The phone ringing echoed in Tyler's ear, filling him with dread and anticipation.

Another ring.

And another.

"Hello?"

"Momma?"

"Oh my gosh, Tyler?" she whispered, hurrying into the next room.

"Yeah, it's me."

"I've been worried sick about you! We haven't heard from you in months."

"I'm ok, momma. I'm in Chicago."

"Come home. I know you and your father have your differences to work out... "

"It's not that simple momma."

"But I miss you!"

Tyler started to tear up. "I miss you too, momma."

"Eileen, who is that?" Tyler heard his father call from the other room.

"It's no one," she said. Tyler could hear his dad wrestle the phone out of his mother's hand.

"Who is this?" his father growled.

"Dad... it's me. Tyler."

Tyler's dad hung up.

*

Hunter found Tyler sitting outside of Charlie's room when he got to the hospital after work.

"Hey dude, how's he doing?"

"He's sleeping. His parents are in there with the doctor."

"It's late, dude. Why are you still here?"

"I just... didn't want to be alone."

Hunter said down next to him. "You ok, man?"

"Yeah. Just... Hunter, how's your relationship with your family."

"It's... complicated."

"Yeah?"

"My parents don't speak to me. My brother and I are on the outs. So really, it's just me."

"Doesn't that get lonely? Not having a family you can count on?"

"Sometimes, you gotta make your own family." Hunter said, putting his arm around Tyler.

"Yeah," said Tyler, leaning his head on Hunter's shoulder. They sat like this for a moment, enjoying a quiet and peace-filled moment that they hadn't experienced in weeks. Charlie's parents came out of the room with his doctor.

"How is he, Mrs. Parker?" Hunter asked.

"The doctors want to keep him for another day of observation, but he should be good to go home after that," said Mary.

"That's great," Hunter said.

"We'll stay an extra day or two, but you'll look after him, won't you dear?"

"Of course," said Hunter.

Mary smiled. "I knew you would."

"C'mon Mary," Richard said. "Let's get some sleep." They weakly waved goodbye to Hunter and Tyler and left for their hotel. Tyler remembered what Mary had intuited about Hunter and Charlie.

"Hey, are you and Charlie... ?"

"No."

"Have you ever... ?"

Hunter smiled. "Maybe. It's... it's complicated."

"Ok," said Tyler, secretly jealous. He'd had crushes on both of them ever since he moved in. Hunter mussed his hair and kissed the top of his head.

"You ready to get back to the apartment?"

"Yeah," said Tyler. "Let's go home."

###