The Only Exception // (GOT7 Markson)

5

"Hurry, get in. And don't you dare throw up, this car costs more than your life." I said as I hoisted the thin boy into my passenger seat and buckled him in. I felt like a single parent, strapping in my son's car seat. Tyler looked up at me and giggled, running his hands over my face and smiling.

"You owe me, BIG time." I groaned under my breath, slamming the door and walking around to get in on my side.

The drive home wasn't as bad as I imagined it would be. It was a bit of a drive, though, and I wondered just how Tyler got down there in the first place. I looked over to the passenger side and saw Tyler staring silently out the window, watching the streetlights fly by. He wasn't smiling, or giggled, or burping anymore. He looked sad.

"You alright, drunky pants?" I asked him, peering over now and again to check on him.

He nodded softly, not saying anything. I could tell he was sobering up, but I didn't know why he was so upset. Part of me wanted him to be sloppy and drunk again, just so I wouldn't have to deal with his moody emotional problems.

When we pulled up to the back of his house, I shut the engine off and sat in silence with Tyler for a few minutes. I looked over and let the time pass, hoping that Tyler would eventually speak up about what was on his mind. When I placed a hand on his shoulder, he did just that.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" he said in a low voice. "Why now?"

I felt a bit bad, because the truth was that I was only doing it for Mark, and I knew I was lying to Tyler. But then I felt a rush of annoyance again.

"What, would you rather me leave you there for some 80 year old man to scrape you off the dance floor and take you home to have his way with you? Is that what you would prefer?" My tone was a bit meaner than I intended it to be.

"Yeah, actually. I would. Because at least the 80 year old rapist would at least be genuine, and not sending me mixed signals." he answered.

I scoffed a little, giving Tyler a sarcastic smile. "Look, Tyler. I told you already. There is no 'you and me' it's just me, and then you. What we did, it was fun, whatever. But we're never going to happen. Tonight, all of this, it's called being a decent human being. Please don't read too much into it. Any half decent guy would've helped you home."

"But you're not just any guy, Jackson. I don't know what it is... Maybe I'm just drunk and lonely, but when I saw you tonight my heart exploded. I knew I needed to talk to you, see you, touch you." Tyler was sounding more and more sad as he continued. "Will you spend the night? You don't have to do anything, I just want someone there with me."

"Tyler, stop."

"I'm serious, Jackson. You don't understand. Ever since my older brother Mark left to university, he's been studying and working full time to send money back to my mom and I. Since we have no father, he's the only other source of income that we have. I feel so guilty because I miss Mark so much, he is my best friend, but I know that he is doing everything in his power to help us and it's selfish of me to want him to come home and hang out with me when he's got so much more to look after."

I froze for a minute, holding my breath at the sound of Mark's name. I had never heard Tyler acknowledge that Mark was his brother out loud until now, somehow it felt more real. And I felt more nervous.

"Why-" I gulped, "Why don't you get a job and help out your mom too?"

"Don't you think I would if I could?!" he shouted back at me, starling me a little. "I have tried, over and over. Everywhere I go I'm either not experienced enough, I'm too young, or I'm just not called back for an interview. Since I didn't finish high school it's hard for me to get any sorts of jobs. That's why-"