"Emo Elmo." She said simply. "Ryan! She's being mean" he cried, burying his face in the back of Ryan's neck. "And what do you want me to do about it?" he asked lazily. "Don't do anything. Emo Elmo can take care of himself." She said, grinning evilly. He stuck his lip out and hid behind Ryan again. "Bren, you know this couch really isn't big enough for us to lay beside each other" he said with a grimace, shifting his position a little bit. "He doesn't care. He'd probably push you off if necessary." She said playfully. "Would not. He's wounded" Brendon replied. "Then what about someone else?" She asked, raising her eyebrow. "You? Probably" he replied evenly. "Ass." She giggled. "You like my ass" he shot back. "Not this topic of asses again!" She replied, shaking her head. "I'm not participating" Ryan groaned. "Surprise." She said, grinning. "Yeah, because your ass has been kicked" Brendon teased. "Oh shut up Brendon" Ryan replied, swatting half-heartedly at his arm.
"Tard." She giggled, "I want coffee." "My ass is also in a place that I'm not going to name right now for the sake of preserving my dignity, so you might want to shut up about asses" Ryan said, glancing back at him. "Big words." She said, raising her eyebrow at them. "I'm making coffee, screw you guys." "Go ahead" Brendon said to Lina, turning to wiggle his eyebrows at Ryan, who groaned and shut the eye that wasn't already swollen shut. "I don't know if I should leave you unsupervised." She said, raising her eyebrow at them. "I'm here" Harley piped up innocently. "Oh, you were being quiet. Sorry." She giggled, getting up from the chair, "I'm making coffee, byes." "You're no supervision" Brendon hissed at her, grinning. "Oh well, as long as I don't hear it!" She called back. "Don't leave me alone with them!" Ryan begged from the couch. "They're mean to me!" "I can't save you Ryan!" She giggled evilly. "No one can save him" Brendon laughed, locking his arms around Ryan's waist. "Yea, you're pretty much screwed." Lina said, coming back into the living room.
"Nah, he's hurt. I wouldn't screw him when he's all sore and beat up" Brendon replied. "Oh, how sweet of you." She said, smiling. "But after he's better..." Brendon said, voice trailing off. "Oh god." She sighed playfully, "I'll be sure to get some ear plugs." "Oh don't worry about that" Brendon said cheerfully. "I always tie a towel around his mouth." "Tard." She grinned, shaking her head. "I'm not kidding" Brendon said seriously, holding Ryan on the couch while he tried to squirm away. "I'm sure you're not." She giggled, going back into the kitchen. "Lemme go Brendon" Ryan growled, elbowing him. "Haven't we already decided today that you're a wimp?" Brendon asked teasingly, hugging him tighter. "Frigging coffee." She muttered, taking a drink from her mug as she leaned in the doorway, "That doesn't mean he can't try to save himself." "He loves me" Brendon said confidently, getting comfortable again and closing his eyes.
"Dork." She sighed, taking a sip of her coffee. "Want to go on a walk around the lake Harley? Since there's nothing else to do I mean." She asked. "I guess" she said hesitantly, glancing at the guys. "You guys want to go?" She asked them. Brendon shook his head. "I'm sleeping" he replied lazily. "We'll stay here. Have fun" "Suit yourself." She said, shrugging her shoulders and slipping her flip flops on, "Coming?" She asked Harley. She nodded, going over to Ryan first and kissing him gently on the cheek. "I love you" she said softly. He smiled as best as he could with his lip double it's normal size. "You know that's all I really needed to feel better" he said sincerely, and she blushed slightly. "I love you too" he replied, kissing her gently before nudging her toward the door. "Go, we're going to sleep" "Be back in a bit guys." Lina said, opening the door. Brendon waved lazily, snuggling into Ryan's back and closing his eyes as they shut the door. "They're so cute" Harley giggled. Lina nodded, grinning, "They're such dorks too." She laughed. "I'm just glad he's okay" she said softly. "Yea, thank god." She agreed, nodding again.
She smiled slightly and looked up. "So why are we walking again?" "It's something to do?" Lina said, grinning as she took another sip from her thermos. "Whatever works" she said, shrugging. "I wonder if Kay ever found them..." "I wonder too, she probably did." She said. "I kind of hope she found them dead" she said sweetly. Lina couldn't help but let out a chuckle, "You're so morbid." She smiled. "Not 'Trick, but Pete at least" she decided. "Alright then." She said, smiling still. "We haven't hung out with just us two in a while, I just remembered that." She said. She shook her head. "No, we really haven't" she agreed. "We're always with the guys" "Yea, we need to have our days." She said, grinning. "Yeah, we do" she replied. "Not that I don't love being with the guys"
"Oh, same. We just need more girl time." She said, smiling. "Definitely" she agreed. "Boys bring too much drama" "You can say that again." She nodded, looking up at the sky, "So pretty." "Yeah, you are" she said, wiggling her eyebrows at her. "Wow Harley, just wow." She grinned, shaking her head. "That would've been better if you had caterpillar eyebrows." "I tame my eyebrows, thanks" she said, tossing her hair. "I'm glad you do too." She giggled. "Me too" She replied, stretching her arms above her head. "So. We were walking?" "Yep." She answered, taking a drink of her coffee again. "Why did you bring that with you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Never leave coffee behind." She stated, blinking. She rolled her eyes. "Spazz" she accused. "You love me." She grinned back, "Coffee is my energy. Without it, I'd probably be really grouchy and boring." "Like you aren't anyway?" she asked cheekily. "I am not boring or grouchy!" She said, poking her tongue out at Harley, "Well, not all the time. Just when I first wake up."
