Unconditional Validation

Chapter 16

There was somewhat of a silence from the girls before they burst out laughing. "Okay, you got me there, mister assistant captain", Skyler was trying to keep herself from falling out of her seat. We all started laughing together at the situation.

Our group had to calm down because the waiter was getting closer to our booth. The server, a young guy with shaggy brown hair and a notepad in hand, stopped at our booth with a friendly smile. "Hey, welcome to the diner! What can I get you all to drink?"

Skyler was the first to order. "I'll take a Coke."

"Same for me," Meghan added.

"Sprite for me," America said, glancing at the menu.

"I'll just have a sweet tea," Tyler said, his voice still carrying a bit of nervousness.

I smirked, trying to keep my cool. "I'll take a Dr Pepper."

The waiter jotted down our drinks and nodded. "Alright, I'll be back in a bit to take your food orders."

As soon as he walked away, Skyler turned back to Tyler, her eyes narrowing playfully. "Okay, but seriously—what really took you guys so long? Because I've seen you space out before, but you're turning redder than a tomato right now."

Tyler let out an awkward chuckle, scratching the back of his head. "I-I mean, Justin wasn't lying. We did sing a song on the way here."

Meghan raised an eyebrow. "And?"

"And we... uh... kind of lost track of time," I said quickly, hoping to steer the conversation away.

Skyler's eyes darted between the two of us before narrowing. "Hmm... suspicious."

"It's really nothing," Tyler insisted, forcing a casual smile. "We were just vibing to the music."

"Right," America said, dragging out the word as she turned to smirk at Skyler. "Well, just don't go getting lost again next time."

"Noted," I said with a small laugh, relieved that the conversation was shifting.

Just then, the server returned with our drinks, setting them down in front of us.

"Alright, you guys ready to order?" he asked.

One by one, we placed our orders: burgers, fries, and sandwiches, filling up the list. Once the server disappeared into the kitchen, our conversation settled into something more comfortable, full of light jokes, playful nudges, and Tyler stealing glances at me when he thought I wasn't looking.

And honestly? I wouldn't trade this moment for anything.

More music filled the drive back to school. Tyler and I took turns picking songs, our voices filling the car as we belted out lyrics with unfiltered joy. It felt freeing, just the two of us, no expectations, no worries.

But as we neared the school parking lot, reality crept back in.

"Justin," Tyler started, his voice quieter now. "We should probably...be more careful."

I glanced at him briefly before returning my focus to the road. "You mean, keeping things low-key?"

He nodded, fiddling with the hem of his sweater. "Yeah. I mean...you know how things are. You're the assistant captain of the football team, and I- well, I have my parents breathing down my neck about everything. If they found out...I don't even want to think about it."

My grip on the steering wheel tightened. "Tyler, that's not fair to you. They shouldn't control your life like that."

He let out a bitter chuckle. "Tell that to them. I'm their cash cow, Justin. My fashion line? My art? It's all they care about. And Skyler... she's in the same boat with her music and writing. We're just products to them."

I pulled into the parking lot and turned off the engine. Tyler's eyes were glassy, his lips pressed into a tight line. Before he could turn away, I reached over and gently dried the tears that had begun to fall down his cheeks.

"Hey," I said softly, my thumb grazing against his skin. "I don't care what they think. You're not just some business investment, Tyler. You're you. And I'll always be here for you. No matter what."

He sniffled, managing a small smile despite everything. "Promise?"

I met his gaze, unwavering. "Promise."

For a moment, we just sat there, with the weight of everything between us. Then, with a deep breath, Tyler nodded. "Okay. Let's get through the rest of the day."

I squeezed his hand briefly before letting go. "We got this."

And with that, we stepped out of the car, ready to face whatever came next.

The rest of the school day passed in a blur. Sitting in my classes, I found myself zoning out more than usual, my mind running wild with a single thought: how to hard launch my relationship with Tyler.

I wanted to do something grand for him. Something meaningful. He deserved that. I didn't care what anyone thought; I wanted to show him how much he meant to me.

That's when it hit me.

The winter dance.

It was a huge event, held every year right after everyone returned from winter break. A formal dance, the perfect opportunity to make a statement. What better way to make things official than by asking him to go with me?

Of course, there was one obstacle. Well, hopefully, he wouldn't become an obstacle.

Ryder.

Tyler's triplet brother. My best friend. And the captain of the football team.

I wasn't worried that he'd be mad about me liking Tyler. That wasn't the issue. The issue was how tangled up Ryder was in their family's expectations, just like Tyler and Skyler. If I told him what I was planning, would he help me? Or would he try to talk me out of it?

As the last bell rang, I grabbed my backpack and sighed. If I were going to do this, I needed to talk to Ryder first. I needed his help to make this work without making things worse for Tyler.

Because if his parents found out before we were ready...I didn't even want to think about what they'd do.

With that thought heavy in my mind, I made my way toward the locker room, where I knew Ryder would be getting ready for practice. It was time to figure this out before it was too late.