered. I shoved the shirt on and stared in the mirror. Back home this was one of my favorite shirts, why didn't it seem good enough here? My complaining was interrupted by a familiar ringtone and I pounced on the bed to grab my phone.

"Hey Troye." I purred, eager to hear his morning voice.

"It's Steele. Is that how you always greet my brother?" I held back a giggle. I'd probably sounded like a horny teenager but I didn't normally worry about that stuff with Troye. 

"Only sometimes. What's up?" 

"Troye told me to call you and let you know that he's hailing a taxi as we speak so you guys had better be ready." I frowned, looking at the mess of my room. I hadn't even started choosing pants yet.

"Yeah, we'll meet you there." I grumbled. He hung up on me without another word so I assume he must be okay with that plan. I hurry to shove everything into a sort-of neat pile so I don't look like a total slob if Troye decides to come over later tonight.

*Troye's POV*

"Where is he?" I groaned, leaning back against the wall of the Twitter building. We'd already been here for fifteen minutes and there was still no sign of Tyler or Connor. I wasn't even that upset we were running late, but the part that bothered me the most was Steele's smug 'I told you so' smirk. 

"Just because he's late doesn't mean he isn't a good person."

"Of course not, but do you enjoy waiting alone at tables when your date's running half an hour late?" I snort at him but he did have a point and he must have knew that because he went right back to smiling smugly. 

"Hi!" Tyler squealed, running across the parking lot to where we were camped out. The second he reached us his smile faded away so I guess my annoyance must have been pretty easy to read.

"I'm sorry, Troye. I was picking an outfit, because I wanted to look my absolute best for you, and then I lost all track of time. But I'm here now and I'm so sorry."

"You seem to be apologizing a lot lately." I growl, grabbing Steele's arm and tugging him through the door before he gets the chance to snicker or poke fun at Tyler. As soon as we got inside I felt Tyler grab my arm.

"Can I talk to you-" He looked over at Steele, who was eyeing us eagerly, "In private."

"Fine." I sigh, letting him drag me toward an empty hallway. I wasn't sure we were supposed to just roam through the building freely, but Tyler seemed to be pretty sure of himself. As soon as we were out of earshot from the others he took his hand off my arm and shoved it in his pocket.

"Well?" I snap after waiting for him to speak up for a good two minutes.

"Is this still about the other night? Because nothing happened between Sawyer and I and-"

"Are you serious? No, Tyler, this is about the fact you showed up the better part of an hour late for a pretty important event in my life. You made me look like an idiot. That's what this is about, don't read into it anymore than that." I turned on my heel to march off with as much dignity as possible with rage boiling through my veins but he seemed to have another idea seeing as he grabbed my hand.

"Okay, but just so you know nothing happened. After you called it just didn't feel right."

"So you're saying I killed the mood? Thanks, makes me feel so much better. Might as well call me Cockblocker Troye."

"Troye." His voice was so pathetic I had to stop my angry departure a second time. Why did I always cave for him? 

"Just, promise me something."

"Anything."

"That when it really comes down to it, you'll always be there for me. I can live with you being late for events, hooking up with everyone else, but at least be someone I can rely on when I need it."

"Of course. Why would you even doubt that?" 

"I don't know, I've just been questioning a lot of the people in my life lately." That wasn't true. It was just him. I'd let Steele's stupid opinions get under my skin and now I was questioning if my best friend was even reliable. If anything I'm the bad friend for doubting him.

"Come on, let's go back to the others." I mumble, starting at a normal pace toward the lobby. Tyler was so close behind me I could feel him stepping on my heels. Normally I'd snap at him for it but right now I was already too miserable to say anything. My trip to San Francisco was shaping up to be a beauty.

The tour proved to be a lot better than the series of events leading up to it. By the end of it I'd completely forgotten any harsh feelings I'd had toward Tyler. He was just so much fun to be around it was impossible to even want to distance yourself from him.

"I was thinking now I could show you guys my favorite view in all of San Fran, a cute little sea food place, and maybe the bridge if the rain let's up. Any places you guys really wanted to go?" He was so thrilled about this whole make-shift tour guide job, you could see it in his eyes.

"As long as we see the bridge, I'm fine." 