"And after you fuck Brendon" she said daringly. "You always get all grumpy" "Whatever." She said, shaking her head. "Admit it!" she teased. "You do! Is he really that bad?" She laughed and sighed, "He's not bad, he's just rough." She admitted, turning red. "He tires me out." Harley cracked up and clapped her hands. "That's so perfectly Brendon" "Oh yea." She said, grinning, "Not that I don't like it. But, I'm frigging tired after most the time." "You guys are so freaking horny! Pete was right about that!" she giggled. "I don't ALWAYS suggest it!" She laughed, "It goes half and half." "I figured he usually did!" she giggled. "Yea, like the other day with the shower. His idea. He was banging on the walls with his fist and bothering me." She laughed, rolling her eyes. "I heard" she said, rolling her eyes. "Haven't you heard that you're supposed to be quiet when other people are around?" "We don't go by that." She cracked up laughing again and snorted. "You could at least put on music!" she said, cracking up when Lina snorted. "I'll try to tell him that next time!" She gasped, still laughing. "Good freaking idea" she giggled, taking a deep breath to calm down. "I'll try to remember." She said, calming down. "I hope you will" she said, shaking her head. "You guys are fucking LOUD" "Sorry!" She said, grinning and turned red again.
"Ryan and me usually hide somewhere if we can hear you" she admitted. "Once again, sorry." She said, grinning still. "It's not like we don't know you go at it" she said, shrugging. "We could be really quiet and then you wouldn't know where we were at and if we forgot to lock the door you could walk in on us." She giggled. "Lina" she said quietly. "I've stuck my fucking face in what's left of it before. Nothing is going to scare me now" She grinned, trying not to laugh, "I was going to change those sheets sooner! I swear!" "Sure you were" she said, glaring playfully at her. "I was!" She giggled. "The fact is, you didn't" she said, glaring at her still. "And I'm incredibly disgusted by that" "I'm sorry." She said, sticking her bottom lip out. "I'm kidding" she said, smiling slightly. "Seriously. Don't worry about it. It's a...story to be told later" "That's something to tell kids in the future." She giggled.
She giggled. "Our kids are going to be so abused" "I'll probably going to go out of the house to have fun with Brendon so we don't scare them." "Psh, that's half the fun" she said, giggling. "Poor kids." She grinned, shaking her head. "Besides, I doubt Ryan would let me tell our kids stuff like that" she said, then stopped, eyes a little wide. "What?" Lina asked, stopping a little in front of her. "I-" she stopped, shaking her head. "Never mind" "What is it?" She asked, raising her eyebrow. "Nothing" she said hastily. "I just. Didn't mean to say that" "Just tell me?" She asked her patiently. "I just did!" she replied. "I'm confused." She sighed. "I didn't mean to say that. It slipped out. Sorry" she said patiently. "Why didn't you mean to say that, though?" She asked. "I just-I don't know" she said, biting her lip. "Are you sure?" She asked.
"Do you think you and Ryan aren't going to stay together long enough to have kids or something?" She bit her lip. "I don't know..." she said softly. "I bet you will." Lina said, smiling slightly, "You guys will get married and have lots o' babies." "If you say so" she said, sighing. "I'm sure you guys will. You'll get out of this rocky path you guys are in." She assured her. "It's not that we're in a rocky path" she replied. "Then what is it?" She asked, raising her eyebrow. "I don't know what it is" she said, frowning. "Things just aren't the same" "hopefully they'll turn around?" "I doubt it" she replied quietly. "Why?" She asked her sadly. "Because. Things just don't" she replied, shrugging. "I bet they will. Don't lose hope." She smiled. "Whatever" she replied, sticking her hands in her pockets. "Harwee, don't be sad. Pwease?" Lina asked her. "I'm not sad. I'm resigned" she replied. "Well, don't be resigned?" She asked, raising her voice an octave higher. "Impossible. It's in my nature" she said breezily. "Try not to be?" She asked hopefully. "I suppose" she sighed. "Just try not to be so resigned. I like it when everyone is happy and laughing. Not when were all sad and down and all that." She said like a little kid and smiled slightly at Harley.
