You and Tyler Down were an item, a secret carefully guarded. Being popular while Tyler navigated the fringes of the social hierarchy meant your relationship existed in hushed tones and stolen moments. Tyler, already a target for the school’s jocks, feared becoming an even bigger one for dating you. And then there was Montgomery De La Cruz, your best friend, whose very presence felt like a wall between your public and private lives. Hiding your relationship meant movie dates were replaced with hushed hangouts at each other’s homes. Public displays of affection? A distant dream.
One day, at your locker, amidst a conversation with Jessica and Monty, Tyler walked by. Your eyes met, a silent smile exchanged. You hoped Monty, ever observant, wouldn’t notice, but fate, or rather Monty’s possessiveness, had other plans. He spun around, his eyes locking onto Tyler, and in an instant, he grabbed Tyler’s shirt, slamming him against the lockers.
Tyler Down being confronted by Monty
“Hey Ty-Ty, what were you looking at back there?” Monty’s voice dripped with menace as he pushed Tyler harder against the cold metal.
“I-I-I was just umm… w-walking past,” Tyler stammered, fear evident in his eyes.
“Yeah, but you were looking and smiling at Y/N here,” Monty spat out, his gaze hardening. “You got something to say about that, Tyler?”
“Monty, let him go, it’s fine,” you interjected, trying to defuse the situation, pulling at Monty’s arm.
“No, it’s not fine, Y/N,” Monty retorted, his eyes flicking to you. “He needs to understand he can’t just stare at you. You’re way too good for him, Y/N.”
“I-I-I’m really s-sorry,” Tyler mumbled, his eyes fixed on Monty’s shoes.
“No, no, sorry isn’t good enough, Ty-Ty,” Monty sneered, raising a threatening fist.
“Montgomery De La Cruz, let him go right now!” Your voice was sharp, leaving no room for argument.
“Fine,” Monty conceded, releasing Tyler but not without one last shove against the lockers. “But if I ever catch you looking at Y/N again, I’m gonna smash that little camera of yours on your face.” He stalked off, Jessica giggling nervously as she followed.
You stood there, a wave of apology washing over you as you looked at Tyler. ‘I’m so sorry,’ you mouthed, your heart heavy with guilt.
He offered a weak smile, his gaze dropping to the floor before he walked away. You followed Jessica and Monty, the incident leaving a bitter taste in your mouth.
Later that day, escaping the school’s drama, you headed to Tyler’s house. It was your haven, a place where you could momentarily forget the pressures of high school and the watchful eyes of people like Monty. After a short walk, you arrived, knocking softly on his door.
“Hey Y/N,” Tyler greeted, a genuine smile finally gracing his lips.
“Hey Ty,” you replied, kissing his cheek before stepping inside. His house was always a comforting space, filled with the quiet hum of his passions and away from the judging eyes of Liberty High.
You both went to his room, sinking onto his bed. The events at your locker still hung heavy in the air.
“Look, I’m really sorry about Monty today, Tyler,” you began, your voice laced with regret.
A shadow crossed Tyler’s face. “Are you and Monty dating?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, laced with a hint of sadness.
“What!? No, of course not! Why would you even think that?” Confusion washed over you as you moved closer, resting your head on his shoulder.
“I don’t know… it’s just… he seemed so protective of you,” Tyler mumbled, staring at his hands.
“Hey, Tyler,” you said softly, lifting his chin so you could look into his eyes. “I love you, okay? I don’t love Monty. Half the time, I don’t even like him. So please, don’t worry. I am all yours.” You sealed your words with a kiss on his jaw, hoping to erase any lingering doubts.
“I love you too,” he responded, his voice regaining its warmth as he kissed the top of your head.
You shifted, wrapping your arms around his neck, a genuine smile returning to your face. The tension from earlier began to dissipate in the comfortable silence between you.
“Kiss me,” you whispered, leaning in closer, the unspoken desire hanging in the air.
He hesitated for a moment, a flicker of nervousness in his eyes, before wrapping his arms around your waist and leaning in. The kiss was gentle, tentative at first, before deepening, a silent conversation passing between you. He pulled back slightly, breaking the kiss.
“Come on, Tyler,” you teased softly, “we aren’t sneaking kisses in hallways anymore.” You closed the space between you again, this time taking the lead.
He responded instantly, kissing back with more confidence, gently pushing you back until you were lying on the bed and he was hovering above you. His tongue traced your lips, and you opened your mouth, inviting him in. A soft moan escaped him as your fingers tangled in his hair, tugging lightly. He deepened the kiss, moving his hand from your waist down to your thigh, while your hands explored the soft strands of his hair. He pulled back again, breaking the kiss to trail kisses down your neck.