"We go home tomorrow afternoon so if we don't do it today I don't think we'll get the chance." Connor mumbled, looking out the taxi window with a genuinely miserable demeanor.

"I promise that we'll get to see it. If not we can always plan another trip!" Tyler laughed. I watch Steele grimace in the front seat like the very thought of me spending any more time than necessary with Tyler physically hurt him.

"You shouldn't joke about stuff like that, I might have to take you up on your offer." I tease, leaning my head against his shoulder playfully. He must have taken it as a more serious gesture though, because his entire body tensed up beside me and he gently shoved me off. Rejection.

"So anyway, right beside the seafood place there's a place with lots of sea lions, or seals I'm not completely sure."

"Of course you're not." Steele muttered from the seat. I wasn't sure how it was supposed to be an insult but judging by Tyler's glare in his direction he definitely took it that way.

"You'll love it." Tyler whispered, turning to face just me. His face was so close to mine it sent shivers down my spine. I'd never met anyone that had this affect on me before him, to render me utterly speechless and practically hyperventilating by just locking eyes with me.

"I already do. Love the sea lions, I mean." I groaned, of course he knew what I meant. He's not a total idiot. I quickly turned to look over at Connor in hopes of covering up my idiocy, but I should have known Tyler wouldn't stand for that. I felt his hand on my thigh and bit down on my tongue to keep from squealing. His hand traveled up until it was just south of where my jeans had gotten a little too tight before I put a stop to it. I slapped my hand on top of his and turned back to face him. He had a wicked grin on and was obviously holding back a cackle, but he also had a glint in his eyes that could be easily mistaken as being turned on.

"Stop it." I snapped in a hushed tone. He stuck out his lower lip in a pout and leaned into my ear.

"But Troye, it's so fun to see you get all frigid."

"I'm serious, Ty." In different circumstances I'd be begging him to continue, but not with my judgmental brother in the front seat. However Tyler didn't seem to share my worries because he manage to snake his hand a little further up my leg before I got the chance to tighten my grip on his hand. I could feel the pressure on my bulge and desperately tried to shimmy away from him without alerting Connor anything was happening. But I knew in order to get away from him I'd need to nudge Connor which would, evidently, lead to Steele finding out and having a fit. Why was it Tyler was allowed to do things like this to me but the second I even laid my head on his shoulder it was game over?

"Do you like that big daddy?" He whispered, running a finger along the pant's seam in just the right spot to drive me mad. I tried my absolute hardest to keep a poker face and not give him the satisfaction he was so obviously after but it was pointless. I was like putty in his hands as my jaw dropped open. He smirked and leaned back toward my ear, stopping short to suck at my neck. I felt every hair on my body standing up and knew I had to put a stop to this before we got out at our next destination and I had an obvious erection. I slowly creeped my hand over to his crotch so he wouldn't notice and then palmed at it teasingly. This got him to stop, in fact he sat up so straight with his arms crossed, he looked even more prudish than Steele. I'd never been good with flirting games or teasing games, but they seemed to be what Tyler was into so I decided to try my best at it. I grabbed his zipper and started to slowly slide it down and I had to admit there was something incredibly sexy about how tense he looked. This was the most he'd ever let me go before brushing me off and telling me we were just friends, I intended to use it. I reached one fingers in to tease him through his boxer-breifs. He squirmed and bit at his lip so sexily I prayed to the God of every religion we would teleport to somewhere more private. No luck though, considering we were still sitting in the backseat of the taxi.

"Almost there, about five minutes off now." The taxi driver announced to no one in particular, but I noticed the way he eyed me in the mirror like he knew what was going on. Regardless, I was too far in now to stop. I continued just running fingers down his shaft through his boxer-briefs until I could physically see the arousal clear on his face, then I quickly pulled away. I could hardly contain my laughter when I seen his eyes go wide like I'd just stabbed someone. He couldn't have seriously expected me to get him off in the backseat of a taxi cab? Who did he think I was?

"Here we are!" The taxi driver cheered, relief painted across his face. So he had known what was going on. How unfortunate for him. I watched Tyler's awkward shuffle out of the car and honestly felt bad for teasing him when he was wearing such tight pants. It definitely looked like everyone would know about it right away, considering he wasn't even walking human. I watched him shove his hand in his pants to attempt to readjust, staring at me grimly all the while. Afterward he was much better, but if you paid attention you could still notice his usual swagger was a little off.