"You're so naive" she told her. "That a good or bad thing?" She asked her. "I don't know" She huffed, crossing her arms. "Well, neither do I." She said, imitating her. "Quit it" she snapped. "Why?" She asked back, undoing her arms and letting them hang by her sides. "Because. You're annoying me" she grumbled. "Sorry." She said sincerely, smiling slightly. "Sure you are" she said, rolling her eyes. "I am." She replied, "I tend to do it a lot and not notice." "You always annoy me" she said, glaring at her. "Sooooorrrrryyyyy!" She yelled. "Whatever" she said, sitting down on the ground and resting her forehead on her knees. "Harrrrlllleeeyyy." She sighed, sitting down in front of her. "What?" she asked, not looking up. "Why'd you sit down?" She asked. "I don't know" she replied. "Alright then. Oh well." She said, shrugging her shoulders. "It's so pretty out here." She said, looking up at the night sky again. "Sure" she said, her face still on her knees. "Are you okay, dear?" She asked her. "No" she replied quietly. "Is it the thing you just told me still bugging you?" She asked quietly back.
She looked up, and there were tears streaming down her face. "I just want things to go back to how they used to be" she choked out. Lina crawled over to Harley's side and pulled her into a small hug, "I doubt it's going to go back to how it was. Anytime soon anyways." She sighed quietly. "I wish it would" she said. "I hate everyone fighting all the time" "Yea, it hasn't been too pleasant." She agreed. "I want the guy I loved back" she whispered. "What do you mean?" She asked her quietly. "I want him back. I don't have him anymore. I haven't seen him in a long time" she answered dully. "Ryan?" She asked her, still a little confused. "Yes" she said quietly. "How isn't he the same?" She asked her. "Haven't you noticed?" she asked. "He does seem different." She said thoughtfully. "It's not to everybody, just me" she said softly. "How?" She asked. "I don't know" she said with a sigh. "Maybe it's me" "I mean, he does seem different but I don't know how." She answered. "We're not the same" she said quietly. "And I..." "You what?" She asked her quietly.
"I don't know if I can take it anymore" she whispered. "Harley." She whispered, rubbing her back softly, "Do you think we should talk to the guys about it?" "No" She said, shaking her head desperately. "I don't want to talk to them" "Then what should be do about it?" She asked quietly. "I just...I'll think about it" she said softly. "Alright. You'll get back to me on it, right?" She asked her. "I just don't think anything's going to work out" she sighed. "We never know with anything in this group. Shit changes constantly." She sighed. "But this has been pretty constant. I thought everything was going okay for awhile...but now, I just don't know" she sighed. "Hopefully it'll get worked out sometime." Lina sighed. "I think I'm going to..." she stopped, swallowing hard. "What?" She asked, raising her eyebrow. She whispered something too quietly for Lina to hear. "What Harley?" She asked her softly. "Break it off" she whispered, another tear slipping down her cheek.
"Harley." She sighed, "Give it more time? See if it changes?" "I've given it months Li. How long do you expect me to give it?" she asked softly. She gave a quiet sigh, "How much has he changed for you to want to break it off?" She asked her quietly. "Enough" she whispered. "We don't work anymore" "Alright Harley...whatever you think is best I guess." She said, picking at her nails. "It's not like I'm going to the minute I get inside" she said, frowning. "I'm just...seriously thinking about it." "Well, I'm not that dumb." She said, she couldn't help the small smile creep to the edges of her mouth, "Alright." "I'm cold. Are you ready to go in?" she asked, changing topics. "Yea, sure." She answered, nodding. "Let's go then" She said, standing up. When they got inside, she told Lina she was going to take a shower, and hurried off to the bathroom. "Have fun then." She sighed, sitting down on the chair. "Back so soon?" Brendon asked from the couch, rubbing his eyes. "Yup." She answered, yawning. "You okay?" he asked, studying her face carefully. "I'll tell you later." She decided on saying, not really wanting to take chances with Ryan laying right there on the couch.
He raised an eyebrow. "Okay..." he said, unsure. "Is everything okay?" "Um...not really." She replied. "If it's important we could go somewhere else and talk now" he said, glancing down at Ryan sleeping soundly. "Alright, that works." She agreed, nodding. He disentangled himself carefully so he didn't wake Ryan and stood up. "Where do you want to go?" "I don't care. Somewhere else though." She replied, shrugging her shoulders. "Let's go outside" he decided, going out the front door and closing it behind him. "Alright." She said, "Might as well not beat around the bush. Harley's thinking about ending it with Ryan." She said quietly, tilting her head back to look at the sky. "Are you kidding me?" he asked, eyes wide. "She just told me tonight. She's been thinking about it for a while." She sighed, looking back at him. "Why?" he asked, indignant. "She was saying on our walk how Ryan's changed and how she doesn't have the 'old' Ryan back." She answered. "That's bull crap" Brendon snapped. "He hasn't changed. She has, but he hasn't"
"She feels like he has." She answered, sighing quietly, "I told her to think for a while longer. She said she was going to think it over some more." "Okay, well maybe he has a bit" he admitted. "But it's only because he doesn't know what to do around her anymore. We've talked about it. She's so closed up now." She nodded in agreement, "She's more reserved now, and he does seem a little different. Now that you told me that I can see why." "She's not more reserved; she's terrified" he corrected. "Alright, terrified." She agreed. "She's terrified of what might happen if she gets into another serious relationship" he replied. "She can't see that Ryan's not going to do that to her. He's good to her." "Extremely good to her." She nodded, "I really hope she doesn't." "She's just got to open her eyes" he said, frustrated. "I say we peel her eyelids back farther then." She responded, "Just kidding."