“Is this okay?” he murmured, pausing, seeking your consent.
“Yeah, Tyler, it’s more than okay,” you breathed out, running your fingers through his hair again, encouraging him to continue.
He smiled against your skin, resuming his exploration of your neck, his kisses becoming more insistent, bordering on playful bites and gentle sucks. You moaned softly, your hands moving down to the buttons of his shirt, starting to unfasten them. Just as things were heating up…
“Tyler, where’s my camera?” His dad’s voice boomed from outside the door, interrupting your intimate moment.
“Dad!” Tyler exclaimed, scrambling off you, a blush creeping up his neck.
“Oh, uh, sorry Tyler, I didn’t realize Y/N was here,” his dad said, a sheepish smile on his face as he stood in the doorway.
Tyler stood up, his face burning red as he quickly re-buttoned his shirt. “Well, now you do. So, can you please leave?” he asked, trying to usher his dad away.
“Uh, yeah, of course, sorry again. It was nice seeing you again, Y/N,” he said, waving awkwardly before retreating.
“Nice seeing you again too, Mr. Down,” you replied, offering a smile and a wave, trying to suppress a giggle at the awkward interruption.
Tyler closed the door, turning back to you with a defeated sigh, and slumped into his desk chair.
“Well, that kind of killed the mood,” you said, sitting up on the edge of the bed, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
“Yeah, it did,” he agreed, rubbing the back of his neck, a hint of embarrassment still lingering.
“Come on,” you said, grabbing his laptop and patting the empty space beside you on the bed. “Let’s just watch some movies.” A smile returned to his face, the earlier passion replaced with a comfortable companionship as you settled in for a movie night.
The next morning, the evidence of the previous night’s interrupted passion was undeniable. You woke up, discovering a constellation of hickeys adorning your neck, Tyler’s passionate marks a stark contrast to your attempts to hide them. Desperate, you tried everything to conceal them – scarves, high collars, makeup – but nothing seemed to fully work. Reluctantly, you decided to face school head-on, hoping they wouldn’t be too noticeable.
Walking into school with Jessica, your hopes of discreetly hiding the hickeys were immediately dashed. Jessica’s eyes widened as she spotted them.
“Holy shit, Y/N! Who did you screw yesterday?” she exclaimed, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
“What do you mean?” you feigned confusion, hoping to play it off.
“I mean those hickeys on your neck,” she said, pointing directly at the tell-tale marks.
“Oh, no, these aren’t hickeys,” you stammered, improvising quickly. “They’re… burn marks. I burned myself with the curling iron.” You avoided eye contact, hoping she’d buy the flimsy excuse.
“Uh-huh, sure,” Jessica replied, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. “Look, if you don’t want to tell me, it’s fine. I’m just happy you’re finally getting some action.” She linked her arm with yours, changing the subject as you walked further into the bustling school hallways.
Later that afternoon, your luck ran out. Monty, with his ever-present smirk, noticed the marks.
“Damn, Y/N, who gave you those?” he asked, leaning against the lockers, his eyes lingering on your neck.
“Oh, uh, no one,” you mumbled, looking down, wishing the ground would swallow you whole.
“Bullshit, come on, tell me,” he persisted, his voice laced with playful suspicion.
“No, fuck you, Montgomery,” you retorted, crossing your arms defensively, trying to shut down the conversation.
“Fine,” he chuckled, pushing off the lockers and walking away with a wink. “But don’t worry, I’ll find out.” His words hung in the air, a playful threat mixed with genuine curiosity.
Exasperated and slightly amused, you went in search of Tyler. You knew where to find him – the familiar scent of chemicals and the soft glow of the darkroom always drew him in. The photo room, Tyler’s sanctuary.
Walking into the dimly lit room, you found him developing photos, his brow furrowed in concentration.
“Okay, next time, you have got to be more careful with those hickeys,” you declared, throwing your bag onto the floor and walking towards him.
He looked up, a small smile playing on his lips. “Come on, Y/N,” he said, his voice soft. “I can’t hold your hand in school or anything. This is the only way I can show people you’re mine.” His eyes held a mix of shyness and possessiveness.
“Fine,” you conceded, walking closer and surprising him by kissing his neck, right where he had left his mark the night before. You playfully bit and sucked on his skin, mirroring his actions from the previous evening. A soft moan escaped his lips as you continued, his hands instinctively reaching out to steady you.
You pulled back, quickly kissing his lips, a mischievous glint in your eyes. “There,” you said with a smirk, stepping back. “Now we’re even.” Leaving Tyler slightly breathless and definitely flustered, you turned and walked out of the photo room, a satisfied smile playing on your lips, leaving him to ponder your playful revenge and the secret language of your hidden relationship.