"This is our destination, Boudin. They have amazing clam chowder." Tyler said, waving an arm at the building in front of us.

"You realize Troye is allergic to clams, right?" Steele scoffs, before entering and leaving the rest of us standing there dumbfounded.

"He really doesn't like me." Tyler mumbled, looking over at me for advice. I shrugged.

"He says it's because you're a slut. I know! He's totally off, right?" I giggle, making sure to slap his ass before heading in after my brother. I think Connor noticed considering his knowing glare but I didn't mind.

Once we were seated I started blabbing on about Australia to Connor in hope's of overpowering the awkward stare competition between my brother and Tyler. I thought I'd accomplished it when Steele coughed loudly, making a purposely failed attempt at hiding the word slut. What happened to being civil?

"Look, I realize you have a problem with me and honestly, I don't care. It'd be easier on me if you liked me, considering you're my best friend's brother but I'll take what I can get."

"That's just it, you'll always take what you can get. In fact, all you do is take. Do you have any idea how completely infatuated my baby brother is with you?"

"Well, I'm not a complete idiot so obviously I do." Tyler snapped, clenching his fists around his fork like he intended to use it as some sort-of weapon. I was giving Steele my best death glare, praying he'd cut it out before he embarassed me even further. I knew where I stood with Tyler, I didn't need his help. Well, I had an idea of where I stood with him. Okay, so I had no idea what was going through Tyler's mind half the time but that didn't mean I wanted his help figuring it out.

"So you just don't care? That's real best friend material right there. As a matter of fact, when Troye realizes what a loser you are how about I fill the slot as next best friend? You seem to hop through them pretty fast so I don't imagine it'll be a long wait." I'd never seen Tyler get angry before. I mean, I'd seen him ticked off or in a bad mood, but never outright raging. This was different, his face had turned red and he had a coldness in his eyes that scared even me, and it wasn't even directed at me.

"I care about his feelings, you twat. I just don't reciprocate them." Oh no, why on Earth would he drop a bombshell like that on me in public? It felt like my heart had stopped beating. It's not like I didn't expect this, he'd told me from the start we wouldn't work out if something ever were to happen between us and I knew all the odds were against us, but part of me still believed there was a chance. I felt tears building up in the corners of my eyes and batted them away quickly. I started to get up to go hide in the men's room but Steele pushed me back down.

"So you can honestly say you have no romantic feelings toward him whatsoever?" Steele trudged on, it was like he was getting a high from seeing me break down. I watched Tyler cast me a forlorn glance and bite at his lip, like he was really calculating how to respond.

"No." I couldn't believe what I'd just heard! Tyler Oakley has romantic feelings toward me? But he said he didn't reciprocate mine? What is he on about? As much as I hated this interview Steele was pulling on him I was secretly glad that he was there to ask the complicated questions instead of me.

"That doesn't make any sense. He has romantic feelings to you and you said you don't feel the same, so how do you have romantic feelings toward him?"

"There's a major difference between our feelings-"

"That you want to bone him and he wants to propose?" Steele snickered, looking at me like I should be crying on the floor. But I was still on a personal high from hearing Tyler say he had feelings for me.

"In a sense. Troye, for whatever reason, still has a shred of hope that we're going to overcome all these obstacles and I know better. Therefore, I don't act on my feelings because I know it's hopeless."

"You don't act on them? What was that in the car? And how come it's hopeless?" I snap, suddenly brought back to reality by Tyler's harsh words. Hopeless? That wasn't true. There was a chance I could marry Barack Obama, nothing was hopeless.

"That wasn't love, that was lust. And because, you're eighteen Troye, you live on the other side of the world, and I doubt your feelings for me are even real. You're too young to even know what love is."

"I come to the US all the time and most gay relationships have age gaps. And don't you dare tell me what I feel for you isn't real, Tyler Oakley. It's the realest thing I've ever felt." I snap, slamming my fist down on the table and hopping over Steele before he got the chance to reply. I'd made dramatic exits from the table more in the last week than I had the entirety of my life.

A/n: Still trying to become a shoe polishing elf, so maybe lend me some more comments and votes. Okay, what even are these author's notes becoming. Sned helsp.