"It's not funny" he said, sighing. "We can't let them do this to themselves" "I know. Sorry." She sighed, "Is there a way to get her eyes open then?" "There's nothing we can do" he admitted. "It's really up to them to fix it. But we might want to let Ryan know what's going on in her head, that way he can try to fix it before it's too late" "How soon do we tell him?" She asked. "I'd tell him soon, but not tonight" he replied. "He's already a wreck tonight. We can't really pile more shit on him. It's been a long day" "Okay." She said, "Lets really hope this works out." She sighed. "I hope so" he said, biting his lip. "He worked so hard to get her back...it would kill him to lose her again" "Yea, that wouldn't be pretty for either person." She agreed. "We can't tell him tonight" he decided. "Probably not even tomorrow. It took me forever to get him calmed down enough to sleep" "Was it after we left?" She asked. "Yeah. I finally calmed him down. Poor little guy. He's hurt, obviously. He couldn't sit still long enough to sleep because he couldn't get comfortable" he replied, squishing his mouth to one side.
She smiled at his face, "That's not good." "Nope. I had to rub his poor little belly for him and pet his poor little head and massage his poor little back until he was relaxed enough to sleep" he said, nodding. "Wow. Tard." She said, smiling again. "I'm such a good friend" he said seriously. "You are." She agreed, nodding. "Oh thanks" he said, grinning. "I just feel bad for him, you know? He didn't deserve that. And I promised I wasn't going to let it happen, but then I did. It's sort of my job to make sure he feels as good as he can" "Oh, I'm sure you make him feel as good as he can." She said, smiling "No, I didn't mean it like that either"
He grinned. "You know, I love him so much that I probably would if he wanted me to" "Ack, just make sure no one walks in." She said, grinning "I didn't say he wanted me to!" he protested, poking his tongue out at her. "I just said I probably would. No, I definitely would. He's my best friend. I'd do anything for him." "Well...that's good." She said, smiling. "I should stop reading slash, shouldn't I?" he asked, tilting his head to the side. She nodded quickly, "Yea, probably." She laughed. "I can't help it" he sighed. "It's an addiction" "It's alright Brennybear." She giggled. "But seriously. I don't know how long we should wait to tell him..." he said thoughtfully. "Um...a few days?" She asked. "If we wait until he's completely recovered from the incident today, it might be too late" he admitted. "I don't know how long Harley was planning to think about it" "Neither do I." She sighed "I don't know how good of an idea it would be to wait" he said. "Probably not really all that good to wait." She agreed. "What do you think?" he asked. "Should we tell him?"
"I would usually tell someone about something like this as soon as possible." She answered. "Like tonight?" he asked. "Well, yea. I would." She said, nodding slightly. "Alright...you want to do it or do you want me to?" he asked. "which one of us would be better?" She asked. "I don't know" he said, shrugging. "Both of us?" "That would work." She agreed. "Alright but we have to make sure that Harley can't come in" he said seriously. She nodded, "Got it." "So do we wait for her to go to bed or what?" he asked. "That should work." She nodded. "Alright, then we better send her off early. Or Ryan will be out for the night. If he isn't already" he replied. "How do you think he's going to react?" She asked him quietly. "Uh, probably not well" he replied, scratching the back of his neck. "I guess that's what you'd expect from someone though..." She sighed. "That's what I expect from him" he corrected. "He doesn't take things like that well. Especially not with her"
He hesitated. "Honestly, I've never seen him into anyone as much as he is her" She smiled slightly, "He's crazily in love?" She asked. "Pretty much" he said, grinning. "Insanely, even" "Yay!" She cheered quietly, putting her hands in the air. He smiled. "Not so much 'Yay' if Harley goes through with what she's thinking" he said softly. She dropped her hands and sighed, "Yeah, no Yay then." "But we won't let her" he said, determined. "We'll stop this! We'll have an intervention!" "Yes! We will!" She said, agreeing. "Except she'd probably hit me if I tried to lock her in some room for an intervention..." he admitted. "Just keep the door heavily guarded inside and out. So she can't get out." She smiled. "Yeah, who could do that? In case you haven't noticed, none of us are 'heavy' to be able to 'heavily guard' something" he replied. "Hmm...call in Zack?" She asked. He laughed. "Zack? Seriously? Zack gets enough of us while we're on tour. I couldn't bother him while we're not" he answered. "Damn." She said, smiling. "Then, no intervention?" "I'd say no intervention" he replied. "But that doesn't mean we can't bother her" "That sounds good." She agreed. "But Ryan first?" he asked. She nodded. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck again. "Let's go get him now then" "Alright then." She said quietly, walking back into the cabin with him.
Ryan was still asleep on the couch, his mouth open and his eyes moving beneath his eyelids. "Somebody's dreaming" Brendon cooed, giggling. "I wonder about what." She wondered, grinning. "Who cares? He's adorable" Brendon cooed, sitting down in front of Ryan and watching him. "That's creepy Brendon. You're watching him sleep!" She giggled, sitting down in the chair. "It is not creepy!" he protested. "He's adorable! I'm allowed to watch him!" "It's more than a little creepy." She whispered. "It is not" he said, sticking his tongue out at her. "Wake him up then!" "You, you're closer. You could just poke him." She smiled. "Nope. I'm watching him" he said, crossing his arms. She sighed and rolled her eyes, "Tard." she whispered at him when she poked Ryan's leg. He swatted at her hand and kept his eyes closed. "Ryan, wake up silly" Brendon said, grinning. She poked him a few more times and then quit when he tried smacking her again, "Wakey Wakey."
He opened his good eye and looked at them. "What guys?" he asked with a yawn. "We need to tell you something." Lina said, looking over at Brendon. He stretched and sat up. "Okay..." he said slowly, looking at the serious expressions on their faces. Brendon elbowed her and looked toward the bathroom door pointedly. She walked over to the bathroom and knocked on the door" Harley! Are you done?" She asked. "Yes" she said, coming out. "What?" "I take it your done?" She asked. "I just said I was" she said, raising an eyebrow. "What?" "When are you going to bed?" She asked. "Uh...later?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Why?" "Just wondering." She said, shrugging. "Alright..." she said, giving her a weird look. "What are you planning Lina?" "An attack." She answered, smiling. "Well why are you asking me when I'm going to bed?" she asked, confused.
"Because. We both think it's been a hell of a long day and you should go to bed early" Brendon said, popping up behind her. Harley raised an eyebrow at him. "I guess you're right" she admitted. "Maybe I will go now" "We're coming shortly after" he said. She nodded and turned around. "Night then" "Night night." Lina said, waving. As soon as Harley shut the door, Brendon pulled Lina back to the living room. "Why did you make her go away?" Ryan asked uneasily. "Erm, we need to talk to you." Lina answered. "I got that" he replied, shifting nervously. "It's about you and Harley." She said, sitting down in the chair. "Okay" he said, leaning against the arm of the couch. "So talk already"
"She's thinking about breaking up with you..." She said, biting her lip. Brendon shot her a look, sighing quietly. "Why?" Ryan asked, looking a little shocked. "Sorry for saying it like that." She apologized, mentally slapping herself, "But, she thinks that you've changed to where you're not the Ryan you were before." She explained. "I still don't think that's true" Brendon said stubbornly, crossing his arms. "I'll talk to her" Ryan said quietly. Brendon didn't look convinced. "Are you okay?" he asked. "Yes" Ryan replied. "I'll handle it, don't worry" "Okay..." Brendon said hesitantly. "Sorry Ryan, for...putting it that way." She apologized softly. "It's okay" he replied. "I'm fine guys, seriously" "You sure?" She asked him. "Positive" he assured them. "However I AM tired"
She let out a big yawn and then smiled slightly, "Apparently I am too." "If you're sure, then we'll let you go to bed" Brendon said, smiling slightly. "I think I'm just going to sleep out here" Ryan said, closing his good eye. "I don't think it'd be a good idea to move" "Whatever you want" Brendon said, and Ryan nodded. "Night Ry-Ry" Brendon said, kissing him on the forehead. "Night" Ryan grumbled. "Oh don't even give me that, you're smiling and you know it" Brendon said teasingly. "Night Ryan." Lina smiled, rolling her eyes at Brendon. "He totally was" Brendon insisted. "Good night Brendon" Ryan said, waving him off.
Brendon grinned and tugged Lina back into the kitchen with him. "Can't we go to bed now?" She whined, yawning again. "After I talk to you" he said, a weird look on his face. "Outside?" "Alright." She agreed, going back outside. "Something just hit me...and I've never thought to ask you before" he said slowly. "What is it?" She asked, her eyebrow raised. "That doesn't...bother you, does it?" he asked, watching her face. "I can't believe I've never talked to you about it before, god I'm such a jackass" He smacked his forehead. "I mean, I've had girlfriends in the past that kind of had a...problem with me and Ryan being close like we are. I've had breakups caused by that before. And I just realized I don't really know what you think about it"
She smiled slightly, "I don't have a problem with it." She replied, "It's cute." "Are you sure?" he asked. "Because, god, you know I really love you" He stopped for a minute, smiling slightly. "But I love him too, you know? Just not in the same way. But at the same time, I really don't have any issues with being affectionate with him or anything like that. I'm not gay or anything like that, so you'd never have to worry about stuff like that" "I'm sure." She smiled a little bit bigger, "Half the stuff you guys do is really funny. And then your best friends, correction brothers, so I don't have any issue with it." "I kiss him on the mouth, you know that right?" he blurted out, then turned a little red. "Sorry, that was bad" He grinned. "But it's true. I've kind of...refrained from it lately, because I don't know how Harley is with it...but we're that close. Seriously." He thought for a minute. "But, it's not the same with how I kiss you. With him, it's like a comforting thing. And with you, it's because I love you and you're my girlfriend" He hesitated. "Does that make any sense?" She couldn't help but laugh quietly, "It's okay. Just like, no making out while I'm there." She grinned.
"I don't make out with him" he said, grinning back. "It's just like a peck, if it's there at all. We've just done it as long as I can remember, and it's normal now. No one thinks anything of it. But we're not used to having girlfriends, either of us. So it's kind of different now" She shrugged her shoulders, still smiling, "It doesn't bother me." "Really?" he asked hopefully. She nodded, "Yup." She answered. He hugged her tightly. "You're the best Li, seriously. I'm glad you don't care. Because...I can't imagine having to pick between you and him. Ever." he said. "I'd understand if you had to ever pick him. He's been with you longer." She admitted. "But I won't, right?" he asked with puppy eyes. "You wouldn't make me pick between you?" She smiled, "No, I wouldn't make you pick." "Okay" he said happily, hugging her again. "Because honestly, I don't know how I would pick. I love both of you! There'd be no way I could do it"
She hugged him back, "Bros before hoes." She replied, grinning. "You're not a hoe" he said, grinning at her. "I LOVE you. There's a big difference" "Bros before girlfriends then." She corrected. "Psh, love changes that rule" he replied. "It just makes it complicated and hurts little Brendon's brain!" She giggled, "You don't have a little brain." "Well it hurts!" he said, sticking his lip out. "Then we can drop that little thing then." She smiled. "Okay" he said, smiling. "But seriously. I'm glad you understand, Li. It really means a lot to me" She smiled back at him, "I'm glad I'm comfortable with it. Those would be some seriously awkward moments." "Agreed" he said, wrapping an arm around her waist and walking back inside. "Now I'm tired. Can we go to bed?" "Yes, please!" She yawned. "Let's go then" he said, glancing at Ryan and turning off the living room light as they walked past. "Good night!" She whispered, laying down on the bed after she'd taken her shoes off. Brendon laid down beside her and they were both asleep within minutes, with Harley snoring on the bed beside them.
Brendon's eyes opened again only a few hours later, however. He sat up and listened carefully, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. He was about to brush it off as a dream and go back to sleep when he heard it again. "Brendon" weak, quiet, pleading. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, careful not to wake Lina up as he felt his way along the wall to the door, closing it carefully behind him.
He left the house in darkness as he made his way to the living room, hearing his name whispered again as soon as he got into the room. He turned on a lamp and turned back to the couch. Ryan was laying with his head hanging off the edge, sobbing so hard he was choking and gagging, and he'd been sick all over the floor. Brendon hurried over to the couch and pulled the shaking boy into his arms, holding him tightly. "Ryan, Shhh, Shhh, you're okay" he whispered, shaking his head. "Why do you do this to yourself?" he whispered into his hair, rocking back and forth. Ryan couldn't breathe to answer. Brendon didn't even care about Ryan's fingernails digging into the skin of his arms. "Ryan. You're going to end up passing out if you don't calm down" Brendon whispered gently. Ryan nodded, sucking in a shaky breath and trying to calm down so he didn't puke again.
After Ryan was no longer in danger of spilling his guts all over, Brendon pulled back a little. "Let's get you cleaned up, okay?" he asked gently, pulling Ryan's hands off of his arms and wincing slightly at the nail marks. "Sorry" Ryan whispered, barely able to choke it out. "It's okay" Brendon assured him, pushing his wet bangs out of his eyes and smiling. "I'll be right back" he promised, getting up and going into the kitchen to get a towel to clean up the floor with. Ryan was still crying when he came back, almost as worked up as he had been before. "Ryan, hey" Brendon said softly, lifting Ryan's chin up to look at him. "Please try to calm down. You're scaring me" Ryan sucked in another sharp breath and nodded. "Just take deep breaths. You're going to have to calm down enough to talk to me" he said quietly, wrapping his arms around Ryan again for a few minutes. "Let me clean up the floor, and then I'll sit with you, okay?" he murmured, releasing him. Ryan nodded, taking more gasping breaths.
Brendon took the towel and cleaned up the floor as quickly as he could. He took the towel and threw it in the kitchen sink, figuring he'd get it tomorrow. "Okay, now your turn" he said, smiling slightly at Ryan, who couldn't even look at him. "Lift up your arms" Brendon said, tugging Ryan's messy shirt off, careful not to get any on him. "Better?" he asked, noting that he too had it on his shirt, pulling his off too. Ryan hiccupped and laid his head on Brendon's shoulder. "Here, this couch doesn't fit both of us. Let's pull the bed out" Brendon suggested, shaking him off gently. Ryan immediately latched onto him again, holding on tightly to his shoulder. "Ry-Ry, come on" he said, pressing his lips to the top of Ryan's head. "Give me just a second, okay? I won't leave you alone" That seemed to do it, as Ryan detached himself from Brendon and scooted to the floor so Brendon could pull the couch out into a bed.
Once he was done, he held out his arms for Ryan to come back up. Ryan immediately crawled back up, tears still streaming down his face. "It's okay, Ry, it's okay" Brendon murmured soothingly, knowing it was best to let his friend cry himself out before trying to talk to him. "I-thou-thought ever-everything was g-going b-bet-better" he choked out, between sobs that just about broke Brendon's heart. He pulled Ryan into his lap and hugged him closer. "I know baby, I know. We all thought it was" he said softly.
"I d-don't kn-know wha-what el-else I c-can d-do Bren" he sobbed, muffled against Brendon's neck. "There's nothing else you can do baby" he said quietly, rubbing Ryan's back. "You've done all you possibly can and more for her. If she's not the one for you, then she's not. You'll find who is" Ryan shook his head. "Sh-she is" he choked out. "I lo-love h-her" "I know you do Ryan" he said with a soft sigh. "Trust me, I know. I just wish I knew what was going on with her. But the point is, we don't." He shook his head, tears still soaking Brendon's chest. "I've d-done ever-everyth-thing f-for her" he whispered, sobs still shaking his small figure. "You've done everything you possibly could to show her Ryan" he said softly, running a finger lightly across the welts on Ryan's neck. "If she doesn't know by now, then she never will"
Ryan buried his face back in Brendon's neck and started crying harder again. "Ryan! Hey!" Brendon said, his voice rising a bit in worry. He didn't have a clue what to do as Ryan kept getting himself more and more worked up. He pulled away from Brendon suddenly and leaned over the edge of the couch, gagging. "Ryan!" Brendon cried, pulling the boy back up into his arms. "Hey. Calm down. God, please calm down. You're scaring me Ryan" he whispered into the other boy's ear as he tried to settle him down. "B-bren-don w-what's wro-wrong-g wi-th m-me?" he asked. "Ryan, baby, please calm down" Brendon begged, his own voice sounding hollow in his ears.
Ryan took a few short breaths, his entire body shaking every time he inhaled. "Now what do you mean what's wrong with you?" he asked softly. Ryan tried to answer, but Brendon couldn't understand the choked response. "Take a deep breath" he said, rubbing Ryan's back soothingly. "Just quiet down a little more" After a few more minutes, Brendon said "Okay, now tell me" Ryan took a few more deep breaths. "It's l-like n-nob-body has r-room f-for m-me" he said quietly. Brendon's eyebrows were still furrowed in confusion. "Ry, I don't understand what you mean…" he said softly, brushing Ryan's brown hair out of his eyes again. "I l-love the-them b-but t-hey nev-er seem t-to l-love me b-back" he whispered.
"Okay wait. Hold on" he said, tipping Ryan's face up so he was looking at him. "That's completely not true" Ryan lowered his eyes, tears still streaking down his face. "Ryan, hey" Brendon said seriously, tilting his face back up. "Give me your hand" Ryan looked confused, but he removed his arm from around Brendon's neck and held it out. Brendon took his hand and laid it on his chest, and both of them sat silently for a few minutes. "You feel that?" Brendon asked quietly, keeping Ryan's hand where it was. Ryan looked confused. "Y-your h-heartbeat?" he asked, his body still trembling violently every time he took a breath. "Yes. My heartbeat. You want to know something?" he asked, still keeping their eyes locked. Ryan nodded, still looking confused. "No matter what girls you date, no matter who loves you and who doesn't, there's ALWAYS going to be a place in my heart for you. Always. You can't say nobody loves you, Ryan Ross, because I do. Jesus fuck Ryan, you're my fucking brother! How could I not love you?" Brendon said, hugging Ryan close to him again. Ryan let his hand linger on Brendon's chest for a minute before wrapping it back around his neck and hugging him tighter, still crying quietly.
"Now how about we lay down and go back to sleep, huh?" Brendon asked quietly, shifting their positions so they were laying down. "Just take deep breaths, and close your eyes" Brendon said softly in Ryan's ear. "I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. You're okay. I love you Ryan" "I l-love you t-too Brendon" he said quietly. "Tha-thank y-you" "I'm your brother, dude. What do you expect? We're family" Brendon said quietly. "Now close your pretty little eyes and go to sleep, mmkay?" Ryan nodded, snuggling close to Brendon and burying his face in his neck, the crying almost stopped by the time he drifted off to sleep, hours later.
Around 7:30 the next morning Lina woke up, not feeling Brendon's arms around her. She grabbed her phone off the nightstand and groaned quietly at the time as she got up to look for Brendon. Staying quiet so she wouldn't wake anyone up. Lina walked into the hallway and walked right past the living room into the kitchen, figuring Brendon had just woken up early and gotten something to eat. She didn't find him, but she did find the towel that Brendon had tossed into the sink the night before, after he cleaned the floor with it. Then she went into the living room to look. They were both still laying on the pull out bed, Ryan with his face buried in Brendon's neck, and one of Brendon's arms tightly around him, still moving up and down on his back, and the other hand tangled in his hair. Ryan's body still shook every time he took a breath, a sign of how upset he had been a few hours earlier.
She raised her eyebrow, her eyes worried, "Is he...okay?" She mouthed "No" he whispered. "I knew he wasn't" She bit her lip, looking at the two in the bed. "What time do you think you came out here?" She asked in a whisper. "Like 2:30 maybe" he whispered back. "He just fell asleep like 20 minutes ago" "Oh..." She whispered. "How many times did he get sick?" "I don't know" he whispered back. "Twice while I was out here" He shook his head. "Lina, I've never seen him like that before" He looked like he was going to cry too. "That's not good..." She said quietly. "He scared me pretty bad" he admitted, still whispering. "He threw up because he was crying so hard. And I couldn't do anything about it! I didn't know what to do..." "When do you think he's going to talk to her?" She asked quietly. "I don't know if he is" he whispered back. "If he does, definitely not today. I'm making sure he sleeps all day if I have to stay here too" "That's probably for the best." She agreed in a whisper, nodding.
"Is she still sleeping?" he asked, dropping his voice even more as Ryan shifted a little in his sleep. "I'm pretty sure." She answered. "That's good" he whispered. "Because in case you haven't noticed, he doesn't look all that great" "He doesn't." She agreed, "What are we going to tell her?" "I'm still figuring that part out" he admitted. "I figure if she doesn't see him, we can just tell her he's sick" "What if she does?" She asked. "Then...we come up with a better excuse when it happens" he replied finally. "That's the point. I didn't calm him down. I couldn't" he whispered, sounding helpless. "It's alright Brendon." She whispered, biting her lip. "It's not, though" he answered, shutting his eyes again. "I fucked up. I didn't realize he wasn't really okay with it and I didn't make him talk to me. Then this happened. And now look at him..."
"You can't go back in time Bren." She sighed quietly, "Just...try to calm him down and make sure he's okay actually from now on is all you can do..." "I don't know if he's going to be okay for a long time after this" he admitted in a whisper. "Then make sure he's not getting worse or something." She replied. "Oh trust me, I will" he whispered back. "I've seriously considered sewing our clothes together." She smiled slightly at the thought of Brendon and Ryan being sewn together by their shirts, "Would that work though?" She asked. "It would let me watch him all the time, yes" he replied. "But it might make changing and going to the bathroom a little difficult" "And...other situations." She added. "Sweetie, you take your clothes off for that" he reminded her. "I mean, getting to the naked part." She whispered, "I know how it works." "But that would make my other option kind of out of the question..." he whispered back. "What's the other option?" She asked. He grinned. "Getting our elbows surgically joined" he whispered.
"What the hell!" She whispered, grinning, "That's...creepy." "And he'd probably kill me when he woke up" he whispered back. "Yea...you wouldn't be able to get away either." She replied. "Nope" he whispered. "But everything else would be easy to handle" "That'd be weird though..." She said quietly, smiling. "Not really" he whispered back, smiling a little himself. "It wouldn't bother me" "Showering would be a little difficult." She added. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "No it wouldn't" he replied. "Li, guys like us have no secrets from each other. I've showered with him before to save time after a show. Neither of us cared then" "I always somehow manage to forget that about you two." She grinned. "Yeah obviously" he whispered back. "I'm close to him like no one else I've ever known...that's why stuff like this scares me so badly...I can't stand to see him hurt..." "It's very understandable." She replied, "Neither one of you wants to see each other hurt."
"Yeah...let's just say Harley's lucky I love her..." he whispered darkly. She nodded quickly, "She would've been...confronted by now I bet." "She'd be dead" he said seriously. "Like 6 feet under with a hole in her head." "That's creepy hearing it from you." She answered. "I'm dead serious" he whispered. "If I didn't love her, she'd be screwed. That might be a good thing to let her know too" "Alright...I'll be sure to mention it." She whispered. "Good" he whispered, closing his eyes again.
